Something interesting is happening in Presbyterian churches which reminds me of the BBC television programme ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ in which celebrities seek to explore their ancestry. The investigation often produces big surprises (or it would be boring telly) and helps them understand something more about their personal identity. We Presbyterians can trace our own heritage through the Presbyterian Historical Society, for example, but as the people of God, we need only look to the pages of Scripture to discover who we are – our spiritual identity as a covenant people of God.
‘I will be your God and you will be my people’ is a phrase repeated throughout the Bible in various forms, starting early in Genesis and continuing right through to the end of Revelation. In Genesis 17:7 we find a clear statement of spiritual ancestry that remains true for us today: “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.”
Defining church life and personal discipleship
It appears that increasing numbers of Presbyterians are thinking about how this spiritual identity and heritage defines their church life and personal discipleship. They are thinking about what it says concerning the central place of children and young people in the church, and the value it places on families building faith at home. They are considering how it shapes their congregational worship and how they participate in the sacraments. They are thinking too about how it informs the culture of their community within the church, and the way they reach out to those outside.
To help in this spiritual identity search, the video Bible study resource ‘How to be a Close to Home Congregation’ was created as a flexible tool which can be used in small groups, midweeks, worship services, or any combination of these that works best in a particular context. It has already been used by over 2000 people in around 65 congregations - 3 of which feature in a video where participants share their experiences of using the resource and the practical impact it has had on their congregation.
At the outset of this video Rev. Richard Kerr, minister of Templepatrick Presbyterian Church, taps into the issue of identity when he explains, “We decided to use the Close to Home resource because we felt that it very much fitted in with who we are as a congregation, but maybe more importantly, who we want to be as a congregation.” He goes on to explain how important it is that our faith identity starts with God, and is in the context of community rather than the individual.
Roy McClelland, a recently ordained elder from Wellington Presbyterian in Ballymena, acknowledges how the resource has helped him as he says that it “brought us back to the roots of what we do and why we do it.” Colin Foreman, a youth leader from Trinity Boardmills in County Down, points out the importance of identity to his young people, grateful that the resource helped with questions like ‘What does the Presbyterian Church believe?’ and ‘Who are we as Presbyterians?’
Importance of intergenerational church
Other speakers in the video outline how they used the resource, what was most useful about it, and crucially, how it led to a greater understanding of our identity, which had begun to be worked out in congregational life and witness. As one speaker asks himself, “am I living out, every day, a feeling and knowing the benefit of this covenant relationship with almighty God?” It is a question we should all be asking ourselves.
Identity is a vital concept for our children and young people, and it is crucial in today’s culture that they understand who they are in Jesus Christ, and as one of God’s people. Research has shown that where they grow up in a congregation in which they are embraced as part of an intergenerational family, young people are significantly more likely to continue to grow in faith and stay connected to church.
This effect is increased if they are blessed to live in a family which prioritises intentionally developing faith in Jesus. We are perhaps best placed to enable our children to understand who they are, when we ourselves as adults and as congregations are confident in who we are.
I hope that the 'How to be a Close to Home Congregation' resource will be a useful tool to help your congregation reflect on their spiritual ancestry!
Graeme Thompson is the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s Youth Development Officer.
More information on 'How to be a Close to Home Congregation', including this promotional video of the stories mentioned above, can be found here, where there are also guidance notes on how to use the video.
Each booklet costs £2 and DVDs are £3.50, including video downloads.
You can find out more about PCI’s Youth and Children’s ministry, here including downloadable resources, blogs by Graeme and information on forthcoming events.