Proper 12 :: Psalm 119:129 – 136 / Romans 8:26 – 39 / Matthew 13:31 – 33, 44 – 52
This
is the homily given at St. John’s, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, July
30, 2023 by Fr. Gene Tucker.
“HEAR A TALE OF THREE CHURCHES”
(Homily texts: Romans 8:26 – 39 & Matthew 13:31 – 33, 44
- 52)
This morning, let’s hear a tale of
three churches.
The first church we will hear about is a
small parish in a community that is about twice the size of Huntingdon.
It is composed of an older
congregation, but one that has some children and youth in it. It has
experienced what many smaller parishes have experienced, as some of its members
have moved away to be closer to family, while others have died. As a
consequence, its average Sunday attendance is now about half of what it was
some fifteen years ago or so.
The parish, in recent times, has been
served by two priests. One of them had a very long tenure in the parish, while
the other had a short tenure. But the blunt truth is that both of these
priests’ tenures ended badly, very badly. Their tenures ended in very troubling
circumstances. As the second priest’s tenure was coming to an end, the Bishop
told the congregation that, if they didn’t stick together, their church would
be a “flower shop” in times to come. The Vestry, when they heard that comment,
resented it deeply. But the truth was that the parish felt betrayed by the
actions of their two Rectors. When a new Rector came on board, the look of
distrust in people’s eyes was noticeable…they seemed to be saying “Are you
going to let us down, too?”
A priest who had recently served the
parish left over two years ago, and so, in that period of time, the parish has
had to “make do” with services of Morning Prayer, and occasional visits by
diocesan clergy and others, who have presided over the Holy Eucharist. On
August 1st (this Tuesday), a new clergy person is coming to serve
them, finally.
The second church we will hear about
this morning is a large place in a large city. I say “large”, because its
physical plant (the church and the education building) are a sizeable space.
But the church, some years back, was
experiencing the cumulative effect of many years of poor decisions and bad
management.
This comment deserves a closer look.
This second church was served by a
good-sized staff. In addition, its priest openly made comments that they were
there in the church, not to serve the Lord and the Lord’s people, but to
enlarge their church pension benefits.
In time, that priest did retire to
collect those higher benefits. And a replacement came on board, a good person
whose heart was in the right place. But, unfortunately, that priest’s tenure
was cut short after only a year by an untimely and unexpected death. Sunday
attendance declined by about half.
The parish’s Vestry described those
times as being the “depths” of despair. The priest’s death, combined with the
accumulated effects of poor management of the parish’s assets, had led the
parish to the point of insolvency.
There was very little money in the
bank, and the diocese was sending dunning letters, seeking about a quarter of
what the parish had to work with. Furthermore, the church’s roof leaked,
badly…there were large pans in some of the pews to catch the rain water that
come through the leaks. (Imagine how that looked to visitors and newcomers!)
Not only did the church’s roof leak, but the parish house’s roof did the same.
The parish house looked like an abandoned building, its paint peeling and some
of its boards warped.
You see, the problem with this second
church is that it was accustomed to being able to live well beyond its means
for a long time. Maintaining a large staff when the size of the parish was
getting smaller, going through endowment funds to pay current expenses, and the
neglect of the physical properties of the place, all had taken their toll. At
the root of their problems was the attitude that, in the past, anyone who was
anybody in the community would be sure to be a member of that parish. Alas,
that reality had ceased to exist a long time before, but few seemed willing to
admit that times had changed.
The third church we will hear about is
a small parish – like the first – in a small community, one which is a bit
smaller than the first.
It has a history of clergy who’ve
served the parish for short periods of time, perhaps one, two or three years.
Two of its recent Rectors had a longer tenure than that.
The parish was rocked by scandal some
years ago.
This parish, too, like the first one we
considered this morning, has seen a decline in its membership, as some have
moved away so as to be closer to family, while others have died. It has, like
the first parish, an older demographic among its members. But it also has some
younger members and some children.
By now, perhaps you’ve guessed that I’m
relating descriptions of three churches I have served. And, I might as well
tell you, this third church is our own St. John’s in Huntingdon.
All three of these churches, for all
the challenges that they faced, had one thing in common, one thing that was a mighty
asset for them: They were composed of members who were determined not to let
their church die away and go away.
That first church, as they picked up
the pieces from the end of the tenure of their second Rector, resented the
Bishop’s comment that they might soon become a “flower shop”. But at the same
time, they were determined to prove the Bishop wrong. (In time, the Bishop came
to regret having made the remark.) But it’s possible that predicted future for
the parish was part of the call to action to be sure that they – the parish’s
members – were going to be the one to build up the parish’s future.
And what about that second church?
It, too, was composed of a group that
was determined not to let their parish go away. Fundraisers were held, a number
of them. Plans were made to repair the roof on the Parish House, and to repaint
and repair its exterior. (Yes, even the priest got involved in the car washes
that were a part of the fundraising activity.) Expenses were pared to the bone.
A balanced budget was adopted. Attendance picked up, after having fallen by
about one-half. And, in time, the church itself got a new roof. No more drain
pans in the pews to catch the leaking rain water.
As their organist left for a better
position, a new organist was brought on board.
The diocese was told that they couldn’t
have the one-quarter of the parish’s assets that were overdue, and – in time –
the Bishop forgave that overdue amount.
Now, what about St. John’s in
Huntingdon?
Like the other churches, this parish
church has experienced its ups and its downs. It functions in an age when the
Church has – in large measure – been cast aside by the society in which it
finds itself.
Its future seems uncertain. The
prospect of having a new Rector might seem to be remote, at this point.
However, St. John’s has some important
strengths upon which to rely.
Among them is a physical plant that is
in excellent condition (thanks to our wonderful Sexton and to the Vestry that
has consistently provided the means to keep this place in good shape). Its
physical plant isn’t too large to maintain, like the second place we talked
about this morning.
Furthermore, St. John’s isn’t down to
its final few dollars, like that second place was.
Finally, St. John’s people are
determined – most of them, I’ll wager – to support this church and its
ministries going forward. In that sense, St. John’s shares strengths that the
other two churches we’ve talked about this morning also possess.
So what of the future?
It might well be that St. John’s won’t
find a new Rector for awhile. Such is the reality of the Episcopal Church these
days (as is the case with many other parts of the Christian family). The Church
doesn’t make getting ordained any easier (my own process took seven years!).
Then, there is the ability of a parish church to support a clergy member
(medical insurance, pension costs, salary, benefits and other costs)….all these
things make it difficult to financially hire and keep a Rector.
But the Rector – any Rector – isn’t the
church! What good news.
The Rector is called to be a spiritual
leader, to be one who encourages others to take up the ministries that God is
calling them to do….that’s what I did in each of the three churches I am
talking about this morning (now you know that I was relating personal
experience in each of the three places).
I think, since we’re talking about
encouragement, our reading from Paul’s letter to the early churches in Rome,
and our Lord’s parable about the mustard seed, offer us some encouragement.
Paul says that, “if God is for us, who can be against us?”. And our Lord
reminds us of the small beginnings of things, things like the kingdom of God
and the Church which is called to proclaim that kingdom and to assist in
bringing that kingdom into being. The kingdom begins with small beginnings, but
in time matures into a mighty thing. These two thoughts ought to offer us
encouragement and the guarantee that God’s power and God’s will will overcome
any and all obstacles that might lie in our path.
Going forward, looking forward, my
deepest wish and fondest prayer for St. John’s is that it will continue to be
faithful to the faith as it’s been received, to keep the “main thing the main
thing”, and to avoid falling into putting attention into any number of other
concerns – valuable and worthy as they might be – that would distract this
parish church from its primary calling, which is to “connect God to people and
people to God, and to encourage this relationship”.
You will be in my prayers going forward.
AMEN.
