1/1/11

It's the first of January. It's also about time I was in bed but I can't start off my new year's resolution to be more disciplined in writing a blog by not writing on the first of January!

The thought that I want to record now is the discussion that June and I were having about being a member of a church. We were considering the appeal of being in a more traditional congregation where there is lower expectation on involvement in serving during the gatherings. The appeal is because sometimes the responsibilities one has in a service can be sources of stress or burdens. It seems to be especially true of the Evangelical church that there an expectation that all members of the church should be serving in some capacity, whether as a children's worker, worship leader, intercessor, welcomer, etc. etc. This is positively motivated by a desire to develop everyone's gifts to serve and pursue 'Every member ministry'.

However, there is an issue where attending church can become a chore or an additional stress on already stressed lives. This is true of the church leadership where promoting involvement becomes an administrative challenge, putting together rotas and making sure all the responsibilities are covered. It is also true of those who are serving, whether the stress is preparing activities for children's church or just missing out on the experience of worship through being concerned about the aspect in which they are serving.

Clearly there is a good case to be made in terms of the importance of serving and not just developing Christian consumers. Of the way that we can grow in our discipleship through the humble service of others. Of the way that we can develop personally and spiritually through utilising our God given gifts for others.

However, I've just started wondering whether it might be better if our aim was 'every member mission' rather than 'every member ministry'. This would remind us that our priority is not just to run effective gatherings but is to follow Jesus through loving God and neighbour.

I'm not saying that there will be no place for serving in the gatherings. But just that maybe it would be good to start imagining how large gatherings could be more stripped down, freer, more organic (probably messier) and less burdensome in terms of their planning and delivery.