Wondering About Doorways Into Formation
I Wonder . . . The gleeful hum of summer church camps and Vacation Bible Schools has silenced for another season as youth ministers, Christian educators, seminary faculties, and church publishers and we are now at the height of preparations for a new season. To take two well-known words from Jerome Berryman’s “Godly Play” . . . “I wonder.”I wonder where we place priorities as we begin this new season in The Church? What do we offer that adults, youth, and children can’t find anywhere else? I wonder if we find ourselves so intent on the product that we lose our message? When the words of this church season seem to be change, branding, structure, and budget, are we realizing those catch words do not tell our story and are not welcoming? What we offer the secular world are relationships: relationships with a loving God, relationships with a teaching Christ, and relationships with a guiding Holy Spirit. We offer relationships with other souls who are struggling, searching and/or genuinely hungering for something tangible or intangible that will strengthen their lives through hope or meaning or purpose or joy. We don’t offer all the answers. We offer opportunities to question, argue, explore, and learn in a safe haven. Or do we? We offer a love so amazing that we can’t find words to describe it. Sadly, we often don’t even try. As we craft the best syllabi using excellent curricula, as we begin changes in the way we are Church, we must keep in mind that the gift we offer those entering our doors for a new season or for a first season is a reason to walk through our doors and a reason to stay for the rest of their lives. They might come because they hear on the street or read on our websites that we have good preaching, great music, youth groups with purpose, or solid education. Or they might come because they need a place to be married or to have their child baptized or confirmed. Are we giving them reasons to stay week after week or are we just a place for the celebration of rites of passage? Will we offer a seven-course meal or only appetizers this season? Those who come will stay because someone makes them feel noticed, heard, cared for and loved. They will stay where genuine relationships with God and one another are offered inside our doors. They will stay when we prepare the way for their inclusion in our family of Christ by hearing what is on their hearts and on their minds and not dismissing their words. We are the doorways, not the answers, to God’s love – Christ’s love. I wonder . . . Are we preparing our doorways to open wide enough to welcome all who are brave enough to enter? I wonder . . . will we open our ears and our hearts to listen for what those who come this season are seeking? I wonder . . . will we venture outside our safe havens to take relationships to those feeling no desire or fear to come inside? Writing to the membership of Forma, I know the answers to my wondering. “We will with God’s help.” May the love that is God shine through our eyes. May the hope that is Christ open our hearts. May we welcome with joy those we meet on our way. And may we give thanks to God for the blessings of the season just ended and for the anticipation of a new season opening. Joy! Debbi Rodahaffer Deborah (Debbi) Bell Rodahaffer is Director of Christian Education at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Louisville, KY, where she has hung her coat for the past seventeen years. Debbi has served as a lay deputy to the ’12, ‘ 09’ and ’06 General Conventions of the Episcopal Church. She has served on the Education Legislative Committee the past two GCs. Debbi is a member and past-president of Forma. She serves on Province IV’s Christian Formation Steering Committee. She has served on the Diocese of Kentucky’s Camp and Conference Center’s Board and has co-chaired the Diocese of Kentucky’s Department of Christian Formation. When Debbi isn’t “doing the work of the Lord” as her husband, Richard, refers to the work she does, she can often be found in music venues watching and listening to her adult children perform rock & roll, classical or bluegrass music.