By Elizabeth Broschart, The Layman
DETROIT, Mich. — Commissioners from across the United States assigned to the Committee of Congregational Vitality believe there is renewed vitality within the congregations of the Presbyterian Church (USA) that is clearly connected to a missional way of living.
Committee members began their Monday morning deliberations with a discussion of where vitality is seen in their congregations and where they would like to see improvement. One commissioner used the Merriam-Webster definition that says vitality has three characteristics: the capacity to live and develop, the power to endure, and a lively and animated character.
Within that context, commissioners shared their belief that stepping outside of the local places of worship into the community has resulted in opportunities to share the love of Christ. From large urban congregations who have seen decline to small rural communities with few resources, there is a passion for engaging with community members to participate in service-oriented endeavors such as food pantries and soup kitchens and providing places of worship to those marginalized by society.
For some, the loss of long-term leadership has resulted in other congregation members embracing the needs of the local congregation and stepping forward to fill leadership positions. Those individuals never saw the need to be involved before, but now are embracing new roles and engaging with others in mission and outreach.
Nearly all of the stories of vitality include identifying the needs of their communities, whether for food, clothing, underserved populations such as those with autism, youth and education. These conversations flow out of studies such as “The Welcoming Congregation: Roots and Fruits of Christian Hospitality” by Henry Brinton that promote radical hospitality.
Leslie Yandle, a commissioner from Florida Presbytery, told the story of being in a small congregation of 46 committed individuals. Three years ago they took $200 seed money and began to feed people in the community every Tuesday. “In those three years, we have never had to dip into our general fund to cover the cost. Other congregations have stepped forward and God has provided. This year we received notice that a former member from years ago left a bequest of $500,000. Now we are discerning how to take this money and share with the community instead of promoting a mentality of scarcity. I believe that God has provided because we have been faithful stewards and will continue to be faithful.”
Many of the commissioners spoke of their challenge to encourage the participation of the youth in their congregation. Meghan McGuirk from Western Kentucky, a Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD), spoke on behalf of her small group. “We heard about small congregations and large congregations that have the energy to ‘go get it’ as the churches connected across barriers of age to change their focus to mission and outreach.”
Congregations in places like South Dakota face ministry challenges of small worship attendance of as few as five or six on Sunday. In this circumstance, it would be logical to assume a lack of vitality. Yet, Holly Butrum, commissioner from South Dakota Presbytery, speaks to their willingness to see a need in their community created by the reduction in staffing of the local Catholic parishes. “We are now reaching out to those who are older and unable or unwilling to travel to a larger parish in the hope that they will worship with us.”
Harold Troxler of Denver Presbytery talks about his congregation’s need to continually steal from other funds to provide for youth and outreach activities. “We finally realized we were spending $12,000 to clean the church (not including supplies). The church made the decision in January 2014 to fire the cleaning company. Members of the church are now completing the necessary cleaning activities to provide for ministry and outreach. People who have never been active are now engaged in the church.”
What is apparent in these stories is that God is working in a variety of places in a variety of ways. As congregations discern the needs around them, the Holy Spirit is providing opportunities for witness and involvement by individual who are no longer hiding within the four walls of the sanctuary waiting for people to come to them. Instead, they are going out to serve others and to build relationships in creative ways.