How Not to Grow a Church: The Christian Reform Church is In Full Schism

In seminary, I do not remember any class telling us that the best way to grow a church in terms of numbers was by telling a group of people they were not welcome. When I taught in a seminary, I did not tell my students to be sure certain groups of people were not welcomed. And as a pastor, I do not tell congregations to be sure certain people are not welcome to grow a church. 

Why is it, then, that denominations are telling certain groups of people they are not welcome, will not be affirmed, and any church that welcomes such people will be kicked out of the denomination?

Last week, I posted a blog on Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) which was going to ask Quest Church in Seattle to leave the denomination. Why? Because they are welcoming and affirming of LGBTQIA2S+ people of faith. I also made a reference to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) which kicked out two prominent churches because there were women in roles of pastoral leadership. Both the ECC and SBC leadership are making sure that there are churches that are not welcome and affirmed because these churches are open to LGBTQIA2S+ and women in leadership roles.

Both ECC and SBC are losing members as a denomination. How is this move supposed to increase membership? Granted, they will pull in others who are homophobes and misogynists, but is that the kind of members we want in the church?

This week our spotlight focuses on the 2023 annual meeting Synod meeting of the Christian Reformed Church of North America(CRCNA), one of the smallest Protestant denominations, which is asking a church to “rescind” any and all church officers who are in same-sex unions/marriages. And if anyone among a church staff supports same sex unions/marriages, or ordination of LGBTQIA2S+ people, they are to be disciplined and brought into compliance with church teachings. Doctrinally, the CRCNA believes that all homosexual sex is sinful.

I’m not going to waste anymore time writing about the policy machinations that are going on in Michigan as the denomination is in full schism, whether they see it or not. Here’s a link to the story: https://religionnews.com/2023/06/16/christian-reformed-synod-orders-church-to-rescind-deacon-in-same-sex-marriage/

Again: Like the United Methodists, the Roman Catholic Church, the ECC, and the SBC, the CRCNA are following a well-known path for shrinking the membership base of this church. Fewer people are going to attend these churches that have policies that are anti-LGBTQIA2S+, and in some cases, women.

Explain to me how this helps in terms of church growth? Again, the only people that will be attracted to these denominations share in the same bias and prejudice against LGBTQIA2S+ people and women.

And explain where, in Scripture, this approach works? God keeps calling women and LGBTQIA2S+ people to ministry, to be religious leaders, and the Spirit continues to invite women and LGBTQIA2S+ to be part of the body of Christ. 

Or here’s an old fashion way of saying it: What would Jesus do?

Finally, and frankly, these are denominations I don’t need or want to attend.

This is a lesson in how not to grow a church.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reflections on the Day The United Methodist Church Came Into the 21st Century

Welcome, members of The United Methodist Church (UMC), who, this day, May 1st, 2024, joined the 21st century, affirming the presence and welcoming those of us who are LGBTQIA2S+ people to be ordained, to serve churches, to marry, and to officiate at other weddings of same sex couples. Heck, you can now even use funds from within the UMC to pursue funding programs that assist people who are LGBTQIA2S+ in being and becoming more of the body of Christ through the practices of Methodism. Imagine: You can now focus on other issues that are facing Christendom! Hunger. Poverty. Peace-making programs. Gun control. Global climate. Houselessness. You name it. Praise God. Here’s a link to the news:  https://religionnews.com/2024/05/01/united-methodists-strike-down-ban-on-ordination-of-gay-clergy/  This day was, indeed, a long way in coming. 1972 is when that horrible language was published as part of your Constitution. Richard Nixon was President. HIV/AIDS was not yet an issue.  I’v...
Read more

The Threat of Stoning a Black Gay Man in Oregon! Time to Rise Up!

 As reported by Rachel Shatto in the Advocate.com website on Aug. 5, 2021 (that is 2021), Eric Osterberg, who is assistant to the city manager of Klamath Falls and staff-lead for the city's equity task force, was about to deliver a report on equity in the city before the city council when a man stood up with a stone the size of his hand and said to Eric: "Oh, so you think we are all racists? You think you are the second coming of Christ?" The man then accused Eric of spreading HIV and AIDS, saying he was blasphemous for being a Black gay man. The man continued: "You are a sinner and you need to be stoned. That is why I brought this stone."  The man with the stone was simply escorted out of the building by Klamath Falls police chief Robert Dentinger and simply released and sent home rather than being arrested, though Dentinger said he may have to talk with the man with the stone more in the future. You think? "The incident left Osterberg shaken. 'I felt ...
Read more

Discriminating in the Name of God at Calvin University

I read this article on advocate.com, by Trudy Ring, about an assistant professor on the faculty of Calvin University, who was fired from his position at Calvin because he officiated at a wedding of a same sex couple. The by-line? " Joseph Kuilema lost his job with Calvin University after officiating a queer couple's wedding. He's disgusted that the school discriminates in the name of God. ” That about says it all. Yes, the University is discriminating against LGBTQIA2S+ people and allies. I don’t get it. There are a lot of  smart, creative, insightful people at Calvin University. They don’t have to “buy” into the conservative politics of the Christian Reformed Church, of which they are connected. They are an institution of higher education. Surely, they can see discrimination when it is around them in the Grand Rapids area.  But apparently they are all right with openly practicing discrimination among themselves, especially when it comes to LGBTQIA2S+ people.  F...
Read more