WHEN CHURCHES MIRROR SOCIETY
We live in a period of anxiety in both church and society. When people are anxious, their reaction to disagreements is often volatile and exaggerated. When the church mirrors society, this is seen in how we handle conflict. Psychologists suggest that under stress, people tend to resort to either a fight or flight syndrome. In churches that often results in either church splits (fight) or leaving the church membership (flight). Like many denominations, we Presbyterians have experienced both groups separating into splinter denominations and a reduction in overall membership.
The spiritual challenge for clergy is whether we can create a vision for our congregation of a better way and thus make a significant witness to the community around us. I want to suggest a several step process.
THE CHURCH HAS A WITNESS
The first step is to challenge the leadership to join with you in exploring how your church might find a faithful alternative in how to handle conflict.
As a beginning, go around the room and ask each member of your governing board to personally speak to these questions:
- “What is the message to the larger community if we can demonstrate how to honestly face differences but remain united as a church?”
- “What factors lead to some churches being unable to make that witness?”
- What strengths in this church can we draw upon to enable us to both recognize differences that exist among us and strengthen our bonds of unity?”
It will be important to have each person first respond personally and then have the group react to what they have heard from each other. This both prevents a few dominant voices from shaping the conversation and reveals the variety and diversity of opinions present.
TAKING OUR PERSONAL STAND
Next, have a little fun. Ask your leaders to consider their image of this congregation and picturing the congregation at the center of the room, move to the side of the room that positions them as more liberal (to the left) or more conservative (to the right) than the congregation as a whole.
Allow them time to share their image of the church and how they, as the leadership, see themselves in relationship to it.
Next have the pastor take a position in the center of the room. Note that each leader has a perception of the pastor as more liberal or more conservative than that leader’s position. With that perception in mind, again have the leaders place themselves on a continuum either to the right (more conservative) or to the left (more liberal).
As they discuss their position in relation to the pastor, ask them also to share at least one personal learning that they have gained from the pastor’s ministry.
Remind them that they have been looking at a sociological view of the congregation and their responsibilities as part of the leadership. During the next session, you want them to explore their understanding of how God would want them to act as a congregation.
GOD’S CALL FOR YOUR CONGREGATION
Before the next meeting, ask each person to recall any of Jesus’ teachings or stories about biblical figures that speak to the unity of the people of God. Provide everyone the list of passages but also ask some volunteers to report their particular reflections
Some sample passages that you might provide them are:
Ephesians 4:1-16, 25-27
Romans 12:1-211
Corinthians 12:12-31
Matthew 5:21-26, 38-48
Ephesians 2:11-22
Note that in addition to sharing your reflections and their implications for their leadership, you will want to begin to consider how to address the whole congregation.
We will continue this conversation in the next blog.
