The following is a part of the sermon preached by Bishop Ray Sutton at the recent REC Mid-America Diocese meeting. I had to pass it along; I thought it excellent.
All too often parishes think that church growth is in a program. Yes, a program can help. But the key to a growing parish is whether or not its members are forgiving of one another and ultimately the world around them. It's really very simple. If a parish is forgiving, it will be a kind, loving, truly friendly community. If it is bitter, paranoid, insular, mean and critical visitors will come and go. It's almost as though they implicitly realize that true forgiveness cannot be found in this place. If the disciples of Jesus do not forgive as He did, then perhaps He does not live in them. Forgiveness spreads the Word of the Lord. The lack thereof inhibits the central message and mission of Christ and His Church: the absolution. Where forgiveness is, the Gospel will spread!
All too often parishes think that church growth is in a program. Yes, a program can help. But the key to a growing parish is whether or not its members are forgiving of one another and ultimately the world around them. It's really very simple. If a parish is forgiving, it will be a kind, loving, truly friendly community. If it is bitter, paranoid, insular, mean and critical visitors will come and go. It's almost as though they implicitly realize that true forgiveness cannot be found in this place. If the disciples of Jesus do not forgive as He did, then perhaps He does not live in them. Forgiveness spreads the Word of the Lord. The lack thereof inhibits the central message and mission of Christ and His Church: the absolution. Where forgiveness is, the Gospel will spread!
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