This is from Edie:
About a week ago I had the opportunity to hear The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori speak in Memphis. She was amazing! She was articulate, even-tempered, thoughtful and friendly. Not the kind of person who would be the life of the party, but the one you would stand around with in the corner talking to all night because the conversation would be so engaging.
She held a Q&A during the Sunday school hour. Many of the questions asked of her had to do with how to grow the Episcopal Church. Those who work with youth asked specifically about bringing young people “back” to the church.
Bishop Katharine (as the Rector kept calling her) began by saying, “For far too long Episcopalians have relied on membership by procreation.” She stated that this method of expanding the Episcopal Church just isn’t going to cut it. WASPs aren’t an area of the population that is increasing much in size. She emphasized the importance of reaching out to the unchurched. We must reach out to adults of all ages who have little or no experience with Christianity - those who think all Christians are hypocritical televangelists preaching of hell and damnation. Bishop Katharine challenged us to minister groups in our population that are rapidly growing in size such as immigrants, specifically the Hispanic community.
Our Episcopals group has begun to address some concerns raised in the Q&A as WE ARE active young adults in the church. We might be considered the exception to the “young people returning to the church after marriage and babies” rule. Bishop Katharine mentioned some things that parishes are doing to lure young adults such as “Theology on Tap” get-togethers. It was clear that she wasn’t going to give us the answers. Perhaps she doesn’t have them herself, which is fine. I feel personally challenged by this, though.
For the past week I have been asking myself the questions I now pose to you:
How can we, as a group, grow the Episcopal Church?
Are there programs with which we can volunteer to minister to our growing population segments?
What programs could we start to bring unchurched friends into our fold?
How might our Episcopals group impact individuals and the larger Episcopal Church in the process?
I ask that you pray and ponder this. Wouldn’t it be great to make this kind of a difference?
She held a Q&A during the Sunday school hour. Many of the questions asked of her had to do with how to grow the Episcopal Church. Those who work with youth asked specifically about bringing young people “back” to the church.
Bishop Katharine (as the Rector kept calling her) began by saying, “For far too long Episcopalians have relied on membership by procreation.” She stated that this method of expanding the Episcopal Church just isn’t going to cut it. WASPs aren’t an area of the population that is increasing much in size. She emphasized the importance of reaching out to the unchurched. We must reach out to adults of all ages who have little or no experience with Christianity - those who think all Christians are hypocritical televangelists preaching of hell and damnation. Bishop Katharine challenged us to minister groups in our population that are rapidly growing in size such as immigrants, specifically the Hispanic community.
Our Episcopals group has begun to address some concerns raised in the Q&A as WE ARE active young adults in the church. We might be considered the exception to the “young people returning to the church after marriage and babies” rule. Bishop Katharine mentioned some things that parishes are doing to lure young adults such as “Theology on Tap” get-togethers. It was clear that she wasn’t going to give us the answers. Perhaps she doesn’t have them herself, which is fine. I feel personally challenged by this, though.
For the past week I have been asking myself the questions I now pose to you:
How can we, as a group, grow the Episcopal Church?
Are there programs with which we can volunteer to minister to our growing population segments?
What programs could we start to bring unchurched friends into our fold?
How might our Episcopals group impact individuals and the larger Episcopal Church in the process?
I ask that you pray and ponder this. Wouldn’t it be great to make this kind of a difference?
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Edie, this is a wonderful story that leaves us all with much to think about. I wish I had great responses to your questions posed, but they certainly will require thought and much effort. Caroline and I have a friend in Arizona who recently began working as the diocesan youth coordinator. He has done many great things in two years, but we received an update from him the other day about an at-risk youth ministry he is developing.
ReplyDeleteForgive the length of this, but I find that it is deeply touching:
"11 young men are littered around a Central Phoenix apartment. Most are younger than 30…but a few O.G.’s are present.* Several have gang affiliation. Several have done time. Nine are men of color: African American, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Guatemalan, and Mexican. Most grew up in the neighborhood.
Meetings like this happen in Central Phoenix apartments every night. Usually they spell trouble. What is odd about this meeting is that it is occurring at 6:30 on a Friday morning. It is a Bible study/accountability group called “MAN-UP”. It is one of the things we are doing at St. Jude’s that I am very excited about.
None in the group grew up with a father in the house. None. Not the leaders. Not the pastor. One of “the fellas” said, “None of us know how a man is supposed to act…what we are supposed to do. That is why it is so important that we meet.”
I have attended church for more than 25 years. For the first time, where I sit on a Sunday really, really, matters. O, being involved in ministry always mattered. Giving time, talent and treasure always mattered. But for the first time, being a regular “Joe”, a guy who is still married after 20 years, who has a regular, by the book family, is so rare and special that just being present is an important message. A message that says to the young men and women of St. Jude's, “you might be able to break free of this neighborhood”, “you might overcome”, “Jesus Christ might actually make a difference.”
-- May this be inspiration to us, that the church is a hospital for the sick, not a museum for the saints, and even us awkward normal people can do a world of good.