Static church

Following on from the four state diagram of church based upon the two parameters of 'Resource' (Spiritual health, People, networks, building, equipment, money, etc.) and 'Mission' (Going into all the world, making disciples, being Christ to the world - taking Christ to the world.), I thought it might be helpful to consider each of the fours states of 'being church' that exist, beginning with 'Static Church'.

In the two parameter (MR - Mission and resource) model a static church is one that has enough money to pay its way and generally exists for those within its walls rather than outside. Traditionally churches like these will continue to potter comfortably along doing as it always has and attracting new members who usually come into an area from a church which is similar. A conversation with a static church member told me that the people did church as they wanted and because they paid their share and kept well below the radar (after if there's nothing to shout about, good or bad, then people tend not to notice you) they were generally left to their own devices.

The church did everything it always did, Fairs and Fetes, Harvest Supper, Candlelit Carols, Beetle Drives (is that something to do with farming?) and all the other stuff that made church the place to be when the members were kids all still happened. There was a choir with an organ and nowhere was there a guitar to be found. It was fifties church made possible today - a sort of Beamish Museum for the Anglicans!

The members assumed that because they paid and maintained their numbers they were a successful church and you know what, I don't think they were wrong! There is something to be said for maintenance in places where mission isn't anything other than a nice concept, after all the community was pretty static and the nature of the place was such that those moving in, when homes became available, were pretty much the same people. The problem will come when those who start moving in to the area are dechurched or unchurched and fresh stocks to replenish the pews diminish. The sudden awareness that mission is needed to pay the share and fill the pews is more than just a culture shock (as some of those with whom I engage are beginning to find)!

So if you're in a static church why not start to look at how you might add a missional element into what being church is for those around you? It's what we are called to be and it's much easier to start the ball rolling in an environment that is relaxed and working to its own agenda than to trying to engage in looking outwards when you find you can't pay your bills and the share is looking unpayable.

Pax