Sermon Revelation 7:9-17

There is trouble this side of paradise. One of the elders asks John of Patmos a "loaded question"; that means, asking a question that you know the answer to, in order to make a point. The elder asks, "These who are arrayed in white robes, who are they, and where did they come from?" John at this point in his encounter with the Risen Christ, with angels, and with Heaven itself answers humbly, "My lord, you know. "These are those who came out of the great oppression. "

We'll get to "the great oppression" soon, however I wanted to focus on the elder. Who was he? The text doesn't say, this is one of the elders that sits closest to God's throne. One who has been faithful to the way of the lamb. One who is mature in faith and leadership. That is what the word "elder "means, "One mature enough in Christ to lead." We in the United Church, in the past, used the term "elder" for our leaders, and I, among others, believe it is time to bring it back.

Often churches think that what is most important in churches is that you have a "good minister", and I'd disagree. I'd disagree since, having observed dozens of congregations, I've concluded that the most important ingredient of a healthy church is a circle of mature and maturing leaders. These who, whether they know it or not, whether they are comfortable with the title or not, are ELDERS. Churches have different names for them, however in churches where there are a circle of person's mature and maturing in faith, united together with Christ at their centre, these are the strongest and most faithful churches.

While clergy come and go over the decades, often these elders stay and, if they are faithful, provide the roots necessary to ensure that when stormy times come, the church is not "blown away."

We in the United Church, to our folly, moved away from this idea of "eldership" due to problems we ran into many decades ago. We had been "ordaining" lifetime elders, as protestant churches had for hundreds of years, however in the last century many person's got into leadership not because of their maturity in faith, but just because they'd be in the church long enough. Or worse, in some cases, because the church needed to fill the position with "a warm body".

The bible has much to say about the kinds of people who should be the elders of the church, and that would include me. In the Presbyterian tradition, the minister is often called "the teaching elder". I like that, because it reminds the congregation that first, I am one elder amongst others. Leadership is a collective task. But also, that the church has entrusted numerous years of education, such that, I can faithfully teach Christian tradition as the "teaching elder".

Don't get me wrong, I am not discounting the place of clergy, but rather I am lifting up this role of elder since we in the United Church have forgotten that strong churches have a strong circle of leaders, with, not the minister at the centre, but God.

Eldership is important for any age, but especially for times of "great oppression". Some of you know about how when Christianity was an illegal religion during the first centuries that many Christians we "thrown to the lions." Literally. Rome was a successful but violent empire. While they did not have football games, they did have stadiums for their chariot races and gladiator fights. And during the half time entertainment they would excite the crowds with displays of "criminals" being eaten by lions. Sometimes these "criminals" were the ministers of churches.

And yet, the church during this time grew. It not only grew, it exploded! Why? Elders. Elders who would nurture new clergy leaders. Elders who would quietly and secretly have teaching programs and elders who would assist the poor thereby welcoming them into community. Elders who like strong bones provided the stability of churches throughout difficult times.

One of the reasons we in the United Church have been in decline over the past century is for lack of ENOUGH elders. Don't get me wrong, there have been elders in our church and others, but not ENOUGH faithful elders. Yes there has been people to do the work, but somewhere along the way, the place of the elder, as spiritual leader, became secondary.

In some churches it became lost. In my first church, only two of the 14 elders were engaged in Bible study. In fact, the chair of the board, did not even know that the last book of the bible was called "Revelation." I remember calling my oldest brother who hasn't gone to church since being a child and asking him what the last book in the bible was called. He replied, "Revelations, or something like that!" Close enough. And yet to my dismay, here was a group of elders who did not know the basics of the Christian faith leading their church into death. Yes they were busy with fundraising and other activities to "save" their dying church,but they did not have ears to hear when I told them that in order to "save" their church they needed take a year off and learn the bible. They thought I was a fool.

One wise minister I know, Bruce Sanguine, when asked to be the minister at Memorial United in Vancouver, said this, "I'll be your minister if everyone of the elders commits along with me to 1. Worship every Sunday. 2. Take or have taken a one year bible study course like "Disciple". 3. Tithes 5% of their income." All except three said "yes", and together they have become a strong and vibrant church; A church which, until the stumbling blocks were removed, had been on the list of dying churches.

Listen, the point of this sermon is not just to teach you about elders. Or to make past or existing elders of this church feel bad or guilty. It is to prepare you for the coming month and the decisions that we as a church are being asked to make by our elders.

Not just the Council but also by "the 50" of you that gathered to discern God's will for the coming years in New Westminister. Make no mistake, the decisions made in the next few months will shape the direction of the United Church in New Westminster for the next 50 years, if not the next couple hundred. We live in a time of decision and a time to act boldly.

I think the Visioning Team has faithfully discerned a godly vision. In deed, it is the strongest statement on Christian discipleship I've seen in the United Church!. Iit emphasizes the Bible in a way which includes a variety of perspective while lifting it up as a central authoriy; everyone in our new United Church will be expected to know the Bible, especially the elders. And there is more, hospitality to a variety of different people, loving the poor, sharing in strong Christian community, providing leaders with the resources they need to lead excellent worship and strong outreach. We are being called to a much more committed and vibrant form of being the United Church.

Yes, it is painful that Shiloh and Queens will close their buildings, yet Jesus said, "You must lose your life to find it." You see, we are not dishonouring past elders by moving to 6th Ave. Yes, there has been blood sweat and tears put into this building, but only for the purpose of building a strong and faithful community centred in the way of Jesus Christ. If we are moving to 6th Ave. in order to fulfill that purpose, and I think we are, then we honour past elders by doing what we need to do in order to be faithful. They have moved in the past, from Queens to form Keery Street. From Keery Street to build at Shiloh, and now from Shiloh to join with 6th Ave. Moving and changing with the times IS part of the United Church of New Westminter. And I trust God that in time, out of a vigrant 6th Ave will come new churches in New Westminister!

Listen, the United Church of New Westminister, is not dying by closing two buildings, on the contrary, we are moving towards a new vision of the church which is centred on Christ, which is centred on strong discipleship, which is centred on welcoming the stranger, which is centred on loving the poor, which is centred in building a strong community of elders willing to commit their lives to the purposes of Christ in this time and this place. What looks like death, is not death, but rather it is new life.

But some in our church don't see things that way. While here at Shiloh there has been grief and even some anger at the idea that we will lose our building, you've shown such a level of Christian maturity that has impressed me. You are willing to trust the elders of the church who over a number of weekends prayerfully and painfully came to the conclusion that life for our United Church requires that we let go of a lot of things that we treasure; Our buildings and the memories that they contain and a lot of familiarity. You are willing to let these things go in favour of a vision centred on Christ and providing a vibrant mission in New Westminister. You are carrying this cross well.

And yet, some of you know that a group at Queens has formed to oppose the vision and to oppose the closing of Queens Ave United Church. They have been engaging in hostile behaviour at meetings in order to discredit our church Council, discredit the Leadership Team and the 50 from all sites who discerned the vision and the brave enough to support moving to one site. They even circulated an anonomous document which said mean things about all three of the clergy in New Westminster. A document which has been forward to our Presbytery for their discipline. One of their leaders, even has stated that they intend to put forward a motion of "non-confidence" in the Council. Presbytery will reject it so there their actions have no power other than to upset people, however I want to let you know what is happening. They intend to pass motions to change the visions, to change the decisions of the church leadership. And while they have a right to do this, they are doing these things in a way which dismays me.

Now, I don't usually bring these church trouble issues into sermons in such a frank manner, except I have today because of the present need and because of today's text. Today's text which is a call to discipleship, a call to eldership, and a call to stand firm in the ways of Jesus Christ, even in the face of oppression. While we face no personal danger, the events of the coming months are going to be unpleasant. I told this to one young woman at 6th ave who was tempted to not go to the meeting last week. I told her, "These people may be unpleasant, but you are not in physical danger."

There is a real danger though. Danger that, we who see a way forward will be defeated not by a few angry people, but twarted by the temptation to "just avoid the unpleasantness" of an angry group who's vision (as far as I can discern) is to keep their church open so they can have a cathedral and organ music. We are in danger of letting fear of unpleasantness set the agenda for our United Church, rather than letting the discernment of our church elders guide us. If we do nothing, if we don't show up, if we don't speak up, if we don't trust, then we are saying that this group who's vision is little more than saving their cathedral and their organ, set Christ's agenda for the United Church of New Westminster. And if that happened, what I tragedy.

So today is a call for you to be faithful to the eldership of this church. To be faithful to the eldership really of three churches. Of those Queen's people who were bold enough to see that faithfulness to God's future requires them letting go of a lot. Of the Shiloh folks, who although there were merits in coming to Shiloh, chose to let go in favour of 6th Ave (a church rooted in the centre and poorer part of the city) and of course the 6th Ave. elders, who are willing to welcome a whole lot of new people and embrace the transitions and changes that this will mean for them.

Not only come to the meetings but support this vision verbally. There is no need to fight the "Save Queens" group, we need only speak to the positive future that Christ is calling us into. Good visions have a power of their own. Indeed, this godly vision is ALREADY calling us into God's future and God's dream for us. I can feel it in the existing leadership and the emerging elders. They need you, and Christ needs you now to stand with the future that your elders have discerned. Yes, there is much that is uncertain, however if everything was certain there would be no place for faith. And I have faith that if you trust in Christ to guide you, if you are willing to let go of anything blocking the way forward, if you are willing to stand by the discernment of your elders, good things are sure to happen. Indeed, for those who trust in God, all things are possible.

For the elder said, "These are those who came out of the great oppression. They washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb`s blood.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, they serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.
16 They will never be hungry, neither thirsty any more; neither will the sun beat on them, nor any heat;
17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to living springs of waters. God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

On the other side of the current church turmoil, a new future aways us as a church, let us be bold in walking into the future were God will bless us. On May 16th, I call upon all of you, young people included, to come to the meeting. Come and be heard.