Following Jesus Right Where We Are

Paul Detterman, National Director –

Two weeks ago I looked across the aging sanctuary of what was once the second largest church in our denomination. Now it has an expressway in the front yard and a significantly smaller congregation spread across 31 zip codes. But the story of First Presbyterian Church San Diego has nothing to do with its building or location—it’s what’s happening there that’s amazing. Worship is vibrant with a wide variety of music and the arts. A far-reaching ministry to their homeless neighbors includes Sunday dinner for 300 people each week. And, included among the 100 plus volunteers who welcomed us to our National Gathering were scores of people who are now clean, sober, and experiencing the transforming power of the gospel because FPC has made the choice to lead not leave—following Jesus right where they are.

With me in that sanctuary were several hundred other pastors, elders, and church leaders, many of whom have been asking if there was anyone else “like them” left in the PC(USA). Is there still a place for thoughtful, evangelical witness and compassionate, missional affirmation of our Reformed Tradition? Is there still room for people who unflinchingly honor, proclaim, and follow Jesus Christ? The Fellowship Community (TFC) is made up of the people who are answering “Yes!” to those questions.

The Fellowship Community is very real, and so is the need for this Community. TFC brings people together so that no one will feel “homeless” in his or her own church; and so that no church needs to feel “homeless” in the PC(USA). We can face, speak into and love the people in the changing culture around us when we are grounded in faithful community. Being part of TFC makes pastors stronger and churches stronger.

The National Gathering was a chance for TFC to take our first long look in the mirror—we’ve learned a lot in our first year, sometimes the hard way, but what we saw was exciting: people from many cultures, races, and contexts; young leaders; seasoned leaders; men and women who are hearing and answering God’s call to keep growing in Christ’s likeness, living by God’s Word, and joining in God’s mission in the world.

Now that we are moving on from San Diego, the opportunities we see are so numerous (and so varied) that it will be a matter of choosing the best among many options. We are working in partnership with The Presbyterian Foundation on the creation of a new six-part video study on the clarifying the church’s call to a gospel-shaped life. We are creating a 2015 Advent-Epiphany daily e-devotional. We have learned a great deal from our recent experiments and are creatively expanding connectional ministries including new and creative thinking about Abbots and Mission Affinity Groups. Our core challenge remains the same however, helping 21st century followers of Jesus (beginning with ourselves) make the shift from “doing church” to “being church” and from “come to us” to “send us out.”

Reformatting our lives and our loves to live each day as missional disciples remains the greatest challenge all of us face.

The energy, affirmation of the gospel, and spiritual joy at the National Gathering was very real, and so is the need for what we experienced in San Diego to radiate across the PC(USA)—a living, breathing Community with clear theological identity, accountability, and the conviction that we are part of God’s plan and purpose. Leading not leaving. Following Jesus right where we are.