WHAT IS OUR VISION OF THE “IDEAL” CHURCH
A summary of the comments made at the First “Forward Chat”
The ideal church is a welcoming, accepting place
People are warmly received
Diversity is accepted and welcome
It has a place for everyone, no matter one's age or abilities
The ideal church is like a family
Love is at the center
It is a place where we are known and loved just as we are
It is a place where all generations interact – with lots of younger folks to balance the old ones
It is a place with children
It is a place where we meet friends and we connect with a warm community
The ideal church is a sanctuary
It is physically safe (Safe Church)
It is spiritually safe (there are no theological litmus tests)
It is emotionally safe – you are among friends in a culture of kindness
It provides a place that is peaceful in a world full of distrust and fear
It provides a time to get centered and recharged in a world full of stress and distractions
The ideal church nourishes its members – helps them learn, listen, share, grow, and feel completeT
The church offers rituals that are familiar and calming, allowing people to center down and feel the presence of God.
The church offers thought-provoking sermons and good music.
The church affirms that we are good people, empowering us to expand our capacity for goodness
The church connects us with other people who are also on a spiritual journey
The church reminds us of the guiding principles for being a good and loving person
The church exposes us to new information, ideas and ways of thinking about things
The church recognizes that members cannot give out continuously unless their energies are replenished – and not wasted by unnecessary church-related stress
The ideal church does the work of God
The congregation is the body of Christ / the hands and feet of God
Through the church, people make commitments to something greater than themselves
Things can be done by a group that cannot be accomplished by one person alone
It attracts new members naturally as it performs its mission in the world, showing others what Christianity really means
The ideal church knows how to communicate kindly and effectively
Everyone is willing to take responsibility for their own remarks
Conversation is designed to build up the church – to lift us up
Destructive parking lot gossip is actively discouraged
People listen with the intent of truly hearing, of taking in what the other person is saying
People listen kindly and assume the good intentions of others
People accept opinions different from their own
People forgive each other when there are offenses
The various working groups of the church (committees, staff, pastor, teams, etc.) communicate effectively in order to prevent unnecessary conflict
Individuals and church groups have the communication skills to resolve conflicts when they arise
The ideal church knows how to work together effectively
Everyone understands the structures the congregation uses to do its work and make decisions
Many people participate in the work of the church, not just a few
It discovers members skills and assets so that competent people are found for each task
It has a clear vision that helps them recognize the next best steps to achieve a common end
The various working groups within the church communicate well with the pastor and each other
The church doesn’t avoid issues or delay decisions. It gathers the information it needs, determines the goal and works expeditiously to reach it (by September!).
The church can commit to a change
The ideal church remembers WHY we do this
Even the smallest actions are informed by the great Christian principles (love your neighbor, first take care of the beam in your own eye, forgive without counting, etc., etc.)
People see the big picture – the forest, not just the trees – and spend their time and energy on things that matter to our purpose, not on minor issues that don’t really make a difference
The congregation is open the Holy Spirit, receptive to change and to the spontaneous bubbling-up of new ideas and new projects which may better meet the changing needs of changing times
A healthy church creates a framework that gives meaning to our lives (see Emily Esfahani Smith’s Ted Talk There’s More to Life than Being Happy.) Meaning comes from (1) a sense of belonging, (2) a purpose, (3) moments of transcendence, and (4) the story you tell yourself about your life.