Once upon a time, a pastor removed the U.S. flag from their church’s sanctuary on their first Sunday leading worship. Like kicking the proverbial bee’s hive, it did not go well as the congregation was in a community with a military base. Members were outraged at this perceived slight, while the pastor was hurt to have their intentions maligned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Symbols can be tricky because they can mean different things to different people, and those meanings can change over time. I’ve heard different versions of the same story \u2013 pastor removes flag, congregation erupts in anger \u2013 on multiple occasions. As someone quite sympathetic to the flag’s removal from sanctuaries and the theological reasoning behind doing so, it always feels like a poor choice when done so abruptly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We owe people an explanation \u2013 or better, a conversation \u2013 when we institute change, especially when it pertains to symbols. What the U.S. flag means to those who cherish its presence is often quite different from those who see no place for it in the sanctuary. It is unlikely that everyone will come away from a discussion about removing the flag happy. Still, the discussion is an opportunity to help congregants to understand why its presence is theologically problematic and for the pastor to learn more about the soul needs of the people they serve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upsetting people without investing the time to explain an action may be foolish. But I’m left wondering these days if the greater sin is avoiding the conflict altogether. <\/p>\n\n\n\n