Aspect #3: A Surprising Ability to Change

Aspect #3:
A Surprising Ability to Change

Grandview has a history of embracing change. We’ve had more name changes than the artist formerly known (and now re-known) as Prince. What began as Fourth Christian Church became Virginia Street Church of Christ became Virginia Street Christian Church became Grandview Christian Church.

We’ve never considered our building sacred. We met in a house at first, then the energetic young church built a building (by themselves ... in two days) on Virginia Street. That building is still in use by a church today. They added a fellowship building at some point (I’ve never seen a picture of that one). The city demolished that building when they built University Parkway. To compensate Grandview the city sold us the plot of ground we now occupy. We built the original sanctuary in 1975. The original sanctuary was essentially unfinished when they began using it. Carpet and pews came later. We still have people here who volunteered to hang drywall, paint, and do other things to cut costs (Bob Hall ... which one? Both!). In the 80s we added an education wing. Then, in 2004, the building took the shape we now enjoy (and continue to fund).

Grandview leaders weren’t just willing to change names, buildings, and locations, though. The most remarkable change came in the 80s when, under the ministry of Frank Smith, the church moved to accept women as full members of Grandview (meaning: women could hold any position that men could hold). That change is a tough one for a church to make. I wasn’t around here in those days and I don’t know much about how the change was received.

In the mid to late 90s the church allowed a change in they way we worship, adding more contemporary elements. I wasn’t around for that, either. I’ve heard differing stories from different folks on that process, how it unfolded, and what it meant.

A year and a half ago we added a new worship service called the Table. It felt like a bizarre experiment at first, but that change was well received and the service is doing very well, even when students aren't in town (thanks, Jeff Miller, for your leadership there!).

I don’t believe in change for the sake of change. Neither do I believe in staying the same for the sake of staying the same. If you drive around East Tennessee you will spot plenty of churches that decided change was an enemy. I mentioned yesterday that if leadership hadn’t made tough decisions in the past then Grandview would still be Virginia Street Church of Christ and most of us wouldn’t know each other. We wouldn’t have the missions budget we have now. We wouldn’t have Grand Central Station for the children. We wouldn’t be able to support Interfaith Hospitality Network at the level we do.

Here is the dirty little truth about change that some people avoid: Change will happen, no matter how hard we try to deny it. We can fool ourselves for a little while, but change will catch us. I used to hear that Dick Clark was the “ageless one” and that he never changed. Plastic surgery and youthful genetics made that description seem almost real. If you’ve seen him lately you know that age did catch him. Denying the aging process isn’t as healthy as recognizing it and “growing old gracefully.” The church you now enjoy as Grandview Christian Church will never be the same as it is today. The question isn’t, “Do we change?” but “How do we become more and more faithful to God?”

If we want to be a church that follows Jesus to places we haven’t yet been, a church that goes BEYOND where we are today, then we need to be open to the changes God might bring into our community. I believe the change that would make me the most uncomfortable right now would be the destabilizing jolt of an influx of people who are new Christians. People who don’t “get it” yet. Want to have some fun, Grandview? Reach out to people who don’t know Christ. Pick one. Get to know the person in need. Invite him or her into the community (not just to worship). If that “unstable” person has kids then the youth group’s equilibrium falls to pieces, your Sunday School class will have a very different conversation than normal, and the eyes with which you see Grandview and the importance of Christ will change in an instant.

Tomorrow's Post: Aspect #4
Communities Entangled