On Burned Churches, the Importance of Buildings, and the Greater Importance of Showing Up

Several years ago a United Methodist church in my mother’s Baltimore neighborhood closed. As a United Methodist pastor, this was of some interest to me, though at the time not enough to register many of the details. What I do recall was that in the months afterwards, as different ideas for the use of their vacant building were tossed around in the community, there was a ground-swell of effort to try to save the building, using it for what I can’t recall. The effort seemed to be to preserve the unique architecture of the building. Though preserving churches interests me, can I be honest? Preserving church buildings does not. Not after they have ceased to serve their purpose as a gathering place for a faith community and a mission center in the community.

I am a pragmatist in that way, I suppose. As long as church buildings are serving their designed purpose, I think we would do well to maintain them. This has been a challenge for many congregations, but it is a worthy one because our buildings not only glorify God, but they enable us to worship, draw close to the sacred, fellowship, serve, and reach out to the community.

This week as we watched Notre Dame in Paris burn, and then saw the outpouring of financial commitments for its rebuilding by many of the wealthiest people in France, I was reminded of that Baltimore church. I was also reminded, as many did well to make sure we all were, that Notre Dame wasn’t the only sacred building devastated by flames that week: three African-American churches in Louisiana were burned by a man motivated, it seems, by the dark cloud of racism that continues to hang over our nation.

In the wake of the Notre Dame fire, many were motivated to donate to help rebuild these churches as well. Pragmatist that I am, I found this reassuring—people seemed to rightly see the importance of restoring places of worship, wherever they were. I suspect that in the case of Notre Dame, some of those donors were motivated not by a desire to preserve a house of worship, but rather, like some in that Baltimore neighborhood, a desire to preserve the architecture, the cultural importance of the place. Perhaps the same might be true of some donating to rebuild other churches (whether in Louisiana or elsewhere) as well.

Art and architecture are important, and I am grateful there are those who passions seek to support and preserve both. I think such a drive is an important contribution to society and history—and, well, also the future.

For me, however, I can’t help but ponder why the Notre Dame fire really struck a chord with so many, and if they are willing to see their concern and interest through on a broader scale.

Notre Dame was built to glorify God. I have visited and served in churches which reflected great investment of time and money in their design, construction and decoration than some of the stark, simple houses of worship which dot the American landscape. I also understand and stand in the line of some of those Christians who pushed back against what they felt was the waste of worship spaces dripping in wealth. Still, I know the connection with the sacred that such grand places can create. If there is one need we have today, perhaps a greater connection and openness to the sacred is it. Sometimes it is towering arches, ornate stained-glass windows and inlaid floors which conjure not only a glimpse of the glory of God, but also the passion and commitment of the artisans to use their talents to bring glory to God.

And then sometimes all of these things can become an end unto themselves. Sometimes, whether we worship in ornate spaces or simple structures, the buildings can become an end unto themselves. There are far too many United Methodist congregations, for example, crushed under the weight of buildings whose deferred maintenance, rising costs and unwieldy upkeep hamstring efforts to grow—in number, depth of discipleship, and outreach to the community.

Our buildings serve our mission. For United Methodists, that mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. For Christians more broadly, Jesus’ Great Commission directs us to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 18:19-20)

If you feel drawn to support the rebuilding efforts at Notre Dame, I hope it is so that the leaders there can further this mission of making disciples. If you feel drawn to join the many who have already donated, and support the rebuilding of the burned churches in Louisiana, I commend you for your support of the making of disciples in those places.

And if you want to go further, if your sorrow over these burned churches has stirred in you some sense of the sacred and a desire to support the work of making disciples and transforming the world, I invite you to consider visiting a local congregation for worship—to connect with the sacred and find opportunities to take that experience out into the world.

This evening begins the Triduum, the great three days of the Christian church. In these days, we commemorate the final hours of Jesus’ life, mourn his brutal death by crucifixion, then Easter Sunday, join in celebrating his resurrection. Churches across the country and around the world will be gathering—under grand arches, in the shadow of stained glass, or in simple rooms—to remember Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples, sit in grief and brokenness in the face of his death, and on Easter Sunday, you might even see some gathered in cemeteries, like Christians before them, to claim and proclaim their confidence that because of God’s power in Jesus Christ, death, even the most brutal of deaths, is not the end.

What the Church needs from you more than anything is for you to show up. To turn your sadness at the destruction of buildings into a willingness to take the intimidating step (and boy, do I know showing up at a church for the first time can be intimidating) of entering into community. If you are connected to a local congregation already, I invite you to not passively move into Easter, but to show up—both at your own church and maybe at other churches if your church doesn’t offer services each day of the Triduum.

Our buildings have never been meant to be an end unto themselves. Whatever grand architecture, beautiful art or creative design they may have, our church buildings have always been intended to provide a place for people to experience the sacred as they enter into God’s presence, and to connect with others as we all, with differing degrees of faith (or none at all) and at difference places on our journeys, come together. This world, our lives, can feel small, broken and discouraging. Our God invites us into redeemed and reconciled relationship with God and with each other—our buildings provide spaces for that community to happen. But that community, that mission, only happens when you show up. Join us.

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go to our girls’ school to read to Anna’s class for Read Across America. I well remember my first Read Across America Day—it was during my first appointment, in Jefferson, Maryland, and I was excited for the opportunity to get to connect with the community! I didn’t know that many readers bring their own books, so I just grabbed a promising one off the cart they had there in the cafeteria for readers to pick up. The book I chose? The Three Billy Goats Gruff.

Yeah.

If you know that story, and let me tell you, the version I picked up was not an edited or toned down version, you can imagine my horror as I read through it to an elementary school class!

This year, Anna’s teacher had specifically asked parents to read one of their favorite Dr. Seuss books to the class (Read Across America takes place on March 2 each year, the birthday of Dr. Seuss). My choice was easy: Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

Many of my friends received this book as a graduation present at some point. There’s even one account, floating around the internet, of parents who had each of their daughter’s teachers sign a copy of the book throughout her schooling, then give it to her for her high school graduation.

I received my copy, however, the summer between third and fourth grade. I was a camper at Manidokan (one of our United Methodist camps, a place I attended camp only once but would later live at for almost nine years!). That summer my parent’s marriage was beginning (it seemed to me at least) the deterioration which would ultimately, though slowly, lead to the unravelling of our family. I had at least looked forward to a week at camp with my friend Paige, only to discover we weren’t even staying in the same cabin! It didn’t take like before I was homesick and DONE. Just DONE.

As I’ve been blessed to volunteer as a camp counselor, I’ve had homesick, whiny campers. They can wear you down as a counselor, resisting all your best efforts to console and comfort them. So I can only imagine how much I wore on my counselors.

I don’t remember that though. What I remember was the counselor who gifted me a copy of Oh the Places You’ll Go!. I suspect she’d brought the copy as part of her bag of tricks to keep her campers happy and busy. Instead, she sat with me one day, patiently listening to me and reminding me how much she loved me, and even more so, how much God loved me.

Inside the book she gifted me, she wrote an inscription that included the reminder that God is love. Indeed, each time I read, or really, even just see the book, I am reminded of God’s love—because of her love.

When I read the book to Anna’s class, I reminded them what Chris and I often tell the girls when we watch Disney movies: Just remember, the scary parts are never the end. The story never ends in the worst part.

The book, if you aren’t familiar, not only encourages readers with promises of success and wide open spaces, but it also notes the ways life sometimes isn’t all boom bands and high flying. After celebratory lines about how, “Wherever you go, you will top all the rest,” it reads, “Except when you don’t. Because sometimes you won’t. I’m sorry to say so but sadly, it’s true, that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you. You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch. And your gang will fly on. You’ll be left in a Lurch…And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.”

This isn’t just a book for children, is it?!

A boy in Anna’s class taught me something I hadn’t know about this book: it was the last book Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) published in his lifetime. Indeed, with its honest look at the challenges in life, situated squarely within the assurance that even these difficult times are passing (as is also the case with one of my favorite sections, about The Waiting Place).

We would all like to hear bands playing songs of celebration for us, and people celebrating us—even if only for our faithfulness to God. It is no fun, and certainly not desirable, to be stuck in the waiting place or left in a lurch.

But, as Dr. Seuss reminds us, “But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl…On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.”

For we who are people of faith, our confidence and resilience in times of difficulty comes not from our own fortitude alone (or even primarily) but rather from a confidence that God sits with us in times of waiting. God hangs with us when we’re up in a lurch. And God guides us down long, windy streets. May we gives thanks and trust in our God, who allows us to move mountains (Matthew 17:20), and who is ever able to “make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19)

A Letter to Calvary UMC Following the UMC's Special Session

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

I am back in my office today after what has been a long, challenging and difficult week for me and many as the United Methodist Church’s General Conference met for a Special Session in St. Louis. My husband Chris and I are both reserve delegates for the Baltimore-Washington Conference, and so we were in attendance there throughout the session.

First, I want to invite you to our follow-up session to be held at Calvary immediately following worship this Sunday (March 3). During this time, I will give a more detailed summary of the happenings and outcomes of the Special Session and you will be able to ask questions. I know many of you took part in our informational sessions prior to the conference, so I trust you have a handle on the context of this session. In addition, throughout the conference, I posted video updates on my Facebook page—those videos remain available there for your viewing.

I also encourage you to consider taking part in a conference-wide follow up session this Saturday (March 2, 9:00 a.m.-Noon) which will be hosted by our bishop, Bishop LaTrelle Easterling. The session will be held at the conference office but also live-streamed to other sites. The closest sites for us will be St. Paul UMC in Oxon Hill and First Saints Community in Leonardtown. I will be present at the conference office for the meeting but I encourage you to attend whatever site is most convenient for you, if you are interested.

Second, I wanted to briefly share the results of the Special Session. The Traditional Plan as well as a low-bar exit plan was approved by a slight majority of the delegates. Though the overwhelming majority of United Methodists in the United States did not support those pieces of legislation, the complexity of being a global church led to an outcome which does not reflect the experiences and views of United Methodists in our area.

Conservatives, moderates and progressives had sought to keep the church unified in spite of differences in our understanding of scripture on the question of our ministry with LGBTQ persons. Indeed, this effort to be defined by unity reflects the reality of the church in the United States, the Baltimore-Washington Conference, and our own congregation. For decades around the issue of human sexuality, and for much longer on other issues, we have been able to successfully and fruitfully work together to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We will continue to do so.

The Traditional Plan and exit plan as passed are largely unconstitutional. While we will likely be waiting a couple months for full clarity from the UMC’s Judicial Council, it is fair to say we probably spent this time and money to be, legislatively, about where we were before.

This legislative reality of being where we started belies the deep pain which has been caused anew within local churches like our own as well as the broader church. LGBTQ persons and their loved ones are present in all UM churches, including our own. I am humbled by the grace and witness of LGBTQ persons who actively worked to support the One Church Plan—a plan which would allow space in the UMC but not full protection or welcome for them in all UM congregations. I am deeply disappointed that some with traditional readings of the Bible on this matter could not equally affirm our unity in difference.

In the past couple of days, the United Methodist Church has been in the national spotlight due to the General Conference’s votes. These stories, while reflecting the work and decisions of the Special Session, do not reflect the entirety of who we are as United Methodists, nor do they define the ministry and work of our own congregation.

However, these recent stories now sadly define our denomination by who we exclude from full participation in the life of the church. I know all of us, no matter our views on human sexuality, do not desire to be thus defined.

In the many conversations you and I had (both in group settings and one-on-one) prior to this Special Session, no matter how you read the Bible on the question of homosexuality, you consistently affirmed your love for LGBTQ persons and your belief that no matter what, all people are welcome as part of our worshipping community. Our denomination’s recent actions convey a very different sense to LGBTQ persons and their loved ones. Therefore, if we are to live into the love and welcome we profess, we must be even more vigilant to consider how our words, actions and welcome are received and perceived.

I join you in being open to be challenged to live out the love and welcome which I claim that I and the church offer to all persons, and in specific, to our LGBTQ siblings. I know you join me in this earnest wrestling, and the willingness to admit there is more for us to do. It is never enough to profess love; love must always be manifest in action.

Therefore, I invite you to ponder these questions as we move forward together as a congregation: In what ways have your words and actions conveyed welcome to LGBTQ persons in the life of our church? In what ways have your words and actions failed to convey welcome to LGBTQ persons? What might God be calling you or our congregation to do differently to manifest our professed love and care for LGBTQ persons?

Though our General Conference may not have found a clear way forward together, we are able to chart a path forward together as a congregation. I am grateful for the gifts, talents and witness of each of you. Though we have been in ministry together for less than a year, I have already seen the fruits of our shared ministry as we have expanded our feeding ministry in partnership with Our Place Waldorf, worked to address facility maintenance issues to assure the continued viability of our buildings, and met our goal of once again meeting our missional giving goal through our apportionments. I am confident that as we continue to do the hard work of life together as a church family, God will continue to guide and bless us.

I do hope you will join us this Sunday after worship so that we can reflect and process the Special Session more fully. Please also know that I am available for any one-on-one or small group conversations you would like to have about this or any other issue.

May God so fill our lives and shared ministry that all people can find a place at Calvary to be drawn into God’s love, redemption, salvation and new life.

Grace and Peace.

  

Rev. Sarah Andrews Schlieckert