Reimagining Church

Thriving Congregations Initiative: New Models for the 21st Century

Facilitator for St. Francis Episcopal Church

Phoebe Oler

My name is Phoebe Oler. I am a faithful Christian, who was a faithful Christian long before she wanted to admit it to herself, let alone the world. I found salvation in the particularity of the Episcopal Church, most especially in its musical tradition and liturgy. I struggled with the creeds and the seemingly passionless declaration of faith I witnessed every Sunday growing up, but I did love the consistency. I loved knowing exactly what to do and when. Like many humans, I found comfort in the rhythm of familiarity and repetition.

It was within that weekly repetition that I was able to wrestle with my faith and my affiliation with the Church. And it was within my self-expression through music that I was able to develop a deep spirituality.

It is precisely the tradition I love that can be very off putting for a lot of people. Tradition can feel rigid and archaic, especially in this modern age full of innovation, newness, and fluidity at every corner. And yet, I am convinced that it is precisely a little tradition and structure that we all need to feel grounded in our reality of rapid communication and information accessibility.

I don’t think tradition or particularity need be lost in order to be inclusive to all. In fact, I think remaining authentic and true to one’s identity is the most welcoming posture. We can’t be all things to everyone, but we can be ourselves to everyone. I believe Christ calls us to be grounded in our uniqueness, so that our love for others is not because we are the same, but because we are different.

I think this will be the greatest challenge for Episcopal Churches in the 21st century. How do we stay firm in our uniqueness in the face of rejection? Despite decreasing Sunday attendance? Where do we need to bend tradition to accommodate the new age and where do we need to stay firm?

These are just some of the questions that are driving me to think more deeply about reimagining church for the 21st century.

I am excited to explore these questions with St. Francis Church, where tradition meets innovation in worship and community engagement. St. Francis is not just a church for Episcopalians, or Christians, but a Church for people of varying denominations and faith backgrounds. It does not claim to be everything for everyone, but an Episcopal Church that is open to all. I am thrilled to be working with St. Francis Church in Stamford because of its vibrant and faithful parishioners, its dedicated priest and lay leaders, and its commitment to ecumenical and interfaith engagement. 

My name is Phoebe Oler. I am a faithful Christian, who was a faithful Christian long before she wanted to admit it to herself, let alone the world. I found salvation in the particularity of the Episcopal Church, most especially in its musical tradition and liturgy. I struggled with the creeds and the seemingly passionless declaration of faith I witnessed every Sunday growing up, but I did love the consistency. I loved knowing exactly what to do and when. Like many humans, I found comfort in the rhythm of familiarity and repetition. 

 
It was within that weekly repetition that I was able to wrestle with my faith and my affiliation with the Church. And it was within my self-expression through music that I was able to develop a deep spirituality. 
 
It is precisely the tradition I love that can be very off putting for a lot of people. Tradition can feel rigid and archaic, especially in this modern age full of innovation, newness, and fluidity at every corner. And yet, I am convinced that it is precisely a little tradition and structure that we all need to feel grounded in our reality of rapid communication and information accessibility. 
 
I don’t think tradition or particularity need be lost in order to be inclusive to all. In fact, I think remaining authentic and true to one’s identity is the most welcoming posture. We can’t be all things to everyone, but we can be ourselves to everyone. I believe Christ calls us to be grounded in our uniqueness, so that our love for others is not because we are the same, but because we are different.
 
I think this will be the greatest challenge for Episcopal Churches in the 21st century. How do we stay firm in our uniqueness in the face of rejection? Despite decreasing Sunday attendance? Where do we need to bend tradition to accommodate the new age and where do we need to stay firm? 
These are just some of the questions that are driving me to think more deeply about reimagining church for the 21st century. 
 
I am excited to explore these questions with St. Francis Church, where tradition meets innovation in worship and community engagement. St. Francis is not just a church for Episcopalians, or Christians, but a Church for people of varying denominations and faith backgrounds. It does not claim to be everything for everyone, but an Episcopal Church that is open to all. I am thrilled to be working with St. Francis Church in Stamford because of its vibrant and faithful parishioners, its dedicated priest and lay leaders, and its commitment to ecumenical and interfaith engagement. 
 
Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash