2008 State of the Presbytery
Linda Badger Becker, Acting Co-Presbyter for Program
A belated Happy Birthday to you all! Did you know that the Presbytery of Genesee Valley turned 45 years old on January 6th? It was founded in 1963 (a year marked by the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy).
Adopting the name “Presbytery of Genesee Valley” to reflect its new identity, it was the union of Rochester Presbytery and the Genesee Presbytery combining 76 churches in five counties (Monroe, Genesee, Orleans, Livingston, and Wyoming).
In the four and one half decades since its birth, our presbytery has been characterized by its passion for social justice, partnerships in mission, and commitment to equipping leadership for ministry.
Famous for our “firsts,” the Presbytery boasts the first female in the denomination to be called to an executive position (1977) and the first Asian-American executive called to serve in a majority Caucasian presbytery (1988). And there are so many others. Doing things a little differently is part of who we are.
Every decade has brought its challenges. We have survived:
…the 60’s the Rochester racial riots and controversial support of F.I.G.H.T.
…the 70’s Angela Davis …need I say more?
…the 80’s Community of Jesus controversy
…the 90’s the Janie Spahr judicial case
and we’re coming close to surviving the 2000’s, which has been marked primarily by an elusive search for executive leadership.
And yet, we are still here.
We have so much to celebrate. Many blessings for which to be grateful not the least of which is that God continues to do good things through us (and sometimes in spite of us.) Children are being baptized and confirmed; the hungry are being fed and the homeless sheltered; and God’s people are being called into all sorts of wonderful ministries. We must remember to be grateful and to count our blessings, even when it would appear that we have fallen on hard times.
The last 25 years had been marked by rapid denominational decline. There are a variety of factors that have led to this “mainline meltdown” and it must not be oversimplified. Certainly, dramatic socio-cultural changes provide compelling explanations. Consider the changes in your world that have taken place just since 1963 and you’ll get the picture. The forces reshaping our culture and our world are legion.
In the fifteen years that I have served the Presbytery, membership in our congregations has declined by 500 a year. (@7 per church per year). This is not good news for someone who has spent her life’s ministry devoted to congregational vitality. In 90% of my work with congregations there are but two questions: “How can we get more members?” and “How can we get more money?”
Oh dear friends in Christ, is it possible we are asking the wrong questions? Sisters and brothers, for what reason does the church exist? I will leave you to ponder that for yourselves a bit.
So now what? It is 2008 and we are leaking out our back doors at an alarming rate. It is time to stop grieving what is lost, to stop pointing the finger of blame (often directed toward pastors or executives), to stop complaining about past failures or oversights. I personally am in favor of adopting a “no whining” policy (which is one of the many reasons I would not make a very good pastoral counselor).
Sorry, but we have no time to waste. We cannot afford a failure of nerve. It is time for prayer, spiritual renewal, spiritual conviction, commitment, and action. Doing things the way we have always done them is not working well for us. We need learn to do things differently and that shouldn’t scare us because doing things a little differently is part of who we are.
Some of you know that I love light bulb jokes, and you’ll forgive me if you have heard these before, but I cannot resist.
How many Presbyterians does it take to change a light bulb?
Chh-chhh-change?
But here is my most favorite:
How many therapists does it take to change a light bulb?
Only one but the light bulb has to really, really want to change.
So the question is “do you really want to change?” As an educator, I believe that learning is change. We cannot possibly embrace new ideas if we do not know what they are.
There are numerous and continuous educational opportunities offered by our Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly that are designed to inspire and equip congregational leaders but you actually have to attend to reap the benefits. How many of your church leaders are attending church leadership day to learn new skills that will equip them for the mission and ministry God is calling you to?
Do you know that there are a wide variety of resources and tools designed to help congregations with everything but the kitchen sink? When was the last time your session read and used a new resource for congregational development, stewardship, or community service and action?
Are you seeking opportunities to begin or expand the work of peacemaking, mission service, and advocacy for the marginalized in our society? What hands on mission opportunities are out your front door? Has anyone in your congregation contacted the Presbytery peacemaker lately?
Well you get the picture. This is certainly not a comprehensive list. If we really, really want to change, there is plenty we can do together, with God’s help, if we but have the will and the heart. There are no guarantees that any of the things we do will result in new members and new money but we can trust that God will bless our faithfulness in ways that we may not imagine.
We all have choices. We can choose to renew our resolve and our passion for social justice, partnerships in mission, and commitment to equipping leadership for ministry. We can choose to renew our resolve to “Know Christ, Live Christ, and Share Christ” not so we can survive but because that is what God calls us to do.
And to God be the glory. Amen