CONNECT
Words from UMC Young Clergy...
I have served three churches since I was 23 as pastor. I have had many
struggles and found much difference in language and understanding between me
and my older congregations. We have shown love and respect to one another
but there remains a disconnect on some deeper level. Again I have loved my
churches and the people I have served and they have loved me, my wife and
our four children, but a barrier seemed to exist in all 3
churches. I have yet to cross that barrier. but when I start a bar room
ministry next week, I hope that I have finally helped a church work with me
to reach out on a whole new level.
I graduated seminary last year and I have been in ministry for several years
now. I love pastoring. Along with being a husband, father,
son, and friend, I know it is why God even bothered to create me in the
first place. I love the people I serve. However, I have grown bitter
and cold with many people in both churches I have served (even if
those in my current church aren't aware of it). I am not sure I am making
any difference in their lives and in this world.
Part of me believes that we have just been trained for 20, 50, even 70 years
or more to hear the neutered Gospel for the modern mind. Despite the
cornfields, which seem to make nice walls for modernity, we still are living
in a post-modern, post-Christian world. It is all around us, even in our
sanctuary and hymnals, but most have a difficult time seeing it. Here
modernity is less entrenched, more ingrained. In the polity of the United
Methodist Church I am not convinced there is a cure for this problem. I
could very well ask for a re-appointment. Yet, I have doubts that a church
exists in my (or any) conference of our denomination that is ready to take
the plunge into post-modern ministry and living (and that’s what it is… not
just post-modern worship but a post-modern way of life).
One solution suggested by a professor I respect is to start over. He
proposes that we, in the younger generation who are tired of the church
created by traditional evangelicals and pragmatic-“contemporary”-style baby
boomers, should take a risk and put it all on the line. In my previous
church, I did decide to let it all hang out. Dan Poole’s fears came true, as
described in your book. My poor attempt of explaining the context of this
problem caused nothing but division, hard-feelings, and re-appointment.
Personally, this lead to depression, disillusionment about the church, and
discouragement about my place in God’s family, let alone God’s church.
My conclusion: I must compromise my convictions about the Gospel in order to
get anything done in Jesus’ name. And I live with this everyday. I can hear
my bishop appropriately and compassionately saying, “Chris, the people don’t
care how much you know until they know how much you care.” I am not sure
that preaching a false, Americanized, propositional, feel-good Gospel is the
best way to care for the church. And I know it is not how we can best care
for the world. The world needs the church to be the Church! This is what I
know and how I care.