Writing Sample: Coffeehouse provides different kind of church setting

StoryLine congregation wants to make impact with community service

By ANGELA PATTERSON

Staff Writer

On Sundays, a small group of people meets at Portland Brew.

With coffee cups in hand and one guy playing a guitar, it looks like a songwriting circle or maybe even a study group.

But actually, it's church.

The few but mighty members of StoryLine Church think the coffee shop is the perfect setting for the non-traditional services of an unconventional church. Sometimes there's music, sometimes there's not. The "team leader," pastor Jer Dunlap, gives an informal speech to the parishioners, who've been re-dubbed "team members."

And unlike a church where the members sit and soak up a sermon, services at StoryLine are designed to be personal and interactive, illustrating the church's overall philosophy: Church isn't something you do, it's something you are.

That's why the church focuses its efforts largely outside the Sunday morning experience, hence the name. Everyone at StoryLine has a story and should use that account to help change their own lives and the lives of others. The church follows an outreach/community service-based approach. Rather than just talk about God's will, they create opportunities for it to manifest.

Startup church focuses on outreach

Jer Dunlap worked as a political consultant for five years before he went into church ministry. He never had a desire to start a church until four years ago, when he came across the Web site of Converge, formerly the Baptist General Conference. After lengthy assessments and a year of training, he came to Nashville, and shortly after started StoryLine Church.

"I've been in church a long time, and I wanted something that was different to me," Dunlap said. "There's three that define our philosophy: Broken. Safety. No margins. You're free to come as you are and be able to dream again."

In a town that's firmly situated on the buckle of the Bible Belt, some may feel bypassing the more traditional church setup for a more outreach/community service-focused experience is not "true church." But Dunlap believes different churches reach different people at different times.

"I think our society has been long over the idea that 'This is the only way to "do church," '" Dunlap said. "At StoryLine we have a vision to be a community of communities fostering a movement of Christ. We want our communities actively engaging each other, and more importantly, the community and the people around them."

'Everyone is welcome'

It was this idea of connection that drew Jennifer Ball to the church. She'd known Dunlap when he was a youth minister and was always impressed by his passion.

But she was more motivated by the fact she felt she'd found a place where everyone could be themselves. She learned during a trip to her hometown in West Virginia — where people stared and whispered when she and her half-Filipino boyfriend walked into places — what it's like to feel unwanted.

"Some people pointed, some talked, others just stared. Needless to say, he was a bit uncomfortable.

"Sadly enough, I think this is how a lot of people feel when they walk into church," Ball said. "They've been so hurt, so outcast by the church that they don't want anything to do with it. The truth is that, as Christians, we are called to simply love — not 'love thy neighbor as long as they are like you.' At StoryLine, anyone and everyone is welcome."

NPAC helps fund arts education

After a few dates, Ball asked her boyfriend, Matt Scharbach, to come to church with her. A year later, he's very active at StoryLine.

"Jer once asked me what is something I dream about doing," Scharbach said. "I replied 'to do something to help others through music concerts.' And NPAC was born."

The Nashville Public Arts Crisis, one of the church's "expressions," holds benefit concerts to raise money for arts in public education, something Scharbach is passionate about. NPAC illustrates how StoryLine's philosophy becomes reality: Someone has an idea to help the community, and they go out and do it. Dunlap hopes to start other outreach efforts once the NPAC is up and running.

"Jer realized that this would help break the stereotype of what a Christian is," Scharbach said. "We're not the guys and girls standing on the street yelling Bible verses at you. We're those people that want to help our community in a way that is relevant to modern-day society."