UnChurch Proposal for Spring House Worship Center

UnChurch Proposal for Spring House Worship Center
-------------------------------------------------

"'Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'
'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.
'I don't much care where--' said Alice.
'Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat.
'--so long as I get SOMEWHERE,' Alice added as an explanation.
'Oh, you're sure to do that,' said the Cat, 'if you only walk long
enough.'" Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Once upon a time, three churches came together in a strange and mysterious forest. They decided to explore the forest together, thinking that they may be able to find their way more cleverly together than on their own. Then, once they had set out on their adventure together there was one question that kept bubbling to the surface of the sparkling waters that flowed within the Spring House: just exactly, where do we go from here? We have come from so many places and we are all so different. Should we go "North"? Should we go "South". Or, should we go to the "Garden"? "Ah", said the Cheshire cat,
  "what makes you think there
  are only three ways for the
  waters in the Spring House now to flow?
  For I can see that there are many ways
  for all of you to go."

It struck me as I thought about returning into something like a "church" again that I was not all that sure about how comfortable I would feel going "South" into a world of stained glass and organ streams, or "North" with a giant cross floating in the sky, and who knows what's going to grow in the "Garden". Then there's the thought of rotations, hymn singing and special holy days. We are all different and bring many memories with us into the Spring House, and although we all cherish our communities there are certain days, particular icons and specific activities that we would just as soon not engage. So what is our choice, if we feel we just cannot enter our assigned space on a particular Sunday? Usually, we just stay home.

What if there was an alternative for those times of discomfort? Times when we may need or want to be in our spiritual community but not in the place or in the way that is planned for a certain Sunday. Perhaps there is a place for a kind of "Unchurch" that doesn't try to be anything specific for any of the three communities present. A place that is open to all, but is different from all and yet a part of all? In other words, a place where you can go, in which it doesn't matter which direction you go, you _will_ go somewhere.

What if there was such a place in the space between the "North" and "South", the "South" and the "Garden" and between the "Garden" and the "North"; a "thin place" in the cracks; a place where anyone experiencing discomfort can go during those times of incompatibility and incongruity?

I am proposing that one of the rooms not normally used during the regular worship services be used as an "Unchurch" space, to which individuals can come when they are simply not mentally, spiritually or emotionally in alignment with the activities taking place in their community or in the space itself.

This space would not need to have (and probably shouldn't have) any particular decorations, furniture or arrangement. Perhaps a sign at the entrance and a sign on the door to the room would help those seeking the "Unchurch" would be helpful.

This is _not_ a replacement for any of the three communities, nor will it have a "membership". I personally will still consider myself a "member" of the Lyndale UCC community. But that is not a question that would be asked in the "Unchurch". It would simply be a space that wouldn't otherwise be used at that time that would be made available for those who feel that they just can't participate for some reason on a particular Sunday.

Obviously, a person could just sneak into some unused space and be there. I, personally, would like to have a designated place that I could count on and be secure in. Using myself as an example I know that I don't like to be present for Christmas and Easter services. I don't like hymns at all, so if there is a service that is particularly focused on hymns, I would just as soon not be there. Also, I consider the Lyndale Adult Class to be my _real_ "church" time. Formal services in general are secondary. But I don't feel comfortale going home after the class is over. If a particular topic is interesting to me and someone is present who wants to continue the discussion I would consider the "Unchurch" a place where that could be done. Or I could just go to the "Unchurch" and reflect more on the discussion that had just taken place in the Lyndale UCC Adult Class. On the other hand, there are times when I like being in the common space with my community, like on the Sunday of the stone ceremony of the first sunday of the year.

I also know that I will never feel comfortable going to a service in the stained glass ("South") space. When Lyndale is in that phase of the rotation I will probably not participate much, if at all. At the same time, I don't want to cast a pall on the joy that others feel being in the same space or the comfort that they feel when participating in activities that I, personally, am uncomfortable with. So, should I stay home during the third of a year that Lyndale UCC is in the "South" space, or go to the "Unchurch"?

I would probably be less tempted to stay home or leave early if there was a space set aside for such "Unchurch" activities. I'm not as familiar with the histories of First Christian or Salem, but at Lyndale UCC there are many who have experienced abusive behavior in other religious contexts, contexts associated with some activities, images or artifacts that may be brought into use in services in the "North", "South" or "Garden" spaces. I would like to think that a space would be available within the Springhouse Ministry center that would fill in the space between the cracks bretween the "North", "South" and "Garden" spaces. I would hate to think that someone was falling through the cracks.

So, if there is a room that is not targeted for use during the time of the three main services I would very much appreciate having a place that could serve as a "thin place" between the "North", the "South" and the "Garden". Although I know that walking over to the IAM Coffee Shop would (sort of) serve as an adequate substitute, I would like to communicate to others experiencing similar spiritual needs that they are not alone and, even better, are supported by the Spring House Ministry Center.

As a former ordained minister (Southern Baptist and Assemplies of God), I kind of like the idea of being an "Un-minister" and at times being present in an "Unchurch" space.

.. il matto ...
(a.k.a Un-reverend James Oliver Smith, Jr)
josjr.com