I suddenly realised in the middle of a complicated meeting yesterday that it seemed as though people in many situations would actually prefer to have a church building than a priest.
Is that so? Is that true and is that one of the key things which gives life to those who long for freshnewlocalcollaborativetotalministryofthebaptised?
I think it may well be the case. Interesting, eh?
Thanks for that Chris. It is really helpful to hear someone say that out loud, so to speak.
It is a long way from the faith of our forebears.
I’m not sure that it is true, actually. I know of one charge where an invitation to lay people to assist the clergy with Home Communions was refused, on the grounds that ‘this should always be done by a priest’. Whether this attitude would have been taken to the extreme of preferring to have a priest to a building is a moot point. What it does suggest, however, is that while it’s easy to caricature LCM, it was, as I understand it, a much-needed attempt to persuade people to take the implications of their baptism seriously, to realise that there might be aspects of ministry to which lay people could be called, and to get out of the habit of leaving everything to hard-pressed clergy.
Thanks Eamonn – also a very helpful comment.
I don’t want to get into the LCM side of the question right now (Friday evening, after all) but I have no doubt at all that building are often chosen over priests. Look at churches in any rural area to see that confirmed.
Indeed, I think many congregation would not only choose ‘their building’ over a priest, but would choose ‘their building’ over a change-of-building (smaller, cheaper) and a priest.
Combine this with a pragmatic approach to the eucharist. (‘we want it weekly, priest or no…’) and one begins to see why patterns of ministry are shifting so fast.
As for what encourages lay people to respond to their God-given call — I don’t think any suggestion of people doing things to help the priest really addressed the matter, and have known even well established teams to founder because people perceived of their roles as ‘helping’ rather than doing what they were called to. (though of course one can hope that God’s call might occasionally coincide with the rector’s wildest dreams…)
p.s. — and aren’t I doing well not to read too much into Chris’ comment above, given that I am ‘her priest’ and our buildings are under major review!
I’m just pausing for a moment to consider the rector’s (ie provost’s) wildest dreams.
Thanks for your comments.
I find it interesting to see your thoughts after +Bob’s sermon at the diocesan synod Eucharist this morning, in which he said that he felt that selling off church properties only ever brings a short-term windfall followed by decline. He advocated (if I understood correctly) keeping hold of buildings, or selling larger ones to buy smaller properties to rent out, as this is a much more stable way of investing.
I think the challenge is to find a balance which is practically possible. I find myself thinking of my “home” congregation; small, rural, declining. I’d like to think that they would choose to have a share in a priest rather than keep our beautiful, but costly rectory. Of course, they would prefer both, but may have to realise that this is no longer possible. The church building itself I fear may be a different matter, but from where I stand I can’t see the point of a church building with no priest. Has this really happened in some places? Surely the model of LCM is based on a supportive laity rather than an independent laity. We do, after all (in theory) follow one head, rather than a committee.
I also realise that I write from a somewhat marginalised position – young, single, reasonably bright (I hope!) and terribly out of step with a Church I am deeply fond of but am struggling to hold to. So perhaps I am well off-beam.
What a fascinating last paragraph, Christina. I’d love to hear more. I have had other conversations recently that have left me searching for what holds together the vision of the church that excites us with the reality of the church we sometimes (often) find.
“p.s. — and aren’t I doing well not to read too much into Chris’ comment above, given that I am ‘her priest’ and our buildings are under major review!”
Yes, you were doin fine until that PS.