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Moderators musings

Christ-centred, community-facing mission is what we have been focussing on in parishes and presbyteries. I have been encouraging parish engagement on a local level, calling us all to “ seek the shalom of the place where we have been sent, for in its shalom, we will find our shalom”. But what do we understand by the concept community in this individualistic and isolationist New Zealand of the 21st century?

Most city churches are gathered comm-unities, drawing folk from all over the area. Some come because it is their local church but others come because of long-established family ties, or preferences for a theological stream or worship. Others come because the age structure provides more opportunities for children’s ministry or a youth peer group. Which is all fine and typical of other institutions in our society – aren’t those big housing subdivisions in Auckland and Christchurch designed to be dormitories rather than communities? We recognised this in our Assembly decision a few years ago when we abolished the concept of parish bounds.

In rural NZ, we might think being the centre of a local community is easier, but in my travels I’ve discovered that what has always been taken for granted is no longer so. Our farmers will tell you that community spirit is a shadow of “what it used to be” especially in those areas where the type of farming is changing – particularly as sheep farming has given way to dairy farming in mid Canterbury or to vineyards in Marlborough.

But then the question is well asked: who and what is the community we are called to serve in mission?

Community “used to be” formed in and through our churches but contemporary folk make community instead within schools and pubs, sports clubs and coffee bars – and often these activities and groups are not located in a specific area, but are “gathered” communities too, with minimal demands of belonging and contributing. How do we as church engage with this kind of community?

I’ve been pondering on the tensions between being an attractional church and an incarnational one. In simple terms, the attractional church says, “come and find the Christ among us” – the incarnational church says Christ is “out there” and calls us to join him.

While I strongly encourage worshipping communities that bring glory to God and empower and equip each other for a life in Christ, I wonder if we need now to be churches that play the “away game” more frequently. It takes us out of our comfort zone, but maybe we will find Christ in those communities of interest that our society has established outside the church. It will create some interesting partnerships for us, as we listen to, walk beside, and engage with those who have yet to find the transforming love of Jesus in their lives. And maybe in this way we will bring about new community.

Lots of questions, but as we journey on being Christ-centred and community-facing, they are questions we need to grapple with.

May Christ be with you and your community as you journey as people of the Way.