"The Church is Dying and I'm Not Bothered" by Brian Hehn, My Response, We, the People, Are the Hands and Feet of Christ Everyday!

https://congregationalsong.org/the-church-is-dying-and-im-not-bothered/

My Response: The Roman Catholic Church is in crisis with the sex abuse scandal, lawsuits,  the closing of churches, and its failure to respect primacy of conscience on a host of issues like women priests, homosexuality, divorce and remarriage to name a few hot button issues.  

Yet, there is  really good news too! We, the people are the church, we are the hands and feet of Christ in the world! Everywhere we go is holy ground. So, let's be happy, we are living a new story of welcome and inclusivity where there is room for everyone at the banquet table. 

In the Christmas stories, the angels remind us to let go of anxiety and rejoice because Jesus is  born. Yes, let's joyful songs and dance around the Christmas tree because Christ is born again and again through our love for others, and everyday is Christmas!

Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, https://arcwp.org

"If you’re more concerned about preserving the church than you are following God’s call at any time, you’ve lost your way and you are part of the problem. Is God not loving enough to see the church into its next step? Is God not faithful enough to stick by us this time? I believe in a God who is more faithful, loving, and compassionate than I can possible imagine…so I just don’t have time or energy to worry about the church’s longevity."




..."Most of my believing and non-believing friends are interested in these things: living a life where they do a good job at their workplace, treating others with kindness and respect, finding experiences that brings them and their loved ones joy and fulfillment, and helping others in need. Here’s what most of my believing and non-believing friends are not interested in: joining a country club, doing mission work that creates more problems than it solves, ignoring or combating science in the name of scripture, feeling guilty for struggling with depression or anxiety, and being told that loving someone isn’t the right way to live. And that, my friends, is at the core of why many of my millennial friends won’t step foot inside of a church anymore. They are too busy living imperfect yet good and faithful lives to bother with the church as it currently stands. I don’t blame them...."

Author Brian Hehn is the director of The Center for Congregational Song.