Incline Our Hearts

My last visit to Poteau was in 2024. We shared Holy Eucharist and good conversation over a fry bread lunch.

St. Barnabas, Poteau

It is always a deep and painful sadness when a congregation closes. As bishop, it has been my practice that I don’t close a church unless the congregation itself decides to close, because it can no longer sustain its ministry. It is always their choice. I am proud that our diocese has only closed two churches in the past six years.  A few others have come close to closing, only to find new life, often in partnership with the diocese, as in the case of Redeemer, Okmulgee, where a major revitalization effort is underway. A couple of years ago, Ascension, Pawnee closed. And on June 28, St. Barnabas, Poteau will be closed and deconsecrated, having shrunk to just one active member. I will be there for prayers of holy ending, to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, and to give thanks to God for the many lives touched through that faithful congregation over the years. 

Barnabas means “son of encouragement.” In the early Church, Saint Barnabas the Apostle encouraged other Christians, even selling a piece of land to give money to the Church’s mission (Acts 4:37). He was also a missionary, evangelist, and martyr. The history of our diocese shows that our St. Barnabas church was founded in 1915. One of its noteworthy features was that the church building was a quonset hut. During both of my previous visits there, I remember thinking that this was a good metaphor for ministry. As Jesus himself reminded us, all our buildings are temporary. The Church is the people, those baptized into Christ’s Body. All that remains unchanged is Jesus Christ himself, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). 

It is sad when anything dies, including a congregation. But we have a sure and certain hope in the resurrection life given to us by God in Christ. Even at the grave, we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia (BCP p. 499). And we give God thanks for the encouragement given to many by Oklahoma’s own community of St. Barnabas.