Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov/79

Contributor - Peter J. Yff

Title - Editorial

Topic - Editorial

The Church has always been part of the city scene, yet altogether too much divorced from it. Our churches should not be buildings to which we come and when worship is over, from which we leave, with no more than a passing glance at the neighbourhood in which the church building is located.

We insist that the church is not a building. In that case, the church is people. People are not only visible, but are visible objects of God's love and caring. This month, in which Urban Ministries form the focal point for the RCA's mission of the month, let us make very sure that ours is in every sense possible an urban ministry, that is, a ministry to the city, in every city where a Reformed Church is found.

This involves much more than merely passing a resolution in a congregational meeting or consistory session that from now on we wish to serve our community more effectively. If it is to come to be at all, it must come into being through our membership. Do you have people greeting at the door, who follow up when visitors are present, who determine whether the visitor is indeed passing through, or whether he happens to live in the community, and in fact, has lived there several years? Is there an openness about your church and its people, so that someone new, or even different, is welcomed with a smile, instead of with grudging accommodation in the pew, but no personal interest at all? I shall never forget the episode in a church of our denomination (and one outside of our Canadian church life) where a family from another race came to church. They seated themselves, and as it happened, took up the better part of a pew customarily occupied by one of the regular families of that particular congregation. The "different" family was asked to remove itself and take another pew. Is it any wonder that the visiting family never came back, even though attempts were made by others to make them feel welcome?

Churches are judged by their people. I like the case of the church which found itself in a "changing neighbourhood" (in fact, the neighbourhood had almost completely changed), and since it realized that play equipment was scarce there, and there weren't any parks nearby, installed play ground equipment in its parking lot, and quietly made it known through the neighbourhood that kids were most welcome to use the basketball and other equipment. Now, I am aware, as you are, that urban ministry is more than this - but it does picture a church that is willing to engage in urban work and that has the kind of attitude which relays Christ's invitation to the multitudes.

I would like our churches to be known, not as the "Dutch Church" on the corner, but rather as the church which cares and reaches out - in youth work, in adult concerns, to the people around. That it speaks with a Dutch accent is not so important, so long as its heart is open and its attitude friendly.

We are not selling a product, but representing a Person. Our cities are sick places today, with the wounds visible ... Broken families, and broken houses, neglected kids and absent parents, forgotten standards or ignored laws, kids who regard the rats in the building as other youngsters do kittens.

There is loneliness and there is fear. There are clouds which obscure the sun - clouds of despair, heartache, and monotony. The neighbourhood is classed as "undesirable" and its children and people as "underprivileged." Are there such near you? Find out if, you can help through a City Mission, or through some church presence there, our cities are sick ... they need the Great Physician. He, the Great Physician, looks to his followers to make him known and to be the kind of people whose friend would be welcome.

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