February 29, 2016

Follow-up: St. Paul’s Open Letter to Presiding Bishop Curry

Priest Morris Thompson readily admits that, “All my life I have been afraid of evangelism.” Yet he and his fellow Christians at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Columbus, Mississippi, decided that they wanted to be part of the Jesus Movement proclaimed by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry in a video released they day after his installation. 

Before they got started, they stalled in the face of the unknown. HOW could THEY be evangelists? Father Morris, in his first year as Curate, reflected on his living in the old and diverse neighborhood of the church. He realized he talked daily with many neighbors, but he had never invited them to St. Paul’s. He shared his thoughts with parishioners.

Several in the congregation, including his wife Emily, had been raised Southern Baptist. With evangelizing experience, they bolstered the courage of others. 23 people went door-to-door last December, distributing parish-prepared candied pecans and flyers about Lessons and Carols and Christmas Eve services. Father Morris shared their experience in an Open Letter to Presiding Bishop Curry, which was posted on Facebook and published the diocesan newsletter.

The Lord blessed their efforts several ways…

  • Attendance at the two Christmas Eve services rose significantly from the year before - from 150 at the early service and 40 at the later, to 221 and 70.
  • One gentleman ran into Father Morris at a neighborhood party and said he was disappointed with the Lessons and Carols service – “It was so dark. You didn’t sing my favorite carols.” That provided an opportunity to explain that it was an Advent service and the man could come back at Christmas and Sundays after for what he was hoping for. And he did!
  • 5,000 people visited St. Paul’s website within just a few days of posting the Open Letter! “We went Episcopal viral, which is just a smaller version of going actual viral,” quips Father Morris.
  • St. Paul’s soon realized that they were serving as an example to others. Episcopal congregations called or emailed to ask, “Could WE be evangelists?”

“Your church can!” Father Morris assures them, advising, “You just have to figure out what kind of ministry works for you, and how evangelism can be seen through the lens of your church. You might not get it right the first time. So you re-group, examine what worked and didn’t. St. Paul’s went in with the conviction that if we don’t reach people, that doesn’t mean ‘we’re done.’ Christ’s message always continues. Christ’s work continues.” 

It’s one thing to be inspired and have an idea. It’s another thing to carry out a congregational project. Seven to ten people participated in early discussions about how St. Paul’s could carry out evangelism. Father Morris attributes St. Paul’s success to perseverance.

“Once the early group said they were committed, we prayed, set a date, and followed through. We didn’t know how many people would participate. We set a plan, a goal, and people showed up! 7 people came to make candied pecans. 23 went out to distribute them.”

Courage. Perseverance. A Goal. All are part of St. Paul’s example for us. And, as Presiding Bishop Curry assures us, [Jesus said], “Follow me, and love will show you how to become more than you ever dreamed you could be.” 

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