Open the doors and here's all the people

As I write this, (1st June 2020), we are still waiting to hear news from the Government about when churches can reopen. With lockdown easing, as the Covid19 infection rate is apparently reducing, we see signs of things getting back to normal. Well, the new normal. But as yet, no news about churches.

Over the weekend there were reports in some of the papers that Church of England clergy were “up in arms” that churches can’t reopen whilst car showrooms for example can. (There’s a whole other blog on Mammon there. But it will keep for now.)

At some point churches will be allowed to reopen. (I suspect in terms of Methodist churches, we won’t just need government say so, our own church leadership and insurers will need to give the ok too.) And with this in mind, over the last couple of weeks I’ve asked members of my congregations to take some soundings about starting back.

The feedback I’ve had is that yes people are keen to get back, And undoubtedly some would start back in July say. Though more were more cautious and said about September.

And many recognised the need to protect their own health (many are elderly) and were concerned for my health too. There was also a widespread recognition that it’s not just a case of opening the doors. There are many practical things to consider. Social distancing of course. But in one church many rely on being collected by friends to come to church. Can that happen? And inside that particular church many need to use a lift to access the church (the worship area if you like) itself.

In one of the articles I read – on The Guardian website An anonymous member of the clergy was quoted as saying of the Church of England bishops:

“They should have fought for us to be designated as essential workers, that we must be allowed to minister to people in this crisis,” said one vicar. “But rather than letting us get on with our pastoral role, the bishops have been constantly dishing out instructions.”



What this person was saying was that they needed their church building to minister to people.

I’m sorry. But that is nonsense! A church building should be part of ministry not the whole of ministry.

Yesterday (31st May) was Pentecost. Pentecost is sometimes referred to as the birthday of the Church. And in that sense we mean the whole Church, the body of Christ. Pentecost is the day upon which the Holy Spirit came to the disciples and empowered them to go out, initially into the streets of Jerusalem (see Acts 2). But then much further afield, to bring the good news to all people “Jew and Gentile, slave and free” as Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 12:13

I’ve been thinking a lot about those first disciples recently. The Easter stories - of them being in locked rooms following Jesus’ death and, at that stage not knowing of his Resurrection. People afraid to leave the safety of a locked room seems to strike a chord.

But those disciples, the very foundation of the Church, were soon released from their self-imposed lockdown out into the world by the Holy Spirit.

For them, being Church wasn’t about buildings, it was about Christ and bringing Christ’s Good News to people where they were. And I can’t help but wonder what those disciples (and indeed Jesus himself) would make of how in our age, the Church, in most parts of the world seems to be represented by buildings rather than people.

Here in Chippenham, during the lockdown I’m pleased to say that the Churches Together have been working tirelessly to support the work of the town’s foodbank (run from the Salvation Army citadel.) Christians from several denominations have been volunteering to collect and deliver food to those in need. (as well as non Christians too it must be said.) And there are many in need. Other churches have contributed financially or operated mini foodbanks in their part of town.

That is the Church. Yes, using a church building, but being the Church.

In the final chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, we are told that the disciples gather on a mountain with Jesus and he then gives them “the Great Commission”

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28: 18 – 20

Once we’re back inside our churches, it will be good to remember that we need to get out more!

Photo by www.gphillipsphotography.com