The Coming Reboot

In recent years, movies and television have been filled with quite a number of "reboots." A reboot goes beyond the typical "remake" of a classic movie or show. Instead, the reboot is a complete refresh on a franchise or a character or a storyline. ABC's "V" is a reboot of the campy '80s miniseries. Smallville was a reboot of the Superman franchise. How many versions of Batman have hit the big screen? My favorite reboot, however, was the reinvigoration of the Star Trek franchise at the hands of J.J. Abrams.

I was an ardent fan of the original Star Trek series (TOS) and its movies. When Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) came out, I was a slow adopter, only buying in when the Borg entered the storyline. With the TNG universe, we got DS9 and Voyager, which I also enjoyed. Paramount tried yet another series (Enterprise), but cancelled it when it finally started to get interesting. But note that all of these series existed within the same universe, as it were.

Abrams reboot of the franchise with 2009's Star Trek, while tapping the same characters as TOS, changed the dynamics of the story by the application of a difference perspective, almost a counterfactual exercise: "what if" these characters had developed differently due to different life experiences? I remember being quite skeptical about this new look, not sure I'd like the suggested changes to the Star Trek "canon." To my surprise, the movie is by far my favorite of them all (with a place of honor still reserved for The Wrath of Khan). Abrams succeeded, despite the pained efforts to explain the changes and maintain continuity with TOS. Star Trek (2009) is a reboot - same people, but with different perspectives, different relationships, and an unwritten future. And now for the segue….

The same people, with different perspectives, different relationships and an unwritten future. This is the state of the church I've called home for the last 17 years. By June of this year, Chase Valley Church will cease to exist, its current membership and properties becoming a satellite of Cove Church. I won't go into all the reasons for this, but suffice it to say that the merger is in the best interests of continuing ministry in our particular location. I've struggled for an appropriate analogy or metaphor to describe this moment, and for now I'm going with the reboot - same people, different perspectives, different relationships and an unwritten future.

From our early days in storefront facilities, to the construction of our building on 28 acres of land, to dynamic statistical and spiritual growth, to a dramatic diaspora and decline, only a handful of us are left who span the relatively short life of the church. We have seen many people come, and many people go. We have witnessed the transformative work of God in our midst, touching and changing the lives of many. We have also suffered through pain, scandal, and the turmoil of disunity. These are experiences we will forever carry with us, with memories that deserve to be treasured and stories that need to be told and retold, and hard lessons to remember. It is a fortunate thing that eternity is forever, so that who we are (or were) will perhaps be remembered in the Light of the things that truly matter.

But we are still here. We are the same people, viewing almost 20 years of ministry in the rear view mirror, faced with envisioning the church with a different perspective, developing a new and different set of relationships both to the institutional parent church and to individuals under whose authority we will now serve. For some, this change will be too difficult to take, and they will probably leave. But there will be many who will, although perhaps with some trepidation, step into this new world and embrace the opportunity of an unwritten future. Because in the end, it is not about institutions, territory and control. I have asked myself frequently whether I'm up for the reboot. I will admit to a certain sadness over our state, and I confess I'm grieving over the potential loss of who we are (or were). But then again, some of that sense of "self" left with those that walked out the door years ago. But here I catch myself, remembering that it's about furthering the Kingdom of God where we are and where we can. Our identity is not found in Chase Valley, nor will it be found in Cove. Our identity is in Jesus Christ. To take any other perspective would be detrimental to us and to our ministry.

As I said, there are stories to tell, and perhaps over the next few months, I'll share some of those, if appropriate. Until then, I'll choose to look forward toward that unwritten future in the life of our church, knowing that in a very real sense, the future has already been written by He who stands both inside and outside of time. The raging waters of change will undoubtedly be choppy, but with faith, they are navigable. This reboot of our church can be a good thing, and reinvigorating to our purpose as followers of Christ. That is my hope, anyway, and my prayer.