By Rev. Martha McInnes
I haven’t always been part of the church. I spent the first years of my life outside the church in a
small family. Once I launched myself into the world, I began to look for a place to belong. At that
point in my life, God came to me, like the Hound of Heaven, and welcomed me home.
Church became the embodiment of God’s welcome. There were times in which church felt more
exclusive than my understanding of God’s love. There were other times I felt at home and loved in
my local church. When we returned to the UK from Florida, the General Secretary said to David,
‘Welcome Home.’ I continue to seek a community where I feel God is present and the love of
God is embodied. I am grateful for the places I find in my current role.
Throughout my faith journey, hymns have spoken to my need for community. Brother, Sister, Let
Me Serve You spoke to my heart at one point. Come All, Ye Vagabonds by Stuart Townend has
articulated that creation of community more recently.
Recently, I encountered the poem, Invitation to a Brave Space by Micky ScottBey Jones. Though it is not about church, it addresses what I hope church can be for me, and for all God’s children.
Together we will create brave space
Because there is no such thing as a “safe space”
We exist in the real world
We all carry scars and we have all caused wounds.
In this space
We seek to turn down the volume of the outside world,
We amplify voices that fight to be heard elsewhere,
We call each other to more truth and love
We have the right to start somewhere and continue to grow.
We have the responsibility to examine what we think we know.
We will not be perfect.
This space will not be perfect.
It will not always be what we wish it to be
But it will be our brave space together,
and we will work on it side by side.
I hope that all of us will find ourselves journeying with others – someone or two with whom we
can be honest and open, with whom we can share our hopes and fears, know that we are loved
and accepted as we are, and in those encounters, also find Jesus. (Luke 24.13-34) You may not feel this is ‘church,’ but I think a genuine encounter with another human – embodies God’s love.
I hope our churches can create this brave space. I also hope this happens as we ‘walk the way’ and find Jesus ‘along the way.’
Rev. Martha McInnes