In times of transition in the church, questions about the future of the church’s mission are in everyone’s mind and they cause some distress when hope is overwhelmed by fears of the church’s demise. I believe that the transition is a Kairos moment when we recognize the opportunity for new life in the church’s mission.
In Paul’s ministry, he began his ministry in many communities and then moved to new communities. Paul recognized that his ministry was not permanent. That is, he did not stay with the community. But he moved on with a confidence in God’s work continuing through the ministry of the community.
(Phil 1:3-6 NIV) I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Paul affirmed that the ministry of the community as a partnership between the members of the community and a partnership with God enables the ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ to continue through times of transition.
Paul also assured the Philippians that during times of transition, we can be assured of the Faithfulness of God when he wrote that [the one] “who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion
I believe that the challenge of transition we face is a Kairos moment in the life of the church. Kairos is a moment of new awareness and an urgency to act.
Theme of the 41st General Council was based on Micah 6:8:
And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly (do justice) and to love mercy (kindness) and to walk humbly with your God.
What does it mean to do justice in the context of the church’s global mission today – such as in regard to the human rights violations of Palestinians, or the struggle of El Salvadorans against the mining operations that are affecting life in the small country?
I have been re-reading Melanie Morrison’s book, “The Grace of Coming Home”
In the chapter entitled, In This Kairos Moment (p. 66-74) she describes the experience of the women at the empty tomb as a Kairos moment. She said, “Why have you come here?” was not a reprimand. It was a moment of realization that the perceived resurrection was not about Jesus but about the women choosing life with the knowledge that the same power that Jesus lived with was available to them.
Morrison describes the moment in El Salvador when the people were forbidden by the government from attending the funeral mass of Marienella Garcia , director of Human Rights Commission. In spite of the prohibition and high security, the peasants she had helped came at great risk to attend the funeral mass – and later that night the soldiers raided their homes.
The voices of the poor and oppressed around the world are calling us to respond to the Kairos of our times. Our response to the present Kairos moment is a ministry of partnership in making justice a priority with the assurance of the faithfulness of God.
(This reflection was given during the Chaplain’s Reflection to Kent Presbytery on February 5, 2013.)