Churches today face extraordinary challenges to do ministry and give witness to the love of Christ. Among the challenges are the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the conversations regarding racial justice.
Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball said the challenges should not stop the church from being about the work of Jesus Christ. She said, instead, the challenges call for the church to continue its mission of being hope bringers to the people of West Virginia and the world.
“We can be hope bringers in the midst of the challenges because hope bringers help people take the first step into a new and transformed life,” she said.
Bishop Steiner Ball gave the call during a unique prerecorded State of the Church address, which was more of a conversation between herself and Rev. Dr. Joe Kenaston, district superintendent of the Southern District and dean of the cabinet. It was aired on Aug. 2 as part of the Celebration of Ministry in which the two discussed how the conference is rising to meet the challenges before it today. The conversation was interposed throughout the evening, which also included recognition of ministry, the lay leader address, and an update on the legislative session vote totals.
“The future of mission and ministry in the West Virginia Conference is bright,” Bishop Steiner Ball said. “Jesus Christ turns things around (and) gives us hope.”
Both offered examples of where they have seen hope take place throughout the Conference during the current pandemic. One specific way was how churches have responded to the coronavirus by being creative in expressing ministry in a new way, so as to love their neighbor. Bishop Steiner Ball said she has been amazed at the creativity shown by churches in how they have transitioned into new expressions of worship.
“I’m extremely proud of how our churches have taken on the commandment to love one another and to love thy neighbor,” Kenaston said. “It hasn’t been easy.”
That work, the bishop said, has led to the message of Jesus Christ being shared “more broadly.” She said the church is reaching more people during this time.
“This pandemic has caused us to stop and notice that God is doing a new thing,” she said.
Bishop Steiner Ball and Kenaston also celebrated how mission agencies, campus ministries and Spring Heights have transitioned their ministry to respond to this time. Many have moved their ministry onto an online or other interactive format.
“Our churches are open and they have never been closed,” Bishop Steiner Ball said.
The conversation also touched upon the conversations regarding racial injustice. They recognized the challenges facing the nation in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death and the continued inequality in our nation. Bishop Steiner Ball said much of this has come to the surface as a result of Covid-19, because the pandemic has revealed the inadequacy of health care within the minority community.
“The inequity between people has been lifted again,” Bishop Steiner Ball said. “People are hurting. People are grieving.”
Kenaston said he has been reading “White Fragility” to help him work through conversations about racial injustice. This has been part of a Wednesday book study with the clergy of the Southern District. Bishop Steiner Ball said she has been reading “How to Be an Anti-Racist.”
The bishop also announced an upcoming project she is involved in with three former West Virginia Annual Conference bishops — William Grove, S. Clifton Ives, and Ernest Lyght — on the topic of racism. In what she described as a series of conversations from the porch, Bishop Steiner Ball said the project will focus on racism within West Virginia and how to help churches have conversations about race in their local context. The impetus for this project was conversations all four were having about racism. It is intended for a fall release.
“They are rich conversations that we are having,” Bishop Steiner Ball said. The Bishop and Kenaston said they realize that many of the challenges they talked about will not go away overnight. The challenges will be with the church for some time and will require the church to respond faithfully. “I am thankful for the partnership and the connection that we have with each other,” Bishop Steiner Ball said.