Reset or Resume

At a recent Conference we considered Recovery- Reorientation – Renewal. This wasn’t about a secular organisation’s thoughts on rebranding but the Church’s thoughts on ‘what’s next?’ Was it to reset or resume?

Do we need a map or timetable?

We spoke of using a map to find the way out, or a timetable to plan our exit strategy. We have seen how the Govt’s of the world have used such techniques but struggled with the flexibility, the unwieldy nature of society to comply with such structures. We wondered whether the church might see opportunities as the driving force? Having that ability to respond to what was needed as and when rather than using a predicted schedule – predicted by who?

In the past 14 months (and counting) we have seen the Church employ a hybrid format of worship. Not able to hold services physically in the Church building they utilised Zoom and Facebook to broadcast their form of worship Some people may struggle with seeing the traditional format of worship – a reason they possibly originally left the Church? Hence churches have also developed their style of online YouTube worship where possibly they have pushed the boundaries of traction. But we are good at the traditional worship – so why look to reset not resume?

Should we be talking to anyone, but really focus upon listening?

Folk have watched these online offerings – but the Church has not been able to know who these people are. But are we called to make disciples or membership lists?

If these people now watching the online worship are new to Church, what will they make of the language? What does the word God mean to you if you have been witness to a family loss during this pandemic? When people speak of sin, what exactly does this mean to an 80 year old, to a 20 year old? Perhaps that understanding that the youth of today has a different language may be true – and the old words of Church are incomprehensible now. Perhaps the language used in Church needs to be mirrored in the cafe’s – keep it simple and how you’d normally explain something, rather than using religious words. Is this our opportunity to reset not resume?

There’s a call to action: to seek to redress the decline in membership figures for the Church. But if people are learning about Church, about faith online, through Facebook and YouTube, will they be counted in the church statistics? If the drive is to get ‘people into church’ are we missing the point? Are we at a pivotal position: can we even not consider reset not resume?

Intentional

What if we were to intentionally, periodically, ‘be in the community’ “on a Sunday morning” – to listen?

What rather than go to Church? Could a group remain in Church to welcome, listen and chat? It’s an and not or situation.

Then we may understand what are the needs of our community. So rather than trying to predict their wishes with what we can deliver, we could work with other agencies to meet the needs. This would then also diminish the barriers of the Guest and Host, the Them and Us dilemma. We might now not start to see those perceived differences, the margins become less distinct. Generally Jesus’ ministry was with the people, not in the Synagogue.

Perhaps flexibility and spontaneity are key for the future?

These are thoughts emanating out of a subset of attendees at this Conference.