IF WE’RE REALLY SERIOUS - Part Three
Ephesians 4: 1-13
Mark 1: 29-39
February 8, 2009
Rev. Dr. Dennis Winkleblack
Prospect United Methodist Church
Bristol, Connecticut
Click below for audio version of sermon.
Today is the third part of the sermon series, “If We’re Really Serious.” Parts one and two have taken us through two of the eight characteristics of effective churches as revealed by the work of Bishop William Willimon and some Methodist church leaders in the Southeastern Jurisdiction. In case this is your first Sunday in church since we began this series, I am offering these sermons as a beginning point for discussion as we try to decide what we need to do in order to become an effective church. For, for all the beauty of our surroundings and for all the beauty of the people around us and for all the good that we do, we could not be described as an effective church.
Why? Our membership is declining; our attendance has shrunk some 40% in the last several years and we’ve run out of money that we can use from our endowment funds. I could go on, but I don’t want to depress you any further.
From time to time in the last two weeks I have compared our situation with that of the First UMC in Norwalk which closed last summer after 219 years. I said, in my opinion, they sort of reached the tipping point about 30 years before they finally closed. And, I’ve said that’s roughly where we are. The biggest difference is that they didn’t do what they needed to do to stay vital. We still have a chance. These sermons are my contribution to helping us begin to make the most of our chance.
Today we begin with characteristic number 3: “Find a way to welcome the stranger and to practice radical hospitality in the name of Jesus Christ. They (effective congregations) find a way to be as interested in those who have yet to join the church as those already in the church.”
Well. What would it mean for us to decide that we individually and collectively care as much for persons who are not church members as we do for ourselves? It’s not an easy question and I don’t expect easy, quick answers. Suffice it to say that only the most mature Christian congregation can live this out. For it requires that each of us will have to hold everything about this church that is important to us personally somewhat at arm’s length, willing to give it up if that’s what’s decided we should do. And, preferably, to do so without complaint.
Like what, for example? Here are some “for examples.” They are not, please trust me, anything that is being planned. Okay?
So, for example: What if it were decided that in order to reach more people our worship hour would need to be later – or earlier? Or what if we decided to have a separate hour for Sunday School and worship so teachers wouldn’t have to miss the chance to worship?
Or, what if it were decided that in order to reach more people we should use the organ less and, maybe, I don’t know, use guitars more? Or have a praise band? Okay by you? Or, what if it were decided that we could connect with the younger generation better if we projected images and short video clips throughout worship? Any problem?
But, some would say, what about me? Don’t my wants count? Well, yes and no. Of course it’s important to order our church life in ways that resonate with me, with you. Our needs should always be considered before making decisions. But what would we do if we were to realize that our church could reach new people, more people, younger people, more diverse people if we did things differently, meaning you and I might have to compromise on some of our favorite things?
Such, you see, is part of being radically hospitable. Radical hospitality is doing whatever it takes to invite, welcome, receive, and care for persons who are strangers so that they find a spiritual home and discover for themselves the unending richness of life in Christ. Radical hospitality requires an outward focus, a reaching out to those not yet known, a willingness to change behaviors in order to accommodate the needs and receive the talents of newcomers.
A dictionary meaning of “radical” is “drastically different from the ordinary practice, outside the normal." In the church, radical hospitality will provoke practices that exceed expectations, that go the second mile, that take welcoming the stranger to the max.
So, think: What keeps folks from visiting our church for the first time? And what keeps people from coming back once they’ve visited? What barriers do people find when they try to get involved in our church life? Are we an easy church family to join – that is to really become a part of, to feel a part of?
Of course we want to think we’re a friendly and hospitable church. However, the drastic drop in members and church attendance suggests that maybe, just maybe our hospitality may not be radical enough. The question, then is: Are we willing to change? Are you willing to do your part in making this change? I believe we have no future unless we are willing to move towards radical hospitality.
We move next to characteristic number four: “An effective church enables lay leaders to lead, not just manage. Lay leadership feels a strong sense of responsibility for the future of their congregation.”
Of all the characteristics of an effective church, this may be the one where we begin with a decided advantage. You certainly know how to manage the church. And I’ve observed strong leadership skills as well.
Actually, “skills,” is not the right word because that implies stuff that can be learned, and church leadership is more than skills, though skills are important. In fact, according to the New Testament, leadership in the church of Jesus Christ is a spiritual gift from God.
Many people can take the bull by the horns and push and shove their way to getting their agenda accomplished. A good church leader, however, never forgets that their personal agenda is quite beside the point. A good church leader will never forget that it’s God’s agenda that matters. That is, a good church leader must always balance their own ego with listening to God together with other church leaders and the pastor in order to decide how to proceed.
It’s obvious that such called by God leaders exist in this church. Some we know. And, some, I’m sure, we’ve yet to discover.
Beyond leaders, we can’t let this moment pass without commenting on the importance of what’s been going on in our midst for the last several weeks. More than 20 persons have come forth in recent weeks saying you can count on me just about every week (and most of them every week) to help in the church office or to keep our building beautiful and clean. Others of you give enormous amounts of time in our choirs, in our Sunday School, on our technology committee or publishing our newsletter or keeping our web-site updated, or recording our financial gifts or being volunteer treasurers for this church. Many others have once a year jobs that occupy or preoccupy them for dozens of hours in a shorter space of time – our fairs and dinners and Covenant to Care. Still others and most of the above persons also give numerous hours every month to the 20 plus committees, task forces, boards that this church has.
To grow ourselves into a new church, we’ll need leadership, leaders. Thanks be to God we’ve got them. But we’ll also need followers and managers and doers. And, thanks be to God, we’ve got them too! I think we’re way ahead of the curve in this department.
Characteristic number five: “Effective churches have a strong, change oriented, gifted pastor.”
There are a couple of reasons that make this characteristic a challenging one. One is the limited supply of strong, change oriented gifted pastors. That is, some may be change oriented, but not particularly gifted. Others may be gifted, but not necessarily change-oriented.
That’s one problem. The other problem is that some churches behave like the dog who chases cars and one day catches one. And the dog doesn’t know what to do with it. Some churches get the gifted, change oriented pastor they’ve been wanting, but don’t know what to do with him or her so they throw them back.
Dealing with a gifted, change oriented pastor is hard for a congregation. That pastor will both make you work harder than you’ve ever worked and make you work harder in ways different than you’ve ever worked before. Plus try to encourage you to alter the goals you’ve been working toward for many years. No wonder many churches prefer the status quo. It’s much easier than dealing with a gifted, change oriented pastor.
Jeanne says no one believes me, but honestly, I don’t know how much longer I’ll be with you. I hope to know soon. However, when my time to leave is identified, I’ll work very closely with you and our SPRC to be as clear as can be with the DS and bishop about the qualities needed for a new pastor.
I’ll also work with the SPRC to work with you to prepare you to receive your new pastor in the very best way possible so that at the very least you get off to a fantastic start.
This is what I am sure of. The just-right pastor for Prospect Church is out there. Living and breathing right now, hopefully asking God to show him or her God’s will. By God’s grace, this pastor will come here.
To conclude, with only three characteristics left – maybe the boldest characteristics – I’ve tried to lead you little by little to the conclusion that to be an effective church we’re really going to have to be a new church. To say the least, we can’t just focus on working harder at what we’ve always been doing. If ever that strategy worked, it no longer will.
No, to be a successful, effective church is going to mean some big changes. And the sooner we come to grips with what God is requiring of us, the better.
And, then, the fun begins. Or, actually, in my opinion, the fun is beginning even now.
The author Annie Dillard writes about what ought to go on when people gather to worship the living God in church. She writes, "It is madness to wear ladies straw hats and velvet hats to church, we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares, they should lash us to our pews."
As we move to becoming a new church for a new age, we’re going to have some absolutely wonderful, incredible, best times of your life times because Christ is in this with us. However, if we are following Christ – if we are following the living Christ, the Lord of the Church: Don’t bring your straw hats or your velvet hats. Bring your crash helmets.