CHANGE IS POSSIBLE, CAN HAPPEN QUICKLY, WITHOUT CHANGING OUR CORE VALUES

Audrey (not her real name) is an educational consultant and she talks intelligently and frankly about the big coronavirus changes that are impacting the two institutions that she has vested interest in -- education and the church. For some unexplained reason, her words spoke to me.

Here is what she had to say recently:

"Both systems were woefully archaic pre-virus, in my opinion. While I've seen some steps, say in utilizing technology or adapting to our faster-pace of life, happening around the fringes, the mainstream core of both sectors felt lodged in the 20th century (too generous, perhaps 19th century is more appropriate). With the onset of this virus, both systems accelerated decision-making processes and closed both physical buildings and their traditional ways of "being" in an incredibly short amount of time. 

"Not saying this was easy, smooth, better, or worse- just saying that it did in fact happen. A huge change in a short amount of time for two systems that are known for moving at "a glacial pace" normally, to quote a recent Boston Business Journal article.

"I am in no way hoping that this 'new normal' of online is going to be our forever normal-- relationship, connection, being together are so important for the work of these two sectors to happen. But I AM DEEPLY HOPING that these institutions, and the many others I have less insider knowledge of, can acknowledge that change (1) is possible, (2) can happen in quick and organized ways even moving through (unnecessary layers of) committees/bureaucracy, and (3) can bring about new, good things without altering their core values.

"I've worried, for most of my adult life, that both institutions are already "on hospice" in their pre-virus status. Changes were desperately needed to be effective and relevant; even as a middle-aged person, entering into the structures of either system felt like time travelling backwards. Going online isn't the change I was looking for, nor is it solving any of the deeper issues present in both types of organizations; but it is, I hope, forcing everyone involved to realize how necessary and possible change is."

And in a follow up post on her web site the other day she changed the subject only slightly.

"One of the gifts I’ve found in this odd, hard season is the reminder that being the church really has little to do with being “in” the church building. The physical building can become a crutch or even a barrier for genuinely following Christ in this world.

"Change is hard, and we’ve been forced to change— I hope it will be an opportunity to reshape what it means to be the church. I worry the clamor we’re seeing by some church groups is a frantic attempt to return to a familiar norm, as opposed to thoughtful, prayerful consideration of what God may be calling us into that might be new or different. Scary words, I know!"

I share Audrey's words because she underlines perfectly a statement I made in this same space a week ago: "It is the uncontrolled spread of radical ideas like nonviolent resistance, distributive economic justice, radically inclusive community, and a situational ethics of compassion—that has the creative power to transform the world—and may even ultimately transform the church and the concept of religion in general. In spite of ourselves, the way we have done church in the past may be just that -- in the past!"

We'll wait and see!

Meantime, I hope to hear more from Audrey and people like her who really have something of substance to say about the future of education and our places of worship in the unknown days ahead.