I love St. Simons Island...the United Methodist sister retreat center to Lake Junaluska...home of the history memorabilia about John Wesley's missionary time in Georgia (not his finest years, but a building block for the transformation that would burn into the Methodist movement). This is a place of beauty and serenity bathed in the deep roots of Methodism. This week, District Superintendents from across the jurisdiction gathered for worship, study and fellowship. Learning to be leaders in this changed culture requires a lot of stretching. And we have been stretched this week.
The closing worship was a window into the adjustments and changes the church must make to be true to its mission. Bishop Mary Virginia Taylor was preaching for the closing communion when, all of a sudden, we heard the roar of a leaf-blower. She politely continued and I thought, "Now, isn't this just like life -- the church needing to compete with distractions..."
The leader of our design team discreetly left our worship and, shortly after that, the buzz of the yard equipment was heard no more. I was relieved. Worship continued and we could actually hear what the Bishop was saying.
There is a part of me that understands that the work has to be done for upkeep of a beautiful place like St. Simons. And, in one way, I felt bad about the maintenance people having to re-arrange their work day so that we could have worship. On the other hand, places like St. Simons exist for spiritual renewing experiences like our worship, not for the convenience of a dedicated staff. The people who love and care for the place need to be the people who make the accommodations to what moves the overall mission forward -- even if that means the longtime, everyday workers are the ones to accommodate to the visitors who come and go.
The same thing is true for the local church. It's the regular, dedicated, time-giving people who need to be sure to keep the mission of the church first and foremost. So if Trustees -- who are, in my experience, always deeply dedicated people who love their church--are reluctant for the church to be used for fear of marks on the wall or carpet, that's backwards. The mission of the church is to be fully engaged as a witness for Christ -- deepening the discipleship of its members and tirelessly reaching out to new people. If the building shows wear and tear from use that has moved the mission forward, that's cause for celebration -- even though it means more trouble and concerns for the trustees.
The longer we have loved the church, the more clear we ought to be about the church's mission -- and the more willing to sacrifice, accommodate and re-arrange to move that mission forward. God bless the maintenance people of our holy places...and may they always recognize the primacy of the mission when adjustments to the routine have to be made.
