An update on Glen Burnie Evangelical Presbyterian Church

Hello folks - as usual I'm sporadic in my posting but with this post I can reveal to you one factor in my sporadic blogging over the past few months (this doesn't explain my sporadic blogging before that, but hey, I've never met an excuse I didn't like).  I've been a bit busy with the following things.

This past Monday, the congregation of the church I pastor, Glen Burnie Evangelical Presbyterian Church, voted to sell our current facility and move to another.  There are numerous reasons for this which I won't get into here, as most of the reasons are family matters.  However, I can tell you the basics - we are a much smaller congregation than we were when we bought our facility, and we have an older facility needing some major repairs.  So, the current facility has become too much of a financial burden.

The good news is that this has awakened us from our slumber and we are not only planning to relocate but to recast the vision as a missional church.  And with that, over the next few months I hope to devote most of my blogging to church revitalization issues.  And I blog this now to say that you can be of help in a few ways.

1. I am interested in interacting with people who have been a part of a church replant - where a plateaued or dying church found new life.  If anyone has any stories they can share of such things I would love to read them.

2. Similarly, I would be interested in reading the stories of older, established churches that have successfully made the turn to a more missional focus.

3. One person told me that seminary trains you to take a plateaued church and keep it on a plateau.  It doesn't really prepare you to be a church planter.  But to take things a step further, the pastor of a replant or "turnaround church" needs to have the qualifications of a church planter and then some.  Does anyone have any stories of regular ol' church leaders like me who were able to shift gears and do what is necessary to lead a replant or turnaround church?

4. If anyone reading this lives in northern Anne Arundel County, MD, or if you know of someone who does, would you be interested in joining us on this journey or referring someone to us?  Anne Arundel County is just below Baltimore and is in the nation's 4th largest marketplace, between Baltimore and Washington DC.  In the next 4 years our county is expected to receive its largest influx of new residents since WWII, due to the Army's base realignment.  Over 5700 jobs are coming to our area, along with many other service jobs and so we are hoping to be in place to minister to these folks.   So this would be a great place for people with a missional mindset to come and help recast a church in a missional mold.

5. Finally, we are going to put together an e-mail prayer update.  If you would like to receive those updates please let me know in the comments and I'll add you to our list.  Be sure to remember that when you sign in to comment you give your e-mail address so don't put your e-mail address in the body of your comment, unless you want the rest of the world to see it and give your address to the spammers.  I'll just collect your e-mail address myself.

Comments

[Shawn]

I'm pastoring a turnaround church. We are becoming missionaly minded and growing slowly but deeply with our newest members wanting to reproduce themselves through teaching and fellowship through small groups. We have never had a building so we feel like a flunky church, but we've pitched it that all of our money can go towards ministry and mission (no lightbulbs or lawnmowing to worry about). We have far more impact than should be possible with our size. God is good. Praise God for your transition. Keep me updated via the email you mentioned.

[David C]

Please add me to your email update. I am very interested, having returned to church after years in exile.

[Ethan]

David,

Quoting R.C. Jr. here from his upcoming book, "Both repentance and Reformation involve a nuanced understanding of change. In both instances there are things we keep, and things we toss aside."

What does it mean for you to become missional? In your case what needs to be tossed aside besides the building? What needs to change and why? Should every church take the same measures?

- Ethan

[Chris D.]

David,

I echo Ethan's comment could you please define "missional" in the the way your church is using it? Describe the economics of your area as well? I wonder, can a church be missional and be in a wealthy, suburban setting? I belong to a PCA church that desires to reach out to our community, but we are located in wealthy suburb of Boston. We know people are needy, hurting, searching - but it's hidden. It shows up in divorce, prescription drug abuse and other addictions, striving 80-90 hours a week for vanities, dysfunctional families .... we could all go on and on. Can a church be missional, when the need is not clearly economic?

I look forward to praying for your church - and reading your story. Thanks!

[Mike Beates]

Hey David,

Amy Lauger mentioned your posting to me. Covenant in Winter Park replanted in Oviedo almost four years ago. We were calcified and not growing, land locked and invisible. So we sold our property, bought new property in Oviedo and are renting at RTS Orlando until we build -- hopefully breaking ground in the next year. Would be glad to dialogue more with you. Email me! Blessings, Mike

[cavman]

Well, I certainly didn't succeed at the venture. But Ken Priddy did. He may have graduated before you hit campus. But he now works p/t with the ARP to revitalize churches. You should give him a call.

[GL]

David,

I heard a dynamic young preacher recently and got to talk with him afterwards. Dr. JD Greear, who is Southern Baptist, did a "re-launch" of a church in Raleigh. I don't know the whole story, but Greear is into Keller, Powlinson and Piper, and his preaching reflects that. He struck me as focused on Jesus and relatively healthy (given that we all are afflicted with depravity). His church is called Summit and I don't know if he'd be helpful or not, but he's worth talking to. They are successfully re-launched and from what he said it sounds like the Lord is leading them into discipleship growth as well as numerical growth.

[David Wayne]

Thanks for the comments everyone and the suggestions and prayer. I think I'll deal with Ethan and Chris's questions in future posts because I want to devote much of my blogging in the future to church renewal.

For now though I'll just say that I think the major "missional" pastors, speakers and authors get it right - Keller, Driscoll, Stetzer and Kauffman. But I'll try to say more later.

[Tim H.]

I too would like to know what you mean by missional.

[Bryce]

David, you may already know, but MNA is running a conference on church revitalization in a couple months: http://www.pca-mna.org/churchrenewal/2007renewalconference.html

[Alan]

As a PCUSA pastor who is involved with New Wineskins and looking at the possibility of a move I find myself in a similar situation that you describe. Our church is a smaller, urban church with 96 years of history. We need to intentionally become missional and reform ourselves. I've appreciated the other responses and look forward to adding you to my bookmarks so I can keep up on things. If nothing else holding one another up in prayer is a great start, middle and ending.

Peace
Alan

[Mark]

David, I applaud your humility and reformed-mindedness. Echoing Ethan, Christianity comes prepackaged with both a conserving impulse and a liberal impulse - both terms in the positive senses - and John Piper elaborates in a message called "Building Our Lives on the Bible" at Desiringgod.org.

Over and above all the buzzwords and strategies, at the core of church renewal is heart renewal. To that end I would encourage you to chat with one of the pastors of Covenant Life Church in Maryland. This is a church that lives the mission, rooted in the supremacy of Christ.

Blessings on you.

[Matthew]

There is the distinct possibility that I an my family will be moving to Annapolis this coming August so I can attend St. John's College...

[David Zavadil]

David,
I saw you from a distance at GA, you were trying to get on the Trolly and we were pulling away. I am at a revitalization work in Virginia Beach. I would love to talk some more with you, share ideas.

After a year, well it will be a year in a week, the Lord has stopped the flow out and has begun to bring in some new families. We have begun doing some simple outreach into the community, making use of existing ministries. For example, the Salvation Army has a mobile canteen. We take the canteen out once a week to feed the homeless and poor. Again, I would love to talk with you about our ministries.

David

[Reformed Hoss]

I'd love to receive updates on your thoughts and experiences. While our church has not hit the point of facing an immediate change like y'all, I think we are just a year or two away. Randy Pope's message on being a Missional Church is still circulating amongst our officers.

I agree with Mark's comments above about heart-renewal; something our session and staff are endeavoring to affect among the flock. Affluence brings slothfulness in regards to spiritual mindedness.

[David Wayne]

Thanks everyone - the encouragement and prayers are much appreciated.

Mike - great to hear from you - I'll try to hook up with you after my vacation.

Cavman - I've actually been in touch with Priddy's organization. I'm hoping to meet him at the GCA conference in July.

GL - thanks, I'll look him up sometime.

Bryce - I'm planning on being there.

Mark - I often try to go to Covenant Life when I have a Sunday off - I love those folks.

David - hopefully we can hook up sometime soon.

[Andrew]

I pastor a church in rural Canada that has had a "turn-around" since my arrival 8 years ago. When I arrived, our fellowship was an elderly congregation with a reputation in the community as "the arrogant church that thinks they are better than everyone else." Today, our church family is an integral part of our community life that is serving the people and needs of our community. Before I understood "missional" or "reformed" , we began heading down this road. I'd be glad to share our church's humble story of God's amazing grace.

[Matt S.]

Hey Dave,

Good for you guys! One thing might be to consider the renting options this time around? That's what the church Kristy and I are attending right now is doing.

I am much more ignorant of possible Biblical reasons than I should be... but I am really wondering how the church ever got so focused on owning land and building the buildings so much in the first place. Unless I'm crazy... doesn't renting conserve money for the overarching Mission (tm) and allow some more unorthodox venues to be used which might better draw people in and influence the culture?

Catch ya later,
Matt

[David Wayne]

Matt - thanks for dropping in - I hope you will continue to do so. As to your comments.

We are pretty sure we will be renting or leasing, at least initially. As to how the church got into owning buildings and land . . . well, that's all a part of the Christendom mentality I think. Not all bad, lots of great art, architecture and learning was made possible by Christendom - I think the great cathedrals of Europe are testimony to the beauty that can be produced by those operating out of a Christian worldview.

I think you are right that renting allows for some more unorthodox venues that would pull crowds in and I think there is good biblical rationale for this. Paul did most of his evangelism in the marketplace and most Christians don't really engage the marketplace. The earliest church met in the temple courts, and then the early church met in homes - i.e. they didn't meet in buildings specifically set aside for Christian worship. I think it is a good thing that many churches are being forced, or going willingly, to using facilities from the marketplace.

On the other hand, the issues aren't always simple. The cost of renting and leasing is often as high or higher than what you would pay on a mortgage. Having a mortgage enables you to build equity and also eventually own a piece of property, which then frees up all kinds of money for mission that wouldn't be there if you were renting or leasing.