Sean Major-Campbell | Churches should consolidate not rebuild post-Melissa

A CATASTROPHIC disaster has presented the Church with a wonderful opportunity to choose between operating from a place of understandably anxious, emotional responses and that place of inspired leadership in the interest of Kingdom work. Many churches are faced with challenging decisions which surpass economic concerns.

Churches in Jamaica have been places of much memory-making and celebrated rites of passage. People have cherished memories of loved ones who were laid to rest in certain spaces. Some have had their family history of christenings (baptisms), confirmations, marriages, and burials all in the one church location for three and even four generations. The space of church has emotionally charged fond memories for many who may not even have attended church in later life.

Yes. Our churches have been special for many; and have served as a place of refuge for many.

An open secret is that many of the traditional churches with old, beautiful buildings also carry windows, doors, and roofs which have become a costly burden to bear. This presents a challenge for scarce resources which must pay staff, pay insurance, pay security, pay utilities, pay travelling expenses, and serve the outreach programmes of church.

Church members must wrestle with some difficult questions. In a district or cure or charge, what would be in the best interest of Christ’s ministry here on Earth? Is it financially viable to return to having four, five, six, seven points in your charge? Would the cause of ministry be best served by putting less strain on already burdened resources?

INTERDENOMINATIONAL SHARING

An interesting conversation is whether we would be ready to have interdenominational sharing. How might that look? In a small geographical location, four different denominations, for example, may agree that they will use building number one for the worship space, with different worship services (something like Church of the Reconciliation in Bridgeport, Portmore which is an arrangement between Anglicans and Roman Catholics). This would see them sharing all the utility costs for that building. They may agree that building number two be used to develop a community development centre. They may agree to develop land space from the other two for a farming programme to include animal husbandry. But I digress.

To return to the difficult conversation, what do we prefer? Getting back buildings which we cannot afford to maintain, or being more effective for the sake of the Kingdom of God? Should we be focusing on great edifices now or seeking to build great lives for people? What if in place of the church building fund we were able to give some life to a people-building fund? People are more important than things!

Jesus’ question in Luke 14:28, is contingent on other realities. Let us hear this question again: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” Let us add questions about membership and buildings. Well for starters, some buildings no longer exist. As for membership, the remaining few, though alive with negligible growth, do not have the income required to sustainably rebuild, pay insurance, and pay for maintenance. What would Jesus do?

Where it is not practical to develop property, just imagine how in some cases, said property may be sold and the proceeds invested in building fewer but more kingdom serving towers for the sake of Christ and the body of Christ the Church. Just imagine how the mission of reaching people more effectively might be accomplished with more congregations understanding that their identity is beyond a physical building!

While these difficult conversations are understandably accompanied by disappointment, a sense of loss, grief, and even anxiety about the present, just imagine what God can do with people who are open to reasonably assessing the lay of the land for service in the kingdom of God.

Today marks the fourth Sunday before Christmas. It is therefore the first Sunday of Advent. It is that liturgical season when we prepare to celebrate the coming of Christ as the incarnation of God, and the coming of his rule and reign. His reign is that reality of peace and justice. How wonderful to know that hope, peace, joy, and love may all be known and lived even when church buildings are no longer standing.

This wonderful season of Advent invites resilience through prayerful ways of being, generous acts of kindness, and a willingness to shed light amid gloom. To be hopeful is to defy any present ugliness of devastation and despair. This season of waiting refuses to stay in places of depression and despondency. And a peaceful way of being becomes the heart that pursues the way of Christ.

CELEBRATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Looking forward to seeing you at the annual human rights service at Christ Church Vineyard Town, where on the first Sunday of Advent there will be a celebration of human rights in recognition of World Human Rights Day.

We continue to pray as we build our human community: Gracious God, grant us the wisdom to move away from some physical structures as we move closer in human community; to rebuild more churches without walls; to rebuild our nation on firmer foundations of cooperation and truth; and above all to know your loving presence in the power of love at work among us. Amen.

May we be inspired by this proverb from Sukuma, Tanzania: “Where there is love, even if the house is crowded, it is never too small.”

Fr Sean Major-Campbell is an Anglican priest and advocate for human rights and dignity. Please send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and seanmajorcampbell@yahoo.com