Must Do, Can't Fails.... A Sabbath Pondering

Today I feel like my brain might just explode.  The things swirling in there lead me down multiple trains of thought at a time.  What ifs?  What is to come?  What is the path?  How will we know it is the right one?

As I continue my reading and pondering of Bolsinger's book, Canoeing the Mountains, I can't help but pause to consider the deep ramifications of his insight.

"Before we are able to help people discover new lessons or insights, we must prove ourselves trustworthy in protecting the core of beliefs that give a congregation its identity."  (Bolsinger, Tod E. Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2015. Print. Pg 55)

I have heard other people talk about this in terms of "must do, can't fail."  What are the pieces of church life that we must accomplish?  What is it that would be catastrophic if it failed?

What about worship.... is... "Worship is central to our community" a core belief in churches?  More than likely.  That makes sense.  However what happens when there are different qualifications knowingly or unknowingly put on that core belief?

"Worship is central to our community" BUT....

• worship is only worship when it is traditional
• worship is only worship when it is contemporary
• worship is only worship when the pastor is leading all pieces
• worship is only worship when the choir is robed and singing
• worship is only worship when it is in the sanctuary
• worship can't take place in people's homes
• worship is only worship when we read all of the  lessons prescribed for that Sunday

We could do the same for another aspect of ministry that I'm deeply familiar with.... children's and youth ministry.  "Youth ministry is central to our faith community."  Many churches tout this among their core beliefs.  However, even that has qualifications placed on it.

"Youth ministry is central to our faith community" BUT...

• children and youth should not be allowed to serve communion
• children and youth are not welcome in worship unless they can be perfectly quiet
• children and youth should only use parts of the building designated for them
• children and youth should only help lead worship as acolytes and on youth Sunday
• children and youth should be educated in the faith only at church, we are not responsible for it in our homes

I could go on and on.  We could do the same for communion, for outreach, for stewardship, for mission, for small groups for each and every thing a congregation held true and fast.  I guess my ultimate point is that it is really difficult pinning down what a community's core beliefs are because there are so many qualifications that are attached to them.  Often times there are different factions in congregations that apply different qualifications.  So many voices.  How do you sort out where the congregation's true identity lies when you must wade through all the ands, ifs, and buts that are both acknowledged and hidden?

And now to go think of that some more...