Constantly searching for new ways of fulfilling our vision statement of being a vital and growing community of faith, some members of Rosedale, Toronto, read Diana Butler Bass' book Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith (reviewed in the Record, March 2007) over the summer to prepare for her visit with us next February. To meet her and scope out her workshop style, my husband and I went to hear her speak in October. I had identified with much of what she says in her book. I'm a liberal “quiet Christian” and a not-yet-30-year-old member of Session.
I am concerned about the vitality and growth of our denomination and more specifically of my own congregation. We talk of needing to do things differently. Throughout her research, Butler Bass found that change contributed to the increased vitality of what she refers to as “mainline” churches.
In her workshop, Butler Bass implied that Presbyterians are in denial. We know change is required, but believe it can wait and occur later under someone else's direction. This rang true to me. As much as I wanted to believe that I was an agent of change within my own congregation, I realized I was only talking about it. She told stories of congregations, some of which are Presbyterian, that have transformed themselves and become more full of life. This gave me hope and made her presentation exciting.
Butler Bass assured us that if we really do believe that God's hands have anything to do with us being here, then He thinks that we are capable of handling it. “Nostalgia is the enemy of hope. People need to know that there's more exciting stuff ahead.” Instead of brainstorming ways to attract new members, congregations first need to focus on keeping the ones they have. What kind of community is God asking us to be in relation to where we are now? Throughout her research, Butler Bass found that congregations which intentionally engaged Christian practices found new vitality.
Butler Bass speaks of liquid modernity: Established religion; disestablished spirituality. People care less and less about the established church and are moving away from structure which no longer resonates with them. Therefore she suggests we have to rethink our traditions – many of our practices have no sense of intentionality. Because I joined the church as a teenager and only spent a year in Sunday school, I never learned how to pray or how to read the Bible and it wasn't until a short time ago that I learned the importance of both.
“Think depth, not breadth,” Butler Bass preaches. Which means we must sharpen our own actions. One of the most important of which is hospitality. People become more grounded through intentional actions. The church needs to pay attention and address everybody's spiritual needs.
I'm looking forward to hearing Diana Butler Bass speak at Rosedale, Toronto, the weekend of February 27, 2009. I believe my congregation needs to hear her message in order for our church to grow, we need to embrace the time in which we live and ask ourselves what kind of community God is asking us to be in relation to where we are now. As soon as we begin to ask questions such as this one, we might just find ourselves growing again while providing people with a sense of hope and excitement for the future.
For more information: rpcc.ca
