Easter 6 - Wednesday - The Pastor in the 21st Century Church

Text: Ephesians 1:1-10 (see below)

There has been a lot of chatter this week on the Episcopal sites about an article written by the Reverend George Clifford entitled: Do Churches Exist to Support Clergy? You can read the full post by clicking here. He writes:

“Is supporting their clergy the raison d’être for congregations to exist? In 2010, half of the 6,794 congregations in The Episcopal Church (TEC) had an average Sunday attendance (ASA) of 65 or fewer people; 58% of TEC congregations had fewer than 200 active, baptized members and only 15% have more than 500 active, baptized members. Nevertheless, TEC congregations generally want to have the services of a full-time, paid clergyperson” (Episcopalcafe.com).

George goes on to list a number of issues facing congregations. Some of his comments I fully agree with and some I do not. But, I do not believe he gets to the root of the problem. The dilemma is not congregations existing to pay their clergy. Instead, with declining membership, costs of maintaining buildings, economic woes affecting the entire country, the disproportionate percentage of church budgets going towards clergy compensation, etc., etc.: the issue is why is the Church still using outdated models for ministry in the 21^st century? Why has the Church been so slow to respond to the change happening all around us while other businesses are thriving? What is the fear that keeps the institutional Church from embracing or learning from successful business models?

It happens every year at Diocesan Convention, and it does not mater which Diocese you are associated with, the resolution for minimum clergy compensation comes to the floor and quickly passes without as much as a yawn. Then reality sets in and congregations realize that they cannot even begin to pay the minimum for a whole host of good reasons. Why does the dysfunctional family refuse to acknowledge the 800 pound gorilla in the room?

Perhaps it is because the clergy do not want to recognize and accept how fragile our job security really is – we have become “fat cats” enjoying a generous stipend coupled with a healthcare package and an excellent pension fund program. Perhaps our ‘communal” fear in having an honest conversation is that members of the congregation do want to admit how woefully far they are from living into the tithe – in many instances enslaved to debt and over spending. Perhaps our diocesan leaders are fearful of publicly conceding that they have no answers to the questions about leading the Church into the future so they hold on, “white knuckled”, to concepts and systems that are no longer effective and good for the whole. Perhaps the issue is that none of us have spent enough times on our knees listening to the voice of God and following in faith. I do not believe that these are the only reasons – but they are some of the motives why congregations, dioceses, and clergy are not having real and honest conversations about the serious financial matters facing our churches.

Leaders in the Church (that is truly all of us, friends) have got to start changing our mind set about how we will move forward into the future. A “pioneering” mentality will be essential if we are to survive the massive amount of change taking place all around us. Now, more than ever, the Church needs to seek leaders who are “mavericks” - someone who refuses to play by the rules. He/she isn't scared to cross the line of conformity. But their unorthodox tactics get results! Does the example of Saint Paul come to mind? To put it another way, our faith community would greatly benefit from “entrepreneurial” leaders who are more eager to save souls than the institution.

Unfortunately, far too many in the Church have embraced a “settler” mentality and such an approach in the end will lead only to the death of the institution. “Settlers” care about the buildings, the worship service on Sunday, and making sure that their “fire insurance” is up to date. They have little or no concern about sharing the message of the Gospel with others or growing the Kingdom. If the leaders of the early church had not been pioneers, you and I would never have known about Jesus. What is the difference between then and now? Nothing!

I believe that in my lifetime, I will experience the following….

My vocation as a full time paid clergy person will no longer be a reality within the next ten years. I envision a bi-vocational entrepreneurial experience which in the long run will bring life and hope to the Body of Christ. Most clergy today spend too much of their time tucked away in their office waiting for the phone to ring with an emergency so that they can respond like the fire department of EMS. Or, they sit, like I have, on this diocesan committee or that, pushing around a lot of paper but not really accomplishing anything for the Kingdom of God.

The clergy person who is seeking the Kingdom is serving others in the world. I see a time when the pastor of a faith community is working Monday through Friday in a “regular” job – engaging people, listening, and learning new concepts and attributes that can be used in the proclamation of the Gospel. That same pastor will then lead a congregation on the Sabbath but will bring to the table a whole host of life experiences previously unknown.

By not having a full time job in “the” Church, two opportunities will come to the fore. First, more of the ministry of the faith community will have to be embraced and accomplished by others (how refreshing!). The whole Body will have to be engaged in order for the community to grow and become whole. Second, a larger percentage of monies raised by the local congregation can be used for the good of the world and not as a compensation package. (Don’t get me wrong – I endorse paying pastors for the work which they do!) However, I believe that when persons see that their offerings are going “out” in larger percentages, the giving to that congregation will increase – others will benefit and the Kingdom will become known. That can only be a positive.

Is this a daunting vision? You bet. Does it frighten me? At times.

But, I am hopeful for the future because God is ultimately in control of my life and yours. Besides, there are persons in the world already living faithfully into this type of leadership and achieving great things for God. What can the Episcopal Church learn from them? In order to move into this style of “entrepreneurial”, “pioneer”, form of ministry, we are going to have to shed much of what we thought we needed to “be” the Church in the 21^st century. I am ready… what about you?

Love One Another - Brian

Who Is Running the Show?

Lawrence Kushner

God is to the world as our unconscious is to our everyday lives--quietly, invisibly, secretly guiding our steps; feeding us our lines; moving us into position; unifying everything we do. We are chastened to realize that what we thought was an accident was, in truth, the hand of God. Most of the time we are simply unaware. Awareness takes too much effort, and besides, it's more fun to pretend we are running the show.

Source: Eyes Remade for Wonder

Ephesians 1:1-10

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.