You also might be thinking our mission statement: "The family of Central Lutheran Church comes together in the Word and goes out proclaiming God's presence, love and power. Coming and going, all we do is for the worship of God." That's nice, but that's not what I'm asking.
In our Sunday morning adult education class, we've been reading a book about the adult Catechumenate, Faith Forming Faith, which is about a congregation in Seattle who chose to use this ancient practice of faith formation as the centerpiece of their ministry. They welcome new Christians and mentor them in a year-long process before baptism. The Catechumenate is as old as St. Peter, or at least pretty close!
The author, Paul Hoffman, notes that congregations are always centered around something. There's always a hub around which a congregation's identity focuses, or a lens through which the congregation sees or understands its ministry. For the folks at Phinney Ridge, Seattle, it's faith formation, not just of new Christians but of the long-established ones.
So, Central folks? What's our center? Our hub? Our lens?
Put another way, what is the focus around which we orient everything, like worship, Bible study, fellowship and stewardship? For some congregations, it's faith formation. For some it's social justice or their worship and music life. What's ours?
It's worth noting that I asked this question of two different groups this past Sunday morning. I asked the 7-8 people who were at the adult education class, then I asked the dozen or so folks on church council. No one was in both groups. They each gave me the same answer, almost verbatim.
Here's what they said: Central is a congregation that is intentional in the community. Our central location makes us a hub for community activities. We are known for being active and engaged in our neighborhood and community, as a response to Jesus' command to love and serve. We are defined by a sense of our internal community.
Community, both beyond our walls and within them.
Central folks: what do you think? Agree or disagree, and why?
Anecdotes tell me that this focus on community is true. So often when I tell people where I work I hear, "Oh, you're the church with the Farmers' Market." And other times, "Oh, your church does so much in the community, like the Campfire after school program." Or, "Did I hear you guys are one of the emergency cold weather homeless shelter sites?" Why, yes we are! One of the most recent comments (compliments) I received was from a long-time member of a Catholic church. Aw, shucks. It almost makes a girl from the Midwest blush.
The point is this: many Central folks feel that this focus on community is our center, our hub and our identity. It's not for me to identify or define our hub, but I'm sure proud with what the last two groups have come up with.
What about you? What do you think about who we say that we are?
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