Fire Stations and Churches

You perhaps read the tragic article last week about the man who died 15 minutes after firefighters in a D.C. station refused to cross the street to help him after they were summoned by his daughter and passersby.  (The CNN article is here).  For five years I was the lead chaplain of a fire department, and this news report both saddened and infuriated me.  I'm sure it's possible that there are firefighters out there who simply are too tired, too jaded, too burned out, or too lazy that would have allowed this to happen... but that would surprise me.  Firefighters by and large are incredibly compassionate, competent, dedicated servants of the community.  I only can imagine that there was some sort of tragic miscommunication or absurd misunderstanding of rules and regulations that led to this incident happening.  My prayers are with the family and friends of the man who died, and also with the fire department there that will have to live with what happened.

The story did make me think, however.  What would have been the scenario if the building had been a church instead of a fire station?  Do people view the church as somewhere they can run to when they or a loved one are in trouble?  Oh, to be sure, they come to us for funerals and for weddings at times.  But what about other times of crisis... or transition... or doubt... or pain... or danger?  Do people see us as a place of help, or refuge, or, as our worship spaces declare, "sanctuary?"  Do people see us Christians as people who are safe enough, or who care enough, or who are responsive enough that they would think to come to us in times of need?  If so, how would we respond?  If not, then how can we continue to carry the name of Christ in our identity as communities and individuals?

And, to take this one step further, is our Presbytery a place where teaching and ruling elders, and church members, feel that they can come?  If so, then thanks be to God!  If not, then what needs to change in our system... and what needs to change in each one of us?

As you can tell, this made me think.  What do you think?