The Listening Ear

Things Are Different

I’ve been rereading Dave Daubert’s book, Living Lutheran: Renewing your Congregation in preparation for a workshop I need to help with tomorrow. Daubert argues that we need a changing church to deal with a changing world.

In his first chapter, Daubert points out how way the church is viewed has changed in the last decades. In the 1950’s everyone thought of the church as being at the center of culture and the local community. Many thought of the church as the place to train respectable citizens.

A symbiotic relationship existed between church and culture. The church blessed the culture and the culture approved of the church. It was considered ‘normal’ to belong to the church.

By the beginning of the 21st century, things have changed. In many ways, the church has moved to the fringe of the culture. People who involve themselves in the church do so because it matters to their lives, not because it is the culturally proper thing to do.

Now the church addresses the culture prophetically even as it attempts to coexist. The culture now views the church either as neutral or negative. Citizenship training is no longer entrusted to the church. It happens in schools or other institutions. Now being a Christian is no longer considered ‘normal.’ It is being different and entails discipleship.

Back in the 90’s the ELCA put a great deal of emphasis on evangelism. Many great resources were produced, but many congregations, as well as the ELCA, experienced overall decline.

The church evaluated what was happening. There were still many congregations that grew. Those that grew possessed two characteristics: 1) they had a strong sense of mission and had a clearly defined understanding of their purpose; and 2) they were open to change in whatever way they needed to change to advance their ministry.

We can’t change the world around us. We may invite change, but changing the culture isn’t in our power alone. But we can be open to change for ourselves so that we can be more effective in the ministry Christ gives the church.

Greetings From Tanzania

I have received a couple of emails from Jason Mtokoma, the Tanzanian medical student that our congregation has been helping. He and his family are doing well and his studies are going well, too.

He assures me that his is praying for our congregation and for a favorable response regarding the sabbatical grant that we’ve applied for.

Time For Some Humor

I was catching up on some blogs and found a great video that Kem Meyer has on her blog. Of course she found it someplace else. It’s good for a few laughs that will lighten up a person’s day.

Auto Tuning from Casey Donahue on Vimeo.

More From The Pond

I came how this evening to discover two new kinds of blooms on my pond. There was another spider lily blossom that had opened and the purple water iris have just started to bloom. Here is a picture of both.

Visit To Sioux Falls

Wanda and I are spending most of the weekend visiting our son Aaron and his wife Ashley in Sioux Falls. I did go back the Treynor to lead worship on Sunday morning.

Aaron and Ashley moved to Sioux Falls last year and eventually purchase a house in the historic section of the city. Their house was originally built in the 1880’s, I think.

Structurally the house is quite sound, but it wasn’t kept up over the years. This weekend we put some work on getting the flower beds and the lawn back in shape. Wanda is also helping them put in a garden. They are excited about that. Another project that they’ve been working on is to paint and remodel an upstairs bathroom. It has been a productive weekend.