Sitting high in the rafters of the Pavilion on May 4, I was heartened by the experience before me. Pastors from different churches reading Scripture in Spanish, Russian and English. Worship music from a talented-but-anonymous ensemble. More than 4,000 people clustering up for small-group prayer on behalf of the City, the neighborhoods, the naked, the hungry, the thirsty and the oppressed. No big names. No big bands. No big speakers. ‘The Gathering’ was a beautiful experience of unity and fellowship for all of Salem-Keizer. Among the laity and the clergy of our community, alike.
What a contrast to “the question.” It comes up often. “Who are the prominent pastors in Salem?” The question usually comes from some ministry outside of Salem who wants to ‘sell something’ to our churches. Sometimes, it comes from local folks who remember the 1970s and ‘80s, when there was a cluster of prominent pastors in town, including the venerable H.B. London at First Nazarene. During that era, a number of congregations in Salem-Keizer were experiencing growth under these dynamic pastors. The churches ran the spectrum from Protestant to Catholic, mainline to evangelical, downtown to suburban. There were two strong ministerial associations and it was common for clergy to be visible at Rotary, Kiwanis, the Chamber, and other civic groups. Those were heady times, to be sure. And the impact was great.
So whenever ‘the question’ arises, it’s an awkward moment. There is an answer, but it fails to answer the question. Or, I should say, the answer fails to satisfy the asker. That’s because there aren’t ‘prominent pastors’ today by the old definition. Salem-Keizer’s clergy are less visible in the public eye as compared to 20 or 30 years ago. And yet—I hope I don’t offend anyone—the Body of Christ in our community is having a much greater impact today. How can that be?
The big movement among churches in the ‘80s was “evangelism and growth.” Churches were breaking away from old traditions with new music, new buildings, and a new passion from the pulpit. A whole new generation of people were reached as the Church became relevant in the marketplace and seeker-friendly. People were eager to follow strong leaders with a strong message.
Over the years, the pendulum has swung to “evangelism and servanthood.” A whole new generation of people are being reached as the Church becomes relevant in the neighborhood. People are eager to embrace a theology of truth and grace, coupled with loving God and loving neighbor. Preaching the Gospel with our lips and our lives. Salem-Keizer is far healthier and far stronger than it would have been if the churches had stayed focused on verbal evangelism alone.
So, there are plenty of prominent pastors in our community. You just wouldn’t recognize most of their names. They lead committed congregations, small and large, that are quietly transforming lives and neighborhoods. It’s not high-profile, but it is high-impact. Lord, continue to call us together for prayer as you did at The Gathering on May 4. Likewise, continue to call us into loving our neighbor as self.
