"Amusement Park" Church

Yesterday, I went out for a walk and was compelled to check out this "mega church" not far from my apartment complex. I have always been fascinated with "mega churches". I personally don't see their allure but the reality is that a lot of people do…or at least they are initially drawn to them. I knew from the onset that the building was large-you can see it from the highway. I also knew they have a staff of over 50. I always wondered what they used all that space for.  As I walked around the building it became very clear…they have a sports complex and a children's ministry area called Discovery Land that looks like an amusement park playground. 

As I continued to walk around the building I kept thinking this is like an amusement park with different "lands"! Who has a full blown fitness center and gymnasium in their church building? Apparently, they do! My next thought was that maybe this was one of their outreach ministries and the public could use it for free. Nope! Turns out it cost $35 per year for an individual membership. Yes, they do have a sports ministry but from what I could tell (from their website) they were not necessarily serving the poor or underprivileged. 

All this got me thinking about what does a particular church say about itself by the building they are in, the ministries offer, or the even the size they are? A conversation, with the Ministry Architects consultant Memorial Presbyterian Church (MPC), challenged me to think about the niche that MPC educational ministry fills in this community. How are we leaning into our mission to "Live and Learn God's Word"? In our Educational Ministry do we focus more on "attracting" new "members" with our "amazing" programs or great space - or is our focus building relationships, meeting people where they are on the faith journey, and equipping members to be the hands and feet of Christ in the community? 

It occurs to me that maybe the future of educational ministry is a balancing act between excelling at creating meaningful opportunities for spiritual growth and equipping disciples to "live God's Word" in the community. This will obviously look different for every congregation - even the "mega churches". What does it look like for MPC? Well that is what we are working on discerning and discovering? What does it look like in your context?

So, do you agree? What am I missing? What do you have to add to the "conversation"?

Diversity: It's the Individuals That Matter

I have been working at Dayton Avenue Presbyterian Church for a little over a month now. I love it! I love the people! I was told by Pastor David Stewart and the search committee that DAPC was a very diverse congregation and that the were diverse in many ways-racially, ethnically, educationally, and socioeconomically. I admit that when they told me this I thought to myself can a Presbyterian Church (USA) church really be that diverse? The statistics say that the PCUSA is predominantly caucasian, middle class, and highly educated. It is also true that all of the other congregations I have worked with or grew up in fit this image of the PCUSA. So, yes, I was skeptical that what they were telling me could really be true.

However, as I have come to know this congregation I am proud to say that it IS true! Each Sunday I come to work and worship I look around at the individuals sitting in the pews and smile. Yes, I smile because of the diversity I can see and that I can not see but know. Yet, I smile mostly because all of these people have stories to tell and stories to share with me and with one another (and I am looking forward to hearing their stories!). Diversity in a community of faith means nothing if the stories and lives of each individual member is not heard, honored, and respected. When this happens real community happens, transformation happens, and God smiles!

I smile because in many ways this congregation embodies what church is and can be. DAPC is a reflection of the culture of America and of St. Paul, MN. It is committed to caring for those who are with in the community of faith as well as those who live in the community where it is located.

Working with this diverse community is an exciting challenge for me. While I love the diversity, it is this same diversity that is forcing me to challenge my some of the stereotypes I did not realize I had about people. It is challenging me to think outside the box about Christian Education. It is challenging me to think about the fact that what I thought the future of Christian Education might look like may be realized in this setting much more quickly than I maybe I am ready for. In short it is challenging me to rethink what my ministry is in this particular community of faith called Dayton Avenue Presbyterian Church!

Christian Education as a Vital Ministry of a Congregation

You enter a congregation for their “Christian Education hour”. You might hear children singing, laughing, and talking. You smell bread baking and a smell you can’t quite define. You see beautiful banners, whimsical artwork, and adults walking a labyrinth. This is just a small sampling of the many aspects of Christian Education ministry. Each congregation’s Christian Education ministry looks different. Christian Education Ministry is not just for children. It is a vital multigenerational ministry within a congregation.

Christian Education Ministry can be defined in many ways. The Book of Order defines Christian Education (they use the term “nurture” instead of “education”) as “a process of bringing [people] to full maturity in Jesus Christ” (W-6.1003). I believe Christian Education can also be defined as any activity that enhances a persons understanding of their faith and helps them become more aware of The Holy (God) within and around them. As congregations and individuals we are called to worship God and serve God by serving others. Christian Education enhances, informs, supports, and shapes worship and mission and service in congregations and individuals. 

Through Christian Education ministries the people of God become more aware of The Holy within themselves. When they become more aware of God within them they become more fully engaged in worshiping God. Through Bible studies they learn about the ways God works in and through people and how God works within them for transformation. They learn about the how and why of worship. They are able to engage in worship in creative ways. Christian Education ministries are vital in shaping the worship life of a congregation.

“[Christian] nurture...[is] one way in which Christians minister to one another” (Book of Order W-6.1003). Christian Education ministries help people become aware of God around them. This awareness of God leads Christians to become more fully  engaged in ministries of pastoral care, mission, and service. They engage in activities that inform and transform their views of the world around them. They experience the transforming love of God and are called to share this love with all of Gods children. Christian Education ministries are vital in shaping the mission and service of a congregation. 

Ministries of Christian Education provide experiences that nurture our awareness of God within and around us. Christian Education ministries are embodied in many ways. They all look and feel different because each congregation has a different ethos. However, all ministries of Christian Education seek to enhance, inform, support, and shape individuals and congregations in the ministries of worship and service. Christian Education is a vital to the overall ministry of a congregation.

(Note: "The Book of Order" is the governing document for the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.)

It Takes a Village: Mentoring

I recently watched KARE 11‘s special “Be the Change: Mentor”.  They stated that “mentoring is one of the most successful means of improving the lives of young people in [ones] community.”  They also noted that “the statistics say it all-mentored students are less likely to skip classes, use illegal drugs and drink alcohol at a young age. They also perform better in school and are more socially aware.”  In other words mentoring works! The stories of the relationship that are built because of mentoring were inspiring and touching.  

This television program made me wonder mentoring ministries for children and youth are not more prevalent in our congregations.  The saying goes “It takes a village to raise a child!”  It takes the ENTIRE congregation to raise a child.  We affirm this commitment every time a child is baptized.  At its core mentoring is about building relationships.  Christianity is relationally based.  God created us to be in relationship God and with one another.  This said it seems to me mentoring ministries with children and youth is a natural fit for congregations.

Not only is it a natural fit, it is my belief that congregations could greatly benefit from mentoring ministries.  Mentoring ministries with children and youth must focus on building healthy Christian relationships.  These relationships are intended to foster intentional faith-nurturing relationships between children/youth and faithful adults who are available, authentic, and affirming.  Our children and youth thrive when they have adults in their lives who are available, authentic and affirming.  If congregations can encourage and affirm these relationships with in the faith community the community and individuals will greatly benefit. 

What would our congregations look like if we took mentoring children and youth seriously?  Would we see more of our youth continue to attend church?  Would our children see and experience life in a faith community differently?

(More on what this type of ministry might look like and how it might affect congregations in future posts.)

Christian Education as Testimony

In a recent post I talked about Anna Carter Florence’s idea of “preaching as testimony.”  Recently I have been pondering the idea of Christian education as testimony.  I think this idea has some merit and could change the way we understand Christian education.  

Christian education can be understood in many different ways.  It can be understood as transmitting of knowledge, traditions, and faith from one generation to the next.  It can also be understood as nurturing the faith, growing in faith, and growing in ones relationship with God.  These are just some if the ways we can understand Christian Education.

If we understand Christian education as testimony the primary focus is God and not us.  In her book Anna states that “testimony is passionate truth-telling.”  It seems to me that this is the foundation of what Christian education should do.  Christian education should strive to tell the truth about God and humans relationship with God.  While we will never know the whole truth about God we can see glimpses of God through all of creation.  We see it through our interactions with the Holy in each other and in the world.  It is these glimpses of God’s truth that provide the foundation for Christian education.

If we now understand Christian education as “passionate truth-telling” about God does this change how we do Christian education?  Does it change how and what we teach about the Bible?  Does it change how we conduct Bible studies?  Does it change our view of teaching?  In this view does the teaching take on a different meaning than our traditional understanding?  Does this view change what we include in our Christian education ministries?

I am still pondering this idea of Christian education as “testimony”.  Still fleshing out for myself what it means and what impact it may have on the changing face of Christian education.  As you can see I have many more questions on this topic than I do answers.  Please join the conversation-share your thoughts or answer a question or two!