Introduction
MCC has, for many years, used the metaphor of a journey to describe its ministry and mission. It is a good image, taken - in part - from the story of the people of Israel leaving Egypt and journeying through the wilderness to their promised land. In recent times it has come to the fore again in the Roman Catholic Church who have, since the 1960s described themselves as the Pilgrim People of God. The people of God, it seems are always on the move.
Exodus
In our reading today from the book of Exodus we heard of the people of Israel leaving Egypt and escaping through the Red Sea. Sometimes when we think of this story we think it was all wonderful, very easy and the people just followed the pillar of fire by night and the pillar of cloud by day so that they always trusted in God. However, a closer reading of the text shows that the people of God were not always trusting in God - they wanted to worship Egyptian gods even after all that God had done for them. They did not trust or follow their leaders - especially when things got difficult - even after all that Moses, Aaron and Miriam had done for them. They may have been on a pilgrimage, but it was a pilgrimage of grumbling, moaning, complaining and dreaming of where they had been, not where they were being taken. Sometimes slavery seemed more appealing than freedom.
Medieval Church
One of the more weird things about me is that I care passionately about Church History. I love reading about the history of the church - and find it relaxing. I am intrigued by how our forebears in the faith have lived out their call to follow Jesus, how they have understood his call to discipleship, how they worshipped, how they prayed and how they sang. In the Middle Ages the great religious thing you did wasn't to sing choruses, or sing in tongues, or take one's Bible with one to church. Instead, in the middle ages people went on pilgrimage. All over this country - indeed all over Europe - there are places where people went on pilgrimage. Sometimes these places were associated with a saint or with a miraculous cure or, in the Holy Land, they were places associated with Jesus or the disciples. Medieval Christians understood that life and faith was a journey or a pilgrimage.
MCC - joining others on the journey
In MCC we join people at different parts of their journeys of faith. For some we are there at the beginning as they come to faith. Darren is an example of someone who found Christian faith through his relationship with John and his involvement with us. Others join with us having become Christians but need to use our ministry to reconcile their sexuality and their Christianity. Others still come and are not sure why God has directed their feet here, but they join us. We are used to seeing the journeys of people and our part in them.
In my ministry I can see a long winding road that has brought me to this place. I started life as a Roman Catholic Christian - without knowing what that meant. After exploring some rather unhealthy forms of spirituality in my early teens, I started to attend Mass, made my first confession and communion and, in time, was confirmed as a full member of the Church. A little later on, my path changed and I started to worship in a charismatic Church of England congregation. Then, when I went to university I started going to mass again and by the end of my time at university I was attending MCC. I joined and graduated at the same time. My own theology and view of God has changed and developed in that time. I started being very conservative, by the time they ordained me I had very liberal views, which were still with me when I first became pastor here. Over the last couple of years, however, my journey has changed and evolved again and I suppose I am now quite different to how my former parishioners in MCC East London remember me.
We are less comfortable, however, when we start to reflect that we, as a congregation, are also on a journey. We have changed so much over the time that I have been here as pastor. Some of those changes have been wonderful to behold, others have been very difficult and painful. In February 1996 when I started worshiping in MCC Manchester regularly - but before I became pastor - we were in the Town Hall, attracted about 12 people a week, all of whom were male and most saw the congregation as a gay social club. The move to St Peter's helped us become more gender-balanced, more realistic about our giving - our budget was only £2,000 when I became pastor, it is almost £20,000 now. We grew at St Peter's but gradually came to realise that the building had as many disadvantages as it had advantages. And then we voted to move.
The Move Here and its aftermath
When I was collating the papers for tonight's AGM I was surprised to remind myself that only 3 people voted not to come. Given the anger that erupted about our move here when it happened, it was good to remind myself that only 3 people said no.
Our journey this year has not been easy. Some have chosen to go - some went quietly, others decided to make lots of noise about going and engaged in very shameful personal attacks on three of us here this evening in particular - especially myself.
It is tempting to see people leaving MCC as a failure, especially when they leave with so much gusto! However, I have reflected long and hard about the events of earlier on this year. And what I am going to say may sound hard, even shocking, but I truly believe, to the core of my being, that the Lord has taken us through a process of pruning.
In our gospel reading we heard of Jesus the vinedresser who prunes the branch so that it can bear much more fruit. The process of pruning can often seem radical. Ian recently pruned one of my favourite plants which was over 5 feet high - it looks lovely now but there is only one foot of it left!
I think that many, not all, but many of those who have left this year, have been led by the Lord to do so, because of a process of radical pruning. Why do I say this? Why is it not arrogant to say this?
Firstly, because we are healthier as a congregation. If people now wish to disagree they are doing so openly, honestly and lovingly. One of those who left told me that the congregation would die without those who were leaving and without their money. Whilst we have not got enough money, it is interesting that we are no worse off than we were before people left. Others have increased their contributions. We laugh more and we are clearer about who we are.
Secondly we are more Jesus-centred. Our worship, our songs, our membership classes, our new membership vows and the expectations of membership I am asking you to vote on later on this evening are all about making Jesus first in our corporate life together and in our individual lives. I find that I am no longer having to worry about what x would say if we sang that or what y would say if we did that. I was talking to someone yesterday about their own journey over the last couple of years. He said to me that he recognised that he used to be striving for an identity to fit in with and be liked by others. Over the last year, however, he has realised that he just has to be himself and let people get to know him as himself. I find my life as a pastor has become easier in the second half of the year, as I am no longer hamstrung by people coming and telling me that they don't like the rules of the club changing.
And thirdly, we are spiritually growing at last. The feedback to the devotionals on our mission and vision have been wonderful to read. There is a sense that we are a church, focused on Jesus with very clear aims.
Our Mission
From the responses that you gave me I have drawn up a new mission statement which I am inviting us to adopt provisionally whilst we reflect on it more. This statement asserts that
- We Are Raised Up By God
God has raised us up from the “rainbow” communities to proclaim the good news that Jesus saves and changes lives. We are not just another social group, or just another support group for people. We are raised up by God, from a particular community, to proclaim to everyone that Jesus can save and change them.
- To Be Transformed Disciples
But we are raised up to do more than tell others of what is good for them! We are raised up to be transformed. Jesus calls a range of diverse people to become His disciples through the ministry of MCC Manchester. We are a place where people’s lives are transformed. This transformation may involve reconciliation of sexuality and Christianity, a realisation that we can be set free from addictions as well as the truth that God’s love extends to everyone. Our encounter with Jesus enables us to become faithful disciples. We are called to bring good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken, to open the eyes of the blind and to set prisoners free.
- Following Jesus
As transformed disciples we are called to follow Jesus. He calls us to imitate the Early Church: we are called to develop a daily discipline of prayer and worship - even though that is a struggle. We are called to share our lives together in wonderful harmony. We are called to be fed by God’s presence in Word and Sacrament. Our discipleship is strengthened through many spiritual disciplines. Receiving Holy Communion each week, listening and responding to the teaching given to us through sermons and attending mid-week groups - which I want to start in the New Year - helps to strengthen our faith. When we get things wrong we know that, through repentance, God forgives us. This call to faithful discipleship is given so that those who are lost, lonely, hurting and confused may find Jesus through us.
This is radically different from being a social group of lesbian and gay people who want to chat about middle-class things to middle-class friends. It is radically different to being kept comfortable because the call to become a disciple can be uncomfortable - Jesus makes demands on our lifestyle, our time, our money and our resources. But this is what we are called to.
- Using our Gifts
Jesus gives us a variety of resources to help build up the Church. Amongst these are our: faith, love, commitment, kindness, tolerance and humility along with our practical talents, spiritual gifts and earthly wealth.
- So That Our People May Be Saved
Jesus is the Head of our church and has raised up our leaders to guide, protect, equip and teach us. We are all involved in the ministry and mission of our church. Each one of us is responsible for contributing our unique gift, talent, or ministry so that Jesus can save and change lives through us.
A few weeks ago I asked you to name what it was about your faith that our community cannot live without. What it is about our faith that is, literally, to die for. The answer for me is clear - it is the fact that Jesus changes and transforms us. This is what we are about, and this is what we are called to proclaim.
Jesus has transformed us and continues to transform us. This year the transformation has been rather painful for some, and liberating for others. We have been pruned so we can bear much fruit. This evening we recognise what has been going on and realise God has been at work in our midst. We also draw a line on the events of the last year, leaving those who have left to God. We move on, confident that we follow the leading of Jesus who sets us free.
Amen.
This sermon was first preached in the Metropolitan Community Church of Manchester. Click here for further information.