Epiphany 6 - Tuesday - Seven Questions Every Church Should Ask Itself - Number 1

The Rev. Dr. Gary Nicolosi, rector of Saint James’ Westminster Anglican Church in London, Ontario wrote an article a number of years ago entitled “Seven Questions that Every Church Should Ask Itself.” It has stimulated my thought process for a long time. You can read his entire piece here: Seven Questions

Over the course of the next eight days, I want to take each one of Nicolosi’s questions and address how it relates to my own church: Christ Church Episcopal in Hudson, Ohio. But, my answers can relate to your church, your diocese, and your denomination. I wish to do so because we are living in extraordinary times where things are changing around us. What themes, concepts, theories, ideas and beliefs that we thought were cornerstones of the faith are being challenged and changed before our every eyes?

What are the constants? There are values and beliefs that stand the test of time. Our local churches must know what those principles are and be willing to hold on to them as the storms of life and the culture wars rage around us.

The first question by Father Nicolosi reads: What would be lost, and how would the world be worse off, if our church ceased to exist?

Nicolosi writes: “Today, secular organizations are providing many of the services that the church used to fulfill. From social service agencies to seniors’ gatherings to self-help groups to yoga classes, many of our physical, emotional and relational needs are being provided by a plethora of organizations, none of which are religious. What then, is the unique purpose of the church that no other organization can provide? Why does the church exist? What would be lost if the church ceased to exist?”

In regards to Christ Church Episcopal in Hudson, Ohio, I want to begin my answer by addressing the question raised by Father Nicolosi: Why does the Church exist?

The answer in my mind is pretty straight forward. As the Swiss philosopher and theologian Emil Brunner wrote, “The Church exists by mission as a fire exists by burning.” Christ Church Episcopal exists to accomplish the mission of Jesus. Period! There is no other agenda. There is no other course of action. If Christ Church Episcopal is not about the mission of Jesus than we might as well close our doors, sell the property and give all the money collected to a worthy charity in our area.

What is the mission of Jesus? The answer is found throughout the Gospels but is best summarized in Matthew 28. Jesus said: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We are called to make disciples who will follow the teachings and example of Jesus.

Christ Church Episcopal exists because of Jesus and for the proclamation of The Way. If any member of our congregation has any other agenda than that of Jesus, the body will function poorly. Like so many other churches in our area, there are too many agendas in the local congregation that have nothing to do with the saving work of the Gospel of Jesus. Power and control issues, political and personal agendas need to be left at home and should be challenged every time they get in the way of the mission of Jesus.

When I first discerned a call to Christ Church, I was struck by a phrase in the Parish Profile that stated the congregation had “too many chiefs and not enough indians.” The language is all wrong! The Church has never been about “chiefs and indians.” After twenty-three years in serving churches, my fervent belief is that if you want to be a “chief” in the church – you are not following the call of Jesus. Our Master did not call us to lord, rule, or run roughshod over one another. As Christians we are called to be servants desiring the best for one another; not insisting on our own way; and when we screw up, we are to reconcile with one another.

Jean Vanier in his book Community and Growth puts it this way: “A community becomes truly and radiantly one when all of its members have a sense of urgency in their mission. There are too many people in the world who have no hope. There are too many cries which go unheard. There are too many people dying in loneliness. It is when the members of a community realize that they are not there simply for themselves or their own sanctification, but to welcome the gift of God, to hasten his Kingdom and to quench the thirst in parched hearts through their prayer and sacrifice, love and acts of service, that they will truly live community. A community is called to be a light in a world of darkness, a spring of fresh water in the Church for all people. If a community becomes lukewarm, people will die of thirst. If it bears no fruit, the poor will die of hunger” (Community and Growth, page 89).

What then, is the unique purpose of the church that no other organization can provide?

There is not one organization in Hudson, Ohio that can provide what the Church provides: the message of salvation in the person of Jesus Christ. How is that done? It is accomplished every Tuesday evening when alcoholics and recovering alcoholics gather in fellowship and speak about their Higher Power. It happens early in the morning when a group of men gather for breakfast, fellowship, prayer and discussion around the Scriptures. It takes place in December when families offer to share out of their abundance and reach out to other families in need. It comes about when a small group of men and women head to Akron and feed people at the Open M. It transpires on Sunday mornings when the faith community gathers together to praise God, declare that God reigns and that we are all called to share in Jesus’ ministry of compassion and justice.

Unfortunately this type of ministry is not being done enough in our community of faith at present. Personal agendas, accusations, and church polity are destroying what was a blossoming ministry. Until parties are reconciled; until personal agendas are confronted and abandoned; until the mission of Jesus once again becomes the cornerstone that holds up the entire ministry, Christ Church Episcopal will never become “the shining light on the hill.”

It is truly a defining moment in the life of the congregation. We have come to a crossroads. The decision to be made is ours and ours alone discerning the will and promises of God. We can walk in the destructive ways of the past that bring about division and injury in an unbroken pattern that occurs every seven to eight years: or we can follow Jesus and walk in his Light. On that path there will be no place for chiefs or for indians – only servants who wish to serve the Master and discover abundant life.

What would be lost if Christ Church Episcopal in Hudson, Ohio ceased to exist?

Three things would cease to exist:

• An oasis of hope.
• A shelter from the stormy path of life.
• The Gospel of Jesus proclaimed.

Over the course of the past six months, I have had the opportunity to worship each and every Sunday in different Christian settings throughout Summit County and Greater Cleveland. I have attended large churches and very small ones; conservative and liberal; Protestant and Roman Catholic. To be honest, I have to say that it is pretty depressing out there in “church land”: leaders grasping at the latest marketing tools trying to “sell” the Gospel and get people in the doors; some churches that have no concept of welcome whatsoever – which is scary in and of itself; music that is so poorly rehearsed that it never should have been allowed out of the choir room! 

The worst criticism I have is that, in far too many congregations that I have worshipped with, the Gospel is not being articulated – which means the Gospel is not being heard. I often left these houses of faith wondering if the clergy still believed that Jesus is Lord and had actually been raised from the dead.

In the midst of all this vagueness, there is reason for hope. There are three churches I have attended where Jesus is proclaimed and where I tend to worship on a regular basis – The Community of Saint Peter’s in Cleveland, Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Hudson, and The First Presbyterian Church of Hudson that meets at Christ Church on Sunday mornings in our chapel. In all three communities I felt a strong sense amongst those gathered of why they were there and what they believed. The clergy were confident and dynamic leaders who spoke the truth plainly, preached about Jesus and how his message connected to my daily life, and were not afraid to challenge those present when needed. How refreshing!

                                                             

During my time as Rector, I can say with a very clear conscience, that Christ Church Episcopal was a place where the Gospel was preached Sunday after Sunday. And we have tried to take the message and live it in our daily lives. I trust that I will be able to continue that message of grace and assist in making that particular Christian community "a spring of fresh water" for all people.

All of this can be probably summed up in a wonderful and powerful story that follows below.

Tomorrow’s question: How does your church add value to people’s lives that they cannot live without – whether they know it or not?

Love One Another - Brian