All eight members in attendance—a first!  I’m sure it had nothing to do with the Korean home-cooked meal, courtesy of Jin Kin’s mother.  (Thank you, Mrs. Kim, you warmed our bellies and our hearts.)

Dinner began casually, with “oohs” and “mmms” over the food, conversation about moving from a Modernist to Postmodernist approach to ministry (light dinner chat!), and questions about my recent return from Istanbul and Cairo.

CAN Parish Interns

Tonight’s meeting, by request of Margie Boosalis, was devoted to exploring the Resident Parish Intern Program at Church of All Nations:  How is the CAN Intern Program pivotal to the identity of Church of All Nations?  How has the program impacted its alumni? Is such a program—or simply the core values it fosters—feasible for Aldrich Church?  Where are those core values already present (or seeding) at Aldrich?

The CAN Resident Parish Intern Program was founded to prepare recent seminary graduates for ministry because (as quoted in their Purpose Statement available here):

In an increasingly multicultural, multiethnic, multigenerational and post-denominational age, we sense a compelling need for congregations that will call and nurture pastoral leaders into the ministry of reconciliation….

Our concern for diversity is not rooted in aesthetics, but about intentionally engaging deep-seated socio-historical divisions and fractured interpersonal relationships with the reconciling power of the Gospel.  As a result, we address issues head on—from politics, racism, the economy and war to generational dysfunctions, sexuality, and relational insecurities.  In the process, we have discovered that what is fundamentally needed is not the development of new knowledge, skills and techniques, but congregations that will form courageous pastoral leaders with the Christian character necessary to confess boldly, discern rightly, speak the truth in love, and testify fearlessly to the liberating power of the Spirit over the long haul.

At the risk of oversimplifying, the final sentence might be summarized:  The key to healthy church congregations and leadership is not the best new knowledge, abilities and programs, but leaders courageous enough to be deeply, communally Christian.

This issue of courage is a peculiar one.  I would not rate Americans and American Christians generally high on the courage meter, myself included.  To develop, courage must be demonstrated and practiced, but our society has normalized and encouraged complicity.  No institution can eradicate apathy, fear, or enforce truthfulness in the human heart, but smart guidelines—for example a monastic rule—can help.  The CAN Parish Intern Program fosters courage in its interns by enveloping them in the “love and hospitality of the church community.”  Vulnerably receiving that love and hospitality is in fact their “primary job.”  Some interns carry no further responsibilities at the beginning of their internship (which can last 1-4 years).  Ultimately, it’s out of that receptivity that they are called to love and serve the church—and ultimately discern a longer-term vocational calling.  It is in a sense a short-term monastic call in the context of contemporary church life—complete with vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.  In the freedom of their vows and the enfolding love of the church community, CAN Interns have “less to lose.”  Interns are free to abandon themselves to the discipleship process.

Submission through Confessing Boldly

“We fight for the legal right to privacy—but in the church we willingly give that up” declared Jin Kim.  Submission is not particularly popular in the contemporary American church, which makes that quality at CAN feel almost exotic.  All CAN members are called into “exotic” vulnerability with the community, but CAN leaders—including the parish interns—set the bar.  “Occasionally issues of Intern favoritism have risen among the larger congregation,” said Pastor Jin, “but generally the church is hugely supportive because interns give so much—sharing honestly and vulnerably.”  From my personal observations last night, the striking asset of the CAN Interns is not the hours of service they offer to building church program and ministries, it is the vulnerability they demonstrate—which tilts the scales of courage for the entire congregation.

Let us to return to the CAN Intern Purpose Statement which expresses the conviction to “form courageous pastoral leaders with the Christian character necessary to confess boldly, discern rightly, speak the truth in love, and testify fearlessly to the liberating power of the Spirit over the long haul.”  CAN obviously assumes this call on a broad sociological level but begins it on the practical personal level, convicted that hiddenness debilitates moving forward in discipleship.   Parish Intern Hiraki Nakane testified to this last night.  Revealing her financial mismanagement to Jin and CAN enabled her to deal with the shame that impeded her financial recovery.  There is little freedom in saving face outwardly, but inwardly living in shame.  “CAN helped me lose my lameness,” said Hikari, “I was ‘clever’ in seminary, but I never submitted myself to the process of learning.”  For many at CAN the process of learning begins with being loved and confessing boldly.

I was struck by the dichotomy of shame Hikari felt on her own, but freedom when she shared with the CAN community.   Though she spoke of accountability, I detected no shame stemming from the judgment in her community.  Pretty impressive for a church.  One CAN church member even exclaimed “You interns make dysfunction look cool!”   Freedom, through the gates of repentance, is cool.  But for most, confession is too terrifying to even approach the drawbridge.  Who knows if grace exists on the other side of the walls?   What a gift then are these Parish Interns and CAN leaders who lead by infectious example!  What can Aldrich learn from this brave community that, through courage and grace, has made confession—the ickiest of Christian practices—cool?

As I consider Aldrich Church’s core values, confession and testimony are present, but timid.   I find Aldrich to be a church of deep relationships but not necessarily vulnerable relationships.  One lifelong member admitted “After 50+ years at Aldrich, I can’t say I’m deeply open with our church—even those in my small group.”

Are we holding onto our burdens at Aldrich?  Do we believe that Christ and Christ’s Body the local Church are prepared to receive our burdens and doubts on Christ behalf?  As I consider the freedom of confessing boldly, my mind keeps returning to the words of early church patriarch John Chrysostom:

And see whom [Christ] calls!  Those who have spent their strength in breaking the law, those who are burdened with their sins, those who can no longer lift up their heads, those who are filled with shame, those who can no longer speak out.  And why does He call them?  Not to demand an account, not to hold court.  But why?  To relieve them of their pain, to take away their heavy burden.  For what could ever be a heavier burden than sin?  [Jesus says]: I shall refresh you who are weighted down by sin – and you who are bent down as if under a burden, my yoke is light.

In the last two years, Aldrich has begun incorporating testimony more into its services.  Last month one service was specifically dedicated to testimony:  How is God working in your lives?  What are the burdens you cannot carry?  A handful testified—with surprisingly strong representation from our newest members/attendees.  CAN affirmed that “fresh blood is essential to growing in confessionalism.”  Longtime members have reputations to protect.  Newcomers, like CAN Interns, have “less to lose.”

The Hospitality of Letting People Be

“When Aldrich gets new people, we think about ‘hooking’ them but we aren’t good about letting people just be” expressed one of the Aldrich committee members.  Struggling to maintain our institutional life, Aldrich is probably guilty of shifting our focus off of discipleship.  We’re eager to get people involved, less urgent about discipling them into Christ followers.  But what does that look like for a church that averages $70,000 deficits every year?   We are all so busy with church responsibilities (myself included).   How much discipleship can we afford?

The CAN Interns who shared last night spoke of their time with CAN as deeply transformative, as one hopes the church should be.  A few comments about their life in the church stood out to me:

• “I [visited a second time] because CAN treated me like a member of the body of Christ.  Treated me with dignity.  Even in some black churches if you aren’t of status, dignity is elusive.”

•   “I had identified as a victim – that’s how I excused my behaviors.  My victim mentality as an immigrant and woman of color made me violently defensive, affecting how I related to everyone.  I craved truth-speaking.  The Church of All Nations community was willing to see beyond my façade and rebuke me.”

•  “CAN gave me permission to consider my oppressed place as a minority, but also as an oppressor – I am male, and part of Western society.”

• “My shame had been debilitating – but when I shared with the CAN elders, they simply wanted to ensure that I was going to be okay.”

How would our congregation testify about their discipleship at Aldrich?  What would you say?  How does our focus, our time, and our love reflect the spiritual spaces where growth is happening at Aldrich?  How are we celebrating it?  How is our institution an asset—or impediment—to simply loving one another?

Post-Boomers’ Craving for Purpose and Relationship

If Aldrich Church (or a “re-plant” of Aldrich & CAN) grows, our numbers will inevitably increase among ages 20-40-somethings, the post-boomer generation, the generation who will significantly shape the 21^st century.  At this transformational hinge in church history, Aldrich must re-think what the church is for our time.

I count myself among post-boomers who look at many in generation before us that “did it right”—worked hard at their jobs, raised a family, went to church—but nonetheless found their lives empty.  Thus, many post-boomers reject the narrative of their parents.  But we lack a replacement.  We are a generation lacking conviction, or at the least, confused by too many convictions.  In an age of having all we want and nothing we need, who knows what to do with our lives?  Our cynicism undermines simple hopes of earning an “honest living” as we’re reticent to trust businesses, government, and anyone with a “horse in the race” –even ourselves.  Our generation is over-educated and under-purposed.  We live in a globalized world where no education provides enough knowledge, and individual purpose seems dwarfed by the goliaths of mass capitalism, global violence, and polarized societies.

The Dutch Reformed Church identified God as sovereign over all spheres of life.  But the spheres were compartmentalized:  vocation/work, Christian community, individual spirituality, family, neighborhood, etc.  CAN believes we live in all spheres—in varying degrees of intimacy—at all times.  That why, when they speak of discipleship, they mean a total (holistic) life plan.   Church of All Nations has chosen not to skirt this generation’s confusion. “We [Church of All Nations] love all of you—so every part of you is the responsibility of the Church.”

The blessing and curse of this generation is that we, unlike the boomers, feel absolutely no guilt over cutting church from our lives.  Having adequate (even good) programs, preaching, facilities, etc. won’t cut it.  If church is to survive in such a context, it must be something truly compelling and holistic—the cornerstone of identity to its members.  Accepting the complexities of this generation doesn’t mean feeding us enough “truth” to quell our doubts.  We are a generation of doubters.  Some doubts are good ones—mysteries that deserve to remain open.  Some doubts are wounds we struggle to endure—which perhaps, through love and honesty from Christian community, will begin to heal.  If Aldrich continues in some form, authentic holistic relationships will be key—not just because it’s key to discipleship, but because this present age is dying for it.

A final, inconclusive thought as we consider our generationally diverse church:   If Aldrich Church accept the realities of this new generation and the transforming identity of the church, what is the role of post-boomers in honoring the generation before us?

One Truth in a Many Truths World

In a postmodern world, claiming truth is problematic, even among many evangelical Christians.  Perhaps this is a relief for the church which (historically) has barely flinched at insulting, neglecting, even murdering our fellow brothers and sisters whose theologies part from our own.  Christians fling the accusation of “heretic” at one another with ease, but rarely pause to mourn the heresy of division.  Was not unity a primary subject of Christ’s longest recorded prayer?  (Jn 17)

I’m proud to be part of a church with many members whose theologies differ from my own.  I believe it keeps us focused on the heart of our faith:  God’s love and new life, incarnated in Christ.  I’m proud that Aldrich is a church that looks to scripture, though we interpret the non-essentials differently.   Both liberals and conservatives try to squeeze scriptures into an ideology.  Admist quarreling voices, devotion to scripture is delicate.  Striving to be a “church for this age,” Church of All Nations offers a compelling engagement with the Word:  CAN aims to imitate the example of Jesus, who had no qualms about reinterpreting scripture for the times.  They view engagement with the scriptures as organic–revering tradition, but inviting the Holy Spirit to interpret for now.

Aldrich Core Values

As Aldrich considers potential partnership with Church of All Nations we are identifying shared core values, as well as values unique to Aldrich community.  We named a few last night, noted below. Readers are encouraged to add to this list in the blog comments (you may also share your comments with myself or the church admin, who can post on your behalf).

What aspects of the Aldrich community could make its ministry distinctly compelling, whether currently in seedling form or more developed at this time?

Aldrich is a community:

•  where kids are loved—there’s a freedom for them to be who they are

•  of generational diversity—and working out how to love across decades

•  with shared practices leading to a life of simplicity and stewardship of the earth’s resources for the sake of being a sign of the coming Kingdom.

•  that cultivates Life Groups as a starting point for authentic community

•  that values parenting as a spiritual practice—parenting for a different world

•  that is learning to be vulnerable in its hospitality

•  that values testimony and is learning to be confessional in its witness

•  that values the arts as a means of opening Christian imagination and interpreting life

•  that has a deep commitment to the Word of God as authoritative and as a catalyst to be a prophetic voice in our world.

Whatever core values define us, we must fight for them as a community—crossing the barriers of age, race, gender, even theology—to claim them as common goals.

Re-planting a Church:
Reflections on Revitalizing a Declining Church

- Julie Kurtz

I instigate these writings at the concerned request of a member of Aldrich Church. She rightfully asked “If eight people—four from Aldrich Church and four from Church of All Nations—are gathering every few weeks to envision a rebirth of Aldrich Church, how can the rest of us can stay in the loop? What about a blog?” A very fair question. How can this eight-person vision team effectively keep Aldrich members apprised? This blog aims to keep the entire Aldrich community “present” at the table of these re-planting vision conversations.

I hope my reflections will prove useful for the members of Aldrich Church as we face an intimidating crossroads, as well as our friends at Church of All Nations and perhaps the community at large. I am grateful to (Jane Berge) for planting the idea—certainly the reflection will be valuable personally and merely as a reason to write. I warn readers, especially my fellow Aldrich members, that I will not be entirely gentle, nor thorough. I will often write frankly about the difficult issues we discuss. I will pick and choose nuggets of discussion based on what stands out to me. Consider my take on our discussions qualified as my take; the other seven committee members may have interpreted conversations differently. In any case I invite your feedback, your arguments, your concerns, and certainly your prayer as Aldrich Church and Church of All Nations discern together whether Aldrich Church should “re-plant” as a congregation with a new identity, new name, new intention – celebrating our 100 year history and its fertile soil that makes rebirth possible.

A little essential background information

In December 2010 the elders of Aldrich Church (www.aldrichchurch.org) spent an entire Saturday reflecting on the future course of Aldrich Church. With rapidly dwindling funds, and consistent decline in attendance since 1965, it was clear Aldrich has only a few more years left as an institution continuing in our current form. The elders spent the day of discernment praying, arguing, and eventually voting on four possible outcomes:

1. Keep Going: Continue as we have been, trying to improve our ministries and gradually moving toward a new model of ministry.
2. Change Fast: Make a shift to a new identity for a new era. Not just language and songs, but the heart of the people letting go of what they have known church to be at Aldrich and adopting a fresh framework for community, worship, and ministry.
3. Close down: Choose a day in 2012 to close down the church, celebrating what God has done for 100 years at 35th & Aldrich.
4. Close, then re-plant: Choose a day in 2012 (or some other time) to close down the church, yet inviting those called to work with the Presbytery and Church of All Nations (www.cando.org) on a new church development project.

At the end of the day, all elders agreed on a combination of options 2 and 4.

As a result of their decision, a vision team of eight people from Aldrich Church (www.aldrichchurch.org) and Church of All Nations (www.cando.org) was developed to imagine together what a “re-plant” of Aldrich Church might mean. The team was composed of four Aldrich members:

Pastor Matt Johnson,
Margie Boosalis (elder and lifelong member),
Julie Kurtz (deacon, 2-year member), and
John Strand (elder, 3-year member).

And four Church of All Nations (CAN) members:
Pastor Jin Kim,
Hikari Nakane (Parish Intern),
Risley Prakasim (former staff member), and
Nancy Allen (elder, first year).

We began our vision meetings—soon titled “the Christos Forum” after um—Christ—and Christos Greek Restaurant (www.christos.com) where we held our first meeting. (Yum.)

February 11, 2011 – Christos Forum #1

Seven of the eight Vision Team members gathered last night for our initial meeting. We began the evening with introductions, including our reason for joining the team, our hopes for what will happen, and our questions or concerns. Pastor Matt Johnson went on to detail how Aldrich arrived at our current state, highlighting the vibrancy of Aldrich notable in its Life Groups, the 19 new members who’ve joined in the past three years, Going Deeper cross-generational dinners, two grants that have funded the Aldrich Arts Collaborative classes and galleries (www.aldricharts.org) and the Multicultural Worship Renewal Project, Loaves & Fishes ministry (www.loavesandfishesmn.org), Senior Worship & Luncheon, Men’s Breakfast and the Healing Prayer Team, and the various wonderful picnics, dinners and meals prepared by generous Aldrich cooks. Pastor Matt also articulated our current questions of financial and membership sustainability. Aldrich Avenue Presbyterian church has imitated the membership decline of the Presbyterian denomination with near exact precision. Since the 1960s we have steadily lost members. Today Aldrich averages about 60 in Sunday service attendance.

From Presbyterian Institutionalism to Multiple Ways of Knowing God

Someone expressed last night that “the Holy Spirit has left the Presbyterian Church as an institution.” However “the Holy Spirit continues in people and in groups of people—even groups of Presbyterians.” The future of the Presbyterian Church—whether or not the Presbyterian denomination as an Institution survives—will be found in the neighborhood churches.

Founded in the rationalism of the Reformation and John Calvin, the Presbyterian Church is knit closely to the rationalist modernism or the renaissance. Churches inherited not just the theology of John Calvin, but also his epistemology (or “way of knowing”): the Reformed Church has traditionally known God through rationalist thought. America met the end of rationalism in the 1960s, but the Presbyterian church has not adjusted to the post-modern cultural change. We’re stuck in 1959, in the rationalist tradition, in the white western way of dominance. Presbyterianism is chasing only one demographic—and wondering why it’s shrinking.

This begs the question: Is Aldrich Church willing to speak multiple languages (or multiple epistemologies?) Can we honor our founding tradition, while also speaking to the post-boomers who are disillusioned with institutions, craving emotional intelligence, and honest intimate relationships? Can we offer hospitality to the foreigner, the immigrant, the lonely? Is the life of Aldrich translating to the community around us? Or are we talking to ourselves?

From its founding Church of All Nations (CAN) had the kind of vision that attracted pioneers. Demographically they began as 90% young Koreans, which means that the first ____ (African American, Hispanic, single white widow, etc.) had to be someone willing to be the first ___ there. But CAN’s vision (not to mention their name!) was one of making room for whoever arrived. I’ve observed that Aldrich tends to want new people to come and fill a void: we need minorities, we need kids, we need _____ to fill a hole we want filled. This “come and serve our needs” attitude is drastically different from “we’ll create space for you to be your true self.” Aldrich must adopt radical hospitality that welcomes all peoples with the invitation: If you stay here, you will change us.

The good news is that much of Aldrich’s current vibrancy already stems from its relational connection. Those who have stayed throughout the decades, or arrived in the past three years haven’t come for its good theology, its stellar programs, or worship pizzazz. They’re here because each person (who wants to be) is a valued member of the community.

Aldrich already crosses a number of cultural, language, generational, and epistemological barriers: we honor the traditional hymns Aldrich has sung for a century, we have prayed not just with rational liturgical prayers but also near wordless songs of lament and painted prayer in color and form, we shovel our neighbors icy sidewalks, we sing in various languages. More and more our worship reflects the various scents (however pungent!) of our community. We are learning to meet the broad cultural, emotional, expressive and intellectual needs of our community. We must continue to move from a rationalist form of doing church to a drastically multi-epistemological form. This approach echoes the question we’ve been asking in our year of Worship Renewal as we encountered worship in vibrant drumming, dancing, sweet and sour fruit, silence, painting: What does this way of worship teach us about God?

Can Aldrich keep its building? (a lesson in Christian Reverse Psychology)

A church fully submitting itself to God cannot cling to its building. “The only Psychology I’ve seen work with God is Reverse Psychology” (Jin Kim). Jin recounted the history of Church of All Nations which had no building in its first two and half years as a congregation. Its homeless birth continues to help define CAN primarily as a group of people, not an institution or building. At the same time, CAN loves their current home and have invested over a half million in site improvements. But lest it become an idol, they must always be willing to leave. This is Christian reverse psychology, for whenever we hang on too tightly to something it becomes an idol; God therefore in his lovingkindness, may love us best by taking it away. This is a hard lesson for lifelong Aldrich members who have been returning to 3501 Aldrich Ave South for decades. Let us be open handed.

“We’re just not being fed”

In the past 30 years one of our Christos Forum Vision Committee members has received dozens of painful, awkward phone calls confessing “We’re leaving Aldrich.” The reason: “We’re just not being fed.” Church of All Nations calls that “We aren’t eating the food you’re serving.” Certainly a more honest appraisal.

What does it mean, “being fed?” After Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), his disciples urge him “Rabbi, eat something.”

But he says to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

The consumer age church is obsessed with getting what it wants out of church.

Good preaching: check. Great music (“spirit-filled worship”): check. Youth program: check. Free parking: check. Singles ministry: check. People who are like me: check. Enough checkmarks and we can feel good about claiming “we’re being fed.”

Why do we evaluate the menu being served instead of asking “Is this a place where I can do the will of him who sent me?” Let’s take up our identity as “little Christs” and seek to be fed not by the menu served, but in how we engage in the work of God’s kingdom around us.

Getting Ready to Lose More Members

A few weeks ago a visiting couple came to Aldrich. Like most visitors (myself included), they sat near the back. A young woman in our congregation was wandering the pews encouraging the congregation to sit towards the front on this particular Sunday—“We’re going to be painting.” Pastor Matt followed up with the visitors, welcoming them and assuring them that they could sit wherever they liked. Matt alerted them that this Sunday the service would indeed be a little different as we were “fasting” –in this case from music (we didn’t think we’d get much participation if we asked everyone to just “skip lunch” after the service). To accentuate the sermon theme of fasting, the entire congregation was invited into the experience of fasting (both in its rewards and discomfort): no music in the worship service. In the void we would pray and praise in other forms: in silence, in small groups, written prayers creating a colorful chain, and in color and form—painting. Minutes later I turned around—the couple had left. Before the service even began.

My disappointment at the couples’ leaving evolved to relief as I asked myself: what kind of people do we want to define our community? I might hate the service itself, but if a pastor announced at the beginning of a worship service that we would be “fasting from music” my intrigue would have compelled me to stick around, impressed by the boldness of eliminating music from a mainline evangelical Sunday service. Any church will to take such a risk, I would assume was seeking something, and willing to look for it outside the trends.

Church of All Nations calls themselves a pungent church. They give off a strong, unavoidable scent (in part due to the eclectic pungent foods of their members’ many cultures!…kimchi, lutefisk, toasted cumin, etc!). If Aldrich welcomes the uniqueness of each person, each generation and culture, the resulting pungency will turn many away. I return to Jin Kin’s remark that CAN is a church of pioneers, people willing to be “the first” because they found hospitality, and something truly compelling at Church of All Nations. Generosity and hospitality are at the heart of who God is, but universal generosity and hospitality will inevitably be offensive some. People will leave. More people will leave. Newcomers will avoid the strong scent, leaving even before the service starts. If a member (or newcomer) sits with arms crossed, unwilling to show hospitality to another child of God in front of them who is worshiping in a unique way, knowing God in a unique way, eating, dressing, praying, thinking, emoting, and speaking in a strange way—perhaps we don’t need such a cross-armed person at Aldrich. If we aim to be a church with the radical invitation we welcome you to stay here and change us, many we leave finding the change distasteful. Let them go.

Aldrich often discovers its fault line in worship services. If we stuck to dinners, cook-offs, and the basketball gym, we’d rarely clash. In fact, if we didn’t have worship services, we might actually be more successful! The fact is we don’t have to be a church. There are plenty others. So if we are going to be a church, let’s at least strive to do more than put up a sign and “succeed.” What if the very act of being church together is “the will of Him who sent us.” In generosity, hospitality and love we can strive to overcome the many barriers of our society and its churches. What binds us together as Christians? Our cultural similarities or the love of Christ? Let us work out that salvation with fear and trembling, hospitality and love. Can Aldrich members find a way to say not “I am, because here are people like me” but (in the spirit of Ubuntu, a S. African saying): “I am because of who we all are.”