A Pastoral Letter to a Congregation in Crisis

Let me preface this by explaining that I am the pastor of a small congregation in NW Louisiana. This is a letter to them and an open letter to all those whom God's providence has brought to a similar crisis. 

I hold to the theory that a crisis doesn't necessarily cause a congregation to collapse into dysfunctionality (hopeless brokenness). A crisis brings uncertainty but it need not bring hopeless anxiety and despair. If the family or congregation has a high degree of health, in the form of loving trust for all its members, the crisis will only make it healthier. A crisis will test the integrity of a congregation. It will try strength of the bonds of their fellowship. It may not bring immediate pleasure and will likely bring a season of discomfort. But, when that period is past, the congregation will be deeply changed for the better. This is a gift of Spirit. As such it must be sought through spiritual means.

 The action of our General Assembly to ordain unrepentant homosexuals, along with a series of doctrinal and political controversies, has brought many of our members into a personal crisis that looks like a moral and spiritual disconnect from the Presbyterian Church (USA). These folks cherish and some have established a longtime sense of ownership for the Minden Presbyterian Church. They may view their fellow members who do not share the experience of this moral and spiritual crisis as a threat to their beloved Minden Presbyterian Church.

This crisis of conscience has also provoked others who simply don’t appreciate the conflict felt by these folks. This brings that group into their own crisis. It may be stated in terms of sympathy for their conflicted friends and fellow church members. This also brings some into a deep concern for the interests of the Minden Presbyterian Church, as an organization. These folks cherish and some have established a longtime sense of ownership for the Minden Presbyterian Church. They may view their fellow members who are experience this moral and spiritual crisis as a threat to their beloved Minden Presbyterian Church.

There is yet another grouping in our church. They view their church as separate from the national church. This makes them naturally disinterested in the issues that trouble others. This group consists of those who cannot tolerate conflict in the congregation. They are afraid that this conflict will deeply damage the congregation they love. They view the conflict as unnecessary. These folks may have deep affections for all parties and just want this crisis to end as quickly as possible. "Lets just get on with being the Church."

I think the only real threat to our congregation can be avoided if we all commit ourselves to staying engaged in the conversation, the gathering of facts, and reaching out emotionally and, through prayer and fellowship, spiritually to those who hold a vision for the future that differs from your own. I have found it helpful to say to myself, when I am talking with a disputant, “He (she) just might be right and I just might be wrong.” Since I really don’t want to be wrong, It would be wise to listen to them with great care.

Lastly, there is a temptation to simply ignore those who are calling for change, or resisting it. They might even be tempted to somehow sanction them for disrupting the congregation. Sometimes ignoring conflict and even correcting those who keep it alive is a wise choice but this particular conflict, it seems to me, has developed beyond that circumstance.

What we need to do now is calmly seek the voice of the Spirit who gives wisdom to all who ask.