Yoyos and mainline churches
What centripetal and centrifugal forces can teach us about church.
Imagine spinning a yoyo around your head.
First, in this imaginary scenario, make sure you've got plenty of space around you so as to not hurt someone else or something else!
Second, consider the science that makes such a thing possible.
I'm not a scientist, but as I understand it, there are two competing forces at play. Centrifugal force is acting to keep the yoyo spinning outward to keep the spin from collapsing in on itself, while centripetal force is acting to keep the yoyo from flying off. (And, if my science isn't perfect, I heard this illustration on another podcast).
In short, Centripetal force is defined as, "the force that is necessary to keep an object moving in a curved path and that is directed inward toward the center of rotation," while centrifugal force is defined as "the apparent force that is felt by an object moving in a curved path that acts outwardly away from the center of rotation," according to Merriam Webster Dictionary.
What do centripetal and centrifugal forces have to do with church?
Recently I was talking with a fellow mainline pastor who was bemoaning what is increasingly asked of pastors by mainline demonsĀ in order to maintain the denominational institution. This pastor felt that denominations were asking to much of their pastors, to the point that it was taking away from their ministry in their local church/ministry contexts.
Certainly, the decline of mainline churches isn't news to anyone who has been paying attention. And, unsurprisingly, as mainline denoms continue to find themselves with less and less resources to work with (money to pay staff), they tap into pastoral leaders to help bridge the gaps.
I was thinking about this scenario in terms of centripetal and centrifugal forces. I'm not a church historian, though I have taken two different denominational history and polity classes. That being said, I think it's fair to say that denominations formed at least somewhat around the idea of mission and evangelism. And while many within mainline churches would have a different perspective on what mission and evangelism should look like today, the point is that denominations often formed due to centrifugal forces--they wanted the message (or the yoyo in my analogy) to go farther out, to spread.
Today, I can't help but notice centripetal forces overtaking so many mainline churches as traditions, norms, institutions, status quo, etc, sort of act to essentially pull the yoyo (or the message!) back in closer. Denominations almost cannibalize themselves in a way as they devote more and more resources (people are a resource!) into maintaining the institution (keeping it together/centripetal force) as opposed to investing into being willing to sort of "let go" and see where centrifugal force takes us.
In another conversation with a mainline pastor, I was told this pastor had basically given up trying to "officially" get their church into the denomination because the existing structures were too rigid and inflexible--in short--the denomination was more obsessed with maintaining a denominational purity (again, centripetal forces), than letting go of some control to see where the Spirit might take them (centrifugal forces).
I know this is very much a generalization, but as a relatively new "convert" to mainline church, I'm regularly befuddled by pastors and clergy who brag about how many generations their family goes back in the denomination. This is going to sound harsh, but who cares!? Maybe it's because I'm not a life-long (insert denomination) but...
Do we really think the unchurched family really cares how long so-and-so pastor's family has been a part of whatever mainline denomination?
Do we really think the ex-vangelical is really obsessing over finer points of denominational history before committing to our churches?
Do we really think the average self-proclaimed Christian would even know the difference between the Church of Christ and the United Church of Christ? (sorry to name names--but they don't!)
I'm not saying there aren't passionate and visionary leaders in mainline denominations, but for as long as the mainline focus is one "holding it together" (centripetal forces) vs. "letting to and letting it spread" (centrifugal forces), I think mainline churches will continue to struggle.
While I'll always believe in the importance of accountability and ethics (centripetal forces), I believe we have got to be willing to let things go and let our message spread.