e.monarch

e.monarch.messenger

Executive Presbyter Joey Lee's Column

In her book The Great Emergence – How Christianity is Changing and Why (Baker Books, 2008,) author Phyllis Tickle takes a look back to see how and where the church experienced transition over time. She quotes another in positing that “about every five hundred years the Church feels compelled to hold a giant rummage sale.” It’s a humors way to make a serious point. The massive changes and shifts that we are undergoing as a society in general and church in particular are real and apparent all around us. This “Great Emergence” and what is happening in Christianity today can best be understood in a historical perspective that shows certain patterns and flows, so that we might detect similar patterns in our time.
Ms. Tickle’s observation is that “…every five hundred years, the empowered structures of institutionalized Christianity, whatever they may be at that time, become an intolerable carapace that must be shattered in order that renewal and new growth may occur. When that mighty upheaval happens, history shows us, there are always at least three consistent results or corollary events.
First, a new more vital form of Christianity does indeed emerge. Second, the organized expressions of Christianity which up until then had been the dominant one is reconstituted into a more pure and less ossified expression of its former self….The third result is of equal, if not greater significance, though. That is, every time the incrustations of an overly established Christianity have been broken open, the faith has spread.”
I continue to be challenged by the book, and look forward to hearing the author since she has been invited to speak at the upcoming 219th General Assembly in Minneapolis.
As I think about the mission and ministry that has been placed into our care, at times I feel overwhelmed at the complexity of the task, but remain hopeful and sustained but the task, and pray:
“... that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.“ (Ephesians 3:17-19)
Joey

Charlotte Powers' Moderator Column

Connecting with God and Each Other: Part 3
Well, another month has come and gone and it’s almost time for the June Presbytery meeting.

So much has happened since that last meeting. If you attended our late pastor Larry Burroughs’s memorial service, you now know where I became acquainted with the book, if You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve got to Get Out of the Boat by John Ortberg. Larry took our congregation at First Pres. through a book study using that book as the theme.

Many of us are fearful of change, of doing things differently, of challenging the status quo.

If we are willing to get “out of that boat” we can accept change, understand it better and be willing to challenge those around us. Ortberg asks us to think about our “boats.” What are they? Is fear or comfort a part of our boats? Does it keep us from moving forward and growing our faith so that we can step out and walk on the water?

This book led me to think about the boat of homelessness. Is there a way out of that boat? How much do we really know about the homeless? How do we as churches deal with the homeless? How can we help each other? Some of our churches have the homeless at their doors every day. We feel the need to help but are unable to fulfill requests for food, clothing or shelter. Many are looking for jobs or spiritual counseling. They attend church on a regular basis. However, many churches are unable to afford to provide. Other churches aren’t so closely impacted with the homeless. So how can we get “out of our boats” and walk together to provide the most basic of human needs to this very special population? This is an excellent opportunity for connecting congregations with each other and to get out of the boat and walk together for God.

I’m interested in hearing your thoughts. Feel free to contact me at cbpdis2@aol.com.

Remember, “walking on water means experiencing the power of God in our lives to do something we would not be capable of doing on our own.”

Charlotte