Tom Bandy Reflection Part One - Palliative Care

[Darren Wright]

I’ve decided to put together some reflections on Tom Bandy’s visit, these will take the form of small “articles” full of questions.  I do not want to answer any of these questions by myself, but I wouldn’t mind opening up a conversation about some of the issues.  The first one I’ve decided to title "Palliative Care", the others will come out over the next week or two. The questions that Tom Bandy raises for each congregation could possibly have some dramatic consequences for the Presbyteries and Synods within the UCA.  One of the consequences, should we take up some of his ideas is to begin to ask ourselves some serious questions about “dying” congregations. I believe that there are a few congregations in the UCA to which we have called ministers in a way to perform palliative care to the community until which time they die.  There might be some people who disagree with me, however on more than one occasion I have heard people talk about calling ministers to a dying congregation as they reflect on what could be done in that space after the congregation dies. Infact I once worked for a congregation in which the administrator told me that the church building could survive financially without a congregation.  The funds that would be raised from weddings, concerts, church hire, car park hire and rental space for offices could pay for a minister, admin staff and a rector who could operate the day to day life of the church (weddings, funerals and hire).  This is a frightening idea, a church without a congregation, without a mission, without the spreading of the gospel. My reflection on Tom Bandy’s conversation brings me to the idea that this Palliative Care provision that the UCA is offering is self serving.  It is self serving only because in offering this kind of ministry we fool ourselves that it is honoring the traditions of those who have been a part of the community over the many years, when infact we should be concerned with spreading the message of a God who is desperate to be involved in the life of the community that we’re in. This Palliative care ministry also suggests to the Minister involved that their only skills are to provide this service to a congregation or community, when infact we should be calling ministers to work towards what Bandy calls the “Spiritual Growth” of the community that will lead to people experiencing calls to minister to other groups.  As well as this the Palliative Care model suggests that there is nothing more that the congregation can offer to the community, an assumption that we know is not true.  Actually, it’s an assumption that I hope is not true. So, what does this reflection of Tom Bandy’s message mean for us as Synods and Presbyteries? I’m of the mindset that this means that we as the UCA need to say that we are not about the Palliative Care of congregations; to churches that only want someone to offer palliative care to them perhaps we need to say “no” to the idea of a minister.  Perhaps we need to be forthright in proclaiming that we are not about this kind of care and only support the calling of ministers, deacons and youth workers to congregations that are going to be about growing spirituality and reaching out to the community. But is this going far enough? Should these bodies stand up and close congregations that are obviously self-serving in order to use the venue or funds to further develop a ministry within the community? Is this dishonoring the people who have built the church and been a part of it for many years?  If we didn’t stand up and make these decisions are we infact dishonoring those who have gone before, who have spread the good news, who have built the churches in the community?  Would we be dishonoring the gospel if we allowed models of palliative care? Should we stand up     - when we hear of churches that are developing self-serving activities in the misunderstanding that what they are doing is a “missional activity”?     - and say to communities that buying a Data Projector is not a new initiative worthy of funding unless it is attached to a missional outcome, (to what Bandy would call a “Heartburst”)?     - and ask questions when communities want to develop aged care facilities or programs because of fears that the project might only be self-serving?       - and ask questions when churches want to start up a Christian radio station for the Christians in the church because it’s self serving? To congregations surviving off of a lot of money in the bank or in the form of property but are not in “active ministry,” (Tom Bandy after all is talking about a church growth model) do we need to step in and request that ministers not be called to the small congregation unless there is an openness to develop new communities or worship services?  And if this is not the aim of the ministry and the congregation do we refuse the call of ministers, even though finance is there to do so?  Moving on from this do we request the sale of property to go towards other churches growth? Are some churches wasting their money simply to take care of themselves because they can when there are some churches who are desperate for finance to support and resource their ministry call to the community? Ultimately the questions raised by Tom Bandy could lead us to think that we as Presbyteries and Synods should be very active in how we say: We are not about the palliative care of congregations. We are not going to support any project that is ultimately self serving. We will support congregations who are working towards reaching out to the community and spiritual growth. We will not call ministers into positions where they will be providing palliative care. When we call ministers we are openly encouraging people who will work with the community towards spiritual growth. What would happen if this was the case? Could Presbyteries and Synods be involved in this?  Should we take on a proactive stance when it comes to these ideas? I’m not sure, but it offers some interesting possibilities. Shalom -- Darren Wright Fool Youth and Family Worker UCA NSW Synod Presbytery of Canberra Region GPO Box 221. Canberra. ACT. 2601. 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