Want to strike fear in the hearts of many United Methodists?
Want ensure a phone call from your PPRC Chair and / or your District Superintendent?
Simply utter, even quietly or under your breath, that dreaded word no pew
sitter wants to hear C H A N G E. Certainly
I’m exaggerating for effect, but we all know that the idea or call for change in the Church causes fear and, too often, mistrust. Now there are all sorts of reasons why the thought of change causes fear, but the one I want
to address is our misunderstanding of the reality of change.
Change in the
church brought about the birth of Methodism. Change is the heart of the Christian message. Change is why Christ came and walked among us. As individuals and
congregations we are quick to speak of the transforming power of the love of
Jesus Christ. We celebrate stories of repentance and renewal. We accept the
concept of change expressed in the
words transform, repent, and renew, but we
shudder at the thought of change.
As United Methodists, we codify change
in our Book of Discipline saying “The mission of the Church is to make
disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” John Wesley was
the greatest source of change in the
Protestant Church in his time and change
was an everyday part of his personal spiritual life.
“Moving on to perfection”
requires (drum roll please)--- change.
As Pastors and Church Leaders it is our job, our calling,
our duty to shepherd people through change.
Life changes and spiritual changes. If we are not helping people, helping the
Church, change then we are failing in
our chief responsibility, the care of souls.
As part of a program developed by the Turner Center for Church Leadership at Vanderbilt University, I recently met with a group of young Pastors. Among these Emerging Young Church Leaders, change was an important and oft used
word. Change was coveted, change was embraced,
and change was sought after. I pray those young leaders hold on to the hope of change as their ministries mature. Too often I’ve seen seasoned Pastors shrug their shoulders
and say “What can you do, the church doesn't want to change?” Pastors who once shared the zeal of the folks I met with,
but resistance to change on the part
of their congregations and lack of support from their superiors has left them indifferent, and that is sad. When we
abandon the capacity to change we
have abandoned hope! If nothing else a Pastor must be hopeful.
In shepherding our Church through change we must have the support of our Church Administrators. Bishops
and District Superintendents must be willing to take those upset phone calls from
fearful parishioners (and big givers) and explain change in an affirming way that supports the Pastors they appointed
to Local Churches that are in great need of change.
Let’s face it friends, the Church will change. The question is do we want to manage and lead that change or do we just want to be swept up
in it and controlled by change?
I choose to embrace change.
Change that is reasoned, relevant,
necessary, and needed. Change that is
directed by God. Change that is
empowered by the Holly Spirit. Change
that is inherent in the love of Jesus Christ. Change that is and has been the tradition and focus of the Christian
church since the times recorded in the Book of Acts.
More to come as I learn from the Emerging Young Leaders of
the United Methodist Church.
