Reasons to Still Go to Church

by Debra Griffis-Woodberry

“Why do you still go to church?” That is the question I recently asked a friend. I was curious, because this person is well acquainted with the “shadow side” of church; having experienced the meanness of a forced clergy resignation, the loneliness of holding progressive views while living and worshipping among those with differing opinions, and the trauma of a denominational split. Being well aware of abusive church systems and people, my friend has many reasons to be done with church, yet she still attends and holds leadership positions.

“Casseroles,” was the answer to my question. “I still go to church for the casseroles,” she said.

It is not that my friend finds the church casseroles especially delectable, but rather that she needs the attention and personal care that accompanies a casserole delivered at times of need such as illness or death or life crisis. Casseroles communicate concern and understanding. Casseroles deliver connectedness to people who care. We especially need church, when family and close friends are not local. We might say casseroles are not virtual. At least one good reason to go to church is because of the casseroles and all that they bring with them.

Another good reason to go to church is because of what I have coined “implied trust.” It had been 50 years since I had seen Michele. I knew her as the preacher’s daughter. As a college student I was occasionally the babysitter for Michele and her siblings. Her daddy, Rev. Tom Collins, was influential in me hearing God’s call to ordained ministry. He led First Baptist, Edgefield, South Carolina, in the required endorsement for my seminary enrollment. When she was ten years old, her dad became the pastor of a different church in a different state. We lost contact with each other. Decades later I received an email from her inviting me to connect with her in person. She had wondered over the years about the girl who wanted to be a pastor. Her google attempts to find me yielded nothing as she was not sure of how to spell my name or aware of my married name. Recently, Michele attended a viewing of the documentary Midwives of a Movement produced by Baptist Women in Ministry (BWIM). The documentary features interviews with me and other women who were active in ordained ministry in the Southern Baptist Convention during the decade of the 80s. Michele obtained my e-mail address and contacted me. We made plans to meet.

I opened our front door and welcomed Michele to our home. We embraced with the familiarity of good friends. The movement from hospitable politeness to covenantal sharing was rapid. For several hours Michele, my husband Joe, and I shared openly about the places and life experiences of our journeys. Without hesitation, we shared our experiences of trauma and pain as well as our joys and celebrations. It was a homecoming, it was koinonia, it was amazing.

Without naming it, we claimed the trust required for such deep conversations. The trust was implied. Sitting in our den, we were in church.

In evaluating contestants on the TV show, “The Voice,” often one of the coaches will say, “You took us to church.” I think the coaches are talking about the deep connection felt to that which is beyond us and simultaneously to that which is powerful between us.

Let’s go to church. There will be casseroles and implied trust.

Rev. Debra Griffis-Woodberry is a Pinnacle Associate and Retired United Methodist Elder. She may be reached via email at debragriffiswoodberry@gmail.com.