You’ve heard the old joke about the seven last words of the church: "We’ve never done it that way before!" This is said to be the expected lament when someone brings up the "C" word in the church. I’m about to write that word now. Are you ready? Sit down and take a deep breath. Here it comes...here it comes...
Change.
There...I wrote it. And, yes, the word is "Change".
It is my growing conviction that the church must intentionally change–or it will change in another way by default. If the church holds on fiercely to the way it has been church for decades, it will die.
I don’t believe the church wants to die. Yes, in one sense, the church must die; it must live sacrificially, giving away for the sake of the world the life that God in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, has given to the church.
This has been the question–the central question–that I’ve been pondering for the past 10-15 years of ordained ministry: How is God calling the church to change? How can God’s church–and how can I as a disciple of Christ–live faithfully in the 21st century?
Thank God, I’ve found some helpful guides! A good portion of my sabbatical reading is given to being in thought-conversation with those guides. At our Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly last week, I picked up a number of little books, and I’ve been chewing on two of them this week: Nathan Frambach’s Emerging Ministry: Being Church Today, and Diana Butler Bass’ The Practicing Congregation: Imagining a New Old Church. Frambach has offered a concise and readable summary of the movement–is that what it is, or is it a new way of being church?– often called the "emerging" or "emergent" church. Butler Bass, whose Christianity for the Rest of Us has given me both hope and handles for addressing the questions posed above, is becoming a favorite of mine. It was my privilege to hear her at the Synod Assembly, and I’ll get to hear her again at the Washington Island Forum in late June. (And, yes, I imagine I’ll buy another of her books.)
Both these authors, and others as well, have clarified for me the journey as disciple and pastoral leader. In a nutshell: the cultural context(s) of our ministry has changed dramatically, and we as God’s church need to change in response. We need to change by being more intentional in our life together, forming and shaping disciples who are equipped to bear the gospel, the good news, in a world not necessarily eager to hear it. That’s how our context has changed!
Now, the church doesn’t have to change! But demographics and statistics of many mainline churches–like Holy Shepherd–indicate we have two choices: change the way we do God’s work in the world, or die of irrelevance.
I put it this way because I’ve personally tried a third choice: keep doing what we’ve been doing well for many decades, only do it harder and harder. I’ve tried that, and discovered it doesn’t work. It doesn’t reach unchurched people, and it wears me out. And isn’t that one popular definition of "insanity," after all? "Keep doing the same ineffective (or stupid) thing, and hope for a different outcome?"
I don’t think I want to go that route any longer! So I’m ready–in fact, well past ready–to embrace the "C" word. Because the choice for the mainline/old line churches like ours is pretty stark: we can change, or we can die.
Maybe this is my sabbatical prayer, paraphrasing the United Nations hymn, Let There Be Peace on Earth. Let this be my prayer: "Lord, let there be change in the church, and let it begin with me."
I wonder what God will do next–-and I wonder if I’ll be willing to embrace and celebrate it?
Friday, May 30, 2008
Brushpile Theology
Have you ever had one of those moments when something simple...perhaps even mundane...perhaps something even unpleasant..suddenly took on a deeper and unexpected meaning?
It happened to me the other day. Call my experience a parable.
I finally attacked the pile of brush that had lain beside the garage since fall, and had grown significantly this spring. It was time—time to haul it to the recycling center. It was one of those chores–and it was a chore–that I dreaded. But, finally, I dug in. After 2-1/2 hours of loading, compacting, and tying into the pick-up, I finally hauled that dry, dead pile of brush to its new home.
The banner on my cell phone exhorts me to "Pay Attention". It’s my way of reminding myself that God is constantly at work in the world and in my life. Always the problem is...me. Too often I ignore my own reminder. But this time, God broke through. Maybe that’s one of the gifts of sabbatical–more time to pay attention without the incessant and sometimes oppressive urgency of clock and calendar and to-do list driving me.
As I unloaded my pile of brush, next to me was a man loading his pick-up. He was loading it with ground up brush–mulch–that he would use to spread around and under plants and trees, mulch that would hold the precious moisture in our dry state, mulch that would keep the weeds down, mulch that would nurture life.
And soon, I knew, that would be my brush. My dead, dry brush would be turned to life-giving mulch, nurturing life in someone else’s yard.
And I thought to myself, "Hmmm...isn’t that just like God! Taking what’s dead–in this case, dead brush–and redeeming it, giving it a life-giving purpose."
Yes, isn’t that just like God, bringing life out of death: in a pile of brush, even in my life, in God’s church, and throughout God’s creation. Isn’t that just like God–again and again, where there seems to be only death, bringing resurrection and life!
Enough for now. It’s time to go water the flowers.
Hmmm...water. I wonder if there’s a parable in that?
It happened to me the other day. Call my experience a parable.
I finally attacked the pile of brush that had lain beside the garage since fall, and had grown significantly this spring. It was time—time to haul it to the recycling center. It was one of those chores–and it was a chore–that I dreaded. But, finally, I dug in. After 2-1/2 hours of loading, compacting, and tying into the pick-up, I finally hauled that dry, dead pile of brush to its new home.
The banner on my cell phone exhorts me to "Pay Attention". It’s my way of reminding myself that God is constantly at work in the world and in my life. Always the problem is...me. Too often I ignore my own reminder. But this time, God broke through. Maybe that’s one of the gifts of sabbatical–more time to pay attention without the incessant and sometimes oppressive urgency of clock and calendar and to-do list driving me.
As I unloaded my pile of brush, next to me was a man loading his pick-up. He was loading it with ground up brush–mulch–that he would use to spread around and under plants and trees, mulch that would hold the precious moisture in our dry state, mulch that would keep the weeds down, mulch that would nurture life.
And soon, I knew, that would be my brush. My dead, dry brush would be turned to life-giving mulch, nurturing life in someone else’s yard.
And I thought to myself, "Hmmm...isn’t that just like God! Taking what’s dead–in this case, dead brush–and redeeming it, giving it a life-giving purpose."
Yes, isn’t that just like God, bringing life out of death: in a pile of brush, even in my life, in God’s church, and throughout God’s creation. Isn’t that just like God–again and again, where there seems to be only death, bringing resurrection and life!
Enough for now. It’s time to go water the flowers.
Hmmm...water. I wonder if there’s a parable in that?
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
My Sabbatical Plan
Please note (May 30): The above pdf was only available for a limited time. It is no longer accessible from the blog. If you'd like a copy, contact the church office.
The Precious Gift of Time
Yesterday was a holiday, so that makes today the first official day of my sabbatical. And one of the things I've been reflecting on is the precious gift of time. Sabbatical is about time--time set aside for rest and renewal. I know that three months seems like a long time, and I also know that the time will pass quickly. Some of those I know who are teachers, with summers off, remind me of that! And, while I have about 1/2 my time planned with travel and other intentional activities, I pray that I will make good, productive use of the time that is not scheduled.
Now, I know myself. I know that I can waste time--not in a way that provides rest and renewal, but in ways that are mindless. So, as I enter this time, with gratitude to Holy Shepherd for making it possible, I want to be mindful of the admonition in Ephesians 5:15-16a (NRSV): "Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time..."
I want to allow myself some of that "mindless" time, but also use my unscheduled time wisely: to read, reflect, and keep up with my Spanish studies. So this is my prayer today: "Gracious heavenly Father, thank you for this gift of time for rest and renewal. Thank you for a faith community, Holy Shepherd, which has granted me this time apart. Now, Father, grant me your wisdom, so that I can make the most of this time. Amen."
Now, I know myself. I know that I can waste time--not in a way that provides rest and renewal, but in ways that are mindless. So, as I enter this time, with gratitude to Holy Shepherd for making it possible, I want to be mindful of the admonition in Ephesians 5:15-16a (NRSV): "Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time..."
I want to allow myself some of that "mindless" time, but also use my unscheduled time wisely: to read, reflect, and keep up with my Spanish studies. So this is my prayer today: "Gracious heavenly Father, thank you for this gift of time for rest and renewal. Thank you for a faith community, Holy Shepherd, which has granted me this time apart. Now, Father, grant me your wisdom, so that I can make the most of this time. Amen."
Saturday, May 24, 2008
God's Sense of Humor
I've always believed God has a sense of humor. I experienced it personally this evening in our Saturday evening worship!
At all three services this weekend, we're including a brief "Sending for Pastoral Sabbatical" ritual near the end of worship, just before the benediction. It closes with a prayer, then the idea is that I offer the blessing of the congregation for the last time until I return to Holy Shepherd in the fall.
The ritual includes reference to the purpose of sabbatical as being for rest and renewal. Then comes the benediction. And here's the first line...are you ready for this?..."God gives rest to the weary and those who bear heavy burdens."
It wasn't planned that way. It was a....coincidence? But I almost heard God laughing when I said those words!
At all three services this weekend, we're including a brief "Sending for Pastoral Sabbatical" ritual near the end of worship, just before the benediction. It closes with a prayer, then the idea is that I offer the blessing of the congregation for the last time until I return to Holy Shepherd in the fall.
The ritual includes reference to the purpose of sabbatical as being for rest and renewal. Then comes the benediction. And here's the first line...are you ready for this?..."God gives rest to the weary and those who bear heavy burdens."
It wasn't planned that way. It was a....coincidence? But I almost heard God laughing when I said those words!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Anticipating My Pastoral Sabbatical
Here's the article I've just submitted to the Shepherd's Staff, the monthly newsletter of Holy Shepherd, as we approach my sabbatical leave:
“SABBATICAL: A TIME FOR REST & RENEWAL”
Dear Friends in Christ,
As many of you know, I will be embarking on a first-ever adventure very soon, as my 90-day sabbatical begins May 27 and continues through August 25. I am grateful, deeply grateful, to Holy Shepherd for this opportunity for rest and renewal through a variety of activities intended to be restful, personally-fulfilling, and professionally-enriching for my re-entry as your pastor in the fall. I’m also grateful to Pastor Michael, the rest of our top-notch staff, and volunteers from the congregation for their support and their willingness to pick up additional responsibilities in my absence.
I know that a pastoral sabbatical is a new experience for Holy Shepherd. I know it is a change. I know change brings with it anxiety. I want to assure you that I expect this experience to be valuable and enriching for the congregation as well as for Brenda and me. I am already energized just from anticipating this adventure, and know that I will be even more energized when I return! I trust that you will be refreshed by and grow from the experience as well; there are already signs of growth as many have stepped forward as visitors and preachers to assist Pastor Michael during the summer months.
My sabbatical plan includes a personal retreat near the beginning and end for prayer, reading, meditation, reflection, and integration of new learnings and discoveries; a Mexico City Immersion at the Lutheran Center there, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Synod-ELCA, to explore the political, social, and economic realities of Mexico; a forum led by Diana Butler Bass, author of Christianity for the Rest of Us, coupled with time with family and friends in Wisconsin; studying Spanish with a private tutor; worshiping with other local congregations, especially some who are offering effective contemporary worship; catching up on some reading; and, perhaps (we’re still looking into this) travel in Turkey to explore Christian origins and the rich mix of cultures and religions in that ancient and fascinating land. I’m also planning to report to the congregation at some kind of informal event early in September, so we can catch up with each other after a summer apart!
While I am away, I will really be away from Holy Shepherd. I will pray for you often, but I will not be on church property, and I cannot be in contact with you during the sabbatical. This will make it possible for all of us to fully benefit from this time of rest and renewal. If I bump into you in the community, I will gladly greet you, but I will not be able to discuss life at Holy Shepherd. Between the staff and leaders of Holy Shepherd, you will be in good human hands. And, as always, you will be in the best hands of all—the loving, merciful, strong, and faithful hands of God. As you rest in those hands, I am confident you will grow in faith. When I return in the fall, I will be eager to learn of all that has happened; I will not even be surprised if I am a little bit disappointed by all I will have missed during the summer.
If you are interested in following my sabbatical journey and have Internet access, I encourage you to check in often at the Holy Shepherd website, www.holyshepherd.com. I’ll be posting and updating a blog (web-based journal) entitled “Rick’s Ruminations,” and there will be a link to it on our website. In fact, you’ll find this article there as well and, soon, a more detailed outline of my sabbatical plan. “Rick’s Ruminations” will include comments, reflections, discoveries, and photos from my sabbatical time. Please visit me there!
Once again, thank you for this treasured opportunity to rest, reflect, renew, and recharge for the next chapter of our journey together. I look forward to the summer away, and I look forward to re-joining you in ministry in the fall!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Rick
As many of you know, I will be embarking on a first-ever adventure very soon, as my 90-day sabbatical begins May 27 and continues through August 25. I am grateful, deeply grateful, to Holy Shepherd for this opportunity for rest and renewal through a variety of activities intended to be restful, personally-fulfilling, and professionally-enriching for my re-entry as your pastor in the fall. I’m also grateful to Pastor Michael, the rest of our top-notch staff, and volunteers from the congregation for their support and their willingness to pick up additional responsibilities in my absence.
I know that a pastoral sabbatical is a new experience for Holy Shepherd. I know it is a change. I know change brings with it anxiety. I want to assure you that I expect this experience to be valuable and enriching for the congregation as well as for Brenda and me. I am already energized just from anticipating this adventure, and know that I will be even more energized when I return! I trust that you will be refreshed by and grow from the experience as well; there are already signs of growth as many have stepped forward as visitors and preachers to assist Pastor Michael during the summer months.
My sabbatical plan includes a personal retreat near the beginning and end for prayer, reading, meditation, reflection, and integration of new learnings and discoveries; a Mexico City Immersion at the Lutheran Center there, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Synod-ELCA, to explore the political, social, and economic realities of Mexico; a forum led by Diana Butler Bass, author of Christianity for the Rest of Us, coupled with time with family and friends in Wisconsin; studying Spanish with a private tutor; worshiping with other local congregations, especially some who are offering effective contemporary worship; catching up on some reading; and, perhaps (we’re still looking into this) travel in Turkey to explore Christian origins and the rich mix of cultures and religions in that ancient and fascinating land. I’m also planning to report to the congregation at some kind of informal event early in September, so we can catch up with each other after a summer apart!
While I am away, I will really be away from Holy Shepherd. I will pray for you often, but I will not be on church property, and I cannot be in contact with you during the sabbatical. This will make it possible for all of us to fully benefit from this time of rest and renewal. If I bump into you in the community, I will gladly greet you, but I will not be able to discuss life at Holy Shepherd. Between the staff and leaders of Holy Shepherd, you will be in good human hands. And, as always, you will be in the best hands of all—the loving, merciful, strong, and faithful hands of God. As you rest in those hands, I am confident you will grow in faith. When I return in the fall, I will be eager to learn of all that has happened; I will not even be surprised if I am a little bit disappointed by all I will have missed during the summer.
If you are interested in following my sabbatical journey and have Internet access, I encourage you to check in often at the Holy Shepherd website, www.holyshepherd.com. I’ll be posting and updating a blog (web-based journal) entitled “Rick’s Ruminations,” and there will be a link to it on our website. In fact, you’ll find this article there as well and, soon, a more detailed outline of my sabbatical plan. “Rick’s Ruminations” will include comments, reflections, discoveries, and photos from my sabbatical time. Please visit me there!
Once again, thank you for this treasured opportunity to rest, reflect, renew, and recharge for the next chapter of our journey together. I look forward to the summer away, and I look forward to re-joining you in ministry in the fall!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Rick
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