The Church Unmasked

Masking up at church may be one of the most controversial and at the same time, selfless acts of love in the chaos that is 2020. Masks are the perfect illustration of the paradox churches faced before COVID. A pandemic has unmasked churches in many unexpected, and unmistakably providential ways. 

Before COVID, churches were safely hidden behind a mask of traditionalism and irrelevance. Masks allowed too many dreams to be squashed, passions to be quenched, and visions to be shutdown. Now, all masks, except the ones for AHS, are off.  

A Way Through The Wilderness

Rural and urban pastors found themselves in the same boat, or canoe. Truly, it felt like we were facing mountains of uncertainty where a river of familiarity previously flowed.   So we traded our paddles for horses, and found a path forward.

When church services were forced to go online, pastors pivoted faster than any previous time in their lives.

During isolation, leadership became nimble. 

Decisions came quickly.

The grip of traditionalism was shaken loose.

Innovation was set free.

Internal conflict softened to an all-time low.

External awareness rose to an all time high.

Funds were freed up to purchase technical equipment that was deemed essential.

Changes were made with ease - and appreciation.

Pastors and people learned to use technology that previously had been treated with suspicion or contempt.

 “We’ve never done it this way before” morphed from resistance to a celebratory comment.

Possibility Thinking

Sure, we all felt tired from endless Zoom calls, but we connected with our congregations like never before. Everyone was a shut-in now and now shut-ins could do meaningful volunteer work, like phone calls.

Quite quickly we learned that gathering was not our mission and Sunday was not the centre of our ministry.

We held some of the largest prayer meetings in recent memory, online.

We shared communion remotely.

Baptisms were conducted digitally or during home visits in bathtubs.

Sacred wedding ceremonies were celebrated in homes, not houses of worship and Zoomed around the continent.

We discovered God answers prayer even when we couldn’t lay hands on the sick.

Phone trees were planted and shocked, but appreciative congregants, heard personally, and frequently from their pastors, Board members and volunteers.

People in our communities saw what we are all about through a camera lens.

Family, friends and neighbours, who never darkened our doorsteps, regularly watched our services on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

People made decisions to follow Jesus.

Alpha groups, Bible studies and Next Steps follow-up all found new life online.

Digital engagement that was once disparaged by ministry thinkers was embraced as a BETTER space for vulnerability and community.

The anxiety around decreased giving was followed by a calming assurance from seeing givers adapt and sustain generosity.

The Church Unmasked

The church has been unmasked.

We can learn.

We can take risks.

Innovation is possible.

Change is welcomed.

Reaching out to our community and sharing Jesus in real and effective ways is not unthinkable.

We can act selflessly and focus on mission. 

Churches can grow. Churches will grow. It’s up to us to make sure we don’t mask up again.

Will it be easy? No. But it will be worth it.

The End of the Beginning

We are not yet at the end of the beginning of this pandemic, but it will eventually come.  Don’t go looking for your old canoe when it does. We’re not out of the mountains yet.

Adaptive leadership is energizing a community of people toward their own transformation, in order to accomplish a shared mission in the face of a changing world.

Adaptive leaders do two things:

1. They don’t wear masks, unless it’s to protect others, and

2. They never eat alone. 

Join in a 5-part conversation around adaptive leadership starting Wednesday August 12th at 1:00pm MT. Sign up here and join the cross-country conversation. You won’t need a mask, just an open mind.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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