Introduction
A few months ago, I wrote an editorial about the problems and challenges faced by those moving into physical isolation. Since then, there has been a follow-up article by a brother who, with his family, lives not only in a foreign land, but several hundred miles away from the only ecclesia in his country. There have also been several who have pointed out that it is quite possible to be in isolation, despite being members located geographically close to their Christadelphian ecclesia.
Most of Christendom attends churches, which are led by (usually) full time professional ministers. For many of the attenders of this type of congregations, their involvement is confined to a largely passive attendance of services on Sundays. Christadelphians, by their continuing use of a “lay ministry”, are commonly much more involved in their ecclesia. But this is not universal. There are at least two situations where isolation is common, despite being members of a local ecclesia:
- Sometimes the ecclesia is too large to involve any but a fairly small number of the members. This can result in a number of the ecclesia being only marginal members, by design or accident.
- Some ecclesias, although not particularly large, are so dominated by a few extended families that “outsiders” can feel isolated from the doings of these larger groups.
Large Ecclesias
These are not common in North America. Only about seven ecclesias have one hundred members or more, and none exceed about 150. This contrasts with the situation in both England and Australia, where there are a number of ecclesias numbering in the hundreds. For a time, I lived in Birmingham, England, and occasionally attended Birmingham Central, which at the time had about 1,500 members, with about 1,300 present most Sunday Memorials. This ecclesia has since closed, with most migrating to ecclesias in the suburbs, but it was then most impressive to look down from the balcony on the ranks of suited and hatted members — but knowing very few indeed. Nor was the welcome warm, so I soon joined a much smaller ecclesia. I did have several conversations with the recording brother, whose tasks and problems were quite unlike those of any other in that capacity that I have known. He acknowledged that regretfully many in the meeting were passive Sunday Morning attendees, whose absence could easily pass un-noticed, and whose attachment was minimal. Various attempts were made to overcome this problem, mainly by focusing on small geographic satellite Bible classes, etc. You can indirectly see the results of these efforts by the proliferation of other ecclesias in the surrounding areas. Although the Central Ecclesia closed in 2007, the total number of ecclesias in the metro area has changed little.
But this problem does exist on this continent, although not to the extent seen in the case of Birmingham Central in its heyday. Large ecclesias tend to develop factions, it being quite difficult to get to know everybody. We naturally tend to associate with those we know well, and the result is that newcomers, whether newly baptized or newly transferred, often find it difficult to “break in.” Thus their association with the ecclesia can be somewhat tangential, and thus full commitment is made more difficult, although not impossible.
I can recount myself somewhat disturbing episodes along these lines, both on this continent and in England. I have moved locations quite a few times, and on occasion have attended meetings with my family in areas remote from my home. I enter the meeting with my family, being clearly associated with the Christadelphians. (Who else have their wives with hats, carry Christadelphian hymn books, and carry large Bibles in leather cases?) And not only were we not asked which was our home ecclesia, but no-one, either before or after the meeting, talked to anyone in my family. It was also almost impossible for me to initiate conversation, because everyone was busily chatting with their friends. Thus are the ways of at least a few of the larger ecclesias. Not that this is common — I have been warmly welcomed in many other large ecclesias. But it has happened to me, so it probably has happened to others.
Family Dominated Ecclesias
Some ecclesias, by their very “DNA”, are hospitable. If a visitor comes, they are welcomed warmly, and commonly invited to lunch by any of a number of members. This tradition continues if they move into the area and join the ecclesia. Not just one or two members, but almost everyone is hospitable. And if an “outsider” is baptized, the same warm hospitable welcome is extended, and the new member soon feels part of the true extended family, that of the family of Christ.
Other ecclesias are much more inwardly focused. The extended families of the members have so much to discuss that, unintentionally, they tend to exclude anyone not in their family. And in some such ecclesias, the tendency is to scatter shortly after the end of meeting, with many going for lunch at their customary locations, leaving the strangers and non-family members to fend for themselves. In others, although many might linger, there are relatively few offers of hospitality. All these characteristics are quite innocent, and the members would be astonished if they were told their actions lacked the sort of hospitality expected by the New Testament injunctions to “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Heb 13:2). It is more a matter of innocent involvement with other matters, and the whole focus of the meeting being inward looking.
The Result
In both these two types of ecclesias, it is quite easy to be in effective isolation, even though you might be able to attend a “local” ecclesia. So what can be done to solve this problem? Perhaps, on this continent, there are few that create major problems by their very size. But on this matter of size, this problem does not appear to have been common in the first century. And the reason for this is probably simple: most early ecclesias met in homes, which by their very nature restricted their size. When Paul wrote “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints” (Rom 1:7), it is clear from the salutations in Romans 16 that there were many “house churches (or ecclesias)” in that city. The situation might have been different in Corinth, for Paul, again in Romans, speaks of “Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you” (Rom 16:23). Gaius appears to have been the host of the whole church at Corinth: who knows, perhaps this means the very size of this ecclesia was one of the factors for the many problems in the Ecclesia at Corinth.
However, whatever the cause, there is no doubt isolation does occur. It is perhaps even more common for those who join ecclesias, not having been associated with the Christadelphians much before baptism. There is a whole set of cultural norms and expectations which are accepted in our ecclesias, but can be quite strange to those without a long term association. Few newcomers are aware of the way a typical ecclesia is organized, and they can be quite ignorant of the function of our serving (or arranging) brethren. The easy assumption that every male member is quite comfortable reading the Scriptures, offering public prayers, presiding, or speaking is, in at least some cases, quite incorrect.
As I have stressed, any such isolation is almost always quite unintentional. Any ecclesia would claim they are extremely warm and welcoming both to strangers, new members, and those who have transferred. Any perceived isolation or estrangement is not the way any ecclesia likes, expects, or intends to operate, but such situations do exist, perhaps more widely than many realize.
Solutions1
In both types of ecclesias, the large or the family-dominated, it is possible to be in perceived isolation. So what can be done to ensure that these situations are minimized, or removed? These are a few suggestions: many more can be made.
- New members (whether newly baptized or newly transferred) should have a meeting member (or family) mentor them, unless such members are aware, by previous proximity or family connections, of the inner workings of the ecclesia. It is particularly important to ensure they are integrated into the social aspects of the ecclesia, as this is the way strong bonds are established.
- Newly baptized members, particularly those not brought up in a Christadelphian family, need special consideration. A serving (or arranging) brother should meet with them in an informal way to let them know how the meeting is organized, the function of the board, and any expectations of the meeting in the way of expected involvement, etc.
- For any brother who might be expected to preside or exhort, the expectations, requirements, and protocol to be followed should be explained. In many cases, brethren are put on the schedule almost casually, which can be quite frightening to the initiated. And public prayer is quite hard for many newly baptized. In former times, mutual improvement classes were the norm, which gives the opportunity for practicing such activities in a non-public and helpful format. These have almost totally disappeared, but the void needs to be filled. And we should point out there is no problem about writing out public prayers ahead of time!
- Despite its acknowledged problems, the use of the Internet to enable contacts with others can form part of the methods of alleviating isolation. The knowledge that the community is much larger, and perhaps more diverse, than the local ecclesia is often helpful. It is unhelpful to exist in an isolated cocoon. As I have pointed out before, there is also a vast trove of useful Bible talks and exhortations available for free on many Christadelphian websites. New members should be encouraged to help in other ways: being a tutor at such sites as thisisyourbible.com is suggested.
- All members, especially newly baptized, should be encouraged to attend Bible Schools and like activities. These are essentially the glue that holds the fabric of our North American community together, especially among the young people. And if any are financially unable to afford them, every effort should be, and often is, made to ensure this is not a hindrance.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One