Thoughts from Pastor Mira

Last week I traveled with the Lewis Fellows program through Wesley Seminary with 19 other young clergy from around our nation to Fort Lauderdale and Miami FL.  Our topic this session was culture: how does the culture of our towns/areas impact our church? What is the culture within each church?  How should a pastor make transitions in and out?  What does change look like in some local settings?

We read some chapters before going and then arrived ready to discuss the culture of our local churches.  Some of the young clergy (all under 35 years of age) are solo pastors in rural settings, others associates in NYC, Texas, or other large church areas, and others on staff in a multiplicity of areas in congregations.  We visited five churches in the Fort Lauderdale/Miami area.  It was a blast! I love going in to see different churches, meeting with their clergy to learn some of their joys and challenges, and also getting new ideas.  We met one young pastor who just moved into a church unexpectedly this past summer and his challenges to grasp the congregation and culture and make some forward progress (I could relate).  We met another pastor who told us his plans to retire from a large congregation with multiple clergy on staff and how he was preparing and thinking about that.  We met a pastor who is starting a new AME church start, without a facility and worshiping in a gym each week. 

All of this led me to think about the culture of our churches as we merge.  I have grown to know and appreciate the cultures of the churches that are unique (First very family feeling where everybody knows your name; Allison mission oriented and ready to move; Grace a mix of people all over the place with so much happening it seems a maze at times).  But I have also seen how we are more alike than different: we have similar worship styles and services, we all feel ownership in our current church, we have leadership passionate about the new church and willing to do anything needed to make it happen, we all say we want and need to be in the community but we have to figure out how to take those steps together.  Perhaps the greatest insight since working collaboratively with all three churches, staffs, and leadership is the fun we have meeting new people, working together on focus groups, laughing and working hard on Transition Team, and the desire to make this unification happen and successful.

We had people from Grace willing to help Miss Ellen from Allison move.  We have teachers for Allison and Grace as guest teachers for adult Sunday School at First.  We have people from First welcoming help at Thankful Thursday from Grace and Allison, sharing in that ministry together.  We have people from all our churches on all the focus groups stepping up to help with the big, and little, things that need done. 

Culture makes a difference. Culture makes me want to come, or leave a place. Culture makes me wish to get more involved, or leave quietly.  Awareness of who we are is critical, but awareness of how we share and shape our culture authentically and organically will be paramount as we birth this new church. 

A final story….After the worship on Dec 30 there were many comments made about our worship together.  People loved a “full church” (although there would have been room for more), singing together, and fellowship afterwards.  One person told me it was different than ever before during the greeting time. No one said “I’m Mary and from Allison.” They were just introducing themselves as “Mary, and here’s my family.”  It wasn’t about where we were from; it was about being one church worshiping together. The reflection of this person was touching.  Isn’t that what we want? Not from this church or that or none, but all part of God’s family worshiping here together today.

Carlisle UMC.  We are already creating the culture.  We are on the front edge of doing church differently through unification and visioning new ministries.  Let’s keep it going so someday young clergy come to visit us, to learn and see and are impressed with how we worship, serve, grow, and connect with God and each other.