Final Countdown to Synod Assembly

Right now, this is about how I'm feeling.

Yes, indeed, a slight panic has begun to set in, largely around some of the tools that are not in my wheelhouse. Robert's Rules of Order, yikes!  I am in final exam panic mode.  Fortunately, Pr. Tim Oslovich sat down with me today, and walked through the basics.  OK, slight relief, but I feel the need to channel former Senator Robert Byrd, master of the US Senate.

The good news, is I held a preview session with our "nones"

We launched into a great discussion on the prevalent question of "I'm spiritual but not religious."  If the conversation goes as well this friday, as it did last week, we'll be in good shape.

I'm told the workshops are all lined up and most people are excited to be attending.

Saturday evening's entertainment should be wonderful, but I'm a little biased.  Looking forward to our special guest singer:

 

See ya'll there.

 

Conversation with the Nuns, agh, I mean Nones.

I just completed an online video-conference call with our panel of "Nones."  (Those 75% of New Englanders who claim no religious affiliation)  The purpose of the conversation was to prep for our Synod Assembly Keynote event on Friday night.  I am very up on this event.  If the conversation on Firday goes anything like the one we just had online, I will be thrilled.

I've gathered 7 people ranging in age from 20 to 60.  What they all have in common is, they are not going to church.  They are a part of the 75%.  They are also smart, sincere and friendly people.  They are eager to talk about their views, and not in a hostile manner.  Engaging the nones is probably the most important ministry of our faith in this day and age.

Guess what?  You can do this too, in your community.  Friday night, I'll show you how.

The Commissioning of Sarah Huber

Last Sunday, I had the joy of celebrating the commissioning of Sarah Huber as an Associate in Ministry.  Together with the people of Sanctuary in Marshfield, MA, along with members of Harborside United Methodist Church, and a number of clergy and supporters from around the New England Synod, we prayed, sang and communed our way into another chapter for this new mission start.

The worship was an example of how a four fold approach to the liturgy can manifest itself in a new way.  Gathering music, Proclaimed Word, Sacramental Meal and musical Sending formed the framework of the worship. But creative use of new songs and rearranged hymns lead by a full band gave this casual yet sacred worship a unique character.

Pastor Mark Huber (below) explains the time of confession and forgiveness, where participants are invited to come forward and pick up a stone leaving it at the altar, as a sign of confession, and light a small votive candle, as a rememberance of Christ's forgiveness.

Pastor Rachel Tune of Wittenberg University presides at Holy Communion

I preached and presided at the laying on of hands for the commissioning

Sarah receives a symbol of her unique gifts of music ministry.

Sanctuary is an example of a new congregation, and a glimpse of the NeXt Church 2.0.  We can see here some of the new ways God is shaping ministry for a new generation.  Music, yes, but more than that, the space and the design is simple, flexible and creative.  (see a few photos below)  But, even more than that, it is being built on a highly relational framework.  This is not church as organized non-profit with committees and heavy structure.  THis is church as network, partnership and relationship building.  Here is the key thing:  It's not rocket science.  Contact Mark and Sarah, and ask them what they are doing.  THe answer will not be some fancy schmancy new program, my guess is that it will be an answer that involves connecting with people, understanding the unique culture in their neighborhood and building a relational web of pilgrimage exploration on the modern road to Emmaus.

An old piano that died, is resurrected with keys and other parts for a creative design.

Old discarded silverware helps with signage around the building.

Cranes decorate a wall space.

The inside mosaic wall decorated for the Easter and Pentecost season (above)

(below) The building from the outside, a 1960's protestant style church building, once the home of a United Methodist congregation, now the home of Sanctuary and Pudding Hill Preschool.  Evidence that you can do amazing things in an old space on a limited budget.

Photos from the Vermont & New York Congregational visits

Just a few pics for ya.  As well as the Map of the whole tour, 1101 miles of it.  All nine congregations of the conference, a stop at our mission project on immigration in northern Vermont plus an overnight at Camp Calumet at the beginning for our Dean's retreat.

The Vermont dairy industry is increasingly dependent on immigration, particularly from mexico.

Pastor Kim Erno works with farmers, migrant workers, area churches and other organizations in this new ministry that is a cooperative between the ELCA, Episcopal and Methodist churches.  He will have a workshop at synod assembly exploring more on this subject.

Beautiful scenary in the Adirondack Mountains near Saranac lake following my visit to Redeemer in Plattsburgh, NY.

Where'd he go?

I'm posting today from Saranac Lake, New York.  Currently, I am on a tour visiting our Vermont and New York congregations.  Along the way, I picked up a few passengers in Plattsburgh, NY at Redeemer Lutheran.

This trip is taking me to our farthest western congregation, Holy Trinity in Saranac Lake, or so I thought.  While here I've learned that this congregation is yoked with an other Lutheran congregation in Potsdam, NY.  That congregation is about 65 miles northwest of Saranac Lake.  They gather and worship in a hall donated by a local Christian Science community.  Looks, like I'll have to make another trip to this beautiful part of the country.

Here is the trip so far.  Today I'm off to Proctor, Shaftbury & Brattleboro, VT before speaking at the Doing What Matters event in Rutland on Saturday.  I'll soon have visited over 120 congregations of the New England Synod.

 

Self Care and the Mutual Ministry Committee

This week I met with my Mutual Ministry Committee or MMC for short.  For those of you who are not aware, the MMC serves as a kind of support and accountability group for the bishop, or in a parish for a pastor. When the right people are gathered around the table, it can be a very helpful group.  But, if you’ve got the wrong people, well, it’s a disaster waiting to happen.

I must admit, I was a little reluctant to form this MMC for myself, but was told that it’s in the Synod Constitution, so I had to do it.  Why was I reluctant?  My first parish in Brooklyn had an MMC, and it was just plain awful.  I inherited a group that had been formed during the interim, and they had one agenda, which was to evaluate me on a monthly basis.  They were mean spirited.  I finally ended it after 9 miserable months, and never formed another one.

Now, as bishop I get to choose the people who are a part of my MMC, and the group met for the first time this past week.  We spent much of our time outlining the parameters and refining a covenant that included mutual honesty as well as confidentiality.  Our conversation focused on my visits to all of the congregations, as well as my use of this blog and facebook and twitter to communicate about those visits.  I also had a chance to rant a bit.  The group asked good questions and encouraged me to attend to my body and soul for well being and the long haul.

I can see how a quality MMC could be very helpful to a pastor.  It strikes me that a couple key ingredients are needed:  1)  The pastor must have the freedom to select the members.  2)  A clear and honest covenant must be established, and probably signed by everyone on the MMC.  3)  I would suggest that consideration be made to include a few people on the MMC who are not members of the congregation being served, and that the total number of people in the group not exceed 5, plus the pastor.

I also believe there are a few tasks that should NOT be in the MMC task list. 1) Evaluation of the pastor  2) Salary and/or compensation recommendations  3)  Nor should the names of the MMC be known in the congregation, because people tend to come to the members with complaints.   The problem with what I’ve just written is that it is 180 degrees counter to what is in many of our congregation’s constitutions.  Sorry, I think the structure that we have put in place in our constitutions for MMC’s is wrong.  It tends to encourage congregations to think of the MMC as the HR department.  And yes, I’ll be advocating for this change in the ELCA model constitution at our next conference of bishops gathering.

I’d suggest that a different group, perhaps the Executive Committee of the council serve as the evaluation and salary committee.  But, even then, the evaluation should not be of just the pastor or rostered leader. It should be of the whole ministry.  After all, most ministry is 50% clergy leadership and 50% lay leadership.  We are in this together.  It’s called the body of Christ building the kingdom of God.  Let’s open our hearts and minds to the spirit to act through us together.

The MMC, with the right people, can be a positive avenue for our leaders to receive support, prayer and the sometimes needed gentle nudge.  Mine is off to a good start, as we are building trust and confidence in one another, and allowing God's Spirit to guide and bring wisdom to the forefront.

The Intersection

This year at our synod assembly, we will ordain Tiffany Chaney.  She is the Pastor and Mission Developer at the Intersection, a new mission church start in Dorchester section of Boston, MA.

Tiffany is a graduate of our partner seminary in Philadelphia, LTSP.  Before seminary she worked in the Health care field, and holds an MBA.

We like to tease her about her accent, as she is originally from Alabama.  But then again, she has every right to return the favor as she meets all these Bostonians.

This past weekend, our Director of Mission, Jane Shields visited the Intersection as they celebrated seven bapstims in worship.

In the words of one person, "this makes God smile."

What is Tiffany doing right?  Connecting faith with daily life, meeting people where they are, and welcoming them into a place that feels like home.  

Just a little news from the Mission field of New England.

 

 Below find a cell phone photo of the group of baptism candidates along with Tiffany and Pastor Shields

Let's talk about God

I am becoming an avid reader of the work of Richard Rohr.  This video runs 10 minutes, and it reveals quite an insight into Rohr's thinking about prayer, God and living in the 21st Century as a Christian.  If you get a chance, read his book, Breathing Underwater.  Good stuff.  The video comes from the good folks at The Work of the People, a resource of video and images.  While at St. Andrew, I would periodically use some of their work to introduce a sermon or another part of worship.

 

Big Time!

While leaving worship at Salem Lutheran in Bridgeport CT today, I said to Pastor Marjo Anderson, "you know this worship just makes me smile."  I should have added, "big time!"

The worship was such a fine blend of tradition, without feeling musty and stiff, combined with great music that invited people to sing and praise with a genuine heart.

What a joy.  Let me tell you about my day.

In five hours, Pastor Marjo Anderson put me to work, beginning with an 8:15 worship service, followed by an Adult Forum, a 10:30 worship, Blessing of the Bikes, BBQ on the lawn and food packing event.   I guess she figured, she should get her moneys worth.  What a great day.  Check out the photos below by Rich Lansing.  By the way, every congregation needs a photographer in the 21st century.

This strikes me as a congregation that is transforming its culture toward Joy, Mission and radical Welcome. During our adult forum, which was extremely well attended by a wide range of people, I was asked about my time as a Pastor at St. Andrew. (I realized that hardly anyone asks me this question). My answer focused on "the culture of a church trumps everything."  I now notice the culture of a congregation more than I look at its mission statement or worship style or programs.  Salem is in the midst of an exciting culture shift, and I really like the direction they are going.  They exude JOY - in worship, in conversation, with children.  They asked a lot of questions around mission, and not so much from the typical, "how can we get more members?", but “how can we serve.”  There is a difference and I can't tell you how important the difference is - it matters a lot. They practice welcome.  Example, a gentleman in his 80s dressed in a full suit and tie walked up to the table where the bikers were eating lunch, and told them how pleased he was that they came for the event.  Then another man from the congregation sat down and ate at their table.  That doesn't happen everywhere. 

Salem Lutheran is getting it.  They are making the pivot toward being a 21st century congregation.  I left the parking lot and headed home with a smile, BIG TIME!   Oh, and they flip the traditional paradigm in staffing.  They are lead by a female Senior Pastor, a female ELCA rostered leader, and the church secretary is a man.

 

Maine and the magic 100

It took a little under 8 months, 7 months and 21 days to be exact.

On Sunday, April 21, I completed my 99th and 100th congregational visit since taking office on September 1st. We have 185 congregations in the New England synod, and my goal of visiting all of them early in my ministry as bishop, now seems to be achievable.

Holy Trinity in North Easton, MA was the 100th visit.  Congratulations, they win a 10% off coupon from Brickley's ice cream store in Narragansett, RI. :)

I'll continue the visits.  I have planned two more trips to different regions in our synod.  Soon, I'll be visiting many of the congregations in the Southern Connecticut Conference.  Later in May, I plan a trip to see all of our Vermont congregations during the week of May 13 to 18.

Earlier in April, I visited seven of our congregations in Maine.  Don't worry, I'll be back again this summer for more visits in Maine, yes, including a trip north to Caribou.

While making the trek south along Route One near Camden, Maine, I stopped and made this short video.

 

What about the "Nones?"

Most of you who read this blog are already familiar with the rising tide of persons in North America, who define their religious affiliation as "none."  I've been speaking about this phenomenon during our Regional Gatherings here in New England.  The next two are scheduled for Woreceter, MA on May 4, and Rutland, VT on May 18. 

As I've outlined in those presentations, we have several responses available to us as the church.  Denial, Whine, Blame or Engage.  The first three are unappealing to me, though I recognize they are the easier options.  I prefer to engage with the challenge before us.  As a parish pastor for 25 years, I regularly engaged with people who did not affiliate with a particular faith.  That engagement took many forms, including conversation, surveys and friendships.  In many ways it has been easy for me to engage with "nones" because I have been one.  Most of you know my story of growing up unaffiliated with religion, and then being baptized at the age of 21.

I love "nones."  I also love atheists, agnostics, skeptics, religiously confused, heavy doubters and light doubters.  I learn as much from those conversations as I do from the best lecture by a profound theologian.  Truth is I enjoy both.  

I also believe that we in the church have much to learn from engagement with the nones.  There is a biblical precedence for all of this; his name is Jesus.  Yes, I see the tax collectors, sinners and outcasts as a form of 1st century "nones."  They most likely were people who embraced their faith, but they certainly did not believe they were welcome and embraced by the church of their day.  

I'm encouraging conversation with the religiously disaffiliated.  While at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Charlestown, RI, the congregation I served for the past 20 years, I made a decision to spend 25% of my time with "nones."  Yup, that's right.  The church was paying me a quarter of my salary to be with people who were not members (we called them partners) of the congregation.  Did I take heat for that?  What do you think?  But, I believe it was one reason our congregation grew from 100 to 700, and even when we were in a plateaued time, we were constantly receiving guests in our worship services and other ministry programs.  But, more importantly, we were engaging with people who had no or little faith connection, and we were one of the main ways these people were discovering a God who embraces, welcomes, challenges, loves and nourishes.  Ministry with the "nones" is cool stuff - Jesus stuff.

So I was intrigued when I stumbled across this Facebook effort by a group encouraging congregations to consider interviewing an atheist in church on May 4.   Think about it.

At this years, New England Synod Assembly, I'm inviting a group of five people who are "nones" to be a part of a conversation in front of the 500 gathered in Springfield.  Think of it as an ecclesiastical Charlie Rose type interview.  We'll discuss their backgrounds, life stories, and most importantly the 'whys' of their decision to not connect with a faith community.  The tone of the conversation will be a humble approach.  Essentially, I'm asking, "how have we in the Christian community failed to connect with you and your family and friends, and what can we do about it."

I have three people lined up so far, but I'm looking for two more.  If you or a friend are a "none" and you are articulate and comfortable talking about your life and your questions, send me an email.  I'm interested in speaking with you.