Philip Jenkins is a scholar and prolific writer who has a regular piece in the Christian Century. I first was introduced to Jenkins years ago when I read his Jesus Wars that explains how our current Christian belief and doctrine did not come into being through a peaceful and spiritual process but through violence, war, and politics. Jenkins seems to have no end to his scholarly scope, and I always find his insight, especially in regard to global Christianity, informative.
Last month he described a study that is being done to answer this question: does religion promote human flourishing? Aside from the doctrinal and liturgical truthfulness of this faith of ours which is rooted in the death and resurrection of Jesus, does religion simply make life better? Since reading his description of this study, I have been wondering, does May Memorial cause human “flourishing” for those who are a part of our church family? Does it promote a good life? As he states, many things do promote flourishing. Jenkins names civil peace, good government, justice, the arts. But what about church? Religion? What interests me is considering whether May Memorial causes flourishing for our members and our community? When a person attends our programs, activities, and even worship, do they leave having a greater sense of peace and fulfillment, or do they leave frustrated, confused, and ill at ease?
If we answer honestly, May Memorial, and all churches, have things in our culture that does not promote flourishing, and that cause frustration. Any one of us who spends much time around the church understands that. But at the same time, I think there is much that causes flourishing, that makes life better. I’ve formed two lists in my mind, one labeled “flourishing acts” and the other “frustrating acts” for May Memorial, and I will share a few of each with you.
First, the positive, what causes people to flourish:
1. Singing together (congregational, choir, small ensembles)
2. Wednesday night meals and the community they promote
3. Sunday School
4. Book Club
5. Being still and quite while listening to someone else sing/play an instrument
6. Senior Adult Trips
7. Camps and Retreats
8. Service/Mission Projects (we have a lot of these…Funeral Reception Meal volunteers, Food Pantry, Just Kids, etc.)
9. Soul Food and Kingdom Kids
10. Welcoming our neighbors to community building events (Picnic, Fall Festival, Scottville Friends, etc.)
11. Practicing Hospitality from 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Monday—Thursday. You would be surprised how many people stop by the church office just to check in/talk to a friendly and caring person. Many times this is the Administrative Assistant, but could be other church staff.
12. Civil, open discourse about important issues
Second, the negative, what chips away at flourishing:
1. Senseless committee meetings, especially meetings that could have been an email, OR meetings that should last under an hour but last much longer
2. The amount of energy (money, time) consumed by the need to maintain buildings
3. Nitpicking/Complaining (this does not include criticism that makes us better)
4. Focusing energy on things that are not important
5. Allowing partisan politics or “culture war” issues to impact our Christian bond. Political “jabs,” “insults,” or anything that implies that someone who disagrees with “me” is less than or not welcome.
Neither one of my lists is exhaustive. If I kept a list through an entire year I am sure that I could add to both. But, in my mind, there is far more at May Memorial that promotes flourishing than takes away from it. I see how lives are better because of participating at May Memorial, and I’m grateful for all of those good things.