Portland.

Before Julia and I moved to Portland, we came to visit for a weekend. We sat down with a local pastor and got the message loud and clear: Portland isn’t like other cities – you probably don’t belong. It was a funny message to get from a pastor, but we started to catch a vibe all around town: we do things our own way here and we like it that way. If you want to get along in Portland, you need to get on board.

Portland is full of people who don’t jive with the average American perspective – they do things their way. Big corporations aren’t allowed within the city limits. Forty percent of the population lives without a car – on purpose. Restaurants buy food from a local farm, and only serve what the farm produced that week: You wanted blueberry pancakes? Sorry, the farm had a bad crop this year.

While much of the United States still looks favorably on Christianity, or Christian morals at least, Portland has decided to view religion as it sees fit. This is the heart of why Portland has such a low church attendance rate – the second lowest in the country – with 18% claiming affiliation and only 14% consistently involved. They often see Christianity as forceful, hypocritical, and hurtful. In a city that prides itself on autonomy, why would anyone bother conforming to such a system?

To be Christ, as a church, to Portland is a difficult task – but surely an important one! It takes a lot of work to help people re-imagine the body as something other than forceful, hurtful, or hypocritical. Many people in churches all across the country are wondering if it is even possible in the church they are attending!

Jesus was God Incarnate. He was exactly what the world needed in that time and place, and He continues to be seen by the world incarnationally through the church today. As a representation of Christ to Portland, Evergreen is intentional about being what the city needs at this time.

We meet in a bar. For people who viscerally connect church buildings with past hurts, meeting in a bar allows them to explore God in a context that feels safe.

Our sermons are built around discussion. For a group who respond poorly to being told or taught, opening communication and collaboration gives room for questions and disagreements. All we ask is that people disagree without disengaging and commit to seeking out truth with us.

Leaders arise organically. For people wary of authority – often because of past abuses – it is hard to trust titles. I am a pastor because that is what I have done in the community since I arrived: pastor. It wasn’t a job description and salary they were looking to fill.

If and when I find myself in another place pastoring, I will ask these questions:

What does it look like to be the body of Christ incarnationally in this place?

Who in this community is not being met where they are by the church?

Love,

Andrew