SM Case Study 1 - Praise Team & Reflection

Supervised Ministry Case Study 1

Background

St. Paul’s Anglican Church has a reputation of being high church with a foundational congregation of upper middle class to uber rich white people until it was desegregated in the early 1950’s.  It prided its self on its edifice of beautiful stain glass windows, marble and ornate fixtures and furniture; it’s pipped organ and choir, its location and standing in the community.  St. Paul’s Anglican was always full to capacity. 

The above description is but a shadow of St. Paul’s present position.  Still a landmark edifice and community but they have dwindled tremendously.  The current pastor, who has presided for 10 years is excited with the are 50 in church and is over the moon if they get as many as 75.  He has never experienced a full congregation unless there is a funeral of a prominent member of society.  The sanctuary seat 500+.  Today the congregation is spilt almost down the middle racially between black and white with a sprinkling of other races and nationalities.  There are no weddings and a scattering of two or three infant baptisms per year. The Diocese, like many other mainline churches, are in a crisis with dying congregations, virtually no young families and a tension those who desire growth but want everything to remain the same and those who feel something needs to change. 

My Context

While I am currently Presbyterian, I have spent time in many types of churches and my filter is full of expressions, teachings and worship styles that make for a unique combination.   One of my goals for my internship has been to be not only competent but confident in what I bring to the table recognizing that it may be different from traditional Presbyterium.   The way that my intern supervisor has choose to facilitate this request is to have me participating in multiple areas of worship within the services.  I am learning how to bundle my love and expression about God in a frame work that makes it accessible to others yet still be authentic within myself.  It was been an awesome journey of personal discovery. 

So, as you can imagine for these past five weeks because my theology and expression are different, which in turn has a vernacular and emphasis. I pray differently, lift hymns differently, dance and lift my hands in worship and today I sang a few praise chorus’ that required the congregation to put their programs down and clap along.  I must admit that while I was taking a risk I was aware to keep it light.  It was amazing to see the lights going off in people as we sang those few choruses.

I might at that each week as I inserted more and more into the service it was approved before hand by the Vicar and well received by the congregation. The Rev commented that my presence within the church was having a big impact.  It was allowing people to be who they really are. 

Dilemma

After service this week while greeting parishioners at the door I was met by several people at the door who wanted to chat about the singing. 

One lady expressed that she actually attends another church before our service, so she can have that element. 

Many people complimented and took time to talk about the changes. 

One gentleman who had never said anything to me in church ran up behind me in the grocery store to thank me for singing songs that had a clap in it.  When I mentioned it to his wife later she shared that he was really struggling in St. Paul’s.

After much conversation over the repass a number of persons presented their petition to me.  Could I install a praise and worship element into the service? 

When I enquired has anyone asked the pastor they said they wanted me to ask. 

When I questioned why the answer was because I’m clergy. 

Had the question been asked before I wanted to know.  Yes, it had, and however the pastor said at that he didn’t think the time was right. 

What do all my fellow Pastors in training think? 

Do you have a similar situation?  

What are your suggestions?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Should I approach the Pastor?  If so how?

Should I put the ownness on the congregants to approach the Pastor?

Please Note:

This is not an American context.  The culture is humble, and the tradition is not to question the pastor decisions. 

Reflection

My thoughts!

I do think the congregation could stand for something a little more upbeat however I do not think they are ready for a full-on praise and worship team service half an hour before church starts.  While it would be a jarring changing, and that doesn’t make for good and lasting transitions, it would remove and element of worship for the senior members who enjoy sitting reverently before the service. 

While change is good, I believe it has to be introduced uniquely to congregation it is intended to serve.  The mistake they are making is trying to take an element that works in another congregation, having seen its success, and plop it down in their service not realizing there are ways they can finesse the element and make it uniquely work for them.

Reflection

The scenario left feeling uncomfortable and in a bit of a tix as what to do. After some prayer and consultation with my “per learning group” I decided to make it a topic of discussion in my next SM meeting. 

During that meeting Rev Ant questioned assured me that all was well and that he was not offended that the congregation were coming to me.  He shared that it meant that they trusted me and that was in line with what we were trying to accomplish.  He questioned me at length what they were wanting and explained what his position was on it.  Rev Ant was fine with the changes or additions however he was firm on not adding any additional responsibilities to his ever-increasing list of things to do.  This is how I believe they interpreted his response as a no. 

Historically in Bermuda, in particularly the Anglican Church, there is clergy and lay persons.  All ministry and initiatives are instituted from the top and trickle down so the congregation.  With this dynamic the congregants can not even contemplate idea of ministry being apart of their lives.  This has been a point of contention for Rev. Ant he has worked tirelessly to try and encourage congregants to exercise their giftings.

I shared with Ant my perspective on how praise and worship could be tailored for this body and he agreed and gave me card blanc to begin the process.  

The first step in the process was to gather the interested persons and that is were we hit our first bump.  No one wanted to step up as a leader.  When I reported back to Ant the following week, he shared that that was a major lesson he wanted me to learn.  He communicated that often time as the Pastor the congregation make claims that they wanted to do various projects however they are not willing to be committed to the process or the development of the project.  Needless to say, I was shocked, but my lesson was learned.  Take the suggestions with a grain of salt and provide assistance to their vision as they progress and always keep the lines of communications open to deter incidences of unfaithfulness and misplace loyalties.