Simplifying Church Life

Simple Church (Rainer & Geiger) is a provocative book for an Anglican/Episcopal parish to implement. The thesis is that the congregation needs a simple,visible and understandable path by which guests and members can find their current place in the life of the Church and the next step to take. We have embarked on an effort to make our path more clear--and to arrange all of our ministries around that path. This has been more challenging than I first expected.

Our path includes three signposts: Who Is Jesus, Anyway?, Where 2 Now? and SHAPEd to Serve. These three programs introduce individuals to the faith and conversion, to the basics of spiritual formation and participating in a small group, and then finally, discerning new opportunities for significant service to God in the Church and world. Worship is at the heart of our parish life serving both as an anchor and a goal of all that we do.

The challenge that I have laid before all the ministry leaders is to begin to prayerfully discern how their group or event connects to that path. It may be that some ministries can readily identify their one spot on the path; while others may actually attempt to three or even for of the steps on the path.

The exercise has highlighted the need to become more clear. We have worthy ministries led by good people that do not visibly connect to other worthy ministries led by good people. Guests and our own members do get confused and frustrated. Having identified the challenge, we press in asking God to help us articulate a path or strategy that makes sense here in this community.

Stayed tuned. There's more to come. Or as we used to say years ago: PBPGINFWMY!

(Please be patient: God is not finished with me yet!)