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MICRO-CHURCH MEETS MEGA-CHURCH
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We’ve been to Mecca and back this past month. 6,100 miles round trip via
Jean’s little Beamer. All the way to Columbus, Ohio where good friend Dick
Wing presides over a two-campus, multi-thousand congregation. I’m proud
of him. I don’t know any ministers with larger congregations. |
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I first knew Dick when he was a youth minister trying to get through seminary
at Claremont. We always figured that if he could ever get through seminary
he’d probably outdo the rest of us. He has. |
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They do multi-services on both campuses, reminding me only slightly of
our days of doing three services every Sunday morning. Now I barely do
one “service” a month! Moment Ministries has been a micro-church, if it
is a church at all. I don’t know any church with fewer members. We have
no “members,” but an undetermined number of “constituents.” |
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At any rate, Jean and I drove from Corvallis to Columbus, via Madison,
Wisconsin. (Actually, Madison was our primary destination for the purpose
of visiting some professorial cousins and their son). We did a self-guided
tour through facilities at the North Campus where schemes are afoot to
build a multi-million dollar edifice of some sort. The present building
only holds 500 hundred or so at a time. It was set up for a combined orchestra
and choir presentation on Sunday. |
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We met Dick on Saturday and were toured through the South Campus facilities.
The big spread was somewhat inhibited by a measly 40 parking places. The
neighbors must love Sunday. A fine, large, traditional building, headquarters
for a fine, expansive, untraditional program. |
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Dick toured us through town and on to the 140-acre camp owned by the Church
(with a stop for lunch at a nice hotel eatery along the way). We saw deer
on the grounds. |
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We started Sunday by watching Dick on TV. His TV ratings are part of the
Board report. He seems to do well. I’m not much for TV preaching. Dick
was better than most, however. We followed by checking out of our motel,
then attending both services at the North Campus. It is amazing to see
a parking lot overflowing on to the grass. We meandered around the place,
finding coffee and restrooms. I chatted with some friendly folks. One fellow
spoke about First Church style, which he characterized as “open.” He followed
it up by asking about whether I had read a certain book, then taking me
out to his car and giving me the book that he had just purchased. (“The
New Revelations – A Conversation With God”). I’ll have to email my thanks. |
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The place was full for both services. Dick only preached 10 minutes in
each service. I think 10 minutes is probably enough for most sermons. The
choir and orchestra were first class, but a flat arena is not the best
venue for such an event. Even mega-churches have need of improvements. |
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After church, lunch was (of course) at the country club where someone provides
Dick with a membership. His associate, and long ago contact from our home
church in Seattle, Barbara Cunningham, joined us. After good conversation,
including our wives, his Shirley and my Jean, we went our separate ways.
We hit the freeway to end our day in Bloomington, Illinois, on our way
back toward Corvallis. |
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I reflected on the experience. My first thought was, “I’m glad Dick is
doing it.” Partly because he is able to do the job with more integrity
and humility than most. I worry that the institutional demands of an upper
class clientele may steal his natural identification with ordinary folks.
It’s hard to stay in touch pastorally with so many big time management
pressures. Mega-church can mean mega-pressures. He and Shirley seem to
be handling it. |
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I made only slight comparisons with my own career situation. I might or
might not have done well in a mega-church situation. The fact is that I
have ended up in the very opposite place. Nobody comes to me with invitations
to speak at big gatherings. Nobody offers me honorary degrees. My newsletter
goes to hundreds but not many thousands. I no longer have any staff, much
less many dozens. I am my own secretary and bookkeeper. My calendar is
purposely mostly blank, waiting whatever comes next. I am not expected
to be a clergy resource by many, as is Dick and his staff. My influence
potential is miniscule in comparison. |
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At any rate, coming home, my first thought is to get a blue sheet out to
folks on my list. I’ve been to the mega-church, blessed it, and returned
to my own micro-church. I bless it as well.
— Art Morgan,
Oct. 2002
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