Renewal and Growth: A Church Being Reshaped for Mission

by Rev Scott Ballment

We are living through a significant season of change in the life of the Church. Such moments are more than organisational transitions; they invite us to pause, listen and discern what God might be doing among us.

At its heart, this is an opportunity to consider how the Church is being called to renewal, growth and deeper faithfulness to the mission of Christ.

The image of the Body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12 reminds us that the Church is one Body with many members, gifts and callings. The health of the Body does not depend upon every part looking the same, but upon its members being connected and contributing their gifts. (1 Cor 12:12,27  ¹²Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ…²⁷ you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it).

This invites us to ask not simply, “What are we losing?” but, “What might God be growing among us?”

The Uniting Church understands itself as a pilgrim people - continually journeying, listening and reforming under the Word of God. Scripture reminds us that God’s people are often called to leave what is familiar and step into what God is creating. Abraham journeyed into an unknown future. The disciples left familiar patterns to follow Jesus. At Pentecost, the Spirit created a new and diverse community.

Renewal requires a similar openness from us.

There are times when patterns and structures that have served the Church well need to be reconsidered. Faithfulness does not always mean preserving what has been. Sometimes faithfulness means having the courage to change so that we can participate more fully in God’s mission.

This is also an invitation to growth. Christian growth is more than numbers or organisational expansion. It is about becoming more deeply rooted in Christ and more fruitful in God’s mission. Jesus repeatedly used images of seeds, vines, branches and harvest to describe God’s kingdom. Growth often begins invisibly, as something new takes root.

Perhaps this is a season for new planting: nurturing discipleship, developing leaders, strengthening communities, engaging new generations and finding fresh ways to share the gospel.

Renewal also requires humility. Philippians 2 points us towards the self-emptying of Christ. Sometimes we must loosen our grip on what is familiar so that we can make room for what God is yet to do (Phil 2:3b-4  in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others).

Yet renewal must remain relational. Greater unity must never mean uniformity. The Church flourishes when different voices, communities and gifts are heard and valued. The Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 reminds us that unity was discovered through listening, discernment and openness to the Spirit (Acts 15:8-9  God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith).

Ultimately, renewal must serve mission. The Church exists not simply to maintain structures, but to worship God, make disciples, embody Christ’s love and participate in God’s transforming work in the world.

So perhaps the question before us is not, “How will the Church survive change?”

It is a more hopeful question:

“How might God use this season to renew the Church, deepen our life together and grow us for the mission of Christ?”

We can meet that invitation with prayer, humility, courage and hope - trusting that the Holy Spirit is still breathing new life into the Church.