Church Growth - Not about being popular

Now I know that this might just get some people going but the biggest problem the Church has at the moment is that there are so many people out there who are convinced that the way to grow church is to be a bunch of smiling people who refrain from commenting or criticising on the way people think, act and  generally behave.

Not only that but they also bend over backwards to give those who come what they want and will make church (that means locally) the place that they want it to be. A 'for instance' can be found in the area of baptism where people turn up and want it on their terms because, for them, it's a service (and not of the church kind) and a right that they are seeking. They come and often it seems demand that their little Damien is Christened and should we, being faithful to our call, dare to explain that there are some things that they have to do to get what they desire they will merely move on to another provider.

Discussing baptism with colleagues recently I found a plethora of views and practices. Some asked the baptism families to come for a period of time and actually turn up at church to understand what they were seeking to bring their sprog into. Others asked the families to have a period of instruction whilst others just asked them to come to a session which took them through the service and the things they might say.

One told the people that they, and the godparents or sponsors, were going to make promises to God and that if they weren't going to keep them them they, and the clergy, were putting themselves in a really dodgy position. Of course, those who were happy to continue regardless probably didn't think that the whole God bit were that real anyway - which beggars the question, 'Why are you here then?'

I have met many who have moved heaven and earth to accomodate people and their requests lest they end up with a bad view of Church. They talk about building relationships and yet, when one starts to dig, those who have received what they wanted rarely have a greatly different view of the Church and rarely are seen in the church building after the event - well not until they want another sprog baptised that is! I know of a church who have a three months attendance rule and because of this have seen a family meet the criteria, have their sprog baptised and then disappear until a couple of years later they repeat the process with the next child, and the next - but they never actually stay after they've had their desired service.

We are called to exhibit integrity not garner popularity (something those at the pointy end of the CofE itself might do well to consider) and the watering down of the baptism rite is just one of the many areas where we can be found lacking!

Recently, I heard of a family asked to have a baptism done in a place other than church. Now I've done this on a number of occasions where pastoral needs have demanded it but the reason for this was that they didn't want to have to travel to and from the booze up! Now this isn't the first time I've had this sort of thing myself (the best being the people who wanted me to cancel the main service so they could have their baptism at 11:30 so the service didn't get in the way of their party ('3:30 in the afternoon? That's no good- we'll all be too inebriated (they used a different word!) to get there by then').

The only grounds upon which baptism can be refused is that of unpreparedness - not knowing what they are doing and what it is all about. Now how of ten do we (as a lovely man from Church House, Westminster, once told us) exercise our role in society as a modern day shaman and provide a nice day out and some 'folk religion' that permits a baby to wear the family christening gown or consume the cake Nan's made or fulfil some other desire (like making sure your kid can get into Church school later) rather than engage with the faith they are seeking initiation into?

Our mantra should be: Accessible - integrity-filled - inclusive (not permissive) - engaging

Baptism is not the 'New Marriage' (no matter how much people mutter that mantra)

Baptism is not a meaningless rite

Baptism requires integrity on all sides and if it is missing from any one side of the triangle then it shouldn't be taking place - Simple innit?

And for those who don't get what they want - the question has to be:

What part are you willing to place and what actions are you willing to take

Jesus has done His bit

I'm willing to do mine

How's about you?

Madness and the uninsane

Looking at the post from the 'Mad Priest', which I posted yesterday (hard to believe that) I have received a number of comments, some of which are published on yesterday's blog, and others which are not.

Some tell me that we need to keep the insane from ministry positions, an aspiration which I'm afraid is all too late! Others tell me that the we need to keep our ministers 'pure', but I never realised that mental illness was a state of sinful existence. Mind you, when in the pentecostal movement I was told that mental illness was the result of unconfessed sin, perhaps that will suffice?

The reality is that the Mad Priest's response is one that demonstrates a degree of anger, bitterness and resentment at those whom he considers to have removed him from ministry and whilst I might not agree with the labelling of his bishop as a bigot, I can understand the reasons. What we see is the response of someone who is hurting and this is surely another area where we need to offer sensitive support (and perhaps a little correction in the form of a more measured, less vitriolic, response).

That the man chooses to live as he does is something for him to have decided and for those who are engaged with him to dialogue over if it is a problem. The problem for me is that it is an easy task for people to decide how they think someone should live, but perhaps there are reasons for them not conforming. Again, the key is engagement and dialogue - tow elements that are rarely to be found when dealing with the mentally ill (current or past - cant guess at future).

What I am concerned at is the potential for the Church to continue to shoot its wounded in this area, even if the occurrences are limited and few and far between. Surely one, wrongly handled causes us problems? It was for this reason that I have posted Gordon's story and the comments from MP. Not to be provocative 9in the wrong sense) but to provoke some thinking and a desire to see a balanced and positive response to this issue.

So . . . please take the time to read the two pieces - ask yourself what you would do if you were them and then ask yourself what you would do if you were presented with them?

What would Jesus have us do?

The time has come when the potter no longer looks for perfect vessels, cracked pots will suffice well if they can but contain just some of the Holy Spirit. Broken, shattered but able to be used for purpose? Then what right do we have to respond badly?

Pax

Madness and the believer

I find the issues around the subject of mental illness and Christians rather disturbing. Because of this, here's one of the things that appeared in our parish magazine this month:

Loving as Christ Loved Us
The subject of mental illness has cropped up a lot recently and I am saddened at the response of many to this subject.
People have used words like ‘locked up’ or ‘managed’ I get the feeling that this is an area many of us struggle with. And as we struggle, I get the feeling that a man, somewhere in time, is holding a scroll of the prophet Isaiah, and reading thus:

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

To proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour, and the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn; giving them beautiful headdress instead of ashes,

The oil of gladness instead of mourning,

The garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;

that they may be called oaks of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified."

If we cannot stand with those who know the Lord and have broken minds;

If we cannot stand with those who know the Lord and have broken lives;

If we cannot weep with those who weep, grieve with those who grieve, love those who are unloveable and yet know the Lord, what hope is there for the lost?

What hope is there for the Church?

Who can be saved?

What reason is there for His rising up today?



I wonder what the response will be?

Pax