What’s your ministry?

But speaking the truth in love,

we must grow up in every way into him who is the head,

into Christ, from whom the whole body,

joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped,

as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:15-16

Dear Friends,

A couple of decades ago, I went to a workshop put on by Rick Warren who was pastor of Saddleback Church in California. He had had a lot of success in growing his church from just a few people to several thousand in a few years. He had a lot of interesting ideas but one of things he talked about is the expectations they had for members. To be a member at Saddleback Community Church, you had to take an introductory class. At the end of the class (if you chose to become a member) you commit to the following:

1. I will protect the unity of my church by acting in love toward the other members, refusing to gossip, by following the leaders.

2. I will share the responsibility of my church by praying for its growth, by inviting the unchurched to attend, by warmly welcoming those who visit.

3. I will serve the ministry of my church by discovering my gifts and talents, by being equipped to serve by my pastors, by developing a servant's heart.

4. I will support the testimony of my church by attending faithful, by living a godly life, by giving regularly.

In these commitments, I see the Faith Practices that I often preach (and sing!) about: encourage, pray, serve, give, invite, worship and study. But—for us Lutherans—they are not a requirement for membership. Theologically, Lutherans are the carriers of the banner for God’s grace. We believe that there is nothing we have to do to earn God’s grace. Whatever needed to be done was accomplished by Jesus Christ. Since there is nothing you have to do to earn God’s grace, I really can’t force you to do anything! This is even enshrined in our constitution. To continue being a member, one just has to attend worship once and give something of record to the congregation. Compared to the “requirements” of Saddleback Church, this is a pretty low bar! Sociologists call a church such as ours a low expectation organization.

There are some benefits to belonging to a low expectation congregation:

• one is not expected to do much

• one doesn’t have to do much

• it emphasizes the graciousness of God

Yet, there are negatives to belonging to a low expectation congregation:

• One doesn’t expect much from the congregation or other

• The lack of involvement by members means there’s less going on

• Lower expectations for giving make finances an on-going concern

• The comradery that comes from serving, studying, and praying together remains shallow

• The ones who do invest themselves, don’t find much company in their serving

• In summary, the low expectations by the congregation translates to low expectations of what members   do and experience.

My goal is to name the dynamic.

In the newsletter, I wrote a rather lengthy article (God bless those of you who read all of it!) reflecting on my first six months as your called pastor. I’d summarize it by saying that the main thing “holding” First Lutheran back is the investment of members in the ministry of the congregation. We are like a whole lot of Lutheran churches where the main participation by most members is a Sunday morning once or twice a month. I am so glad to see you when you are here but this level of participation is limiting… It limits the ministry we can provide. It limits your spiritual growth. It limits the deepening of our community. It limits the things that I believe that God wants to do here. I‘m maxed out as far as the ministry I am able to provide. If there’s an increase in--a multiplying of-- ministry, it will come through you!

At the Ministry Fair this Sunday (and throughout September), we will have tables representing the different activities and ministries that we currently have active (or want to have active). Please come. Inquire. Follow your passion. Plug in. Find your place. Put your name down. Be part of what God wants to do here!

Peace,

Pastor Phil