Southern District
Speaking Personally
By Donna Pritchard

I have a large American Heritage Dictionary in my office, where I recently looked up the definition for the word church.  What I found was interesting:

1. The company of Christians regarded as a mystic spiritual body
2. A building for public worship
3. A congregation
4. Public divine worship in a church; a religious service
5. A specific Christian denomination

Isn’t it interesting how quickly we move in our thinking from that “mystic spiritual body” to buildings and particular times of worship?  We seem to be so much more comfortable thinking about individual congregations – or even whole denominations – than holding the notion of a vast “company” of Christians.

I believe this is one way we have limited ourselves.  Defining “church” too narrowly makes it difficult for us to reach new generations and emerging populations.  I wonder what would happen if we understood “church” to be wherever and whenever two or three are gathered in mission in Christ’s name, sharing God’s love, touching hearts and changing lives?  What might happen in our individual congregations, and in our whole denomination, if we broadened our definition and found ways to account for mid-week theological conversations in the coffee house, or ministries of presence in the hospice, or choir camps at the beach, or God knows what else … along with our regular worship experiences?

Our calling as a church is to share the love of God and the good news of Jesus Christ.  It is not only to fill up pews on a Sunday morning at a specific time.  This is one way the beauty of our “method-ism” may get in the way of the power of our faith.  Annual reporting that has no way to include disciples who don’t show up on Sundays can lead congregations to discount their own growth or the faith walk of others. 

This year, at the All Church Conferences, I hope to hear stories of the “broader” church – those times and places where you are reaching beyond the traditional definition to make disciples of Christ and to transform the world.  I hope to celebrate with you the creative ways God’s Spirit is leading you as a part of that mystic spiritual body we call the “Church.”  Because the way we imagine “church” today just may be the way we experience “church” tomorrow.

Grace and Peace,
Donna