Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Several years ago, we were church planters, establishing a new congregation in one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. One of the biggest obstacles: resistance from the closest Episcopal church—still 10 miles away. Their argument was that another semi-nearby Episcopal church could weaken their own. My private gut response then (and now): If the congregation is that fragile, then there are much deeper issues. My public reply was that if each church could tap into just 1 percent of the population, our new and biggest worry would be how to find places to seat everyone.

Yesterday, I had the delight of experiencing how two congregations can build community together—instead of viewing each other as competitors. The two churches are less than three miles apart geographically. They have very different liturgical styles (broad and Anglo-Catholic). One averages about 200 on a Sunday, while the other pushes to hit 70. The smaller congregation has a very hands-on ministry to the poor, with a thriving food ministry. The larger congregation volunteers there and supports the efforts with monetary and other donations.

The smaller congregation has an annual picnic in the town park, just blocks away from the larger church. This year, they invited our congregation to join them. The priests swapped pulpits, and both pumped up the event as a time to get to know more of our Episcopal neighbors. 

Still though, we didn't know if the event would be a success. Understatement alert: It’s sometimes hard to get Episcopalians to be open to something new. 

Yet to our great delight, members of both congregations turned out, despite the 90-degree heat. Every picnic table was full to overflowing and nearly everyone abided by the mixed-table rule—that is, sitting with people that you may not know. The food-pantry church brought some of the leftover vegetables harvested from a community garden. Both churches carried in chicken and brought wonderful side dishes and desserts to share. When the smaller church realized the box with eating utensils was left at the building, a member of the other church made the quick trip to their closer facility to pick up more forks and knives. 

It was a wonderful vision of cooperation, of not seeing each other as competitors but rather as comrades on the journey to build up the Body. Each day, we have this choice, in our lives, in our churches, in our communities: Must we act as if there won’t be enough to go around, or can we embrace a strength that comes in working—and playing—together?