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HELMdisciples.org > About HELM > HELM Leadership Fellows > Kathryn Welch
July 9, 2007

Finding my church family

Kathryn Welch At the end of last summer I didn't know what to do. I was officially out of CYF. Next summer I would not be going back to the place I know and love with the people that I love the most. What was I going to do?

Luckily, the Capitol Area provides young adults with an alternative to our fabulous week at the beach — a long weekend at the beach called Young Adult Conference! I have to admit I was a little worried about going to YAC. How could anything be better than CYF? But I was pleasantly surprised.

Our program was based on Marcus Borg's book "The Heart of Christianity" and for three days we explored what it means to be a Christian and what we individually feel is the "heart" of Christianity. The program was great, but as with most church camps the fellowship was even better. I met several people that I had never met before (which was a strange experience because I thought I knew most of the people in the Capitol Area Camp system) and also had the opportunity to be a camper with many people who had counseled me throughout the years. All in all it was just a great weekend.

Part of the reason I decided to write about this particular experience is a reflection that one of my fellow campers, Nathan Hill, wrote after the conference. In his reflection he wrote,

    "during the welcome and introduction time, most young adults say... 'Well, back when I attended church, I attended <insert church name here>.'…I find that sometimes, after not being at church for a few weeks in a row due to travel or whatever, it feels somewhat like I have to pause in front of the big double doors and get ready to plunge back into the "church mentality." It's not a natural thing. It's this whole other culture that requires a lot of investment to keep up with, but is it really worth all that energy?"
I also noticed the lack of church-goers in our crowd and in turn the lack of church-goers in my generation. Church has become a place that to many young adults seems obsolete. We were made to go to church as kids and around high school and college we stopped going as a way of rebellion. I never really went through that phase because church for me was never a chore. My church family is my real family. I love walking in on Sunday morning and seeing people and hugging and kissing and catching up on what happened the last week. I feel at home when I walk through the doors. I have never really experienced the "church mentality" it just comes natural at my home church, Christian Temple.

I also discovered this year that I need to have a church family in my life. For the first six months of college I didn't go to church. I tried a couple in the Lexington area, but nothing really made me feel welcome and made me feel like home… until I walked into Crestwood Christian Church. As soon as I walked in the door I was greeted by every person I walked past. They wanted to welcome me and know about me — where I go to school, where I'm from, what my major is — they were truly interested in me. I had found yet another church that I can call home!

When examining young adult ministries, many people think it's about church. What I've found is that for many people in my area, and probably in others too, church camp is their church home. They can go a year without singing a hymn, reading the Bible, or going to worship, but they still come back to camp and it just comes naturally. Church should come naturally. It should be a place where you find family and fellowship. It's a place where you can worship and talk about the one true God without reservation. Some people find that freedom in a traditional building with a traditional service. Others find it at the beach with late night vespers and a community of people that you've grown up with. And still others just find it with a close group of friends in a dorm room or living room.

I'm lucky, I have three places in the world that I can call my "church home." I've found what's right for me and what makes me feel fulfilled. I'm sure it will change even more and the time goes by, but for now, I'm happy where I am with my faith and with my understanding of what it means to be in a community of faith.

Kathryn's previous story:
Kathryn Welch is in her first year as a HELM Leadership Fellow and is a member of Christian Temple, a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregation in Baltimore, Maryland.


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