This afternoon I had an interesting conversation with a friend and his curate about worship within their Church. Peter is Vicar of a growing evangelical church of the kind that many of his tradition aspire to be vicar of.
The personal reality is quite different and I would bullet point the issues as follows:
- They both have become increasingly concerned with the high turnover within the Church among those who do not assume lay leadership roles: a rough estimate is about 20% in the past two years. (the curate was the first to identify this) The main reason for these departures is people no longer finding what they need spiritually within the congregations and home groups on offer. I offered the suggestion that the evangelical tradition has always been strong on "new faith" and less strong on deepening faith or dealing with people who move on (say Fowlers stages 4 and 5). To my suprise neither of them had come across Fowlers stages of faith - and there were lots of "ahas" when I briefly explained it. ( They were trained at the same college 12 years apart - which has gone down in my estimation)
- Together with his colleague they have tried to offer a more "open" style sermon - keeping the reassuring pattern of theme teaching over a number of weeks - but asking questions as well as offering answers. This is has not gone down well - with valued members of his ministry team being among the most agressive critics. I would be interested to hear of examples of other churches which have succesfully offered a more varied style of sermon within this tradition.
- I sensed that both of them were increasingly frustrated with just how "churchy" their congregations were becoming - both in their attitudes to mission (" come and join us") and in their insistence that the changes made in his predecessors time which made the church so much more culturally relevant and accessible have now become set in stone. For example the chairs which were introduced to offer a more flexible layout have now become rooted in a definite pattern with much expressed unease if other layouts are attempted.
- With a pattern of authorised (but not paid) ministry what do you do when the very people who were chosen for their forward thinking, become locked in past or redundant ideas and roles. While a paid person might be expected to move on at some stage, this does not apply to volunteers. Peter has introduced some new people and new roles, but has been accused of undermining existing ministries in the process.
My own reaction has been somewhat ambiguous:
On the one hand it was good (actually reasuring if that does not sound too cynical) to realise that all is not rosy in the gardens of evangelical success
On the other hand it saddens me that there is appears to be such a lack of support for clergy in this position from within their own tradition - this is partly as they both realise a reluctance to ackowledge the problem with their own club which is dominated by a culture of success.
The pressure not to rock the boat is immense, particulary on the curate.
My prayers and listening ear will be with them in the months ahead.
Brilliant Tom. Please forgive the anonymous but this describes where I am exactly and the frustration is growing. Much to my suprise when I next move the last thing I will look for is an evangelical parish. God moves in wonderful ways. May the Lord bless you as you offer this ministry. If I lived nearer I would be asking to meet with you.
"Successful" vicar!
Posted by: Anonymous | 31 October 2005 at 19:03
Tom, thanks for this post. It seems to honestly take in the problems at this church without just bashing them.
Also, I haven't figured out the whole "Sites of Interest" thing on the ring, but if you put the code back on, I'll move you back in the queue. It was something the ringsurf computer did, not me.
Posted by: Emily | 01 November 2005 at 00:49
Yes another thanks for this perceptive and gracious post which connects with my American Episcopal experience too.Anonymous for the same reasons as successful Vicar!
If you are ever in the States (Washington to be more exact) then there would be many who would need to hear this.
May the Lord bless you.
Timid leader!
Posted by: Anonymous | 01 November 2005 at 01:53