United Methodists around the world are now asking themselves this. I think it's a great question _ perhaps a question every denomination should be asking.
It has been clear for quite a while that the status quo or the idea of the traditional church is not working for the upcoming generation.
For the most part, young adults just aren't going to church. You simply have to read through some statistics about the church today to agree that we need to change our ways. One cannot help but wonder: Are we doing something wrong? Would it help if we rethought church?
The United Methodist News Service reports that the new United Methodist evangelism campaign, "Rethink Church" is "designed to redefine church as a 365 days-a-year experience, where people seeking a church community can become involved at various levels _ many of them non-traditional _ such as volunteering with groups outside the church building, and even through making online connections."
Christ provides us with the mission of the church in the Great Commission: "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you ... " (Matthew 28:19-20a, New International Version).
Many local churches are inspired by the concept of "Rethink Church." It evolved out of an earlier paradigm: the "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors" campaign.
The website www.10thousanddoors.org asks: "What if church wasn't a noun, but an active verb," and "What if church wasn't just a building, but thousands of doors?"
Think of the people you see in the community and in your neighborhood each week. What are some specific ways that you can plant seeds of hope by which people hear or see the good news of Jesus Christ through you?
If the purpose of the church is to make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, why does the church often find itself focusing more inward than outward?
Many believe that "Rethink Church" can help those inside the church to realize the true mission and mandate of the church as Christ perceived it.
A group of United Methodist bishops put faith into action when they visited a day laborers' camp in the Baltimore-Washington area recently. Among them was Bishop Susan Hassinger of the Albany Episcopal area, which includes Oneonta.
The host, Bishop John Schol of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, summed it up this way: "The church must move beyond its walls and into the community. Jesus is here among these day laborers. We should be as well."
The bishops were clad in red jackets and caps with Rethink Church logos, and engaged the workers in prayer and Holy Communion.
The Rethink Church message certainly challenges the church as a whole. The concept is designed to redefine church as an experience beyond Sunday mornings or the building itself.
People seeking a church community can expect to become involved at various non-traditional levels. Some pastors are trading church time in exchange for an outing in the neighborhood to offer help in community activities "" "The Church Has Left the Building." This radical idea tends to bring together all church members, regardless of age, in celebration of their faith-in-action, in a practical manner.
Congregations are moving toward more involvement, Monday through Saturday, by practicing radical hospitality and sharing of God's extravagant story of grace.
We pray that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we will grow new disciples for Christ, increase our numbers in worship attendance, grow spiritual leaders and bolster mission work in our communities.
As we approach Thanksgiving and Advent, may we embrace life with thankfulness, love, joy, expectancy and the assurance that God is calling us to pursue putting our faith into action.
May we nurture and care for one another, and for those to whom we are inextricably linked by God's grace in the world.
The Rev. Olu Harding is the pastor at Elm Park United Methodist Church in Oneonta.
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