And all that believed were together, and had all things in common.
~ Acts 2:44, American Standard Version
Dear Caldwell,
What do you think holds communities together?
In these days of deep and dire division in our country, that’s not just an academic question. It’s one many are seeking to answer as we all look for ways to heal the wounds and address the factors that separate us.
Almost any answer is likely to include the modifier “common.” What holds communities together? How about common values, common interests, common understandings, common commitments, common priorities? How about a common faith? That sounds logical enough, straight forward enough. So why is it so evasive in America? In our city? In many of our churches, all of which claim to read the same book and follow the same God?
Those are heady questions but they come to mind for me today for a couple of reasons.
First, as people of faith, we are in a season for thinking – individually and together – about what the church means to us and how we express that value. We cannot put a value on God’s unmeritable grace, of course. We can’t place a value on the power and promise of faith in our lives. At least not in earthly terms. Those things are invaluable.
We can, however, express our gratitude to God in terms the world understands through our financial pledge to what God is doing here at Caldwell. After all, as the great theologian Madonna (LOL) said back in the 80s, sing it with me now, we live “in a material world.” Our ministries come to life through our financial commitments here. To be sure, that’s a covenant, a promise, each of us makes with God and known only to you, God and our business manager. No one else in the membership or staff knows the dollar figure you place on the value of Caldwell in our lives. That’s your business.
We’ve heard some great talks in the first two weeks of Stewardship Season. Click here to watch the campaign overview from our Stewardship Co-Chairs Zach and Whitney Stein. We will post Yara Quezada’s wonderful talk from last Sunday later this week. Because this is something we should continue to talk about and celebrate, we are all invited to Good Roads CiderWorks this Saturday from 2-5 p.m. for some social time together in common. Come for a bite, a sip and to hear member Kevin Martin, who helps run Good Roads, talk about what he is doing to drive diversity, equity and inclusion in the booming brewery business as an expression of his faith and values. Bring your dog, your kids, your friends.
Then, next Tuesday, we’re invited to an online Celebration concert featuring some of Caldwell’s best voices. Watch for more on that. This all leads up to Commitment Sunday, Oct. 17, when we hope to conclude the campaign and will be invited to make our pledges, if we haven’t already.
The second reason I am thinking about what keeps community together has to do with a trip Gail and I will make with a team of others from Caldwell to Montreat for a few days of study. Caldwell has been invited to be a part of a pilot group of churches that will learn and apply the principles of community organizing in our ministries.
This is an exciting new opportunity for your church, which was hand selected to take part. It will build on the experience many at Caldwell have had to practice community in a way that begins with the voice of the people. That’s you. That’s us. What do we think is important as we seek to act out the Gospel in word and deed? How do we organize as a congregation to create power around an idea or a ministry venture? How do we build community that is sustainable and not as vulnerable to all of the forces of division that are redefining, if not replacing, traditional institutions all around us, from civic clubs to universities? We go as your emissaries and will be sharing what we learn in the weeks and months to come.
It’s clear that we are living through a time of decline in traditional institutions as known by our parents and grandparents. It’s a clash of radical individualism with what amounts to the common good. Where is the line between one person’s individual liberty and their interest in their neighbor? As I said, big, heady questions.
As people of faith, we look to Christ and what he taught for answers. In the earliest days after his death and resurrection, according the Book of Acts, Jesus’ followers came together and “held in common” their material wealth and means as a radical expression of community. Is it too naive to think that something like that, maybe even a church, won’t still work, thrive and succeed? Big, heady questions.
For now, we are invited to RENEW that spirit of selfless generosity, shared trust, common values and mutual care through the ministries of this church. Please continue to reflect prayerfully on your pledge for 2022. Don’t forget that you can read about our ministries and how we use your pledges here. When you are ready, you can make a pledge online here, or just call or email Rick in the office at rrogers@caldwellpresby.org . Why not try online giving to make your life easier and more automatic? Sign up for that here.
Meanwhile, the survey on your experience with anti-racism is still open – click here and it only takes a few minutes.
See you Saturday, 2-5 at Good Roads CiderWorks,117 Southside Dr, Charlotte, NC 28217.
In Christ,
John