Our extended “home-bound” time will soon end. The Christian movement will all too quickly face another major disruption as it moves from a technology dependent state into the new culture formed by the pandemic.
As we struggle to “return to normal”, we need to ask “What parts of normal will help, what parts will hinder our future?” There are predictions of another “roaring 20’s” as social gatherings mushroom, the economy booms, and the culture celebrates the “end of Covid.”
Lasting changes will be sorted out regarding working at home, Doctor’s Visits, Internet shopping and home delivery, along with a new emphasis on the core values of family and relationships, and the importance of one’s neighborhood.
Classic questions about life and its meaning are already bubbling up as people seek hope, deeper understanding and reliable sources of eternal truths. The churches are likely to see a major surge in regular attendance. Most will be caught unawares by these changes.
Unfortunately, the Church has become increasingly marginalized on many critical issues. Black Lives Matter and Global Warming are but two clear examples among the very serious concerns of today that do not have a significant church relationship. The recent elections reveal that even the highly publicized Evangelical church is losing credibility. t
Once the Covid-19 Vaccines are widespread, our churches will have some major self-critical work to do and life deciding decisions to make. Will we return to our “hospice” mode of the past few decades? .....or will something new breakthough and provide real revival of the basic Christian Gospel, of the “Good News” spoken by Christ?
Time and time again, God has shown that the Judean-Christian movement can be reborn and become vital again by discovering the gift of a deep engagement with God and God’s will. We know that such a revival is in God’s will, but is it in ours?
In order for another “Great Awakening” to happen, our churches need to consider not just the immediate and attractive “tactics” that usually consist of Program ideas, Catchy slogans and attractive events, but the real and substantive engagement with the Gospel and its meaning for the 21st Century.
All too often these Tactics (events and activities) take precedence over a prayerful and well thought out Strategy needed for long lasting change and rebirth. Even less considered is the vital, on-going struggle with the Theology of the Gospel and the role theology has to illuminate, reflect and call us into a deeper understanding and resultant action of a relationship with God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
With that in mind, I have been exploring with others a “TST Small Group Network” (Theology / Strategy / Tactics ) to bring clergy and lay leaders together in an effort to “crowd source” the movement of the Holy Spirit in our post Covid season.
Meeting weekly, it will endeavor to keep Theology, Strategy and Tactics in a dynamic balance, sharing insights, ideas and inspirations to identify what is needed to be kept and what is needed to change in this time of great change and great opportunity.
The format is like a TED talk, with a considered input for the week, but then followed by a serious discussion of questions, thoughts and ideas the initial speaker sparked among the participants. Attendence would be limited to 5-8 in order to encourage full participation within a 60 minute time frame.
If you would like to be included in such a group, please email me at [email protected]. We can arrange a 1 hour group to fit your schedule.
Rev. Terry Van Hook is a recently retired Elder of the Cal-Pac Annual Conference of the United Methodist after 48 years of ministry. He first joined the Order of Saint Luke in 1981 through the Cal-Pac Chapter. He has served seven small to large sized churches in the Los Angeles Greater Metropolitan area, including the planting of a new church in south Orange County. He has been on many annual conference boards and agencies, including the Board of Ordained Ministries, and was elected at one time as the leader of the equivalent of the conference council on ministries. A major interest of his has been the recruitment, formation and spiritual growth of new clergy and lay leaders.
Comments