A Plea for Ecclesiastical Efficiency

When it comes to church growth, it is well known that a church that attempts to spread itself too thin (i.e., too many programs, too quickly) will be mediocre at everything. The better model is to find the congregational strength, shore it up as the foundation, and then slowly spread your ministry from that point. Certainly, this model of conserving resources and building on strengths is a model used in many grwoing congregations of various denominations.

What then of our larger church structure? As synods, diocese, and denominations, we spread our resources equally. Congregations that are viable and congregations that are obviously in the decline toward death receive the same resources, time, and attention. Indeed, more of our shared resources are used for congregations that are not viable. The result is that congregations that could grow, with just a little push, do not receive the resources that they need.

What do I mean by viable? Some congregations are growing communities of disciples, these are obviously congregations that are doing well. Other congregations have started to slouch toward closing the doors, these are not now viable, and probably will not become viable without a major transformation. In the middle are congregations that are not currently growing, or are marginally growing, yet who are positioned for growth in faith in numbers - viable congregations.

In a congregation, we at times have to say farewell to ministry; to look at it, agree that it served a purpose in its time, but it is no longer supporting the mission of the congregation. What would happen if we started to do that as the larger church? If we had an honest conversation about the congregations that are - or are capable of - serving the mission, and those that are not? And then, what would happen if we pooled our resources into only those congregations who are - or who are capable of - serving the mission?

Clergy Appreciation

Yes, that's right, clergy appreciation month is upon us. It is easy - far too easy - for those of us whose vocation is in the church to feel underappreciated. However, I do believe that most congregations deeply appreciate their pastor/priest - the question is, how can we convey that appreciation, and what should we stop doing that conveys a devaluation of the clergy and their ministry?

• Write a note. Not just a card (which is also nice) but an actual note to tell your pastor/priest why he or she is important to you and your family. Don't take for granted that we know - we probably don't.
• Come to worship. It is hard to believe that our ministry is appreciated by people who don't come to worship.
• Don't clam up when your pastor/priest walks into the room. Going out to have fun (i.e., not in clericals), I have had more rooms fall silent when I walk in than I can count. Here's a secret: I really am a fun guy, and I'm not out to ruin anyone's fun. It sure would be nice if anyone else acted like they thought that.
• Invite us along. "Hey Pastor, you should have been at the baseball game / football game / party when ..." It is hard for us to be there when we aren't invited. We don't just want to see you on Sunday, and yes, we would like to be a friend. So invite us along.
• Stop the rumor mill. Don't spread rumors (or behind the back criticism). But not only that, go further. Stop others from doing the same. If their is a complaint or criticism, take it directly your clergy - chances are it is either (a) easily explained or (b) we are ready to apoligize for something we were completely unaware of.
• Do something special. Throw a "Pastor's Appreciation Luncheon". Host a Birthday Party. Celebrate the anniversary of his or her ordaination, or the anniversary of their call.
• Put your money where your mouth is. Remember your pastor come budget time. Words of appreciation are nice, but when combined with a refusal to give adequate raises, they ring pretty empty.
• Volunteer to help around the church. Step into a new ministry role. Show your support for our ministry by participating in it.
• Don't forget our families. It can be lonely to be in a clergy family. Invite our spouse out for a fun night. Include our kids. Chances are, we are living far from our families and established friends.
• Pray. Pray for your clergy, pray for their family, pray for their ministry.

Overheard

From a letter to Time Magazine (emphasis mine):
"Is it so hard to understand the nostalgia that many Americans feel for the reasonable return to the culture of small-town America - to its appreciation of education, traditional arts, the work ethic, hunting, community spirit, and moderate churchgoing?"

Excuse me?????

And Jesus said, "Take up your cross, but only for a little while."

Is "moderate churchgoing" a virtue somewhere that I missed? Is this a value that people somehow feel is missing from their lives??

Look, I am aware of religious fanaticism (whether Christian, Islamic, or otherwise), but when did passion and commitment to one's faith become synonymous with fanaticism? Is the widow who attends church every week and goes to Bible study somehow equivelent to Fred Phelps?

C.f., Revelation 3:15-16.

Palin - Bono interview cancelled

The facetime that Sarah Palin was to have with Bono today was apparently cancelled due to scheduling conflicts. Just as well - since no press representatives are allowed in on her meetings with ... well ... anyone. God forbid we get a sense of what she really thinks.

In other news, despite the constant commentary from the Mad One and his minions, Paul Hewson continues his work on behalf of the United Nations' Millenium Development Goals. Along with Jeffrey Sachs, Bono is blogging about the Millenium Development goals over at the Financial Times blog - it is definitely worth checking out.

We are Shocked

In other news, the earth is discovered to rotate around the sun.

An Open Letter

To Senators McCain, Obama, & Biden, and Governor Palin,

As I follow this election season, I regularly hear that I am your target audience - that it is my voting group that you are particularly looking to receive this year. Yet it does not at all feel like it. Indeed, I feel quite often overlooked - and I am through.

You see, I am an evangelical. That is, I believe strongly in the power of the evangellion, the Gospel, to transform the lives of individuals, communities, and yes, even nations. In fact, that evangelical conviction is the center of my life: privately, professionally, and politically.

I am also a values voter.

I believe in the inherent value of all those created in God's image - regardless of economics, race, creed, or sexuality. And I believe it is the job those called to lead our country to protect and preserve that inherent value.

I believe in the importance of marriage, because the God of the evangellion is the God of love. Family life is the building block of our life of faith -in the many forms that modern family life takes. To degrade families with arbitrary legal definitions ("legal union," "life partnership") is to deny those families the validation of being at the center of our community life.

I am an evangelical values voter who follows the One who called us to care for the sick, the poor, the stranger, and the oppressed among us. I am an evangelical values voter who is ashamed at the behavior of the wealthy in our nation towards the poor. I am an evangelical values voter who thinks Jesus really did mean it when he said that we should love and serve our neighbor.

"God has shown you, O mortal, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

I am a values voter.
It is time you listened.

-RR

Trouble in Canterbury

It seems that the children of Cranmer and Hooker* are having some difficulties. At heart, the differences point to the conflict between morality and mercy, between a strong sense of right & wrong and a strong sense of what binds us together, between a hermenuetic of unchanging legality and a hermenuetic of context.

It would be helpful if, perhaps, somewhere in our shared tradition, there was a someone who dealt with the conflict between legality and conventional morality on the one hand, and the power of love and mercy on the other. If only we could find an example like that ...


*I am not clear if I can still use "Anglican Communion" or not. Has that been usurped by one faction over against another? Because there are few things I would like to avoid more than a fundamentalist with a lawyer.