Church Wellness Report
Hey, I like this guy. His name is Tom Ehrich. Episcopalian, he’s a former parish priest who has become a church consultant, seemingly widely respected and engaged. For years he has published material on the web, some of it free, and in the past I subscribed to his earliest newsletters and things. He and his wife live in New York City in an affordable small apartment not far above the bustle. I remember when they moved there from North Carolina years ago, with their youngest son, who I think was fourteen at the time, seems to me the two older sons were already there. The NYC culture and availability was a wonderful opportunity for a bright young man. All three boys are grown and out now.
The Ehrichs moved from a university town, a typical American suburban life, large home, two or more cars, sold everything and chucked it all for city life. We subscribers shared the excitement of their relocation. Their first apartment was about fourth floor, had a corner window that Tom made his office and had his computer for his daily stuff. It sounded exciting, I sort of lived it with them, and we got to know his family history and his father, still living at the time, back in Indiana or wherever it was, where Tom grew up. When the Episcopal diocese of Vermont made a gay priest their bishop, Tom supported that and I took him to task, saying it would destroy the Anglican Communion as we knew it, which it did. He dismissed that, saying the Anglican Communion was a “human construct” of no substance. That rattled my cage and I countered that New York City is a “human construct” also, as is every institution. He wasn’t swayed. As it turned out I switched sides in due course because, to my horror, I realized that the folks who would leave the Anglican Communion because of a gay bishop, such as the Anglican church in Nigeria, were gay-baiting, gay-hating, gay-killing homophobes with whom I wouldn’t wish to be identified anyway -- yes including the Anglican church in Nigeria where, with the support of the Anglican archbishop and bishops there, gays are imprisoned and eligible for death penalty. Self-certain in their righteousness, some of our own ECUSA parishes, dioceses and some of our people also left. Where am I on all that now, a generation later? If, like the Westboro Baptist Church, it doesn’t answer WWJD in accord with His New Commandment, I’m solid on the other side.
All this comes to mind because Tom Ehrich is still a bit radical, an interesting character. Here are some of his suggestions in his April 2014 newsletter, suggestions about ways to move a parish into relevance for the younger crowd and families, and into the future for Jesus. Encourage worshipers to tweet their friends during worship about what they are experiencing. Text questions for the preacher to answer at the end of worship. Put water bottles in each pew. Become radically inclusive of children and strollers.
I like the guy, maybe because he’s odd. To me, there’s no greater sign of a wonderful church than a lot of children, including wandering around during worship. Can’t hear what I said in my sermon? No worries, I can repeat the last line. Kids who came faithfully as acolyte and lector and chalice bearer, encouraged because I furnished donuts and we had a happy gathering every Sunday morning just before the service to decide who’ll do what in worship. What are the pitfalls, let’s say “obstacles”? Well, one time I had a parishioner who was greatly offended unto bitter anger when, upon arriving for church he learned that a child was going to read the lesson instead of him. You have to watch that sort of thing, not to offend people who are offended by the presence and activity of children. Or just plow on. For me, I don’t give a rat’s axe for worship without children. Noisy ones. Running down the aisle. Shrieking. Thirty years ago during a trip to Texas to meet our new grandson, we attended a church, Redeemer, Houston, that had loud and fast music, lots of singing, children wandering around, it was a riot. Don’t like that flavor Episcopal, prefer things done -- in good taste? OK, fine, you got it. Most places anyway.
Scroll down for Ehrich's latest "nonsense."
Scroll down for Ehrich's latest "nonsense."
TW+
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