Places to Dream

In his book, ReImagining Spiritual Formation, Doug Pagitt talks about questions and issues that arose in starting a new church called Solomon's Porch. He says:

After months of discussing the integrity of our intentions as a group, we realized that we started Solomon's Porch not because the pews in other churches were full, but because the places of dream making and leadership in other churches were full.

Curious how often it happens that the places of dream making in a church become full. Or perhaps they become restricted to only a few. It seems that one of the downsides of clearly articulating and pursuing a singular vision, is that all other dreams are thereby excluded.

The idea of creating a church where the entirety of the body are free to dream and to pursue those dreams seems at the same time both radical and wonderful. But perhaps that is exactly what God intends, after all does He not say through the prophet Joel

I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

So I wonder why it is that we so easily become a people who stifle the dreams of others, and reserve the places of dream making only to the elite few. Or is that just the nature of institutions?