Broad Street Moderator

Tuesday night, dinner and discussion.

Place: Broad Street Ministry, a not quite church, not quite non-profit, not quite compartmentalizable... [I don't have a noun for the description, so we'll call it a...] ministry in Center City Philadelphia.

The discussion featured a panel with the Revs. Bruce Reyes-Chow (PCUSA Moderator), Byron Wade (PCUSA Vice-Moderator), Bill Golderer (Broad Street Convening Minister), and Erika Funk (Broad Street Youth Initiative Minister). A powerhouse of a panel.

But the discussion was not powerhouse. There was much talk about "living into a new way of church" and "new ways of being community". There were some good lines. "People don't expect much from us [--the church--] anymore." "We are in a posture of yearning, and there is the chance that we will wander into oblivion." (These aren't exact quotes, but phrases that rang true with me.) However, if ever there was a lost cul-de-sac in the neighborhood of theological, ecclesial, or even pastoral insight, this was it.

Three of these four pastors--I don't know Byron's ministry exactly--are doing exciting things that re-invent Church for the 21st century. Bruce talked a little about Mission Bay, Bill and Erika about BSM, and Byron touched briefly on Davie Street Pres. in Raleigh, NC. But their audience was a mix of pastors and lay people from all over Philadelphia Presbytery and beyond who work with churches that can't be so re-imagined (again, Byron, I don't know enough about your church. I'm sorry if I mischaracterize). What many people there were hungry for was a vision.

I made up some numbers to go with this discussion. What we were talked about in this conversation was what two percent of the churches can do--re-imagine, re-invent, re-invigorate their churches, without the "re-". They are mostly new developments or ministries. And the audience was composed of members from the ninety-eight percent who are lost throwing around buzzwords like "Missional," "Confessing," "Progressive," and "Open." These are the ninety-eight percent who are often struggling to survive not for existence alone (thought that is an issue) but for the continuance of their ministries, both old and new.

How does Old Pine Street Church, where I work, offer a place for the elderly to eat, repair houses in post-Katrina Mississippi, address problems in Creation and culture, and gently offer a place for members to be baptized, confirmed, married, recognized, supported, cared for, and remembered, while the model offered in discussions such as this is one of a completely re-imagined church? What is the 21st century vision for the whole church, not just the small minority organized during that century? These are the questions I wanted the panel to address.

Further, my mind dwells on small church ministry, as I saw it in Lynnville, TN, as a Student Intern (read: only pastoral staff at a church of 30, but without the title of pastor because I was not ordained). For the people of Lynnville, the Internet was an occasional toy, buzzwords were a laughable distraction, but the very real needs--sacramental, pastoral, and educational [not the best term, but my call is about teaching and learning, I'm sure of it]--revealed the congragation to be part of the hungering body of Christ, the same as the men and women who sleep outside of Broad Street Ministry's aging structure.

A question I wrote in my journal that night is this: How does the Twitter/Facebook/MySpace/YouTube/Gmail/Typepad Web 2.0 help all of us to be the Body of Christ?

Here is my inchoate answer: Communication. Openness. Creativity. If our use of Web 2.0 can spur us to these principles, then we can truly say that the Spirit is at work there. If not, we will descend further into the isolating obsession with our own private faiths and lives that is tearing apart our communion with each other and with our God--at least, here in the U.S. That's what I see happening when we talk about "non-geographic presbyteries", "New Wineskins" and "Morelight". Also, I see it in discussions of "Traditional" and "Contemporary" worship, "Praise Songs" (aren't they all praise songs?) and "this is the way we've always done things". I want to see a Presbyterian Church and a catholic Church inspired by Christ to climb out of this chaos.

Communication. Openness. Creativity. I believe that is what is needed for the Church. Set them on a level just below Faith, Hope, and Love.

Some links to go with this post. May they help in our dialogue.

Broad Street Ministry - http://www.broadstreetministry.org/

Bruce Reyes-Chow - http://www.mod.reyes-chow.com/

Mission Bay Community Church - http://www.missionbaycc.org/

If there are others you find helpful in forming responses or opinions, please comment them and I'll edit them in.

Comments

[Bill G]

Bill:

I want you to know that this counts among the ten blog posts I have ever read. And this is for sure the first blog I have ever responded to. I don't blog and don't twitter, facebook or anything else...but this came to me from someone so i thought i should respond.

I am doing so because I feel moved by your questions and a little disturbed by them. Moved because I think established churches--ones you felt were not addressed by tuesday's gathering--are struggling. I see that and love that you are willing to stand up for the power that their ministry has to offer communities. I agree. There is much there to bless and there is much there to love. But we shouldn't be tempted to say that 'new ministries' have advantages over established congregations.

The fact is that--when bsm began 3+ years ago--we started with no-one, no money and no direction--except faith that God would move us. BSM began with an articulated vision and 8k and conviction. The presbytery was against it and many (most?) worked to frustrate its efforts. The congregations you mention have been singing and praying and loving each other for decades (centuries?) and only now--facing extinction in some cases--are they beginning to look outside their own communities to see who would care if they failed or disappeared. No resistance from executing on what scripture (God?) calls them to be and become...except unwillingness in most cases--to be the church for their context rather than the church for the people who come on Sunday.

Being a new community--you cannot afford to do ministry, pursue the kingdom in a vaccuum. you need your context--it feeds you, it informs you, it rebuffs you, it convicts you. The churches with history have a deeper investment in their context and a richer history to draw from within that context and an in the case of at least one church you mentioned--powerful people who are part of the establishment, and an endowment, and a much nicer kitchen than the one at BSM--and yet all they see are deficits...and scarcity and a supposed inability to engage with that context. Frankly, how is that possible? Our theological tradition demands it and yet we would rather just do church with ourselves...in most cases

How is it that BSM with no money and no full-time staff for its first three years serve up meals for EVERYONE after every worship service...because it is what is called forth in the gospel. All churches don't need to do that and then tend to the things that come out of those conversations in the way we have but I have to challenge you a bit...every church in this presbytery was (3 years ago) better able and in a better position to do extravagant ministry than we were...so why is it do you think that there is so little to jump up and down about in our common life? The challenge before us is pastoral imagination and courage. If we don't care, if we won't risk if we won't try--who will risk, care or try>? I see chances for these communities that have rich histories (even if they are small and have little resources-at least if that is what they think presently) to be radical--they have nothing to lose when they face extinction...they could (as our book of order says) risk their very life in order to pursue faithful ministry rather than be obsessed with increased membership, revenue, and being the church as they are in perpetuity.

Change is part of the nature of God and it is the leadership of the church--clergy and lay--who need to be defining always what it means to be the church in the here and now...rather than attempting always to re-create what was or tinker with/perfect what is. I like the way you write and think and hope that we can continue to dialogue

[Bruce Reyes-Chow]

Bill #1 ;-) Thanks. I think that you have hit on some good points and push back. I am not sure that the format of the evening would have been able to get at some of your questions, which in someways I do agree. I think the very nature of communities that will move the particular communities into relationship with the WHOLE community has to be indeed be about "Communication. Openness. Creativity." but that is going to look different in each place, so trying to communicate that in a way that the breadth of the BSM crowd could genuinely here would be difficult. But . . . it is good to get some push back in order to better article and understand the goods and bads of how I am in ministry. thanks.

And Bill #2 - Good for you, getting all bloggy ;-)

[Byron Wade]

Bill #1 - Thanks for your post. Sorry for being a Johnny-come-lately but I ran across this and wanted to fill you in on my ministry context.

Unlike Mission Bay CC or Broad Street Ministry, I serve a traditional-style African-American Presbyterian Church that has been in existence for 140 years. Back in its heyday (1930's - 1960's) it was one of the few African-American "silk-stocking" churches in which the the highly educated, elite were members. Doctors, lawyers, politicians, educators. They had wonderful music programs that filled the sanctuary. Had a growing Sunday School and outreach programs. Like most other Protestant church in the 60's and 70's they lost focus and membership. I followed a pastor who was there for 22 1/2 years and the church was ready to move in a different direction.

We are in a mode of transformation and vitalization. In short we are re-visioning ourselves as to how we can become a vital congregation that is true to the Word of God and how do we live this out in today's culture. I do have to say that what we have done is all through the hopes and dreams of what the members believe we should be about in responding to the needs of the community. We began to talk to local community leaders about the local needs and tried to respond. We had an Alcohol Anonymous program, afterschool program and currently have a food pantry. As a part of my DMin. thesis, we have redesigned our sessional committees and instituted ministry teams which is a better fit for our congregation. We have even instituted a Alternative worship service that we hold instead of our traditional worship service from time to time. Of course we have had our battles and disagreements but at the end of the day we believe that God has led us thus far. So I would say that the congregation I serve is like the 98% of churches that you speak of. We are a congregation that is developing a new vision to do new things. Hope this helps!

Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!