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Rhode Island / Southeastern Massachusetts District |
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Rhode Island / Southeastern Massachusetts District |
Dear Pilgrims, My son Steven now plays little league; this is his first year and he hasnt gotten a hit yet. Coming out of farm league he was considered very good, but then in farm league they use pitching machines which he had easily mastered. I asked him the other day if he was discouraged about not hitting in little league and he said no. I then asked him what he thought was contributing to his slump. Well, I guess I would say change. Pressing further he said. In farm league you know that the machine is pitching, the pitches always come at the same speed and pretty much in the same location; once you get used to it its not that hard. In Little League, you have.(pause)kids like Joey pitching.. (Steve is 10 and in 4th grade, Joey is 12 and in middle school, Steve is 48 and 80 pounds, Joey is 62 and about 150 pounds).and sometimes Joey pitches it right down the middle and sometimes he cant find the plate and hits you in the head. Its not that predictable and actually a little scary sometimes.
Truth be known, Ive seen Joey pitch and have seen him pitch a gem of a game, and then hes been gone in the first inning because hes hit the first two batters he faced. Whether it is across the plate, in the dirt or under your chin, Joey throws hard; the batters job is to figure out when to swing and when to duck.
There are many lessons to be learned on the little league diamond; lessons about team work, cheering, fair play, respect, winning and losing, but the hardest, at least for most of the kids their first year up, is change. The rules, the game, the coaches, the fields, the kids, the expectationseverything changes; the key is in how they adjust as a team and how one adjusts as a player.
When Bishop Weaver spoke at our district day last month he shared with us some statistical information that was starting; he called it a reality check. I think it is fair to say that while statistics can be bent and used to ones advantage, there is also a reality that they convey; in essence no matter how one uses them, there is a truth somewhere in them. I would encourage you to read the overview that is posted below.
What this information suggests to us (as if we didnt already know) is that we are in a changing religious landscape which require significant change on the part of local churches, pastors and individuals..everything is changing and the key will be how we adjust as a Conference and how we adjust as individuals. Well be talking more about this when we get to charge conferences, but it is clear at least in my mind that many clergy will need training on how to pastor with multiple churches as part of their charge and churches will have to adapt to being in relationship with one another for missional and ministry needs to a region and not to a specific town. There might have been a time when First Church was the farm league superstar, but in the new and changing landscape, we need to find different ways to be team. At least on the surface the local church might want to consider reflecting on where they expend the most energy: on survival or mission, on fundraising or tithing, on keeping the doors open or opening to the community. This might be an excellent time to once again reflect on Paul Nixons book; I Refuse to Serve a Dying Church or learn more about Natural Church development.
It is not all gloom and doom. Steves team with its mix of rookies and grizzled veterans are working their identity out as a team; we are too. Its not like farm league anymore where things were kind of predictable; it may even be a little scary, but let us not forget that unlike baseball, God goes before us and with us.
Blessings,
Gary
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Upcoming dates:
Appointment changes in RISEM
Congratulations to: Paul ONeil (Acushnet-Wesley) and Jinwoo Chun (Cornerstone of Faith, Coventry, RI) who will be recognized as elders and Federico Carmona (Open Table of Christ) who will be commissioned as a provisionary elder at Annual Conference.
CLERGY RETREAT SPACE
Did you know that Camp Aldersgate has retreat space for clergy to get away for renewal and re-creation? This space s mostly available on the weekdays and provides a silent time for prayer, reflection and renewal. For more information all Jen Carpenter at 401-568-4350 or jenn@campaldersgate.com.
LEADERSHIP HELPS
The Right Question
Leaders do not need answers.
Leaders must have the right questions. When someone makes statements that do not seem to match your perceptions, some questions from which to draw are:
On what information do you base your comments?
What experience convinced you of this? CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMET
CourageousSpace
www.CourageousSpace.com
Dan Smith and Mary Sellon
Pathway to Renewal
Congregational Renewal realigns a congregation with God's intents. Renewal describes what happens to the people individually and corporately they develop a renewed heart for God, self, and other that results in action.
The process of renewal seeks to shift a congregation from personal and congregational self-absorption and aimless meandering to an outward focused community of disciples who have a shared sense of purpose and mission and whose relationships embody the "kin"dom of God. While aware of their past, the renewed congregation is fully aware of the realities of their present, and works to shape their future by aligning their efforts with their best discernment of God's aims.
Congregational Renewal can be broken down into three phases of work.
Phase One: Developing Readiness
In phase one, something happens that alerts congregational leaders that what's currently being experienced is not enough. This might be a crisis that jeopardizes the future of the congregation, or an experience of God that provides a taste of the "something more" that's possible.
The first step in instigating renewal is the gathering of a small group of people who talk, study, pray, and wonder together about the "something more" that might be possible for their congregation. This germinating group is formational for those participating, giving them a deeper taste of Christian community than what might currently be experienced in the congregation. This group continues and expands informally until there is sufficient desire to make congregational renewal a formal, sanctioned effort.
At that point, the congregation's governing board (or more typically, a task-force they appoint) explores renewal as a new and intentional path for the congregation, a path different from that which it's currently on. The board assesses the current state of the congregation and its trajectory as well as participating in formational conversations similar to those had within the germinating group.
For renewal to pervade the congregation, congregational leaders must serve as yeast. They need to have a sense of the difference renewal can make personally and corporately. They must want it for themselves and want it for the congregation. When they are convinced that the congregation's current trajectory is no longer acceptable, they make the formal commitment to find a new path and lead the congregation in renewal. If an urgency of crisis originally drove the push for renewal, the urgency must now be shifting within the leaders to an urgency of hope and opportunity.
Phase Two: Surfacing a Guiding Vision
In phase two, the broader congregation is invited into formational work to deepen their awareness of and openness to God. This emphasis pervades all areas of congregational life. This phase is best directed by a sub-group (Vision Team) commissioned by he governing board. This group, comprised of the pastor and key laity, develop strategies for preparing the congregation and leading them through a discernment of God' vision for the congregation. This group is formative for its members and for the governing board to which it reports.
In this phase, the congregation and its leaders study the scriptures to anchor themselves in God's will and ways. They reflect on the congregation and how God has worked in and through it in the past and present. They celebrate what has been and determine what, from their past, needs to be carried into the future and what, though it may have once served, should be left behind. Naming and then letting go of pre-conceived notions of what God wants and what their future should look like, the congregation enters into discernment with the aim of surfacing a picture of the future God would have them live into.
This vision is refined and tested. The congregation and its leaders reflect on the cost of saying "yes" to letting it guide them and name what they may have to let go of personally and corporately. When convinced of the rightness of the vision, the governing board official adopts the vision as what will guide the congregation's living and decision-making. The board, to ensure they stay true to this commitment, develops ways to hold itself accountable for what it and the congregation have said they want
Phase Three: Living into the New Future
With a destination in mind and a sense of urgency about getting there, the congregation develops strategies to align all parts of congregational life in service of its mission and vision. Renewal is likely to fall by the wayside or efforts denigrate into new forms of the same old patterns, unless a group is authorized to shepherd the process.
In phase three, the focus is on six areas: development of new initiatives; realignment of existing ministries and programs; congregational care; staff development; lay leadership development, and ongoing personal and corporate formation. Attention must be given to each of the areas. Ignoring any of them will lead to trouble.
Up until now, changes have been talked about, but few have been instituted. Actual changes can be unsettling. Phase three can generate significant conflict and resistance. Care must be taken to communicate often and regularly and to listen deeply and compassionately. Part of the challenge of phase three is using conflict and the energy it produces constructively and creatively.
Renewal can be considered complete when spiritual formation is seen as regular part of every member's life, relationships embody the "kin"dom of God, and the congregation has a deep and pervasive concern for the temporal and spiritual well-being of those beyond its doors that manifests in action.
BISHOPS DAY ON THE DISTRICT
Bishop Weaver gathered with laity and clergy at John Wesley UMC on March 30th and shared with us some information about the conference as well as a wonderful time or worship and fellowship.
Heres the brief overview.
Questions:
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