This past weekend I was blessed to be able to gather with many of my peers to be about the business of the Grand Canyon Synod in our annual Synod Assembly, held at Love of Christ in Mesa this year. While I didn’t have as much time for individual conversation with friends and colleagues as I have had in previous years, the energy in the room was by and large positive. There are wonderful things happening in the Grand Canyon Synod. Connections are being made with partner organizations and ministries, resources are shared to enliven and enrich ministries within and outside the Grand Canyon Synod (Children of Hope Preschool was the recipient of a grant this past year that is benefiting the program this year), and I can honestly say that the Spirit of God was present among us this past weekend.
At the same time, however, there was anxiety that was also present. Our nation and world is in the midst of a divisive time, which sometimes seeps into the lives and culture of our congregations. Inflation and other stressors are making it harder for some congregations to make ends meet. I heard stories of long-deferred building maintenance leading to crises in otherwise vibrant ministry settings. Throughout these concerns, an unasked question was being whispered: “Where will our church be (both local and nationally) in the generations ahead?” It’s easy to be discouraged when you are simply looking at the numbers. As a denomination, our membership continues to age and decrease in numbers. Ministries that once had significant staffing to support their work find that the number of staff supporting the work of God in the world has been slashed in order to keep going at all. If you wanted, it would be easy to paint a picture of doom and gloom for the church at large.
Despite these things, however, I experienced a church that still has much to offer. It was reassuring that the work of building relationships was front and center as a topic again this year, as we’ve learned that often we are truly better together. Congregations continue to adapt to new realities in our world, and are passing along that knowledge to other congregations so that ministries – even in reduced capacity – can be strengthened and maintained. I was reminded that even though our world may change, and our congregations with them, God does not change. God is present and active, and that will never change.
So today, as I reflect upon this past weekend, and look ahead to a very busy remainder of summer, I choose to look behind and ahead with hope as my way of being. Because we belong to God, and God does not abandon all who are claimed and called through the Son, Jesus Christ. In this I have hope – no matter what happens, God’s word will never fade. May we all be comforted by the promise of hope given through the empty tomb, that reveals that even in the darkest moments, God’s light continues to shine on us all, and this light will never cease to shine brightly on all God’s children, wherever they are.