Many years ago, someone told me, “If you don’t want to hear the answer, don’t ask the question.” I have tried hard to follow this advice. Still, there have been times when I have had to ask the question whether I wanted to hear the answer or not.
So, I would like to acknowledge two important instances where the Presbyterian Church has had the courage to ask the question, even if it is challenged by the answer.
The first seeks response to an insightful report written by Rev. Gordon Haynes, former associate secretary of Canada Ministries, which was commissioned by Rev. Dr. Rick Fee, general secretary of the Life and Mission Agency. Haynes’s insights have recently been distributed to the wider church for input. He paints a challenging picture of the church—a drop in baptisms of 70 per cent over 17 years, a drop in worship attendance of three per cent annually since 2005 and a membership that is half of what it was in 1964. Still, there is a willingness to confront the sheer magnitude of the statistics; a necessary step if we are to address these issues in a constructive manner.
What is impressive about this report is threefold. First is its comprehensive nature. Second, it provides recommendations; recommendations that are not simply rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, but which address pervasive issues in our structure and polity. Third, and perhaps most impressive of all was Fee’s courage in distributing the report for consideration and action.
The second question being asked by the church comes from a finance committee. It invites Presbyterians to provide input into priorities and passions to be reflected in our 2014 General Assembly budget. This budget will be challenging for the church and the Assembly Council has created a special committee to help craft a budget which reflects the priorities of the whole church. Yes, this comes at a time when finances are shrinking but it encourages the church to be strategic in setting direction for future ministry.
“If you don’t want to hear the answer, don’t ask the question.” Clearly the Assembly Council and the Life and Mission Agency are willing to hear answers, even difficult ones, if they accurately reflect the ministry priorities of the church.
It is easy to be cynical about both these reports; financial challenges and endless reports are not new. It is easy to assume that nothing will change. However, I am hopeful for a number of reasons. Firstly, because the questions are coming from the Assembly Council and the Life and Mission Agency and the general secretary at about the same time. Secondly, we are not being asked to discuss theories or vague hopes, but concrete proposals for the ministry of our church. Finally, all these questions come in the context of our last General Assembly, by many accounts one of the most hopeful in years and one which put the spotlight clearly and firmly on the need for congregational vitality as the very foundation of our denomination’s work and witness.
Many of you reading this will be unfamiliar with both these documents but I would urge you to read them. The budget request is available on presbyterian.ca and Haynes’s report is available through the clerk of each presbytery. There is some urgency to the budget letter as input must be received by February 15th. It is my hope that we would honour the courage of those who have asked these questions by providing answers, even challenging ones, and that further, we would uphold in prayer those who will consider the responses, asking they be granted the best wisdom and insight to know what is best for our church in these challenging times.
About John-Peter Smit
Rev. Dr. John-Peter Smit is congregational development consultant for the Synod of Central, Northeastern Ontario and Bermuda.