For five years now, I’ve been thinking about a church plant with a “soulful foundation,” embracing all the peculiarities of the Anglican tradition, enveloped by the rhythms and soul of the Black Church.
I see a church of people who are familiar with the faith. They understand it as an institution, but they never had a church that was theirs by choice. They haven’t had the beloved phrase “My Church Home,” but they know their “Home Church.”
I see a church ready to reimagine worship amidst the new world that COVID has created.
I see folks who can worship fully to both this and this.
I see a church where tradition matters, but not in a weird way, where our whole reality is broken if we move a plant. Rather, tradition connects us deeply to the people who came before us, to the early church, most importantly to Jesus.
I see a church where Black Lives Matter, and so do the unborn. Where all are taught to serve as Jesus did, while the underpaid public servants are advocated for, and whose burdens are lightened by our provision of community resources.
I see a church that celebrates Feast Days and baseball games. A church with an active Hip Hop & Theology ministry, 1200 sq ft scaled rent houses for families who need just a bit of help to meet their financial goals, and an active college ministry.
I see a church that talks about responsible personal financial management and budgeting, just as much as we talk about tithing and generous giving.
I see a church that is full of good people, who care just as much about their family, as the families outside the walls of our church. I imagine a parish full of people connected to the solutions of our community, viewing Sunday as the time to commune with God through worship, and through the clarifying of call, impacting their vocation for the Kingdom.
I see a church with a diversity of gifts, with people concerned not about the gifts of others, but about maximizing the gifts given to them by God, for the work of the kingdom, sharpening those gifts within our doors, and employing them beyond our doors.
I see a church that worships in an ancient way, bridging the gap between a Hammond B3 Organ, and the Trisagion.
I see a church committed to creating opportunities of education in our community, be that with literacy initiatives, or the creation of a low-cost high instruction tutoring.
I see a church with its own spin on every part of the liturgical calendar, an Advent of deep prayer, a Christmas service with a full orchestra, an Easter with Opera, and an Ordinary time with Outdoor community concerts and cookouts.
I see a church where leadership is diverse and developmental, pushing the expectation of the “standard pastor,” always equipping the saints, and never sacrificing the Gospel.
I dream of a church where our kinky curls, gray hair, multi-lingual tongues, clapping hands, stomping feet, all honor and glorify God, as we try to live as it is in heaven.
This is the vision.
