Dear Friends

As many of you will know, ‘What is a successful church?’ was the working title of my work during my Sabbatical late last year. Over the next three months I will share my conclusions in the columns of the Parish Magazine.

In a society where it seems that everything is measured; whether it be pupil and therefore school performance, hospital infection rates and so on; I have wondered how we measure success in church circles.

I set out to come up with some criteria that could be applied to any church community regardless of size, location, style of worship and churchmanship. I found that I came to three conclusions for the marks of a successful church. To be fair these conclusions are also the mark of a faithful church for Christ calls us to be faithful, not necessarily successful.

The three marks that I arrived at were, to use the Greek words, koinonia (fellowship), kerygma (proclamation) and diakonia (service). This month I will look at that idea of fellowship.

Koinoia is a word that has no accurate English translation. Although often likened to fellowship such as that between friends, it actually involves so much more. As well as that horizontal relationship between human beings, that of friendship, it also involves a vertical relationship with God. We love one another because God first loved us as the Bible puts it.

This means that those who go to church are called to be in relationship one with another because we are in relationship with God. It is more than a friendship between individuals who attend the same branch of the Women’s Institute or the Rotary Club. It is more than a friendship between those who belong to a Choir or Art Club. It is a relationship between people who worship God and who acknowledge together in worship that they are created and forgiven people who have a future in heaven.

Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, ‘Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep’ (Rom 12:15). Individuals who belong to the church are called to do just that. We can only do it effectively though and authentically if we know each other well enough to be able to sit naturally with those who weep and comfort them in their loss, whatever that may be. Our relationship with those in need is so much more that that of a professional counselor or carer – it is that of a friend who shares our faith in Jesus.

St Thomas’ is a large church and it is just not possible for everyone to get to know each other well enough to be able to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. But, St Thomas’ is a church that has an excellent network of friendship groups generated by our organisations. So the Mothers’ Union, the Mens Fellowship, the Second Wednesday Group, the Choir, the Supper Club have all developed their own friendship groups where people are able to support each other.

Of course because of our size there will be individuals who prefer to sit on the fringe of church but from comments heard recently from newcomers to the church, I do believe that St Thomas’ is a church that makes a good attempt at koinonia. There is still room to go if we wish to repeat the example of Acts where, we are told, the Christians shared their material possessions and shared what they had with the poor. But the phrase from Tertullian’s, ‘See how these Christians love one another’ was not a jibe meant to poke fun at believers, but the simple recognition of an observable fact’. It is recorded that, at the martyrdom of Pepetua and her slave Felicitas, ‘before their throats were cut by trainee gladiators, the two women gave each other the kiss of peace. Little wonder the crowds murmured, “See how these Christians love one another.’

We will not face martyrdom like that but we are still called to show costly love one to another.

Next month and in the Summer edition I will explain a little more of what I believe to be the other two marks of a successful and faithful church.

With my love and prayers for you all

Michael Gisbourne