Ratchetting Up!

I have recently begun serving as Lead Interim Minister at a large congregation in rural Minnesota. The people and leadership I have met are truly wonderful servants of Jesus. Their hearts are large with love, their concrete acts of compassion are numerous, and they are willing to do more. Furthermore, the organization, design, and care of the building are the best I have seen in a congregation. This is a testimony to the high level of responsibility within the people. A major fire over two years ago allowed them to rethink the building design and overall architectural configuration. The challenge before the congregation now is how to use this facility and considerable generosity to move ahead with new ideas for ministry/mission. The church is a blessing to this rural community and is loaded with professional and city leaders.

Does this sound familiar? How many of us belong to similar congregations, filled with good folks with a loving sense of Jesus and generous hearts, supporting compassion efforts? These actions need to be celebrated and encouraged. And built upon.

The building efforts seem to be in two directions: 1) Explore the community areas of need and design response strategies; 2) Begin teaching about the difference between charity and justice.

My efforts at addressing the above two points are beginning to focus on the following efforts:
1) Sponsoring open houses in the parsonage called "Firesides" (because there is a wonderful fireplace in the living room), to include singing, eating, drinking (coffee, no alcohol), prayer, a hang loose feeling, and a book study on Shane Claiborn's Irresistible Revolution. Great book! It is his story of his movement from the establishment church to his present vocation of being part of the "Simple Way" alternative church community. This turn away from the boredom of the institutional church to this alternative, counter-cultural expression is the story of his radicalism. He is not anti-institution, but more "let's do more"; 2) Work with the Church in Society Board to look beyond the walls of the congregation; 3) To invite community leaders to address the congregation about community realities. To me, the ultimate challenge is to encourage the mainline congregations to "do more" given the resources at their disposal. It seems to me that many congregations are not challenged enough to reach higher, to elevate their thinking and concretize more action. Indeed, it may well be that we "lefties" bail too soon on our established congregations, and not spend enough time nurturing the people to move beyond the status quo. Yes, there are risks, like being asked to leave, or just being politely "shunned". And there are limits to the rejection that each of us can endure. But I cannot help but feel it is worth a shot to try, and to keep on trying. And if we are beaten down, we have each other! And Jesus!

Although I have great criticism of the Far Right Christian "Crazies" and their congregations, I admire their passion for addressing life and political issues with an uncommon fervor, albeit narrow sighted and often prejudicial and bigoted. The challenge for us folks, and the reason for the Colorado Confession, was to challenge the mainline church to "ratchet up" its social justice and peace ministries, armed with a more thoughtful Biblical understanding and healthier personnas. I think our congregations are up to being challenged to a higher level of faithfulness. I read a comment by Cornell West: "We Christians have taken the blood of Jesus at the foot of the cross and changed it into kool aid". It is irresponsible to simply allow our congregations to retreat into courageless comfort. The People of God are worth our sacrifice to encourage greater encounter with justice and peace issues. We cannot bail. Our congregations need us.

Peace!
Ron