You Are the Church
“But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. … The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.” – Ephesians 4:7, 11-16 (NRSV)
We are deeply fortunate to have many persons here at High Street who recognize God’s call to serve God, their church, and the community. They recognize they are empowered – in all ways – to BE the church. I’m grateful for their service and their ministry.
Approximately mid-July, the Nominations Committee begins meeting to prayerfully discern who would be best to fill positions on the various committees that keep our church functioning. Contrary to what some may believe, those on Nominations take this responsibility very seriously. They aren’t looking for “warm bodies” to fill slots; they want the best people in the roles we need to keep High Street running.
We’ve been delighted with the positive responses we’ve received from so many of you who’ve been asked to step up into these leadership roles. Thank you. You are the lifeblood of High Street. We also know that some, after serving many consecutive years, need a short break.
But we’ve also seen a few too many people saying, “no;” a few too many people who believe they’ve already fulfilled their responsibility to serve in the past; a few too many who believe they’ve “done their time.”
Friends, the journey of discipleship is never complete. We are constantly on the road to Christian Perfection and sanctification, as John Wesley would put it. Or, to say it a little less ornately, service is part of discipleship, which is a lifetime commitment. The Nominations Committee would not ask anyone they did not believe would do a good job for whatever position they are being asked to fill.
Many (MANY!) years ago, when I was in the New Members class for my home church, all of us had to interview a leader of the church as part of the class. The person I interviewed told me she served in her role at the church because we all get out of [a] church what we’re willing to put into it. I’ve never forgotten that.
You are the church; you ARE High Street United Methodist Church. I pray that each of you develops as your part of the body, so that it functions properly and best, to God’s glory. It’s the only way the church will survive and thrive.