Reflection by Rev. Joanne Anquist
During the last five weeks, our services have focused on the five different ways United Church people experience faith, as articulated by Janet Gear who is a professor at the Vancouver School of Theology. Knowing how our congregation relates to God helps us shape ministry in this time of Covid.
The First way is Evangelical. For people who experience faith through an Evangelical lens, their faith focus is the life of Jesus and the transformative power of God’s work through Jesus. A person who lives an Evangelical faith will focus on inviting people to Jesus so they can live the story according to Jesus’s teachings. When an evangelical say they miss church what they are missing is the scripture and the prayers and songs that proclaim Jesus as the answer to our brokenness. They miss the place of praise to God, of feeling spiritually lifted, or praying and being prayed for and finding assurance in their faith. They are always anxious to go deeper. Covid has affected this, but since evangelicals focus on the story of Jesus and the experience of Jesus in their own lives, evangelicals can find this outside of attending a service.
The second is Ecclesial. For people who practice an ecclesial faith, God is embodied in the Church. Jesus is present in and among us as the people of God when we gather together. Rituals like baptism and communion are very important, and the ministries of The Church are supported and celebrated. An Ecclesial person experiences God’s love in community – so welcoming and hospitality are of utmost importance. They want to live and practice faith together. People in this faith perspective are missing everything about church. They are the ones most likely to participate in online services, attend online zoom meetings, and create online experiences of church – but they can’t wait to get back together, even if it means no congregational singing, social distancing, and no coffee time!
The third faith perspective is Missional. Missional folk concentrate on being the hands and feet of Christ in the world. God is healing and blessing the world through the actions of the followers of Jesus. God is experienced through acts of service to their neighbours, the communities in which the church dwells, and the people who are their friends. Covid has severely hampered this expression of faith – many of you in our congregation used to love making lunches for the neighbourhood schools – you were there any time an activity at the church helped someone in need. You are the ones who check in on each other to make sure you’re okay, who make casseroles and meals for those who are sick. Missional people miss caring for each other. Janet Gear says Missional people miss the kitchen more than the Minister. Fellowship and Coffee times are the way they practice their faith together.
The fourth perspective Is Ecumenical. The focus for Ecumenical Christians is God’s mending of the world. Ecumenical people feel keenly the need for radical social transformation. Whereas missional people provide care for those closest to home, the ecumenical practice of faith casts a wider net. They are involved in reconciliation between settler and indigenous populations, poverty organizations, climate justice, systemic racism and equality for all, among others. Their focus is contained in the line from our creed: “Seek Justice and Resist Evil.” Janet Gear describes ecumenical believers as “working to push against the hopelessness.” Because of this global and systemic focus, ecumenical folk don’t miss the gathering together. Their church is much wider than one congregation. Their church is made of those who seek justice together. But they miss the church as a vehicle for change and the affirmation of that in our worship.
The last Perspective is Spiritual. Where the evangelical focus is on Jesus and God’s saving grace to us personally, the Spiritual faith looks internally, to nature and creation to bring our souls to life. God is seen in nature, and our spirits need to be nurtured by communion with our world. Spiritual Christians love contemplative expression and talk about the mystical union with the Holy. Folks who experience their faith this way are often on the margins of our congregations, Janet Gear says, because they find church too busy and cluttered with unimportant things. They prefer healing ministries, and liturgical arts. For them, Covid has meant a focus on the ancient faith and ways of experiencing God through practices that continue with or without church gathering.
When I consider this list, I don’t think a church can function properly without embracing all these ways of experiencing faith. The United Church is richer for all these expressions. One is not better or more faithful than another. A robust community will speak to all these ways of Experiencing God alive in Jesus. I also think that we, as individuals, need to find space for all these expressions if we want our faith to be rich and full.
When things are “normal” - all these things come together in our Sunday worship, and that’s why Covid has been so disruptive to the church. And as people have settled into new routines, the chances of everything going back to “normal” once we have a vaccine, becomes less likely. The challenge before us, when we know we’re going to have to find a “new normal” is to work at ways that McDougall can continue to practice all these ways of faith amongst us so that we can be the healthy Whole People of God - unity in diversity.
