A few years ago I read an Alban Institute publication “In Search of the Church: New Testament Images for Tomorrow’s Congregations”, by Keith A. Russell. Russell’s thesis is that different Christian communities remembered/drew upon different parts of the Christian tradition because of the self-understanding of that community. So those who saw themselves as communities of justice remembered certain stories and those who saw themselves as communities of hope drew on other traditions.

I rather suspect that one of the reasons for conflict in congregations is because of the different self-identities that exist among the members. Hence, different defining stories are recalled and different teachings of Jesus have prominence for the different groups.

However, my particular interest at this point is to invite you to think about what kind of community your community of faith wants to be. I know what kind of communities of faith many are looking for. Many are crying out for communities of hospitality. Migrant communities need churches and halls in which to meet for worship and fellowship. Numerous people are estranged from family and friends and live lonely lives in crowded places. Others long for a place where they can just be themselves and in the safety of that place explore who they may yet be.

What stories and teachings would we draw on if we truly sought to be a community of hospitality? Perhaps the image of the hospitality of God, the labourers all paid the same despite their hours of service, the parable of the wheat and the weeds, maybe in this season the outrageous generosity of the Magi and the earthy care of the innkeeper for Mary. My hope is that the UCA will be a community of hospitality, and find the sources of wisdom to nourish that vision.

The Rev. Terence Corkin, General Secretary UCA

Nov. 2002.