Last week I had a good conversation with an old college friend on the subject of Church. To be fair, there was a lot of venting and criticizing going down. This was because we both saw American Churches as primarily institutionalized religious organizations that are self-oriented clubs that have lost its capacity to be salt and light in the world because it favors majoring on the minors of doctrinal distinctions.
How distinct are we from the person and life of Jesus as seen in the gospels? Well, Derrick Weston suggests that churches are set up for the A,B,C’s, (focusing on Attendance, Buildings, and Cash). Hard to argue with that. With such energy focused on maintenance and self preservation, how does it affect our call to be the hands and feet of Jesus? How do we faithfully live with a Posture of Service, as Jesus did.
Published by Drew G. I. Hart, PhD
Rev. Dr. Drew G. I. Hart is an associate professor of theology at Messiah University and has 10 years of pastoral experience prior to teaching. He currently directs Messiah University's "Thriving Together: Congregations for Racial Justice" program and co-hosts Inverse Podcast with Jarrod McKenna, an award-winning peace activist from Australia. Hart is the author of Trouble I've Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism (2016) and Who Will Be A Witness?: Igniting Activism for God's Justice, Love, and Deliverance (2020). And he is also a co-editor and contributor to the recently published book entitled Reparations and the Theological Disciplines: Prophetic Voices for Remembrance, Reckoning, and Repair (Nov. 2023). Hart received bcmPEACE’s 2017 Peacemaker Award, the 2019 W.E.B. Du Bois Award in Harrisburg, PA, and most recently in December 2023 Life Esteem Ministries recognized him in Harrisburg with the Harambee Award for the Nguzo Saba Principle of Umoja—Unity for his faith-based activism and public scholarship in the community. Drew and his family live in Harrisburg, PA.
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Drew G. I. Hart 
That’s the question! I’ve struggled with that one, especially since I, having grown up with no denominational backing or tradition, at the height of the development of my progressive leanings, purposely chose a tradition/institution in which to become ordained.
I think asking the question itself, and admitting the struggle (pastors and churches), is part of the answer. If we’re pastors struggling with this, I think we have to invite our churches themselves along with us in that journey.
That requires a heaping helping of humility all around… and a whole lot of listening to needs, fears, and concerns.
This, along with a lot of prayer-filled discussions, can lead to some conversations about a) what forms the essential parts of this community, b) where are the places where we do not reflect the Kingdom, or do not support it, and c) what the real (not assumed) needs of the surrounding community are and how the church can partner with other churches to address those things.—All this, in turn, might open the door for a reformation in the church community.
My sense is that a) all community organizations eventually become institutionalized, over-structured, and focused on self-preservation, at some point…. and so b) every community should consider having a “reforming” process on regular basis, perhaps even every few years.
It’s all easier said than done, but for those like me choosing to work within the existing institution and call it to reform, there really isn’t any other option.
I like the idea of intentionally committing to a process of reformation every few years. We definitely need often and repetitive recalibration so that we keep other oriented rather than self oriented.