APRIL NEWSLETTER - LETTER TO THE CHURCH

Dear Friends in Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Kirk S. Smith, Episcopal Bishop of Arizona recently posted an article on the web page of that diocese. It’s about a topic in which all churches have an interest. The topic was how to get more young people in church. The content of that article (the lightly edited main points are below) will surprise many. This is the step-by-step plan offered by the Bishop.

1. Be genuine. Do not, under any circumstances, try to be trendy or hip, if you are not already intrinsically trendy or hip. If you are a 90-year-old woman who enjoys crocheting and listens to Beethoven, by God be proud of it.
2. Stop pretending you have a rock band.
3. Stop arguing about whether gay people are okay, fully human, or whatever else. Stop it. (Note: we’ve been there and done that.) Stop arguing about whether women are okay, fully human, or are capable of being in a position of leadership. Stop it. (Second note: we’ve been there and done that.)
4. Stop looking for the “objective truth” in Scripture; start looking for the beautiful truth in Scripture.
5. Actually read the Scriptures. Buy a Bible; read it. Start in Genesis; it’s pretty cool. You can skip some of the other boring parts. Do remember almost every book of the Bible has some really funky stuff in it, so keep #4 in mind. (If you have been taking Scripture literally, you may need to stop reading the Bible for about 10 years. Don’t worry— during those 10 years you can work on putting these other steps into practice.)
6. Start worrying about extreme poverty, violence against women, racism, consumerism and the rate at which children are dying worldwide of preventable, treatable diseases. Put all your energy into figuring out ways to do some good in these areas.
7. Do not shy away from all forms of worship: lighting candles, silence, laughter and extraordinary music. By “extraordinary music” I mean genuine, soulful, well-written, well-composed, original, four-part, unison, a capella, Gospel, funky-retro-organ, steel guitar, kazoo, Bluegrass, Taize music— all kinds of songs, hymns, cantatas, oratorios and anthems. Remember this: we are the church; we have a rich history of amazing music through which we worship God.
8. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
9. Learn how to sit with people who are dying.
10. Feast as much as possible. Cardboard communion wafers or bread cubes are a feast in symbol only. Humans can not live on symbols alone.
11. Notice visitors and smile genuinely at them, include them in conversations but do not overwhelm them.
12. Be vulnerable.
13. Stop worrying about getting young people into the church. Stop worrying about marketing strategies, building campaigns, parking lot expansions, etc. Take a deep breath. If there is a God, that God isn’t going to die.
14. Figure out who is suffering in your community. Go to them.
15. Remind yourself that you don’t have to take God to anyone. God is already with everyone.
16. Put time, care and energy into creating a beautiful space for worship and a wonderful service of worship. It is a time for being-together. Remember: your presence in worship is what makes worship live.
17. Make some part of the church building accessible for people to pray 24/7. Put some blankets there too, in case someone has nowhere else to go for the night.
18. Listen to the Wisdom and the Love of God more than you speak your opinions.
This is a fool-proof plan. If you do it, I guarantee that you will attract young people to your church. And lots of other kinds of people too. The end.

We are in the Season of Lent but before the next Newsletter is published Easter will be celebrated. Let us remember that in observing the Feast of Easter, the Feast of the Resurrection, we are not celebrating the institution known as the church. The church is merely and only a human institution.
The mission of that human institution is transformation— transforming lives. That is a message of the Resurrection. Lives are and can be transformed. Why? How?
Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, is the Christ, the Messiah, Risen, alive. When we, the church, remain focused on that truth and on that reality, the institution known as the Church will flourish.

In Faith,

Joe Connolly