Disrupting the status quo

The Rev Ruth Kennedy highlights the importance of change in creating new life and growth.

WHETHER we are starting something new, or renewing what has ‘gone to sleep’, or developing what exists, it all involves disrupting the status quo.

Growing always means moving or changing from where we are presently into a new or different place; that could be spiritual and our faith, it might be ministries within our churches, etc.

Consider teenagers. They are brilliant at helping us understand growth and new eras in life; a 13-year-old is quite different in every conceivable way from a 19-yearold. They wonderfully disrupt the patterns of life to bring growth in family and church life, on from and adding to what has been established in childhood; gradually and in bursts too. And we certainly don’t remain in our teenage years, do we? No matter how much we try! We unsettle the life rhythms of teenage years as we develop.

New life and growth bring intrusions but for good reason.

Surely the resurrection and the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ did this too?

Disrupting the flow of control with the religious rulers, disturbing the places of healing and worship no longer contained to specific wells or a Temple, agitating the unsaid social and cultural norms, even personal beliefs to establish the new covenant, new eternal life in Christ alone.

“ Celebrating Easter and living in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus reminds us of the seeds God has planted in us, ready to be disrupted into growth and give signs of new life.

Twenty-first century teenagers grow up with the digital integrated with their world, that is the norm for most. For those of us who grew out of our teenage years some time ago we can look to them for help adapting to the digital disruption. Many of us have and are fully or partially engaged with digital ministry. Integrating young people with the fullness of Church brings wonderful new life as we embrace being an intergenerational church. There is a reciprocal flow of disturbing what needs to grow across the generations.

And then we need to make the next step; how do we grow from listening to God and others to nurturing new worshipping communities, digital ministries or revitalising worship and ministries?

Fresh Expressions offers a very helpful six step journey when we consider disrupting the status quo to develop a ‘new thing’. Grounded in prayer, continually listening to God, and healthy relationships with the wider Church the model can assist by directing our steps to growth. https://freshexpressions.org.uk/the-freshexpressions-journey

Vital to this, is listening to those you are in contact with not just imitating what others are doing. If your community would love to hear what a sermon is about, a 90 second Instagram reel is super for this, often prepared after the sermon so the sermon isn’t about crafting a 90 second soundbite!

Celebrating Easter and living in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus reminds us of the seeds God has planted in us, ready to be disrupted into growth and give signs of new life. God’s agitations bring joy, enjoy the life they bring! Matthew 28:9 . . .Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!”

The Rev Ruth Kennedy is Digital Ministries Advisor with the Church of Scotland.