Moving On?

A church experience that some may relate to:  A search committee is struck in the local church: A collection of men and women; young and old; diverse and yet representative of the community.  The set about to find a minister for the congregation.  That’s the task.  And so they gather data about the community; assess the needs of the congregation; get the word out; scout prospective ministers; interview applicants and ultimately reccomend a candidate for the job.  In due course, a hire is made; a call is issued and the minister is installed.  Then, the committtee disbands, usually with some celebration and ritual.   (unless of course, I’m the minister called.... then, often the committee stays together examining what went wrong and continuing the search just in case, I don’t work out... but that’s another story for another time).  In short: They gather for a task, do the task and then disband – never to meet again as a Search Committee.

Early in the fall, I will likely make a trip to my parent’s cottage.  I will don old worn jeans, giagantic rubber boots, leather gloves and an old sweatshirt. I will then be part of the herculean effort known as “bringing the dock in”.  When it is done, I will not continue to wear the jeans, boots, gloves and old sweatshirt, opting to change into something more comfortable and presentable. (although I might keep the boots on... I am something of a fashion hound).  In short: When the job is done, I move on.

When you reach your destination, you get out of the car, you don’t sit behind the wheel and continue to rev the engine and turn the wheel.

When you are full, you stop eating. (at least, you should)

When you get married, you stop dating.  (at least, you really should)

When you run out of things to say, you stop talking (don’t you wish that people would?)

So, now I’m wondering about the Protestant Church. 

Think about the reasons for the Protestant Reformation, or your particular brand of Protestantism (for me, that would be the United Church of Canada).  Why did you come to be – what was the task? 

Well, off hand... As Protestants we were protesting the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church.   In the century that followed, that corruption was addressed. Done.

We wanted the mass/liturgy to be shared in the vernacular.  Done

We wanted to put Bibles into the hands of individuals; provide them a direct connection the God.  Done.

We wanted to teach literacy.  Done (mostly - there are a few elected officials that concern me)

We wanted to infect/effect and affect public policy with “Christian” ideals: Red Cross. YMCA. Welfare.  Medicare.  Foreign Aid. World Vision. United Nations. Christmas decorations in malls.  Done. Done. Done. Done. Done. Done. Done. Done.   (not joking about that last one, check out Martin Luther and his love of the Christmas Tree... often included in the Nativity Display to show that it was Protestant and not Roman Catholic.)   I could create a list that would leave you bleary eyed, but I think that a few examples make my point.

In the United Church of Canada... well, some wanted to stop the Roman Catholic Church from taking over the country (shhhh... we don’t talk about that... and it wasn’t official policy, but it sure helped to swing the vote in Parliament).  Well, I don’t think that Canada is about to become Roman Catholic any time soon:  Done. 

We wanted a national church that ran from coast to coast to coast:  Done.

So, we succeeded.

Why hasn’t the committee been disbanded?
Why are we still wearing the big rubber boots, stuffing our faces and dating?  (nice image, eh?)
Why are we still talking if we’ve run out of things to say??

There are those who would tell you that we’ve done out job... we’ve succeeded.  The world is a kinder place; the Kingdom more at hand thanks to our efforts...  Maybe it’s time to get back together with the Church in Rome or the Orthodox Church and talk about Jesus; maybe it’s time to stop all of this “religion” stuff and apply ourselves Social Justice or Political Action.

I’m not sure about that...

But I am pretty sure that we need to be talking about what we are doing as Christians, Protestants, United Church of Canada folk, lest we run the risk of sitting around in our big rubber boots looking silly.

Maybe we are meant to take the embrace and engage with the LGBT community...

Maybe we are meant to take up the cause of specific marginalized people...

Maybe we are meant to open doors for inter-faith dialogue...

Maybe we are meant to push for greater acceptance and understanding between diverse philosophies and theologies...

Maybe we are meant to be engaged in palliative care for a dying church..

Maybe we are meant to be midwives for a community yet to be born...

I don’t really know. 

But I am pretty sure that it’s time to be intentional about who we are as United Church of Canada Protestant Christians... or fold our committee, have a celebration and move on.