We’ve spent the last couple of weeks watching videos after church (and one during church) that have focused on the history of this congregation. Celebrating 75 years is a big deal. But seeing those videos remind us how much things have changed for us as a community of faith. In the early years we had to build a building because we were bursting at the seams with people and children. Every seat was filled every Sunday. The church was alive and thriving and vital in specific, visible way. We look at where we were seventy five years ago and wonder what will the next seventy five look like for Westworth. I’d even hazard a guess that some of you are wondering where we will be in ten years, let alone another 75.
Here’s the thing… we are not the only church wondering that. In fact, the United Church of Canada as a denomination is wondering the same thing. Now, I know that I said in my newsletter piece this week that the conversation about our church’s future was a hopeful one, but first we need to deal with the reality that we are facing. Like many stories of our faith there is hope, but we need to hear the hard stuff before we get there – and the hard stuff is that over the last three or so decades the United Church as a denomination has seen decline in participation in worship, Sunday school, and financial support (among other things). We see this recorded in our annual statistics. Using these annual statistics to do some mathematical magic, it was projected that the decline would continue to 2035 and beyond.
“It is projected”… Projection is not prediction or inevitability. What these projections do is create a visual representation that we can then talk about. Is this the future that we want to see? Really, what it shows us is that we have two choices: keep on doing what we are doing right now and likely see those projections of continued decline come true or reorient our imagination so that we can reshape our future into something far different. This is where Towards 2035 comes in. While this is an initiative of the General Council it is meant to be a collaborative reorientation that involves the Regional Councils and all United Church communities of faith. Because, truth be told, we all need to be on board if we are going to turn this boat around. Towards 2035 is an invitation to the church to take risks and to reimagine how we do church so that the trajectories that we see do not define our future together.
There’s lots of talk in the Towards 2035 document about “imagining the possibilities a of preferred future” – or the idea that we do not have to simply allow the future to happen to us. The “preferred future” described by the national church is this: In 2035, In the United Church of Canada, inspired, resilient and diverse contextual communities of disciples seek to continue the story of Jesus by embodying Christ’s presence in the world. The Church is present and deeply connected coast to coast to coast in rural and urban settings, and in ecumenical and global relationships. Guided by hope-filled, adaptive, and effective ministry leaders, the denomination is increasingly multigenerational, multiracial and intercultural.
That’s our preferred future.
Really, what we are saying is that we want to be a church that is resilient, relevant, contextual and faithful who embodies the ministry of Christ by being disciples in the world. So how are we going to do that?
Well, here’s the thing… there’s no one right way to reach this goal. And it might feel like there is lots in the way that would keep us from achieving it. At the November Prairie to Pine Annual Meeting, Cam Fraser, the Director of Growth and Ministry Development at General Council, spoke to the group that was gathered about Towards 2035. In introducing the information, Cam used mountain biking as a metaphor for our journey forward. When you bike through rough terrain you do something called tracking – pointing out obstacles along the trail – things like rocks and branches and turns. But here’s the thing – where you focus is where you go. If you go along thinking about the rock – or rather thinking “don’t hit the rock, don’t hit the rock” – then more than likely you will hit the rock because that’s where your focus is. Instead, focus on where you want to instead of what you want to avoid.
As people of faith, we need to keep paying attention to the path we want – will we hit the rock, maybe, but by looking forward we increase the likelihood of reaching our destination in a good way. We keep our eyes on that which we can pursue.
It feels like we are in this “don’t hit the rock, don’t hit the rock” moment. We see what is happening, but we are struggling to focus on the path. Instead, most of us are desperately trying not to hit the rock. If we only keep our eyes on the decline, that is all we will see. If instead we look to the possibility and opportunity to dream, to take risks, to say “heck yes, the United Church and Westworth United Church will be here in 2035 and here’s how…” then we will find the path that leads us there.
The hopeful part is that Westworth is already doing this thinking. The council and leadership team are dreaming new ways of reaching out into the community to offer meaningful worship, outreach and community building opportunities. We are finding ways to show that the story of Jesus is relevant to this time and place and something that invites all people, not just those on the leadership teams, to take part and take ownership. We’ve all heard Paul say that each person here has something to contribute to the body of Christ. That means your dreams and visions are all part of this reimaging as well.
The Isaiah passage that we heard is perfect for this path defining time. Isaiah, was a prophet to the people of Israel in a time of upheaval and fear, exiled from their land, their temples, their homes. He came in with words of hope and words that remind them that God is still active in their lives, that they just need to readjust their focus to see it.
We need to be reminded that God is doing a new thing in the United Church, and we need to be open enough to not only perceive it but to join in. For that new thing needs us – it needs us to dream big, to take risks, to be courageous, and to embody our discipleship.
Does this mean that the church might begin to look different from what we’re used to? Quite possibly – it already does look different from what it was ten or twenty or 75 years ago. Will it mean we will succeed in all that we do? Absolutely not, but just like in other areas of life we learn from failing. Are we already on the path? Honestly, I think so. Friends, we are slowly making changes to the way we worship together, work together and reach out together. You people who call Westworth home, regardless of how long you’ve been here or how involved you are, are the ones who will help us reorient our imaginations. And with our collective imagination and shared dreams we will continue to be an inspired, resilient and diverse community of faith open to the ways God is doing new things, and who go bravely into the world as disciples of Christ.
Friends, the next ten years hold so much possibility. Are you ready to look down that path together?
