In all this Lenten discussion of ashes, my brain has finally made the connection that the Church is going through a phoenixing. What I mean is that the church seems to be dying... and a new birth is on the horizon.
It is dying to its old ways - moralistic preaching and moral absolutes. I see the new church preaching the story of Jesus Christ and letting the people decide for themselves what to do about abortion, political debates, and whether or not women and gay and lesbian people can be leaders in the church. Then again, if it is a lesbian person preaching that gospel good news, people may not be able to hear it. I struggle with that.
The Church is dying in a physical sense if we think about whom the members of the Church are. Most of my congregation is made up of elderly people. Though many amazing things happen in my congregation and being older is by no means a limitation... the fact is that this older generation is dying. This causes some tension in my opinion. There's the practical problem of differing tastes: the older generation wants the Creed, the classic and familiar hymns, and a more traditional worship service; the younger generation is somewhat okay with the traditional worship style (typically if they grew up with it) but are more interested in inclusive language, social justice issues, newer hymns, and different forms of spirituality (and religion). But if the congregation is made up of older members, how do you form a church that will meet their needs and yet still welcome in another generation?
And I do recognize that this tension is the very task of being a pastor. How to minister to one group and at the same time open the doors to another who has different tastes. The comfort is that at the most basic level, we're all human and we all need to know we are loved and a part of something bigger than ourselves.
But the Church is dying. In ways that I couldn't even begin to articulate. But this means that the next generation of church will be a different looking place once it arises from the ashes of what is now.
Perhaps the new church will not be easily recognized within church walls and on rosters of church membership. Perhaps the new church will be so busy working for justice that Sunday mornings no longer look like they always have. Communion will happen around tables at youth hostiles or homeless shelters where it doesn't matter what clothes you wear or how well you can read the bible. Preaching will happen with our very lives as we live out the gospel in our various vocations. Baptism will be celebrated in rivers and streams and creeks and oceans - and we'll be surrounded by all of creation, not just us humans. Sharing the gospel will happen in online chat rooms reaching people who cannot leave their homes because of depression, anxiety, illness, or disability. The gospel will reach places it never could before as it is spoken by pastors and people with dyed hair and tattoos and piercings (*cough cough* Like me!).
The Church is phoenixing. Are we ready for the flames?
3 comments:
I've been hearing that for awhile, too, and the beauty of the phoenix image is the resurrection. For some reason most of the people I hear talking about the death of the church are speaking out of fear and anxiety about their jobs and systems and comfort levels being challenges. But if we truly proclaim resurrection, then dying is part of the process for the church just as much as it is for us individually and daily.
excellent post and a great image!
regarding the issue of serving a congregation made up of both older and younger members, tradition tastes and newer tastes: have you read Carol Howard Merritt's book "Tribal Church"? I think it's pretty good, in general, but in particular would relate well to that difficult task!
I just love the imagery in this post! First, I'm reminded of how my grandparents' church did die. The membership wasn't big enough to go on paying for the upkeep of the building and payment of a pastor, so they gave away their books and things and picked out several places to give money when the building sells. That church did die, but the members live on in other churches. And honestly part of the problem was the age and tradition of the services. Also it reminds me of our search for a church. As people who don't have a denomination, but know we dont fit inseveral of the usual molds, we have been looking for a community church. We found one, but it was too big to feel personal, then we moved across town. Now we live in the suburbs in a sea of what feels like only Baptists and churches of Christ. I want to know where the phoenix lives around here that seems like a good place to be, a place of reinvention and rejuvination would do me a world of good!
Post a Comment