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| LCH E-News—An occasional electronic newsletter for the LCH congregation
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LCH E-News—January 8, 2009From Pastor JeffThis afternoon I met with members of our congregational council interested in Evangelism. Yep, I used the “dreaded “E” word right here in print. We talked about some of the past efforts congregational members and leaders have made to be intentional about outreach to the wider community. Many of the ideas and efforts were impressive. Several years ago, a group took on the task of making sure people felt welcomed. Members volunteered to greet people in the parking lot, direct visitors to the worship, and help parents of small children find the nursery. While widely appreciated by both visitors and members, the effort eventually played out. It became difficult to find enough volunteers. The story reflects one I have heard repeatedly throughout the larger church. Well-intentioned, carefully planned programs of evangelism often fail because they are, well... programs. One difficulty with programs is that they to have to be populated with volunteers who do the work on behalf of the larger congregation. The rest of us are thankful for their efforts and even more thankful to be excused from doing it ourselves! Eventually the cadre of committed volunteers dwindles and the momentum is lost. When the new Pastor or congregational president brings up the need for an Evangelism Committee, we can truthfully say, “we tried it, and it did not work.” Maybe there is another way. First, we need to get over our fear of the word “evangelism.” A few years ago a well-meaning author suggested that the words “stewardship” and “evangelism” had attached to them such negative connotations that we should stop using them all together. We tried “outreach,” “giftedness,” even “marketing” as words to replace them. Instead of abandoning the word, let’s embrace it. The word “evangelism” comes from the koine Greek word “euangellion,” which means simply “gospel.” Yep, the evangelism committee is the “gospel committee.” When we are “doing” evangelism, we are “doing” the gospel. Kelley Fryer, in her book Reclaiming the “C” Word suggests we might take it one step more. Evangelism is not what churches do; evangelism is what churches are. Congregations who embrace evangelism deeply don’t need an evangelism committee because the whole congregation takes the responsibility to be the gospel for the community, for visitors, and for each other. Perhaps that is what Jesus meant when he told his disciples to love one another. Being Gospel means loving one another as God loves us: forgiving each other, holding one another accountable, encouraging and understanding one another, sharing our wealth, giving of ourselves, and caring for those who hate us. Being the Gospel sometimes means letting go of long-held assumptions and practices so others might see Christ. It means shedding fear and being able to say “Here I am Lord, send me.” Being the Gospel means embracing those who ideas and tastes differ from ours. Being the Gospel means sharing the story of God in the crucified Jesus with hearts, hands, voices, time, talent, and treasure in thankfulness for the light and life God gives us each day. Perhaps it might be easier to just from a committee after all. But I see in Lutheran Church of Honolulu a powerful spirit, and the seed of being the Gospel. At the end of our meeting this afternoon, we compiled a list persons who might be willing to help shape evangelism at Lutheran Church of Honolulu. I hope you will be one of them Pastor Jeff
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A PRAYER FOR UNITY