SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER - LETTER TO THE CHURCH

Dear Friends in Christ,

I have always maintained the term “organized religion” is an oxymoron. Well, a recent Alban Institute article speaks to the fact that many young adults (those born from about 1975 through about 1992— and there are in the neighborhood of 72 million of these folks) can, at least loosely, be categorized under the newly invented heading “Nones” when it comes to church involvement.

Younger than the general population, Nones do believe in God. But Nones are skeptical about “organized religion.” For them, “organized religion” is an oxymoron too. Hence, the name Nones— no church affiliation.

Still, this group is largely made up of socially-conscious people, people who want to make an impact. But they do not relate well to “traditional institutional structures,” like churches.

Now, many studies say membership is declining in mainline Protestant denominations, in part because they don’t evangelize well. Indeed, ask someone who belongs to a mainline church about the “E” word and you will likely be told those of us in the mainline are culturally self-conscious about evangelism.

So, the advent of the Nones, these people who want to make an impact but do not relate well to “traditional institutional structures,” may be good news for the mainline churches. Why? Nones are put off by traditional evangelism techniques, the very techniques we in mainline churches tend to reject.

This poses an obvious question: how does one evangelize without evangelizing? In the Alban Institute article mentioned above, Tom Brackett, church planting specialist for the Episcopal Church, says: “One reason many churches don’t evangelize well is they feel the motivation for it is too self-serving.” Indeed, Brackett believes a focus on evangelism as a strategy for church growth is counterproductive, especially with young adults. A more positive approach lies “in pointing out the ways God is already active, transforming lives, connecting us to each other.”

In 2008, The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts initiated the Relational Evangelism Pilot Project. This project, this ministry is not about “converting” anyone.

This ministry strives first to listen for what another person wants, feels, is saying. (When your prime goal is to listen, you don’t convert anyone. God does the converting.) So, this “relational evangelism” is about having deep relationships. Or, as I have said from the pulpit: evangelism is easy. All it requires is being friendly.

The Gospel, you see, has always been spread by building relationships and community. Further, when members of a church strive to build relationship by sharing what the mission of that congregation is about, that church then offers ways a newcomer can become involved. I would suggest “relational evangelism” is crucial not only in this age of religious pluralism, it is actually how real evangelism has been done since the day after Pentecost.

When we strive to be relational through intentional listening, people can become open to the love God offers. The love offered by God always seeks a deeper relationship with all creation and always responds to heartache which can be seen in the world. In short, relational evangelism can contribute to the creation of healthy environments in which young adults listen to God at work in their lives and discern ways their gifts can contribute to the reign of God. This can lead them to make the impact they seek to make.

All of which is to reiterate: this should be good news for those of us in churches which are “culturally self-conscious about evangelism.” We do not need to worry about the “E” word. We need to actively participate in the “R” word: relationship.

Here is one way to “actively participate in the ‘R’ word.” The Pulitzer Prize winning author, Chris Hedges, will be speaking at our church at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 26th. Do you know someone who might be interested in hearing Chris? You can practice “relational evangelism.” Invite a friend to come listen.


In Faith,


Joe Connolly

P.S. A reminder— the topic of Hedges address will be his most recent book: Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle.