different directions
I had breakfast today (as I always do on Tuesday mornings) with the other two pastors in the village of Lake Ann. Pastor C who is a United Methodist Pastor and Pastor R who heads the Wesleyan church. I have come to value these meetings and the relationships that have developed out of them. Today however was kind of a downer...Pastor C, apparently after a hell of a week, basically resigned from the church (a little history here- the LA United Methodist Church, has historically been the Church in the village of Lake Ann- lot's of history, almost everyone who has family roots in Lake Ann has at one point belonged to this church). As he put it he stood up Sunday from the pulpit and answered some allegations that had been brought forth from the president of their staff committee. He then walked out and let the chips fall.
Well apparently things have gotten to this point because he feels he is heading in a different direction from the church...after nineteen years that is easy to imagine. But in addition to that he feels he is heading in a different direction than the denomination. Now, that to me is a bit troubling. C's main point is that he wants to be focussed on outreach, social ministry, being the church in the world, missional, etc...and I am confused as to why the UMC is not for those things. Or are they? I don't know enough about the denomination to make a judgment but would be surprised if this was entirely the case. I get the fact that all mainline denominations are struggling to embrace a changing culture and a changing population in which the church has been pushed to the margins. But, to suggest a denomination is not focussed on outreach and mission is startling. Is this the case? Obviously, on some level, C felt this was so- but why? What is it about our denominations which oppress ministry? I would like to say this is not the case...but I think at some level it is- when maintenance ministry becomes the focus- and has become the reality in many of our churches, outreach is lost and mission becomes an afterthought.
So...I am bummed- bummed out that I may be losing a good colleague- bummed out that there is some confusion going on in his head and with his call, bummed that time and again I hear critics of the church pointing to the hypocritical way we operate and also that all we care about is those like us- yet in this is hope...I have hope in the many good things that churches are doing, and hope in people I meet every day who long to make a difference because of the way they feel the spirit leading.
Dear God, continue to send your spirit to stir...stir in our lives, and push us to uncomfortable places where ministry can take place.
Well apparently things have gotten to this point because he feels he is heading in a different direction from the church...after nineteen years that is easy to imagine. But in addition to that he feels he is heading in a different direction than the denomination. Now, that to me is a bit troubling. C's main point is that he wants to be focussed on outreach, social ministry, being the church in the world, missional, etc...and I am confused as to why the UMC is not for those things. Or are they? I don't know enough about the denomination to make a judgment but would be surprised if this was entirely the case. I get the fact that all mainline denominations are struggling to embrace a changing culture and a changing population in which the church has been pushed to the margins. But, to suggest a denomination is not focussed on outreach and mission is startling. Is this the case? Obviously, on some level, C felt this was so- but why? What is it about our denominations which oppress ministry? I would like to say this is not the case...but I think at some level it is- when maintenance ministry becomes the focus- and has become the reality in many of our churches, outreach is lost and mission becomes an afterthought.
So...I am bummed- bummed out that I may be losing a good colleague- bummed out that there is some confusion going on in his head and with his call, bummed that time and again I hear critics of the church pointing to the hypocritical way we operate and also that all we care about is those like us- yet in this is hope...I have hope in the many good things that churches are doing, and hope in people I meet every day who long to make a difference because of the way they feel the spirit leading.
Dear God, continue to send your spirit to stir...stir in our lives, and push us to uncomfortable places where ministry can take place.
Labels: the church
I have only one thought: All churches were started in their core with an evangelical fervor, if you think about their histories. At some point we all get comfortable where we are at, and want things to stay the way we remembering them be the best. I know the UMC leadership is focused on outreach and social ministry, but are all the people. This is in NO WAY different in the ELCA. There are a lot of congregations that want a chaplain ministry where the priesthood of all believers is the pastor. Whoever it was that suggested that all seminary students should be committed to being evangelical and missional may have been right on.
I am very thankful for the heart of people that you see in LA--that they see themselves as ministers is incredible, and we all have something to learn from that. May that fervor spread throughout the entire church. I too pray that the Spirit will prod us to uncomfortable places where ministry can take place. Paz.
"C" is in my prayers.
Posted by
Chad K |
9:35 AM