Leadership

Recently, in sermons and in articles, I have mentioned Brian McLaren's book Church on the Other Side. There is an old saying, "When the student is ready the teacher appears". This student must be ready because I am finding a number of good teachers. In McLaren's book he talks about leadership in the church. He says, "Leadership must once again become a matter of love and spirituality, a place for spiritual sages, not just organizational technicians". "Wow!" and "Ouch!" He goes on the say…

When Ministry is just a professional career for the clergy and church is just another association or club, when huge arguments arise over petty trivialities and huge denial arises over major issues, the church hardly seems worth sacrificing for. The root of the challenge is to see the church as a life-and-death matter for individuals and for our world—as something truly worth the suffering invested to save it and lead it and love it.

He then quotes Henri Nouwen…

It is not enough for the priests and ministers of the future to be moral people, well trained, eager to help their fellow humans, and able to respond creatively to the burning issues of their time. All of that is very valuable and important, but it is not the heart of Christian leadership. The central question is, are the leaders of the future truly men and women of God, people with an ardent desire to dwell in God's presence, to listen to God's voice, to look at God's beauty, to touch God's incarnate Word and to taste fully God's infinite goodness?

May the leaders of Central Christian Church, both clergy and lay, seek to dwell in God's presence and listen to God's voice.

Grace and peace,

 

 

 

The Journey

    I have been doing a lot of reading recently on the emerging church movement and I am encouraged by what I read. There is an increased spiritual yearning in our world today and it is a yearning that impacts our culture and, potentially, our church. On the upside, people are seeking an experience of and a relationship with God. On the downside, the

current condition of many churches is that they are ill prepared or even unwilling to consider new and different ways of being church, therefore they are perceived as being anachronistic, stiff necked and judgmental.

    One of the metaphors for the life of faith that makes a lot of sense today is that of "journey". The Christian life is not a destination, it is a journey. This was certainly true

With the early followers of Jesus, before the church became mainlined and institutionalized by the Roman emperor, Constantine. These first, second and third generation followers of Jesus referred to themselves as "Followers of The Way". Each seeker and each Christian finds themselves in a different place on that road, and we are called to welcome and love. Each community finds itself in a different place, and we are called to be continually moving, continually pressing on.

    The Christian journey in the 21st century doesn't have a road map. We are charting new territory. There are many twists and turns; even times when we need to backtrack to find our way. Our Polar star must, however, always be Jesus. This is how we navigate, but the way ahead is not always clear.

    Because we are in uncharted waters it is imperative that the church be in a constant process of discernment, seeking to answer the questions: Who are we? What does God want us to do? Discernment involves Bible study and prayer, communal Bible study and prayer. Discernment is not democracy. We don't take up and down votes to determine God's will. We pray, we listen, we love, we act. We pray, we listen, we love, we act. It is a pattern. We find ways to equip one another to the ministries God calls us to do. And we celebrate the journey, the road behind and the road ahead.

ME To WE

I have just finished another book entitled Me to We: A Pastor's Discovery of the Power of Partnership by Alan Nelson. Wow! It knocked my socks off. The author articulated a point of view I have held for some time. I just wasn't able to express it very well. His premise is basic, "the congregation's journey for change starts with the pastor changing internally what he thinks and externally how he functions" (p. 26). He talks about training and equipping people for service/ministry. "The church is about the only place in society where you don't have to have any training to be involved in a role" (p. 68). He goes on to say, "Raise the bar . . .Most churches guilt people into service, don't train them adequately, and then they wonder why people don't last long" (p. 68)

If the church is to be vital in the 21^st Century, then we must rethink how we do ministry. It isn't paying the staff to do it while the majority of the congregation seeks to be served. Rather it is the paid staff equipping the congregation to do ministry, following Moses' and Jesus' model.

I am going to use this book in a small group or two. Let's see if others think the author is on to something.

Dogmatism and Faith

What is the evidence of the Spirit in a vital congregation? Is it dogmatism, strict adherence to doctrine, or faith? Dr. Richard Halverson, a Presbyterian minister, made a profound observation a few years ago. He, by the way, was chaplain of the U.S. Senate from 1981 until 1994.

Dogmatism and faith are not identical! Dogmatism is like stone. Faith is like soil.

Dogmatism refuses to admit doubt. Faith often struggles with doubt.

Dogmatism is brittle…cracks under pressure. Faith is resilient, malleable and teachable. Dogmatism is defensive…stereotyped…static. Faith rests…but is never smug, pat or complacent.

Dogmatism is a closed system. Faith is open to reason.

Dogmatism is a tunnel. Faith is a mountain peak.

Dogmatism fills one with pride. Faith inspires awe and reverence.

Dogmatism insists on propositions. Faith knows Christ.

Dogmatism generates bigotry. Faith stimulates understanding.

    (Somewhere Inside of Eternity. Multnomah Press, 1978)

One of the beauties of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is that we seek, generally, to be less dogmatic and always more faithful.