Being mission-minded

There is a fervor (captured in books like "Facing East") in building a mission that invigorates those in the mission and attracts the interest of friends, families, and passers-by. The mix of passion, novelty, and purpose coalesce into a heady brew where the Great Commission is placed front and center. In strong parishes this desire to spread the Good News (ευαγγέλιον) is maintained and fostered by the clergy - an emphasis is placed on orthodox practice, continual catechesis, and a life lived in faith both inside and outside the church.

Another path is more prevalent. It is common to see a mission built of "founding families" who worked hard to find a property, find people, and fill it with the accoutrements necessary to perform the rites of the Church. After some time passes certain things particular to the location are considered unmovable foundations of the parish (turning tradition into Tradition it might be said). Things like specific icons placed on certain walls never to be moved, certain families sitting or standing at the same spot every Sunday, songs are chanted at a certain pace or always in the same tone, ethnic practices from the Old Country are given almost religious significance. New people, once welcomed for their skills, funds, or mere presence are now judged against an invisible but palpable checklist. The casual observer can watch as the old-timers confirm that icons are kissed in the proper order, a family's children are unladen with toys or food, the words chanted are the "correct" ones, etc. etc. In short, the identity developed in bringing people together is embalmed. It forms an inviolable crust difficult to penetrate, and once inside it becomes obvious that the body is empty and cobwebbed.

Many priests can attest to the eager catechumen or recently relocated family excited to explore and experience the wonders of the Faith; diving headlong into the church's activities, ready to volunteer, and open to spiritual growth. After a few months they've simply vanished. Where did they go? Why did they leave? Will they be back? The answer (that same priest will tell you) is probably not. Disillusioned by overly lofty expectations and the cynicism of those defending the status quo that family is continuing their search somewhere else or nowhere at all.

So how does a parish reclaim its mission? More bluntly, how does it make its reconversion to Christ, for it has undoubtedly turned away from His will.

1.	"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
2.	"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
3.	"You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4.	"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
5.	"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
6.	"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
7.	"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8.	"My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
9.	"Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
10.	"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
11.	"These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
12.	"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
13.	"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
14.	"You are My friends if you do what I command you.
15.	"No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
16.	"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.
17.	"This I command you, that you love one another.

The point being made here in relation to the parish is clear: Bear fruit or become desiccated and fit for kindling. But, with an entrenched group as yet unmotivated to change, how can the branch be retrained to live according to the designs of the vinedresser? That I'll leave for tomorrow's post.