Sailboat Church

If you have visited churches or cathedrals in the Scandinavian countries you may have see a model ship hanging in the sanctuary or nave. Indeed, the word nave has its origins in the Latin word, navis, meaning ship. Being seafaring peoples, the Scandinavians easily grasped the image of the church as a ship for God’s people.

Sailboat Church by Joan Grey explores this image of the church as a ship. She suggests that there are two models: the rowboat church and the sailboat church. Row- boat churches operate with the assumption that progress depends on their own “strength, wisdom and re- sources.”

In contrast, sailboat churches “focus not on their own situation, resources, or limitations but rather on discerning God’s unfolding will.”  They cannot make the wind blow, but they can seek to catch the wind of the Holy Spirit. In the sailboat church the Holy Spirit provides the wind, the energy, to propel the ship.

“Sailboat churches,” says Grey, “live to partner with the Holy Spirit in what God wants to do for the world.”

We, the people of God, are the sailors. Sailors, of course, need to practice sailing, “a way of life that involves a committed, personal relationship with Jesus.” This involves practicing trust in God. It involves practicing prayer.

I emphasize the verb practice because all too often we reduce our faith to mere intellectual assent. Sailing is not merely agreeing to the idea that the wind exists. Sailing is about getting on the boat and learning how to raise the sails and catch the wind. Likewise, a faith in God is not merely agreement with the idea that God exists. Faith is a dynamic, growing, ever evolving relation- ship with God that involves a commitment to spiritual practice.

Being a sailboat church does not mean that the sun is always shining and the ocean is always calm. All con- gregations encounter stormy seas. Interpersonal conflict, disagreements about priori- ties, and financial challenges are just some of the storms a congregation may face. What distinguishes sailboat churches from other organizations are the skills they use to navigate these troubled waters, a living relationship with Jesus, rooted in prayer and obedience to God’s will.

This transition time is an opportune moment for us as a congregation to examine our model of church. Are we rowing or sailing? What is God’s purpose for us? In what direction are the winds of the Spirit blowing? What do we need to do or change or let go of to catch these winds?

In the months ahead, we will have opportunities to consider God’s purpose for this congregation. We have just finished the Church Assessment Tool (CAT) survey. We will have had an opportunity to hear Pr. Bob Driver- Bishop interpret for us what CAT results tell us about who we are and what sailing skills we may need to de- velop as we seek to sail into God’s future.

In the months ahead we will also face some stormy seas. Yet, these stormy seas can be opportunities for us to practice our sailing skills, deepen our trust in God and strengthen our prayer life.

I truly believe that God has placed this community of faith, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, here in Leesburg, Virginia for a purpose. So let’s discern that purpose, practice those sailing skills, and catch the wind of the Spirit together!