Congregations Missing in Action

Part of being in my denomination involves being connected to the other congregations in our denomination. We call the regional areas of churches “presbyteries” and all the church within a single presbytery financially support each other, partner in mission together, and share opportunities for governing. Our pastors are not members of their congregations. They are members of The Presbytery.

Sometimes we lose touch with congregations and not always because we ignore them. (Admittedly, sometimes we ignore them.) We have a few congregations with no working phone number, no answering machine when they do have a working phone number (or the voicemail box is full.) No web page. No social media. No way to find out where they are or when worship happens.

[Note: We have quite a few small congregations, often in rural areas who are very connected. They might not have many new visitors but their communities would suffer deeply if their churches were not active serving the hungry, reaching out to the lonely, praying with neighbors. They are very active.]

I’m talking here about congregations missing in action. In a previous post, I shared that I aspire to be The Pastoral Equalizer (think Queen Latifah only in church.) I also enjoy the occasional Undercover Pastor role. Occasionally I have found myself sitting in a church parking lot on a free Sunday morning at – say – 9 am (because we have no idea what time things happen there or if anything is happening at all.) And then I wait.

10:10 am – White van approaches and pulls into the parking lot. Lady with broom emerges from car. She sweeps the sidewalk leading into a side building and then unlocks that door and enters.

10:20 am – Brown sedan pulls into the grass in front of the side building. Older couple steps out. They enter the side building.

10:22 am – Blue sedan parks beside the white van and a middle aged woman emerges and enters side building.

10:25: am – Tall man holding a Bible emerges from small blue truck. He enters the side building.

This is when I make my move.

I also enter the side building and hear talking down the hall. The man with the Bible is standing behind a lectern and the four others are sitting at a table in front of the lectern. I join them at the table and they are very welcoming.

In my head: Do I tell them I’m the General Presbyter?

Sweet lady formerly sweeping the sidewalk: Welcome! Where are you from?

Me: I’m visiting from Charlotte.

We chat about how Bobby is still in the hospital and how Judy doesn’t look so good these days. The pastor shares stories. A collection basket is passed (and thank the Lord I have cash.) We sing In the Garden a capella. And then worship is over.

Woman sitting next to me (blue sedan): You look familiar. Were you in Presbyterian Women?

Me: I’ve been to a few meetings. I’m a Pastor in the Presbytery.

Other woman (white van): Which church?

(Here it comes)

Me: I’m the General Presbyter. So I try to connect with all the churches.

Woman Next to Me: Pastor, she’s from Presbytery. Come meet her.

The Pastor doesn’t seem to hear and he leaves immediately taking the offering basket with him.

So, now what? Here’s a little church without a validated pastor (I checked him out and he was removed from his denomination in Ohio over 10 years ago) and with less than ten members whose lovely brick sanctuary is locked up because they can’t afford to fix the heat or the air conditioning or the roof.

Should they close because they are small and can’t afford to keep things going?

No. They should close because their ministry is 100% about themselves. This is not to say that they are not lovely people. They are simply missing in action. There is no action.

We are called to gather, worship, create community, study, and serve. Sometimes we do little more than gather – which is fine if we are a club. But churches are not clubs. And we are not the United Way either. But we are communities of faith who meet to understand who we are and what our purpose might be. We are connected – or at least we are supposed to be.

If we are not actively seeking proximity to the vulnerable, the lost, the lonely, and the broken in order to love and serve each other in the likeness of Christ, then I believe we are missing the point. I am inclined to let inactive congregations close themselves and then use the proceeds from the sale of their property to give to active churches. What’s your inclination?