Be
a Church with a Vision
by Very Rev. Dr. Thomas Itty Corepiscopa
It is indeed a great joy to jot down few words for the Souvenir to be released on the occasion of the dedication of the new sanctuary of St. Mary's Church, Dallas. This is an occasion, which reminds all of us of our commitment and dedication to the Church. Also, it is an opportunity to look into the eventful past, evaluate the challenging present and plan for the promising future to the glory of God and only to the Glory of God.
Review the past: A look into the past will reveal how hard we worked for achieving this goal and the series of obstacles we overcame in the process. We will notice shortcomings and failures in our personal and congregational life while engaged in several activities to achieve the final goal. There would have been times and incidents which we would like not to remember for they were so unfortunate and had hurt so many hearts. Today is the time to review them and learn from the mistakes and to set the first step towards reconciliation with every one whom we have hurt in the past and to open the doors for everlasting accord.
Analyze the present: A new Sanctuary is undoubtedly something we can always feel proud of. It is like putting a permanent stamp of achievement on the face of this adapted culture of ours. More and more achievements like this will definitely help us to establish our heritage and identity in this second mother land of ours. But the present is not free of challenges and negative situations. But we must put our all efforts and energy to turn the negative situations into positive and rewarding situations. This is what we need to have and posses when analyzing the present.
Plan with a vision for the future: The benefit of proper planning was best proved at the birth of the new millennium. Years of planning and preparations to face the anticipated Y2K computer problem paid off well at the turn of the Century. The Y2K bug did not cause alarming distress to human race because of the long time planning years ahead. That is what we can do in our personal, congregational and family life. Church is a permanent entity and can definitely benefit from long term planning. In order for the Church to accomplish its primary purpose it should have a vision - A vision for the future and an untiring sense of devotion to accomplish that vision. I hope and pray that the new St. Mary's sanctuary will progress and proceed aiming at a spiritual vision. " Where there is no vision people perish" (Prov. 29:28)
Even though we engage into activities after proper analysis of past, present and planning for future there are occasions under which we feel ourselves straying from the primary purpose of Church. A Church shall be a place where the members can assemble to worship the living God in one spirit and soul and experience the omnipresence of omnipotent God. It shall provide an atmosphere where the faithful could come together and forget all the worries and tensions and experience the relaxation of spiritual sublime. Worshipping God and that alone shall be primary concern of Church.
We talk about Church, attend the worship services, offer our financial and moral support to the church activities. By being self justified by them we feel ourselves having a place in eternity reserved in spite of the deaf ears and blind eyes we have towards the cries of the world where a Christian church can do a lot. Often times we do not realize how far we are standing from our true Christian goal and vision. From my long time experience, personal and church related, I always have felt diversion of the individual parishes and Church as a whole from their primary call and purpose. Difference of opinion and vested interests over shadow the brightness of the Church in the parish, diocesan and universal level. The division and litigation in our home church in India is very unfortunate and painful with their negative influences even in this continent.
A study of the origin and growth of the American Archdiocese and its parishes will divulge the fact that most of the individual parishes of American Archdiocese came to existence first as a 'prayer gathering' during the late seventies. In a short while the active attendees at the so called 'prayer gatherings' got discontent of' 'prayer gatherings' alone to cater to their spiritual needs, transformed these 'prayer gatherings' into small parishes securing the service of a priest and making provisions for Holy Qurbana on regular intervals mostly in rented facilities. This was a step further in our exodus of spiritual growth.
Years passed by, our finance and commitment coupled with the divine graces and blessings the small parishes that functioned in rented facilities became owners of physical properties to conduct regular worship. It is an amazing history of growth in the course of a very short period. We have every reason to be proud of what we are and where we are. But are we proud of, how we are in our church?. a thought provoking question on this auspicious and blessed occasion.
The answer will candidly vary from person to person, parish to parish. When we analyze our church life, especially in America from the inception of our home parish until today we will notice an array of changes in the perspective, goal, administration, vision, and outlook and even the basic reason for the existence of the church. Day by day we could see situations leading to warring groups in parishes. To the best of my knowledge constructive criticisms and positive thinking shall always be allowed in the church with a positive future of the church in mind. Similarly, at any cost individual motives, self-destructive and divisive shall not be permitted in church atmosphere. Money, power, legal logistics or similar things shall not besmirch the primary purpose, vision and functioning of the church.
There is a story about a restaurant named 'Church of God Grill' listed in the telephone directory. A visiting Pastor at the local church, out of curiosity dialed the number and asked how they got that name. The answer was a summary of events from God and worship to money and business. They gathered to worship in the beginning. Later as a fund raising project they began to sell grilled chicken. Every body loved the chicken. In due course the profit and money outscored God and worship. Grilled chicken became important business. The sad conclusion is that, in the end they stopped the worship and continued to serve grilled chicken. But they kept the name "Church of God grill". Started with a prime purpose and intention later ending up as something frenzied and distant from the original theme and purpose.
Have you as a Christian deviated from its meaning and mission over the course of the time? Is your parish operating as a 'Church of God Grill' adding and subtracting, multiplying and dividing focusing only on the monetary aspect of the administration? If that is the case it is time for us for a change where we will recommit ourselves in the path of God receiving strength and spirit filled guidance to be well aware of our calling and purpose. We shall not let our church to be called, 'Church of God Grill.' Let the new edifice of the newly built church serve the spiritual needs of hundreds of families in their spiritual growth and continue to survive as a spiritual institution inhabited by spiritually united and divinely blessed and continuously praying congregation for many years to come. Let this joyous occasion of Church dedication be an occasion of self-assessment and recommitment.
Source: St. Mary's Church Dallas Souvenir 2000
