Guest commentary by Gary Smith
Change is hard for everyone.
It doesn’t matter what the discipline or occupation; change is hard. I remember when I was working my way through college at supermarkets, a manager told me one always takes advantage of unplanned or disruptive situations — such as requesting cleaning equipment on the company dime during a remodel or after the aftermath of a storm. As a police chief, I found that moving into a new organization as an outsider afforded me about three months to make substantial changes both within the organization as well as in the community before the door of tolerance would close.
Now, as I sit at home sheltering in place as the result of the coronavirus pandemic, I’ve been thinking about unplanned opportunities for change as it pertains to the church. Throughout the country, churches suddenly decided that livestreaming was a very viable option for worship. Churches remain empty on Sunday for worship and for other activities during the week. I suggest we seize the opportunity — much like I found working in stores and law enforcement.
While “traditional’ worship (meaning at-church worship, not worship style), is disrupted, I challenge church leaders and pastors to seize the opportunity to rock the paradigm of church and as such, worship. I have been reading with interest the online discussions about how to facilitate communion, weddings and funerals. How do we keep young folks engaged? How do we reach out to others who are unable technologically to make use of social media (who are most likely those unable to attend regular worship)? How do we take this opportunity to encourage churches to take advantage of online giving?
Now is the time to introduce new ideas for worship and how we define church. Is this the time to make physical changes to the worship area or the church? The slate is “clean,” so to speak, with a break in regular worship — something that in my experience has never really happened. Work with church leaders and begin to develop strategies and new paradigms to keep people engaged and eager to return when the church doors open again. Redefine and reinforce that church can exist without a building — and in some cases might be better off without a building.
What better way to usher in a new renaissance of church than taking a difficult situation and making it a revival of preaching the gospel and reaching those who are seeking God!
GARY G. SMITH is a ruling elder and commissioned pastor from the Presbyery of Nebraska.
