Ash Wednesday Goof-ups and Church Council Crisis

Hello there,

It's Ash Wednesday today and I helped with the service here at school. Made a fool of myself in front of lots of people, which is nothing new to say the least. I knew it wasn't going to be good when my computer crashed trying to open then file PRamona had sent me. Omens are never a good thing to start the day off with. Oh well. I should probably start going to chapel more so I know that the hell is going on. But then again, maybe not. Not a huge fan of chapel as I am not Lutheran (I have nothing against Lutherans or other denominations - hello, I go to a Lutheran college! I just like being Methodist and sticking to my tradition [for the most part]) - although Pastor Ramona's sermon was really good today. I enjoyed it and got a lot out of it.

Anyway, I was leaving chapel today and I called my mom. We got to chatting and she was telling me about the church council meeting that was held this week. I am on the council, I just can't attend because I am at school and it is pointless to drive an hour one way and back for a one-hour meeting. That might be changing because some of these people need a HEAVY dose of Jesus, reality and change.

Case in point:
Pastor Chris is trying to get our church involved in the Missional Transformation Process (MTP). This is a program that helps congregations embrace their future. There are small group bible studies formed and done, discussions on issues facing the church in the 21st century, how to discern and what this means for our church, etc. Find more info here at www.iaumc.org/pages/detail/1650, if you feel so inclined. It is a really good program and I think our church should feel honored to even be a part of it.

The Field Outreach Coordinator came down to give a presentation on the MTP. 14 people from my church of 450+ showed up. DISAPPOINTMENT! PC said something about this at the Church Council meeting and how almost none of them were at this meeting in which he said they should have been. One person complained that it was at night and that they didn't want to go at night. Then that person proceeded to ask if FOC could shorten down her presentation from 2 hours to 20 minutes on a Sunday! Personally, I think that 20 minutes is not enough time to cover everything in the MTP and people in church complain if church gets out late. I know how my church thinks and operates. Other people on the council thought this was a good idea too.

And then there were some others who gripe, moan and whine about everything else that is done wrong in the church (which is everything in their eyes - I just want them to try and be a minister for a month and then we'll talk) who had to get their input in too. There are some people on the council who are "in-the-middle" and don't say much. I feel like they should be saying something because they are a voice for the other members of our congregation who aren't as lucky to be sitting in the spot they are.

Needless to say our council has reduced PC to someone who is just there to give sermons, pray for people, marry people and then bury those people. THIS IS SAD!!!!!!!!! We are not allowing him to do his job and to let God work through him. We are cutting off God at our main source.

I'll be brutally honest, my church is on the path to death. People don't see that or aren't willing to accept it. We refuse to change anything, we are unwilling to listen and we don't know squat about scripture (why do you think I came to Wartburg to study religion people?!?!). Where is God in all of this, huh? Oh, that's right, we don't allow Him to work in our lives or in our church like He should be! We try to play the role of God, and let me tell you - it's not looking to good for us right now.

We need a deep dose of God and the reality of what our church is going to look like in 10 years plus. Gone is what it'll be. Most of the members will be dead. I can say this because we have older people in our church and not enough younger members. I wonder why they aren't filling the pews on Sunday - oh that's right, if you don't feel God working somewhere - why go there? We want to be filled with the Spirit, to grow, to learn the Word and to be loved. We do not come to church to be judged, looked-down upon, talked-down to, and sneered to.

Dear Church Council -

Change is inevitable. It's scary, frightening, fearful, but it is an amazing process to go through. It can turn a bad thing into one of the most beautiful, thriving and alive things out there. If we let God in, that is. We need to change and we need to do it now. Church is about the people - not about you or what you want. We are not helping the people of our church community by not allowing God to work. Think about your actions, words, and thoughts and how they effect everyone in our community. We need to be involved in daily prayers, reading and discerning the Bible and thinking about how God would want us to grow as a church and to be closer to Him. We need to do God's will, not our own. Take this leap of faith and become a part of the Missional Transformation Process. Our community will be better for it and so will you.

As you contemplate the future of our church, remember the last seven words of a dying church: we have always done it this way.

In Christ,
Hilary