Rethinking Church

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On February 7, 2009, I attended our North Coast District Leadership Academy held at Lakewood United Methodist Church. Bishop Sally Dick was the keynote speaker for the event and spoke of the need to rethink the church since we are living in a world and society where everything else is undergoing changes at a rapid pace.

She shared a script of a campaign/program that the United Methodist Church is planning to start this year titled “Rethink Church.” Below is the script of the handout she provided so that you can reflect on the content.

Rethink Church

"What if we rethink church?”

“What if church was less about Sunday, and more about other days of the week? What if church wasn’t just a place we go, but something we do. A menu of adventure. An active verb. Instead of a noun. What if church was thousands of doors? Each of them opening up to a different concept or experience of church. So that whoever knocks might find a journey to call their own.”

“What if church was the way church was at the beginning? Outbound. Unbound. Active. Human beings from completely different worlds, united by common purpose, experience and belief. Creating real solutions for their daily lives. What if church looked at itself with seekers’ eyes? Recognizing that even the smallest step through one of our doors is an act of courage, a moment of vulnerability. That solving a secular need can lead to spiritual interaction. That social relationships can offer opportunities for discussions of faith, and provide inspiration for discovery. And that for a skeptical world, actions often do speak louder than words.”

“What if church was more of an out-of-church experience? An opportunity to prove what we say we believe, with our lives. Then, perhaps, Sunday could be a day of rest and reflection on all that we had accomplished Monday through Saturday.”

“What if we rethink church? Not in terms of what it is, but what it could be.”

“And what if we can convince the world to do the same?“The people of the United Methodist Church. Together we can open hearts, open minds, and open doors.”

What phrase, word or idea of what church could be grabbed your attention? How are we at Christ United Methodist Church fulfilling our role as the body of Christ and reflection of God’s kingdom within our community? What can we do better? I hope you can take some time to think about these ideas and discuss them with others.

-- Pastor Nestor Nazario