The Screw

Kent walked up to the counter to grab a cup of coffee. I shagged a table in the corner. We had come to the Starbucks across the street from our subdivision to do some visioning work for the new church start we’re involved in. Pulling out Kent’s laptop I noticed that a screw in the bottom was loose. I flipped it upside down and waited for Kent to come back with his cup of coffee.

I asked him for his small Swiss army knife so I could tighten the screw. He was visibly annoyed but handed it over. After the repair he let his frustration out. “Why didn’t you ask me if I wanted that fixed?” he demanded. I had assumed that because a screw is loose on your laptop and that it doesn’t sit flat anyone would want their laptop repaired. Kent thought differently however. The screw was always coming loose, he explained, and besides, he didn’t mind that his laptop didn’t sit flat.

There is a fundamental difference in how Kent and I operate here. I tend to see what I perceive to be a need and address it. Kent tends to sit back and wait from someone to tell him what they want done. If they don’t ask he doesn’t just do something. I tend to move often without being summoned.

As we’ve traveled we’ve faced this situation again and again. We often perceive needs in ministries but haven’t been asked to address these area. What should we do? At times we’ve spoken up and raised concerns or questions that we believe are being overlooked. In other situations the change that we believe is needed is not going to be to be realized until much larger changes take place.

In each location however, change is needed. Whether verbalized or perceived we all need to be in a constant process of seeking where God is calling us next. Churches that are dying I believe have ceased to ask this question. Churches that are growing need to remember that we must always be asking it. I hope that I like the church always remain open to change. Sometimes that may require that I ask others to help me envision the future – in other moments I may need to step out in faith and push someone.

God’s peace, Eric

When Two become One

The Emerging Church Part II

What makes the church I spoke of earlier unique, however, is that they are trying to adapt. So much so that they are completely redefining what it means to look like the Church.

…

The following is a paraphrase to how this process occurred:

In walks Lee. He is a Presbyterian pastor who likes to study history, tell jokes and speak in farming metaphors.

“Our church is struggling,” he says to the congregation. “We need to plant seeds, fertilize soil and raise crops up. We must grow, not rot!”

His statement resonates with truth. At one point Lee’s congregation was thriving. It had nearly 900 members. But that was many years ago. Today the large, multi-building facility sits on a prime piece of real estate close to UC Santa Cruz but its congregation is aging and its membership is dwindling. Like many mainstream denominational churches it appears as another dieing congregation.

The member’s reaction is mixed. They are a close group and enjoy their current dynamic. Yet they cannot deny that the sanctuary feels empty.

Hesitantly they respond, “We know we must change. But how do we do this? How do we reach individuals who are different than we are?”

Their questions echo against the stain glass walls. They are afraid to wonder into the unknown. They are scared to reach out to individuals who are different than they are.

Simultaneously, a pounding is heard at the door. In walks a group of twenty-somethings wearing their Sunday best vintage jeans and Converse sneakers.

“Hey,” the oldest one speaks. His hair resembles a that of a slicked back rockabilly singer. “We are a non-denominational “emerging” church that would like to reach seekers, young adults and college age students in your area. Do you think we could rent some space?”

Lee’s eyes surveyed the room as he responded “We do not rent out our space but let us talk. We could work together. There is room enough for both of our tractors.”

…

Obviously, the churches union did not occur quite so easily and eloquently. In fact, the churches are still revving their John Deere Tractors to smooth out their differences. But the point is they are trying something new, thinking outside of the box and aren’t afraid to change.

And since their union began, much has changed. The offices have all been repainted, the fellowship hall has been transformed into a kick-ace coffee shop and there is even talk about removing some pews from the sanctuary to make room for more interactive spaces. The staff calls it extreme church makeover. But the splendor is not in the redesigned architecture. The beauty is in the way these two churches are working together to appeal to the community and culture around them.

…

Before Eric and I set foot within the church we met a girl at Starbucks. She had short dark hair and wore a rainbow bracelet. As I sat at the counter we began to make casual conversation.

“So what brought you into town?” she asked inquisitive, wondering why we would visit Santa Cruz in the middle of the winter.

“We are here to work at Vintage Faith Church,” I said wondering how she would respond.

Immediately her eyes lit up. “That is my church!” she said enthused.

“Oh, I said surprised. “What do you think of it?”

“I love it. It is a place where I can come, be myself and connect with God.”

…

I often daydream what the Church would look like if we could follow these two churches example. I dream of it adapting and uniting; planting and growing; as a place where people can come, be their selves and connect with God.

Let us all connect with God,

Kent

Blogging—a not so daily routine

The Emerging Church Part I

Peanut butter and jelly is heaven on earth—smooth, creamy goodness that lightly massages its strawberry sweet counterpart. Growing up I never seemed to eat enough. I ate peanut butter and jelly everyday at school from 6^th to 12^th grade. That is at least one sandwich per day for 1,260 straight school days. In my glory days I ate two. It was blissfully delicious.

To say I am a creature of habit is a vast understatement. I don’t just enjoy routines–I am defined by them. I figure out what I like and then I do it over and over and over again.

Last week Eric and I met a church with a similar story. It too had a routine. Its members found an approach, way and style to “church” that they loved and they did it over and over again. For 50 years the church served and worshiped God in a familiar and formulaic manner.

The problem with this practice is that eventually it loses its appeal. Sure this church, like most churches, had its days of splendor. There was a time when its pews were filled and praise echoed against its stained glass walls. But over time its approach lost its luster. It’s the sad tale of marginal utility—eventually people wanted something different.

Churches struggle with change. It is an ironic truth. Think about it. Unexplainable miracles—no problem; people speaking in tongues— sure; believing in a savior who died, rose again and was the son of God—yeah, alright, sign us up; but introducing new songs, less liturgy or different styles of worship—now we have a problem. For some ungodly reason churches are more likely to dwindle their membership down to a mere twelve faithful disciples than they are to adapt, heal and change.

But this posting is not an obituary. After six years, I found that turkey sandwiches aren’t as scary as they sound. And the same is true with the idea of an emerging church. The Christian Church is not a synonym for stale and stagnate; it is a group of people following Christ—living, breathing and changing in the same way that culture does.

To be the emerging Church means our roots lie deep within scripture, the example of the New Testament Church and our faith within Jesus Christ, but, at the same time, it means we are not afraid to change our outer appearance to reach the lost, unloved and marginalized.

I look at it in the same way my sister frequently changes her hair color and style. Some days her hair has pink highlights, other days it is purple. But who she is never changes. She is always the same loving, highly creative and short tempered individual that I grew up with. The only thing that changes is the way she looks.

I believe the Church needs to be like my sister. We must change, adapt and share the grace and love we are blessed to know. Let us be a church that is not afraid of a bad haircut; let us be a Church who has violet highlights and loves it.

To the desire to change in all of us,

Kent