time for a change

I serve a denomination
that has been in membership decline
from the time of my birth.

I try hard not to take
the declining statistics personally.
I am confident my birth
into the world
did not have power enough to cause
the enormous change that
continues to take place in the church.

Most congregations in the denomination I serve
feel the angst of decline.


Along with decline
we experience the impact of
growing older.
I am often the youngest one in the room....
and I am almost 50!


I've shared before...
that I find myself in the middle of two generations.
I relate to and understand both.


I live between
faithfullness
to what was
and
faithfullness
to what can be.

The bottom line is we need both.

Our denomination's Moderator
suggests we change our vocabulary.
I agree.

Have courage to admit
the past was not all we say it is today.

There has to be a balance between
forcing our children to participate
in the life of the church
and saying nothing at all as if our children
will by some miracle inherit faith.

Have courage to admit
that we need the past
for a secure and full future.

The ancient words of confessions and hymns
are just as powerful and relevent
as contemporary words and music.

Have courage to admit
we have made mistakes.

We have condemned people in the past...
We condemn people today.

Have courage to admit
that saying the same thing
over and over and over
is NOT working for us....

Our "if only" language is not
getting us anywhere.

It is time for a change.
It is time for both
older
and younger generations
to claim a new
perspective.

There is wisdom among the older
ones in the pew.
There is wisdom among the younger
ones online.