"On Faithfulness to the Calling and the Vision"

I Corinthians 13:1-13

October 31, 2004 – Stewardship Dedication Sunday

Douglas K. Huneke

Westminster is at it again! We are falling outside the norm and beating the statistical odds for Protestant churches. As you will see in a minute we are growing, not declining – un-Protestant of us – and our theology is growing with the times just as our spiritual practices are deepening – again, rather un-Protestant of us. So what is the issue? The recent report from the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago runs counter to the Westminster experience. They found that:

• The proportion of Americans who consider themselves to be Protestant dropped from 63% to 52% between 1993 and 2002 [Westminster’s membership continues to thrive and grow];

• Participation in adult religious education (Sunday school) and church programs has declined dramatically [Westminster programs are well subscribed, our mission activities are abundant, and people are committed]; and

• People reporting no religious affiliation increased in that time period from 8% to 14%, with most respondents saying that they are not atheists but rather believe in God, heaven, and the Bible, defining themselves, however, as spiritual rather than by an affiliation [Westminster lives gracefully in the tension between spiritual experience and theological inquiry].

It is an incredibly interesting and challenging time to be the pastors of a church that (a) goes against the prevailing tide of decline, and (b) exits between traditional church life and congregational expectation of spiritual diversity, experiential inquiry, and moral commitment.

With this study comes the curiosity of rapidly disappearing “brand loyalty” in a post-denominational age in which people rarely make the choice of church membership based on a lifetime in one denomination. Predominantly, people are church shopping for a place where they will be encouraged to grow and their values will be further forged and embodied…. it works something like this:

• Think of someone who spent 17 years in Presbyterian Sunday schools and youth groups, who, in an age appropriate gesture, jettisoned church during college, traveled the world or went to work, were reminded again of faith when they got married, and, with children in tow try to return to their spiritual roots. The local Presbyterians feel too rigid or too “something” so they visit the Congregational and Methodist churches before settling into the local Lutheran church because it has a strong Sunday school, a good choir, does good deeds in the community, the sermons apply to daily life, and a friend invited them and helped them integrate into the church.

There is another trend as more and more people realize that one institution may not be able to fill all of their needs. They join a church and find meaning in multiple practices beyond their primary affiliation…. It works something like this:

• It is a bit of a humorous self-caricature, but think of a Marin Presbyterian who periodically meditates at a Zen center, on high holy days goes to a Roman Catholic Mass for the mystery imbued high church ritual, plays Christian rock music on the car radio, enjoys reading the progressive works of Marcus Borg and the evangelical writings of Phillip Yancy, and is inspired by the sacred writings of the Sufi teacher, Rumi, who was introduced by the this seeker by the Roman Catholic Sister who is doing spiritual direction. Friends, this is us and who we are, and it is wonderful!

It is indeed a curiously wonderful, stretching time to be the minister of a people who defy the statistics of decline, take care to define their affiliations, and seek spiritual experiences that ground their lives in the present moment and consciously connect them with God day-by-day. It is never boring at Westminster! We are the church that we are for a number of significant reasons that we need to hold consciously and celebrate as we dedicate a remarkable response to the stewardship campaign.

First, we are enthusiastic about a church that grows children and youth into whole persons who experience and thrive on the love of God and their extended church family, and who are empowered to make the world a better place.

Carrie Ann Adams who, with her sisters, Elizabeth and Kathryn, and their parents Jim and Lyn, actively participates in the WPC youth group and will tell you her story:

“The youth program at this church is important to all of us who take part in it. Before I attended youth group, about two or three years ago, my mom had to drag me to church on Sundays. I never wanted to go. But once I began attending youth group, church became more fun. I even come on Sundays when nobody else in my family can. Youth group made everything about church seem more enjoyable.

“Youth group also gives us a sense of belonging to the church. An important aspect of Westminster is the sense of community and we get that through youth group. We get to know each other through activities ranging from pillow fights while hopping on one foot to deciding what priorities are in our lives. It is important that that we as youth gain a sense of community because we will need it as we become the adults of the community who keep Westminster alive.

“Furthermore, youth group is a break from our hectic everyday lives. As I progress through the grade levels, more and more, I find my weekends filled with homework and chores. To be able to come to youth group Sunday evenings and relax before school starts again on Monday is invaluable. It is a place we can go and forget our worries while having fun with friends.

“Another youth activity that I am participating in is confirmation class. We discuss what God is to us and what it means to be Presbyterian. It is a welcoming environment where we can learn about God and faith and share ideas. We prepare to become members of the church.

“I also participate in other youth activities such as the liturgical arts group and the program gathered together. All of us youth and youth leaders learn, grow, and have fun. We create an atmosphere that is unique and indescribable. Youth activities have helped me become a happier and more well rounded person. These programs are invaluable to the well-being of all the youth to participate in them!”

Second, we are enthusiastic about a church that tries in multiple ways to close the gap between the head and the heart without dishonoring either. We strive to spiritually enrich our lives through study, spiritual practices, small groups, retreats, meaningful and relevant worship deepened by beautiful choir music, and both regional and international mission activities. We take our theological inquiry and spiritual development seriously but without strict dogma and doctrine, and blind brand loyalties.

Third, we are enthusiastic about being an open and welcoming community where no one is long a stranger and the doors are always open to spiritual seekers who come in peace and seek God’s shalom for themselves and the church. We are not a particularly political congregation and decidedly not partisan, but we look at the issues and try to discern what God would have us do in response. Our social activism is quite practical: hot meals for the hungry, building houses with habitat and in Mexico, constructing shelters for the homeless, creating understanding and respect in the community through dialogue, being a More Light Church, and supporting an orphanage and doing medical work in Guatemala.

Finally, we are enthusiastic about a church that we can invite friends and neighbors to attend because we know it is a loving community that makes a very real difference in people’s lives. We come here and we bring people here because our church lives in the real, modern world with the integrity of grace rather than guilt, of hope rather than resignation, of moral values rather than cultural relativity.

Kelly Leary is a new member with her husband Dennis and their children, Ryan and Nicole. Dennis was going to join Kelly this morning but he is recovering from pneumonia. [Kelly spoke about her search for an authentic community of faith for herself and her family. She described finding at WPC the support for her spirituality and for her desire to serve on a medical mission team in Guatemala.]

Barbara and I want to gratefully and heart-fully acknowledge that you heard the deep concerns of the Session and Finance Commission about the fiscal crisis. It is never easy to talk of such things as publicly as we have, but in order to continue our unique mission and ministry, we spoke candidly and you responded generously. For that and for the hard work of the Commission and Stewardship Committee members, I thank each of you. Bob Scannell will now give us an update on where we are in the campaign and what you can do if you have not yet pledged.