Eight years ago my ministry changed. Where I served moved from one worship to two with the expressed purpose of connecting with people who wouldn't connect with traditional UMC worship. People came who had little to no faith background. Early on one of them asked to be baptized. We sat down and shared what the life of faith was about for the next month in a series of conversations and questions.
In the midst of that time I felt, yes this is what I am called to do. Sharing the journey with someone new renewed my call and my experience of the life giving way of Jesus Christ.
I wish I could say I have had dozens of these experiences but the truth is there have been a small handful of experiences like this in my ministry.
Sometimes I look at my ministry and think, what is the point? For while I am blessed to serve in a church where newcomers find their way here almost weekly, many are people who are just looking for greener pastures as their last congregation didn't change/changed to much/changed pastors/needs to change pastors/is too big/too small, etc and they "audition" us to see if they like us better. My experience tells me that even if we "win" we lose.
Where did it go so wrong? What can we do about it?
I plan to spend the next 20+ weeks reconnecting with why this is where I have given my life. What about you?
Nicole
In chapter 1 (Fiona) the writer says "no one trusts you unless you share your wounds." Thank you Nicole for the beginning of the wound sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe description of the church as Fiona, the bride of Christ was eye opening. For me, the church is to be a magnet for those seeking direction on their spiritual quest. Unfortunately, there are times in the church, that it is not a magnet, but a dysfunctional family, that inadvertently post a warning sign above their entry way: "abandon hope, all ye who enter." Thus causing the pastor to be tempted, like our author who three his cell phone across the yard and when it inevitable met its destiny smashed into pieces.
When this occurs, may we be as fortunate as our author, who's wife witnessed the moment of frustration and commented like Nathan, "Nice throw. Now what are you going to do?"
So, in some ways, Nicole, many of us reading the blog have hurled our cell phones(or any other tool of ministry) great distances watching them end up in many tiny pieces. But you have started our journey together, and like our author have given us hope with a "nice throw. Now what are you going to do?"
Thanks, Nicole. I'm still waiting for my book. I know what you mean. One day a friend of mine who was a Coast Guard member for most of his professional career said, "Isn't it worth it if you change/save just one life?" I said, "If I'm an ordinary citizen and I save just one person from drowning, I'm a hero. But, as a Coast Guard member, if you fail to save just one person, you're a failure. It's more like that."
ReplyDeleteI spend at least part of every day wondering how to make my vision real? I would love to do a new, young church start right here on the property. It may yet happen, but I'm not sure how I do that? And how do I help the people who are here see this as a central part of their life?
I really feel what you've said here. I'll be glad to just share with others who feel the same way.
I guess some/many of us are NOT going to be able to make this happen, for all kinds of reasons--not least of which is that it's just not going to happen in every place for all of us even if we've done everything just right.
Frankly, that doesn't sit well with me. I want results. No two ways about it. Tangible results, intangible results. I want excitement for Jesus in my church. People who are asking, "What else? What's next?"
There's a great companion book to Tangible Kingdom, which I do have. It's a beautiful spiral bound for small groups. I'm a sucker for good packaging.
Love you.
I went through a period of deep introspection toward the end of 2009, triggered by a similar existential crisis-- that is to say, What am I doing in the church, and what is the (my) church doing in the world?
ReplyDeleteI feel a heavy responsibility to be true to the inheritance my congregation has received-a legacy of history, and oftentimes a deep effectiveness, in our community.
At the same time I feel a heavy responsibility to see the past as prologue; to reach out to the Fiona's of the world and listen to what they have to say; what they are needing in terms of a community of faith.
Finally, I feel very blessed in that our current congregation is open to change/transformation.
My existential crisis is not yet totally resolved, but at this point I do believe that 'success' is possible. I believe we can grow in numbers and in spirit, and in service to our community. I am certain that whatever we become, it will not bear a close resemblance to whatever people used to think church ought to be.
And of course, there is the real possibility that we might fail (as well as effect the demise of yet another cell phone...)
Thanks, Nicole, for getting this together, and thanks in advance to the folks who will be posting for the coming chapters.
Thanks everyone! I am really looking forward to reading this book with you all--it is really exception. Stan will start next's week reflection on Monday.
ReplyDeleteI think the greatest blessing and the greatest curse of the American Church is it's people. Blessing because it is part of the American character to be a generous & hospitable people. Americans have a great capacity to serve. Curse because it is also part of the American character to be fiercely independent, Americans will be the servant of no man.
ReplyDeleteThis is reflected in our church life; many servers but few servants. We excel at ministries of service & hospitality: feeding the hungry, clothing people, serving as ushers, etc but fall very short of establishing relationships with those we serve. A servant is defined more by the nature of the relationship than the nature of the acts.
True servants in the Church are a rarity. A person committed to a life of service who empties herself, who looks beyond her interests to the interests of others. These are the people who are prepared & equipped to handle whatever they are asked to do.
A servant church looks very different than a church in which people serve. A servant church has a strong relationship with Jesus and a profound sense that He is Lord. It is filled with people who have made the tough call to have less for themselves so that others might have more. More not only of material things, but more importantly relationship. A servant church theredore is a discipling church, a church of relational empowerment.
This is reflected in it's outreach which is more about being a friend than doing some good deed. Jesus understood this, he was known as a "friend of sinners" a reputation he got not from doing good to but by being with sinners.
thank you for everyone's insight into the 1st chapter. i have found it and the introduction to the book an exciting read thus far! and stan, i too LOVED that hopeful line about the cell phone - awesome!
ReplyDeletebut i mainly loved this first chapter because i am shouting inside constantly "YES. THAT'S IT. THIS RIGHT HERE, in these pages, IS WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING ... THAT'S ME, MY NON-CHURCH FRIENDS, a large portion of MY FAMILY, AND ALL THE OTHER Young Adults, youth, and various-aged children of God that I have met, talked with, played with, stood in line at starbuck's with, sat next to on a bus ... we are, so many of us, experiencing this kind of painful disappointment in the church today."
and ... we are also still seeking. the presence of G-d hasn't stopped urging us forward, hasn't stopped pushing us to seek out G-d's presence in a communal form ... we are, so many of us, seeking, seeking, seeking ... and so often (and i'm deeply sad to say this), so often, the church today just disappoints.
i used to be so concerned that the Barna statistics point to a disturbing decline in our sense of spirituality today, that more and more, they are just less and less folks who feel a spiritual longing, or desire to know G-d.
but after a few years experience of watching the doors of the church (any and all churches i've been in - i seem to have this gravitational pull to the doors and the pews in the back ... maybe bc this is where I have expressed and began to explore my own wounds and i relate to those who are there ...), after a few years now of paying attention to the doors, the entrances, the exits of our church gatherings ... i think that this is distinctly NOT what the Barna stat's are saying at all.
it's absolutely not that G-d's children today are seeking less, or desiring less and less a relationship with G-d ... they are seeking in every church and outside every church ... literally everywhere I look ...
i recall the Matthew 9: 37 "the harvest is plentiful" - indeed it is.
and it breaks my heart that we (as an institutional church) seem to so often miss sharing our experience of G-d today, seem to have lost or misplaced or misaligned our tools? abilities? will? commitment? to the harvest ...
but, i also know as someone in the ordination process, i am more than ever committed and believe in our Weselyan, yes human, but theologically Christ-led UMC. we are so blessed with a tradition that respects and calls for ongoing spiritual discernment ... that offers a strong theology and tools for today's seeker ...
it is a messy, chaotic place, this world of the church. and we are somewhat estranged in a deeply messy, chaotic world all around us. there aren't easy or simple answers. it's neither easy or simple work - this transformation of G-d's world that we feel called to ..
and so i remain committed to each of you and this book study ... and the people of the churches that i serve .... those at the doors, the back pews, the starbuck's line, the bus seat ... that i will strive to share my relationship with G-d (and my wounds) in the ways and means that the UMC and my own discernment (in part this study) led me to ... and trust the the Holy Spirit will do the rest ...
over and out.
Gerry and Melinda--great comments--looking forward to Stan's Chapter 2!
ReplyDeleteI once had a spiritual director who listened to my complaining about the work of the church and my proclamation that I wanted to start a bookstore/bed and breakfast instead of putting up with the crap I was dealing with. He said, "You know, it is always good to think about what you could be doing instead, it is always good to have a back up plan".Not a week goes by I wish I could just make someone a latte. But then, someone dies, and I am asked to counsel with the family, or someone has lost a job and needs a moment to talk, those are precious moments that do bring me to my knees or to the dirty curb.
ReplyDeleteFear threatens to keep me bound up and can sap my energy and strength to be with those who are looking, searching, and I hope in this study find the courage to break through the fear that keeps me from being all that God calls me to be.
As stated above, this is not easy work, but it is the work that matters to me and I hope others.