The Indiana e-Christian

Youth and young adult groups from Central Christian Church in Lebanon combined to carry out three mission trips this summer.

Chi Rho youth from Central Christian in Lebanon bring down the walls of a house being razed in Neon, Ky.

A group of Chi Rho youth and their sponsors, 16 people in all, traveled to Neon, a community in southeastern Kentucky, from June 14 to June 20.  While there, the group worked with HOMES (Housing Oriented Ministries Established for Service), a non-profit organization that builds and repairs houses for low income families living the Neon area.

The group’s task for the week was to demolish one of two houses in such bad repair that they were creating a health and safety issue for the surrounding neighbors.  It was the hope of the HOMES staff that after the two homes were demolished and the lots were cleared that the town would use the ground for a community playground.

What at first seemed to be an overwhelming task was accomplished as the group’s skills, confidence and determination increased.  By the end of the week, the youth had made so much progress that they were split into two groups, with one group returning to finish work on the house and another group assigned to help pour footers for a new home being built.

A group of 13 CYF youth and sponsors traveled to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to work from June 21-27.  Hosted by First Presbyterian Church, the group spent the week working on a Habitat for Humanity build.  Although it was was first Habitat build for most of the group, they worked diligently with the Habitat staff and local volunteers to take a house from a slab foundation to locked with windows and doors in less than five days.  The workers from Central even had time to share an evening meal with their sister congregation, Central Christian Church, in Murfreesboro.

Then, during the week of August 2-8, seven young adults traveled to Kent County, Mich., near Grand Rapids, to work with Habitat for Humanity there.  Hosted by Wyoming Park United Methodist Church, the group spent its first day working at the Habitat ReStore, where local builders and stores can donate surplus building and decorating supplies.

The rest of the week they worked at two houses being renovated for Habitat-qualifying families. These are houses that are too good to tear down and just need some TLC to once again be livable and bring pride to the neighborhood. Most of the work involved preparing and painting walls and woodwork, doing small repairs to windows and doors, cleaning, and helping make lists of those things that still need to be completed.

The youth and young adults of Central Christian Church, Lebanon, demonstrated their ability to rise to a challenge and their commitment to giving of themselves to benefit others.

In many ways, Central Christian Church, Indianapolis, is much like many other Disciples congregations. The lectionary is followed. The building is old and the organ is grand. Young children haven’t quite mastered the art of walking slowly and quietly as they proceed to Worship & Wonder.

Despite other similarities, Central Christian has just concluded its first program year as one of only three in the Indiana Region to proclaim their congregation to be Open and Affirming, making a public commitment that persons of all sexual orientations are welcome in the full life and ministry of the church.

The congregation’s membership has included gay and lesbian members for two decades, but it took as many years of conversation and study, a formal discernment process, a new Mission Statement and a Welcome Statement to reach the point of taking a public position.

The formal discernment process began in 2003, as 70 members of the church met in groups of 10-12.  However, it was not until March of 2007 that the congregation began holding “circles of inquiry” about becoming open and affirming.  A Welcome Statement approved in the spring of 2008 affirmed the diversity of the congregation, and the Board voted in favor of proclaiming Central to be an open and affirming congregation in September 2008.

Elder Kerry Armstrong, reflecting on the process, observes that Disciples belief and practice have traditionally been at odds. “We claim the Table is open,” he says, adding, “We declare the invitation is by God and not the church. But, still we draw a circle around the Table and say some are not worthy.”

Fortunately, this tension can be resolved, he adds, through “a long process of living out our journeys of faith – both gay and straight – openly and honestly.” Based on his experience at Central, Armstrong suggests that when “a church shares ministry and struggles together with hard questions, stereotypes and misconceptions about ‘the other’ disappear.”

The congregation’s Mission Statement also calls upon the congregation to “extend God’s boundless hospitality to all.” Central continues to find that to seek to welcome in a way that reflects the fullness of God’s love can be challenging, but rewarding.

Central Christian Church in Connersville received $10,000 from a FEMA grant that the church will be using to help keep people in their homes during the year.

The church had already responded to needs in its community, which has struggled economically for several years. During his interim ministry with the church, Dick Moore provided a portion of his own salary to be given to people who called for help. Fred and Georgia Lucas, members of the congregation, fielded calls and helped people.

After the arrival of Alan Terlep as senior minister, the board voted in January to provide $1,500 for this program.

Three months later, the church has helped dozens of people with rent, utilities, and other basic needs, and the gifts of congregation members have covered the full cost of the program so far. In addition to providing financial assistance, the church has followed up with recipients to make sure that they are able to find more long-term stability.

They have also been able to offer spiritual and emotional support. As a result, Central Christian is establishing long-term relationships and seeing some of the people they have helped in church.

The church applied for $9,000 after discovering that FEMA had a program to provide money for such emergency needs. Sandy Peters, the church’s newest member, put together the application.

When the funding committee received the report and saw the congregation’s commitment to provide long-term support for people to stem off the need for emergency help on an extended basis, FEMA decided to give the church more money than requested.

Central Christian is now recruiting a team of people to provide assistance, follow up, and address any spiritual and physical needs.

Pastor Alan Terlep notes that these emergency funding programs exist in every county. Churches interested in launching a similar program can call Central Christian Church for more information.