As a deployed staff person, I am blessed to be able to travel throughout our synod and see God at work in powerful, holy, tender, and amazing ways. Servant-leaders (rostered and lay) are deeply committed to living out the gospel in word and deed, with love and grace, facing the challenges of our time with courage, hope, and trust in the One who promises to “make all things new.”
I also see a lot of anxiety, fear, uncertainty, and grief in congregations. Worship attendance in most places has not returned to pre-COVID levels and may not. Many leaders are exhausted and have not yet recovered from the demands of a harsh, radical pivot during COVID. Our faith communities are aging. Transitions are happening everywhere. Some congregations are no longer able to sustain a full-time pastor. There is a wave of clergy retirements unfolding, and a diminishing pool of pastors available for calls. There are congregations and leaders in serious conflict. Sometimes all this feels overwhelming.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills, from where will [our] help come? [Our] help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)
God’s got us!
As we live through this historic era of radical change… as people of faith marked with everlasting Easter hope… we need to remember, God has us. So, we need to ask ourselves critical questions about our life, moving forward… considering… perspective, purpose and partnerships.
Perspective
Fear causes us to pull back and turn inward, to cling more tightly to that which is familiar, to simply try harder to do the things we’ve known, traditional patterns and practices which are becoming less and less effective. We need to turn… to change our perspective from an inward to an outward focus. To broaden our view and look toward our communities more deeply. Can we see our neighbors, as they are, where they are… and view things from their perspective?
Purpose
Can we courageously ask ourselves “why?” Why are we a faith community in our place? Who is that gospel love intended to bless, welcome, lift, heal, transform. Jesus said, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32) Beloved, we are the ambassadors of that ongoing holy work, to be God’s rescuing love, not just for ourselves. How is that rescuing love lived out through our faith communities?
Partnerships
The traditional model of self-sufficient congregations is becoming more unsustainable. Bishop Egensteiner and his staff have been exploring numerous, more innovative ways to be church in our communities… together… through collaborations and partnerships… to imagine a different way of being church. Some of the exciting efforts in my conferences include:
- Three neighboring congregations, once vibrant, thriving ministries… have been in steady decline for a long time. Leaders from each of those congregations have been in prayerful discernment and conversation for almost two years about moving from independent ministries toward becoming partners in a regional expression of church for the sake of their community. Each congregation has chosen three lay leaders to serve on a joint Collaborative Table to explore new ways to function, thrive and serve. With the help of a coach/consultant, along with two strong pastors, committed lay leaders, and the Bishop’s office… the Holy Spirit is stirring exciting, life-giving possibilities and new vision.
- The Northeast Penn and Metro NY Synods have partnered across geographic boundaries, and joined with Koinonia, to share a pastor along the Delaware.
- Farther north, two Kingston congregations have found common ground with a shared pastor.
- We are working with our ecumenical partners, exploring possibilities.
- An organic relationship between two established ministries is unfolding. A larger, stronger congregation is embracing their smaller, struggling neighbor. They are doing important ministry… together… building relationships as they discern their future.
- Several other congregations are exploring the possibility of a merger that could offer opportunities to reinvest, redirect, and repurpose assets for a stronger, united presence in their community.
- There is so much more to consider and imagine in leadership development and strategic vision in conferences.
These kinds of creative ventures and experiments call us to step out in ways that feel uncomfortable and risky, so that we can discover and discern new ways to be the Body of Christ in the world. Some will take root and blossom, some may not. Yet we are called to follow Jesus and accomplish what Jesus has called us to… to be his gracious love loose in the world.
50 years from now, that generation will look back and see all that God was up to among us. They will see how things worked out. It will all be clear. But for us… in this generation… things are confusing, uncertain, unpredictable, at times overwhelming and perhaps terrifying. Though we long for clarity and control, our calling is to take one step at a time, by faith, trusting our Good Shepherd to guide, bless and provide. So together, let’s consider “perspective, purpose, and partnerships,” remembering “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given us.” (Romans 5:5b)
Beloved, God’s got this. God’s got us!