Stewardship
Why Should You
Support Suquamish Church?
by Rev. Dr. Tom Thresher
I recently heard that Seattle reports
the smallest percentage of residents attending church in the country.
This doesn’t surprise me. I consider
Seattle, and the surrounding region, to be a bellwether of a new paradigm
emerging in our culture. We can see rough outlines of that new awareness in
Western Europe where only 3% of the population attends church. The decline
in church attendance is seen most pronouncedly in the more progressive
churches.
If this is the trend, the question
arises, can the church survive? Not only the church as a whole, but can the
UCC and Suquamish church in particular survive?
In our church in 2004 we reduced the budget 10% at mid year and we ended the
year more than 10% behind that revised budget. (Most other progressive
churches I know of are in a similar situation). It is an interesting
outcome, because members and friends of this church are very generous when
it comes to donations for particular needs, like the holiday baskets,
individuals in need, etc. It appears that the only churches that are
growing are either fundamentalist, on one side, or Unitarian, on the other.
The question must be raised, is there a place in our culture for progressive
Christian churches?
I think the answer is Yes! Progressive Christian churches are deeply
needed in our culture. Our society is in great need of a message of hope
that resonates with our Christian roots while satisfying our inquiring
minds.
But we are greatly hampered by the
popular conception of “Christian”. In the popular culture, as you know,
“Christian” is generally associated with narrow, rigid beliefs that create a
world of “us and them,” “believers and non-believers.”
The United Church of Christ has
staked its position at the opposite pole, that all are welcome. The
irony is that the people who are most likely to be drawn to the UCC’s
message of inclusion are also those most likely to find church irrelevant,
or be drawn to New Age spirituality, Unitarianism, Unity, New Thought, or
Eastern traditions.
So the question is, what do we offer
that is unique and would appeal to those seeking a spiritual home?
It is my belief that mainline Christianity has suffered the fate of all
religions that become institutionalized and mixed with political power --
they loose their dynamism. Christianity served the needs of empire building
and social stabilization for many centuries. However, with the rise of
modern consciousness, social needs have changed and, as post-modern
consciousness emerges, the church has fallen further behind in meeting the
needs of the progressive edge of society. Many of the newer faiths
mentioned above have emerged with new theologies unencumbered by centuries
of tradition.
Now, when I say this, I am not suggesting that the message of Jesus does not
apply to the progressive edge; I am arguing that the traditional
interpretation of Jesus’ message does not meet the needs of
progressive-minded folks. It is my experience that Jesus’ message is wildly
relevant to today when we get past the traditional understandings that have
been imposed upon us for most of our lives.
It is in this reinterpretation of the
gospel message that I believe our church has a vitally important
contribution to make to Christianity. Not only is Suquamish UCC the
only liberal church in the region, we are also at the very progressive end
of the UCC nationally. We are a highly intelligent, highly educated, caring
community who, in my experience, is willing and able to take on the
challenge of reclaiming Christianity from the far right. If we can’t
or won’t do it, who will?
Besides offering a light of hope for progressive Christians, our church
provides essential services to the community. It is an essential
meeting place for the community. Groups like AA, Medicine Wheel,
Suquamish Olalla Neighbors, Girl Scouts, Bah’ai education, Imagine
Suquamish, Suquamish Advisory Board, and various county offices all use the
church on a regular basis. We have been instrumental in persuading the
Washington State Park Commission to return Old Man House Park to the Tribe;
we mounted an effective protest against “Rev.” Fred Phelps in Poulsbo; we
feed over 50 families at both Thanksgiving and Christmas; we provide
much-needed emergency assistance to local residents through the Barbara
Sneed Fund; we support students who need help going to college; we support
our elderly and those who get ill through Call to Care; we nurture many with
prayer shawls; and, of course, we are fed with wonderful music every week.
We are a deeply interwoven, caring community that supports one another,
whether near or far.
Churches, especially open and welcoming churches like Suquamish UCC, suffer
what in economics is called “the tragedy of the Commons.” This is the
idea that no one is prevented from receiving what we have to offer, so no
one has to pay. The church depends entirely upon the voluntary
contributions of individuals. And unlike other denominations,
congregational style churches receive nothing from the regional or national
offices. We are on our own, with only ourselves to look to make a
difference in the world.
I have no access to the financial records of the church so I have no idea
what anyone gives, but I suspect that some folks give very generously;
others give what they can from more meager incomes; others give sporadically
when they can or when they are in church; and others are not aware that the
church depends entirely upon the contributions of individuals.
It seems to me that your stewardship of the Suquamish UCC involves two
things: one, giving what you can as often as you can; and, two, inviting
folks who would benefit from this community to join with us in the great
project. We are a remarkable church community, let’s keep moving ahead
together.
Blessings... Tom
