I was recently asked to reflect and write a short piece for another newsletter reflecting on two questions:
- What disruption did your church experience during the last two years?
- How did your church respond to this disruption?
The obvious disruption experienced by ELPC and everyone in the world was the need to respond to COVID-19. Our most difficult decisions were to close the church building and suspend all in-person events, including worship; practice social distancing; and wear masks. We questioned whether we could still be the church at a distance and effectively worship, encourage, and support our members. And there were other disruptions, such as the inability to volunteer and serve our community, and the cancelation of youth and adult mission trips, just to name a few.
Even though the connotation of a disruption is typically perceived as negative, I have recently begun to realize that disruptions can be transformative. As we often do these days, I Googled the term “transformative disruptions,” just to see what Google had to say. I found that in 1995, the business theory of “disruptive innovation” was introduced by Clayton M. Christensen. Simplistically speaking, disruptive innovation occurs in business when “a small enterprise targets overlooked customers with a novel but modest offering and gradually moves upmarket to challenge the industry leaders.” (hbr.org)
Since the beginning stages of COVID, we have been trying to discern how God is moving us in new and innovative ways to the be the church, and the Spirit of God has continually raised up this scripture passage in my spirit, “Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:18,19)
I continually ponder: are we positioning ourselves to perceive the new things God is doing in our midst…or are we so focused on what was, that we are not allowing space for transformative disruptions?
The transformative disruptions we experienced have proven to be fruitful:
- Gathering virtually for worship and other ministry/programmatic events opened the door for people near and far to be in relationship with us and with God
- Supporting mission with “drive-by” food, clothing, and toiletry donations ensured our neighbors needs were met
- Being faithful stewards of the treasures God has entrusted to us, enabled us to look at God’s gifts through a lens of God’s faithful provision, rather than scarcity
- By standing demonstratively and speaking boldly for what is righteous, just, and equitable in the sight of God, we have been and continue to be the faithful people of God
There are so many more things that God will do with and through us. So, as God continues to lead us through this time of discerning what is next for us as a community of faith, may we pray that this disruption will be transformative— shake up the norm—and provide the space and opportunity for prayerful discernment, acceptance, and realization of who God is calling ELPC to be in this interim time and beyond. None of us knows now, how God will orient or reorient our ministry to serve in new, innovative, faithful, and transformative ways in the years to come. Only God knows, and it is up to us to perceive it. May it be so.
—Pastor Patrice