~ by the Pastor and guest writers ~
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“Liquid Fire in the Church” (February 23, 2004) Greetings to all of you from London, England. By the time this newsletter comes out Dottie and I will be making our way back home after some vacation time. I thought about trying to send my article for the newsletter by email from London but was not sure about relying on the technology. Thinking about the world we live in led me back to a couple of things I recently read by Rodger Nishioka, a member of the faculty at Columbia Theological Seminary and the Rev. Dr. Susan Andrews, Moderator of the 215th General Assembly of our church. Both speak of transformation from a “solid church” into a “liquid church.” Based on current sociological theory, the solid church of the past is one that emphasizes structure, permanence, rationality, and certainty—a predominant concern with order. But the liquid church, intent on serving the reality of a postmodern world, is a new kind of community. Susan Andrews points out that the liquid church embraces “ambiguity, mystery, wonder, flexibility, and change—and is much more concerned with ardor” (Ideas, Spring 2004). What a great word—ARDOR! Imagine the church filled with fiery intensity, full of devotion, imagination, mystery! In other words, liquid fire in the community of faith. Our moderator goes on to suggest some ways we as Presbyterians can become more fluid in our witness to the liquid fire of Christ’s living Spirit. I will mention a few. I have copies of Rodger’s article (Journal of Preachers, Advent 2002) and the one by Rev. Andrews. Drop by and I’ll make sure you get copies of both. Now, what about a liquid church: Participatory Worship—That may mean taking a look at how to balance the dramatic structure of Reformed worship with the relational variety of emerging worship styles—music, preaching, and sacramental ritual—that emphasize congregational participation. Flexible Decision Making—In a too-busy world, traditional committee structures don’t always work. Perhaps ministry teams especially created for visioning and accomplishing a concrete purpose fit more easily into contemporary lifestyles. Invitational Evangelism—“Rather than pressuring people through judgment and fear, the liquid church invites people into hospitable community. Welcoming people as they are, accepting the gifts and ideas and suggestions they bring with them, and then growing in discipleship and commitment—this is the fluid kind of spirituality that a liquid church can offer to a thirsty generation.” There are several more ideas but I wanted to mention these three. May God lead and guide us as we journey together in the days ahead. Pray for God’s wisdom as together, we discern where God wants to lead us.
 “Transformation in the Church” (February 11, 2004) This past week I shared an article with our Session members that addresses transformation in congregations. The author of the paper, Rev. David Hawbecker, points out “We live in a culture that worships success.” He goes on to say that change in congregations takes time, patience, energy, and tools. Transformation can take years of work. As Rev. Hawbecker reminds us, “In reality, real transformation, a changing of the culture of a congregation, a re-engaging of the community, can take 10 years or more.” I have spent time thinking about these words and my thoughts have led me back to a basic question that brings people to a church: “How can I have a spiritual life?” or “How can I get God in my life?” These are different questions from 30, 40, or 50 years ago. In many ways, the church has not done a good job answering these questions. Too often the church has been more like a club people join and the church has answered these questions with a committee assignment or a position on session or with tepid “fellowship” that can be found as readily—perhaps better—elsewhere. Today more people are asking the kinds of questions and expressing the kinds of longings for which the church needs to be prepared to respond. The longings for depth, meaning, for worship and spiritual practices that put a person in touch with the sacred, and for forms of engagement with others that are real and honest. To be sure, not all seekers want to pay the price that is required. There are those who want short-term highs, quick fixes, and whose patience for the long-term work of transformation will quickly wear thin. Still, they are asking for what the church, at its most basic and essential, is about: communion with God, a spiritual life, a change, and healing. When I speak of healing I am not speaking primarily of mental or emotional illness, but of healing as a relationship with God, with self, and with others in a community of meaning and purpose. If you have traveled with young children then you know one of their persistent questions: “Are we there yet?” In one sense, the church, this side of eternity is never “there yet.” One day we will get there but in the in between times we are called to be in partnership with God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the community of faith as we seek answers to the questions I have raised. I end by coming back to the purpose of the church. We are about transforming people in the light of God’s grace—revealed in the Exodus, the Incarnation, and the Resurrection. Resurrection—what a glorious word! Death precedes a resurrection, a transformation. What needs to die in order for transformation to take place? I want to think on these things for the future and I hope you do as well. Walter Brueggemann, who teaches at Columbia Seminary in Georgia, captured something of what transformation and resurrection means when he told a gathering of mainline clergy: “The world for which you have been so carefully preparing is being taken away from you, by the grace of God.”
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