"The Church is Not A Building"

I just knew the CML person in me would be kicking and screaming at some point in my ministry life. I just didn't think it would be so soon after completing my MA in Congregational Mission and Leadership.  But, alas, here we are.

The 1972 song "We Are the Church" written by Richard Avery and Donald Marsh, has been going through my head all day today. Perhaps you sung it in Sunday School or even in worship?  The chorus goes, "I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together! All who follow Jesus all around the world! Yes, we're the church together!"  The chorus is simple enough, but really hits at the missional idea that the church is not some building. The church is the people gathered to worship, learn, serve, and be in fellowship together as part of God's work in the world. We as Lutherans are starting to learn this, especially as new ministries spring up in all sorts of settings. Perhaps my new favorite mantra uttered by many a church starter/planter, "more than enough cement has already been poured in the name of the church."

Well, consider where I am. I have the blessing to be an installed leader at a local congregation serving as its worship coordinator. Further, this congregation is on the tail end of a major construction project which it took a leap of faith to do in the midst of the worst economy in recent memory.  However, as the project comes near to a close, I think we need to remind ourselves, that the building is not the center.  The building is not the most important thing.  I think, whether we want to admit it or not, the congregation has let it become so.

Returning to the song, Verse 1 reads, "The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple, the church is not a resting place, the church is the people!"  Amen! It doesn't matter how great a building you have, or how great a building that you are working on and constructing. It doesn't matter how fancy the doors and carpets are, or if all the chairs and office equipment match just right.  What matters is the ministry that takes place within and outside the walls.

So, its with great hesitation that I ask this question, but I am going to ask it anyway. Is the congregation I work for willing and ready to put as much dedication, effort, and financial support behind the ministries as it has chosen to do so in nearly doubling its footprint and physical space? If so, praise the Lord! If not, then I fear this building project will serve as a coffin for the congregation, because the church is not about the building, its about the work of God in the world- the mission of serving others as we are called by God, and the piece of evangelism of spreading and articulating the good news.

As Lutherans we do this best by: 1) serving with joy first, because our service is our response to the promise and gift of life which we can never earn or hope to earn; and 2) when we evangelize, (and yes, Lutherans do evangelize), its often when we are asked "why do we serve," or "why are we choosing to help?" When asked these questions we are given the 'green light' so to speak to make the elevator pitch and evangelize. (I'll say more about what this looks like for me in an upcoming blog post.)

But as for the church and the building, if the congregation chooses not to make the same commitment to ministry, if it chooses not to support the staff necessary to fulfill the program ministry callings that the congregation yearns for, I fear that this building as nice as it is will be meaningless.

How do we make sure this doesn't happen?  Well, here are three quick starter ideas, with no doubt hundreds more which could be expanded upon and added:
1) We build off the building campaign, and transition the campaign's energy towards one for mission and faith formation.
2) Make the same commitment to Faith Formation of all ages, as has been made towards Worship and Music. Only with these two ministries doing well, do they collectively do the best to teach and move the people of God forward in their lives, and in growing deeper in faith.
3) We tithe, and then move past the tithe to support the work of the church in the community and larger world. This means that not only we as Children of God do what we can, the church itself is called to tithe its budget, and other special campaigns. Further, the church should be giving at least 10% of its time/space for larger community usage with no direct link to the church in order to practice true community involvement and stewardship and be a beacon in the community and witness through its word and deed.

Anyway, what started out as a goal for 2 paragraphs today turned into a long exposition of some of my very basic CML feelings and thoughts.  "The church is not a building." It is so much more.  We cannot lose sight of this, and we cannot ever make the building the number one need or concern.  Once we do this, the building becomes the idol and the center of our work.  This can't be so.  The center is God, and the work we are called to do is for and of the other, the stranger, the one in need, as God has called us to do.

It's nice to have a new building, but if we stop there, we are no better then the people with flowing robes who say long prayers and flaunt their wealth.  I know we are not these people. So let's act and move in a way that proves me right, we aren't these people with flowing robes but humble servants who are heeding the call to love and serve the neighbor.

["We Are the Church," Richard Avery & Donald Marsh, (Carol Stream, IL:  Hope Publishing, Co., 1972), CCLI Song No. 18510.]