This goes against pretty much everything I learned at seminary, where we were taught to purge our sanctuaries of any sense of nationalism or American exceptionalism with a vengance.
So why would I dare to say such a thing? Because often pastors do it so foolishly it makes things worse, as evidenced by the difficulty they have in removing the American flag from the sanctuary. But more than that, the struggle is a massive waste of pastoral trust.
Here's the thing: exercising pastoral authority here is a quick way to appear like a pastor-dictator. Most flags have either been in the sanctuary sooo long or have a specific historical purpose to being in the sanctuary (many German Lutherans did so in WWI & WWII to support the country and really protect themselves from suspicion, other churches did so after losing many members to a war, others maybe even as late as 9/11) to remove them is an act of denial of that history/purpose. It rejects whatever coordination there is and whatever emotional connection such an event has solicited. Such a rejection, whatever the reason will have a reaction. But worse off the reason is not usually made until after the fact, it is not brought to discussion, one week the pastor will just go and move the flag out of the sanctuary. In my experience, when that is done, any explanation to follow will likely fall on deaf (or at least hearing impaired) ears. It will not therefore look like the act of theological reflection and pastoral concern but be the pastor trying to have it his/her way.
My other thought is this: I notice that for many, the flag is not a big deal until the pastor makes it a big deal. It's up there, but not being worshiped. It's in the sanctuary, but people are not week in week out reflecting on it, or turning to it or paying it much any attention. I have yet to meet someone who when looking for a new church seeks to make sure the sanctuary has a flag (and IF they were, I would imagine the reason is only because they just left a church where the pastor removed the flag from the sanctuary). What happens though, is there is a sense, I think, for people who do love this nation and want God to bless it (exceptionally or not) is that there is a sense of needing that most once the sea is disrupted. Similarly to how patriotism can flair up after a disaster/terrorist attack, I think the same happens on a small scale. The patriotism is actually flared up when it faces an "enemy", and the expelling of the flag is just that--saying patriotism, no matter how small is wrong or unchristian, or at least has no business in the church of God. Then what happens is they see that to mean there is no supporting the nation, no praying for the nation, no none of that (even if the church never ceases to pray for the nation). The act actually outweighs the actual acts of worship, or faith in action. Additionally veterans can be drawn in negatively by either feeling devalued--especially when one considers that service to the nation was once perhaps the second highest regarded vocation in the church after the ministry--or if one does not feel devalued the instigators may assume they are and take up the "cause" either saying such to veterans themselves or be used as the named "victims" to the pastor.
In addition to how I think the act will in fact make the issue worse (or perhaps make an issue where there really never was one) this also will affect the pastor's ministry beyond this. Another pastor told me last week to carefully choose the hill I want to be burried on when it comes to ministry. Immediately this came to mind. The idea is this, in ministry every time you visit, attend a family's event, go to the hospital, do a funeral, preach a powerful sermon, in general do ministry--especially when it is done personally for and to someone--this builds trust. Through time you develop a bit of a ministry bank, in which the people in trust are invested and connected in your ministry. Likewise, various moments: hard counseling, controversal sermons, making a mistake, pushing a change--all of these will require trust in the ministry bank. So throughout one's ministry, a pastor is regularly making deposits and withdrawals. Or more personally speaking, every act in ministry affects the trust and investment members have in that pastor's leadership and ministry. Conflict, is a major withdrawal. And if one has little investment with members, it will usually boil over and lead to serious conflict, people leaving the church (and often not even the people directly in the conflict but those caught in the crosshairs), pastors being bullied by members, etc. etc.
Because flag conflicts can drag on, and usually seep into other issues around the relationship between faith and nationalism, it uses a lot of trust in the ministry bank. Therefore, it can very easily be the hill a pastor is burried on, or a church suffers from. So not only can it create an issue where there was none, but it can cause in fact a ripple within the ministry for the pastor, either in the whole church or at the least with select members. And the truth is, I'm not sure I would risk that over the issue. At least not until I see it is really becoming one in my community. I (personally speaking of course) value the ability to be a pastor to such a person too much to want to jump the gun on this. Especially because I am sure I will cause plenty of other moments that will require a "withdrawal".
But I understand why this happens. Like I say, seminary teaches us to do this. Pastors push other pastors for into doing it (or brag when they themselves have done it successfully). And we are simply taught to analyze everything in the life of the parish theologically. That is part of our job, this is good. This helps churches better understand who they are, it helps pastors lead. But it can cause us to see problems where there aren't any. And so it is important to be sure that one honestly discerns whether we see symbolism or detriment to ministry in said occasions. Symbolism is open to interpretation, and as such we should consider what would be the most common interpretation. Detriment is where we see a real issue brewing (through comments from members, or other practices in the ministry reflecting and reinforcing bad symbolism). So this is not an outright word not to, but a cry for greater caution.
Finally, I mentioned earlier that this is sometimes done in a dictator like fashion, not as a discussion. If I were to see something needing to happen, I would always advise one build up a culture within the church that supports the move before making the move. Building the sense of what one believes is a proper relation to the nation/nationalism or the proper meaning of the sanctuary (in terms of how one views the symbolism of the flag as contrary to that) through preaching, teaching, and ministries will in fact build within a culture of support--because the people will see it as a natural move given such a culture/faith practice.
Now whenever I suggest pastors must do more, pastors tell me they have done it and it fell on deaf ears. I realize that. Any preacher knows how much a sermon can be preached at 10am and a member tell you the opposite at 10:30am. But if the message is not being welcomed (or affected) by preaching and teaching and building ministry trust, it likely will not be by executive decision. Especially early in the pastor's ministry in the parish.
A pastor once mentioned a colleague, who when he came to a church that did not practice weekly communion--which he felt it should--he preached on communion. He regularly talked about its grace and gift, being sure to note it whenever it was possible in the sermon. It took many months, but eventually members started asking him, "Why aren't we doing communion weekly?" His preaching directed their faith towards it so much that eventually they were the ones who looked and asked. Had he given up after a few months and imposed it, the impact I imagine would have been much different. And so, the best thing, is that if you are a pastor and think the flag needs to be moved--patiently persist in your teaching until the people are asking if the flag is the right symbol for the faith they are expressing.
Or be burried on that hill. Right under the flag.
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