Thad's

Sunday mornings sometimes start with un-Christian thoughts, as well meaning, but tardy, parishioners arrive to their church and find a full parking lot. Not so with Thad's. Parking was not an issue, as the church is in a cluster of artsy work buildings in West LA. Also absent were the traditional organ, a choir, and hymnals, which were well replaced by a small group of singers, guitarists, a drummer and a great trombone player. Finally, gone was any hint of church vestments or religious symbols (no cross). The minister was wearing a clean tee shirt, jeans, and spoke with a Starbuck's coffee cup in his hand. Readers and musicians were casual. What was clear is this is a warm and supportive community with a very gifted, charismatic minister, and God's presence.

This is very different from what I consider "old school" Episcopal churches. I kept thinking of All Souls Berkeley, where I grew up; formal, quiet, reserved, and full of penance. "We're not in Kansas anymore".

Old School Episcopal Church
Payette, Idaho

 

 

Thad's?

The church website (www.thads.org) explains that it was founded nearly 6 years ago, when a young Associate Rector of an established Episcopal church (redundant?) heard a calling to a less conventional ministry. That inner voice kept telling him his calling was different, far more non-traditional. (That is saying something since much of the Episcopal Church is staid.) Finally, he knew he had to act. Within the Episcopal Church, but new. And, very different. Evidently when it was announced this new venture would happen, those who followed left. It reminded me of Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire leaving his firm with one follower and a gold fish. He did better, he got two.

                  

One might ask who is Thad? Seminarians know that Thaddeus was one of the 12 apostles of Christ. Sometimes called Jude Thaddeus or other variations. To the Catholics he is the patron saint of desperate cases or lost causes. (Not applicable here!) Some say he was a brother of Jesus, but this is debated. The point is he is one of the most obscure apostles, if not the outright winner. Thus, the congregation thought he was a perfect namesake. Their future would be written by them, not based on history.

 

 

Da Man

                                                                 

The Sunday we attended, despite an almost perfect southern California day,  the congregation was somewhere between 150-200, which probably reflects to summer malaise which impacts many church's attendance. Regular attendance is higher, and sometimes includes Reese Witherspoon.

The space is inviting. Clean walls, a stage with three simple, but appealing, banners, and all the stuff needed to play music. The congregation enters around ten AM, and enjoys the soft music which greeted them. The minister was seated on a director's chair enjoying this transition, and appeared to be deep in thought. Chairs were comfortable, and movable. Light background chatting, as friends greeted each other.

Some sang the opening song along with the musicians, but most were happy to just listen. The service bulletin is 4 pages, and had an insert which had your homework (more later). The graphics are crisp and hip, if I know what that is.

Their church is reading the bible, and our day they were considering Proverbs 14. Those of you who are well versed in the Bible know this contains 35 admonitions or advice. Most know the bible was written by many different people over long period of time. As we have painfully seen, some can find justifications for just about anything in those words. In 2005, as many others have done before him, Eugene Peterson wrote The Message, which translates the Bible into very contemporary language.

For example, Proverbs 14:33 in the New King James version is “Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, But what is the heart of fools is made known”. That becomes:  "Lady Wisdom is at home in an understanding heart- fools never even get to say hello” in the Message. I am not qualified or interested in choosing one over the other. I do conclude many will understand the latter, and may struggle with the former.

The core of this church seems to be the understanding the bible’s message, and applying it to our times. That is a shared exploration with discussions, not a monologue by a priest.

 

After the reading, the minister, Jimmy Bartz, explained this week he did something which was very hard for him to do. He did not prepare a sermon. Rather he explained that today he would ask random members of the church to come up, pull one of the 35 quotes from Proverbs 14 out of a jar, read it, and then he would try to apply that message to his life or more generally. Real time preaching, no time for re-writes or edits. (I remember our son explaining a similar challenge in a class when he was in seminary). I thought this was going to be interesting, and it was.

Each time as a member drew a slip form the jar, there was some anticipation. Groans or snickers as the audience reacted to the challenge being offered. It was fun. Jimmy watched carefully when a proverb was read, and sometimes smiled, perhaps suggesting “he got that one”. On one or two he seemed to wait a short time and develop his thoughts. Each time he spoke for a couple of minutes on the point. Often he would bring in more than one observation.

My favorite message was the one which dealt with truthfulness. (Probably number 2 or 5). I never thought he would be stumped, but this one took more time. After some time he talked about how "little lies" creep into our lives. Evidently his daughter is entering a school where the teacher, parents, and student sign a contract each pledging to the other what they will do. No brainer, just sign the darn form. However, Jimmy balked since one of the provisions, while well intended, was probably "not going to happen". Similarly he related a story of an ex-high school sweetheart meeting many years later when both were married to others. After catching up, the woman suggested the four of them have dinner. Again, rather than saying “Sure, that would be great” (never intending to follow up), once again out comes “That’s never going to happen”. His point is little white lies can creep into one’s life and become more common, if you don’t resist.

After taking on a half dozen of these proverbs, he asked how this resonated with the congregation. People got up and explained what they heard, or how it impacted them. Jimmy made an insightful comment when he said he was ready to not answer some of the proverbs, had they been drawn. It wasn’t he didn’t have an answer, he just wanted to put them in the compost heap for the while. Prayers for the People followed, and then we passed the peace (hugs and handshakes) as people either listened to the last set, or walked out to mingle and socialize. Coffee and snacks were offered.

 

So who is this guy? Jimmy Bartz was raised in Texas where he went to college. He then attended Virginia Theological Seminary (one of our best, but always take NYC’s General and the points in their annual football “game”). He returned to Texas to be ordained, and started at our largest church, over 8,000 members. He was later called to All Saints in Beverly Hills. However, as discussed above, he kept feeling this calling to do something more creative, less structured. He was sure the cynicism he felt of some traditional church practices was not what God intended for him. He listened to anyone who had left a traditional role, and do something a little different. Businessmen, ministers, thinkers, you name it, he listened. He remains "all in" to build this community, however he is very cautious in making sure the base is solid before trying something new.

New School - Thad's
West Los Angeles, CA
(Jimmy is on the right)
 

 

 

Yes, the church is like most other churches: it has a vestry, has a volunteer nursery for kids, seeks outreach activities (Thad's Dads), has a budget, and even has a prayer conference call every Tuesday at 6:30 AM. What was interesting to me was the large number of the church's endangered species, men in the 30-50 age group.

In thinking about it, I think this is a classic “win - win” situation. The Episcopal Church, like many others, is watching average Sunday attendance decline. I am guessing the average age of attendees is also trending up. There is the constant challenge to deliver a program which competes with all the other things available in our busy lives. Our national church has about 7,000 churches. They benefit from congregations like Thad’s which are exploring religion and our faith in very new and exciting ways.  Equally, those pioneers benefit by being part of our family of about 2 million Episcopalians. While the long term trend of attendance is discouraging, one can’t help but be optimistic when considering gifted ministers like Jimmy Bartz. The future looks bright indeed.

 

Homework? Read and consider the message in Proverbs 14. I bet a high percentage of attendees do just that, and somehow that contemplation and its impact on their daily lives will make LA just a little more livable.  Who knows, someone may even let another driver cut in front on a busy freeway. I’m just saying it could happen.