Clergy from left, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired; Pastor Nicolé Ferry, Assistant Rector Lynn Finnegan and Pastor Deb Church. Courtesy photo
By DEB CHURCH
Pastor
White Rock Presbyterian Church
“Church is boring”. “It’s just for old people”. “Nobody really believes that stuff”.
…say my own children in response to my repeated invitations to go to church with me. Clearly a major parenting fail on my part!
But they’re not the only ones who feel that way. According to a 2020 Gallup poll, church membership in the US has declined more dramatically in the last 20 years than it had in the previous 65! (cf. US Church Membership…) I’m willing to accept some responsibility for my kids’ attitudes, but I’m pretty sure that the multi-decade, nation-wide decline is not my fault!
We’ve all heard “church” characterized as boring. As filled with old people. As made up of people who check their brains at the door. I could go on, but you can probably come up with your own.
In addition, we can all think of other things to do on a Sunday morning – things that feel more relaxing, more entertaining, even more “spiritual”.
Even worse, I suspect we can all name horrific sins committed by self-avowed Christians, whether acting on their own or as representatives of the Church – words and actions that have violated God’s law of Love, inflicting pain, suffering, and even death, in the name of Christ, who came to give us Life!
Don’t you want to be part of all that?
Actually, I don’t want to be a part of that, either.
But there’s more. There’s so much more. There’s so much more to faith, to Christianity, to the Reality of God.
As a person of faith, I believe in a Reality where truth, goodness, forgiveness, justice, acceptance, peace, hope, and love abound. I call that Reality “God” and I am convinced that that Reality has the power to transform lives. And there’s more.
I believe that God loves each person fiercely, relentlessly, and unconditionally; that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus are relevant today; and that being part of a community of Spirit-seeking folks offers belonging, support, and strength like nothing else does. And there’s more.
Church doesn’t have to be boring. It isn’t just for old people. And it shouldn’t hurt. And there’s so much more!
Consider yourself invited to come be a part of it. And stay tuned for more!
Editor’s note: ‘All Shall Be Well’ is a semi-monthly column written by local women clergy (pastors and deacons) including, ELCA Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, M.Div., retired (czoebidd@gmail.com); Nicolé Ferry, Pastor, Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church (pastornicole@bethluth.com); Lynn Finnegan, Assistant Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith, Santa Fe (rev.lynn@holyfaithchurchsf.org) and Deb Church, Pastor, White Rock Presbyterian Church (pastor@wrpchurch.com).
