From where does authority come? Decisiveness? Intelligence? Persuasive communication? Strength? Though any of these traits may contribute to an authoritative presence, Paul and Jesus each provide examples of what it means to lead in a community of faith and in the world. Sometimes politicians and other leaders attempt a different approach to gain authority, leading their listeners to believe that with volume and certainty come authority. In Paul's statement, "knowledge puffs up, but love builds up," and in Jesus' actions of compassion and healing, we are called to look for servanthood over certainty in our lives and in community.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Congregational Annual Meetings and the Currency of Passion
In my tradition, many congregations are conducting an annual meeting this Sunday. Most of the energy and time in preparing this meeting is placed toward concocting a budget, and the recipe often calls for blood squeezed from turnips.
The discussion leading up to and during these meetings highlights desperate pleas for greater revenues/offering and/or cutting staff and programs. The efforts to change the community via budget policy and concoctions often resembles the making New Year's resolutions on December 30th while stuffing a mouth full of stale Christmas cookies. The habits don't often change in the long term from these annual tantrums about the way we're living our lives.
The change necessary for a congregation is cultural and spiritual, and does not require money. The currency for the congregation is passion, and passion is poorly invested if it's all deposited in the annual meeting and budget formulation.
A better congregational meeting involves passion that will be invested for the sake of ministry, because passion is valuable these days.
The discussion leading up to and during these meetings highlights desperate pleas for greater revenues/offering and/or cutting staff and programs. The efforts to change the community via budget policy and concoctions often resembles the making New Year's resolutions on December 30th while stuffing a mouth full of stale Christmas cookies. The habits don't often change in the long term from these annual tantrums about the way we're living our lives.
The change necessary for a congregation is cultural and spiritual, and does not require money. The currency for the congregation is passion, and passion is poorly invested if it's all deposited in the annual meeting and budget formulation.
A better congregational meeting involves passion that will be invested for the sake of ministry, because passion is valuable these days.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Why Feed the Certainty Beast?
People crave certainty.
From politicians (flip-floppers are despised), to weather forecasters, to pastors, a certain section of the public demands certainty and becomes apoplectic when the certainty beast isn't fed.
I'm not in the certainty business.
I don't care if a politician is a flip-flopper. If a political leader needs to change their position based on an honest gathering of information, I appreciate that the leader is using their brain and a level of discernment (flip-flopping for pure political expediency is another story).
University of Washington atmospheric science professor Cliff Mass shares that if a forecast needs to change, then change it based on the information in front of you, and forget the earlier forecast. Mass took a lot of heat for changing his forecast, but he had to. The information changed.
The fearful thing with the role of politician and weather forecaster is that while the public demands certainty, fulfilling the leadership calling recognizes that feeding the certainty beast is not necessarily faithful. At least, this is how I see it as a pastor.
Some might argue that most of all, a pastor is in the certainty business. If a pastor is not the bearer of certainty about God and Christ, then what's the point? I can't speak for others who share my profession, but I believe that God gives followers power to share their witness of God's activity in the world (see Acts 1: 6-11) and that the cross of Christ is more about the faithfulness of God than the certainty of God. If I put my effort into being certain in relation to my neighbor, I lose opportunities to remain connected to my neighbor.
Being connected to my neighbor communicates the faithfulness of God more than certainty. The certainty beast does not have to be fed, though it will continue to growl.
From politicians (flip-floppers are despised), to weather forecasters, to pastors, a certain section of the public demands certainty and becomes apoplectic when the certainty beast isn't fed.
I'm not in the certainty business.
I don't care if a politician is a flip-flopper. If a political leader needs to change their position based on an honest gathering of information, I appreciate that the leader is using their brain and a level of discernment (flip-flopping for pure political expediency is another story).
University of Washington atmospheric science professor Cliff Mass shares that if a forecast needs to change, then change it based on the information in front of you, and forget the earlier forecast. Mass took a lot of heat for changing his forecast, but he had to. The information changed.
The fearful thing with the role of politician and weather forecaster is that while the public demands certainty, fulfilling the leadership calling recognizes that feeding the certainty beast is not necessarily faithful. At least, this is how I see it as a pastor.
Some might argue that most of all, a pastor is in the certainty business. If a pastor is not the bearer of certainty about God and Christ, then what's the point? I can't speak for others who share my profession, but I believe that God gives followers power to share their witness of God's activity in the world (see Acts 1: 6-11) and that the cross of Christ is more about the faithfulness of God than the certainty of God. If I put my effort into being certain in relation to my neighbor, I lose opportunities to remain connected to my neighbor.
Being connected to my neighbor communicates the faithfulness of God more than certainty. The certainty beast does not have to be fed, though it will continue to growl.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Considering Profound Disappointment With The World
Watching those who speak and/or write about society, is it possible to avoid the ethos of anger or disappointment?
One of the popular ways someone can gain people to join a cause is through anger and disappointment. Check the political debates. Read your favorite columnist. Watch the pundits on Sunday. Listen to the radio. Check out a message board. Go to a local cafe. Participate in a discussion in a church fellowship hall.
Sometimes I read my own blog and discover that my most "popular" blog posts are when I am my angriest.
Join me in reading John 3:16-17. On what section do you focus?
I recognize I come from a place of privilege in the world. I also know injustice is rampant, which makes me sad, angry, and often disappointed. Once in awhile, I'll do something about it.
If God actually loves the world (or was it only a one time thing when Jesus showed up), I have a hard time reconciling that all I can do is be disappointed or angry with the world.
One of the popular ways someone can gain people to join a cause is through anger and disappointment. Check the political debates. Read your favorite columnist. Watch the pundits on Sunday. Listen to the radio. Check out a message board. Go to a local cafe. Participate in a discussion in a church fellowship hall.
Sometimes I read my own blog and discover that my most "popular" blog posts are when I am my angriest.
Join me in reading John 3:16-17. On what section do you focus?
I recognize I come from a place of privilege in the world. I also know injustice is rampant, which makes me sad, angry, and often disappointed. Once in awhile, I'll do something about it.
If God actually loves the world (or was it only a one time thing when Jesus showed up), I have a hard time reconciling that all I can do is be disappointed or angry with the world.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Don't Go There (Psalm 139 & John 1:43-51)
It's common thinking for humans to perceive the absence of God in certain types of situations. First, in the midst of chaos. Genesis 1 suggests that God is not only present in chaos, but thrives and creates in it. The other situation is in the midst of isolation--in a place where no one else wants to go. Psalm 139 and John 1:43-51 depict miserable, isolated places. These places do not reflect the absence of God, but the lengths that God is willing to go to love.
In reflecting on the vast presence of God in the world, it may be intimidating or comforting, or both. The vast presence of God in these Bible passages also issue a calling, because if we are followers of Jesus the Christ, it means we are called into places that no one else may be willing to go. This is a scary proposition. However, if God does not abandon us, and goes to our own isolated places in life, then why be paralyzed by fear or worry?
In reflecting on the vast presence of God in the world, it may be intimidating or comforting, or both. The vast presence of God in these Bible passages also issue a calling, because if we are followers of Jesus the Christ, it means we are called into places that no one else may be willing to go. This is a scary proposition. However, if God does not abandon us, and goes to our own isolated places in life, then why be paralyzed by fear or worry?
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Is Redemption For Church Boards Possible?
When I work with leadership groups in congregations, I am often in awe of their individual stories. I learn about all kinds of vocation. Mothers with an artistic flair, health care workers who help cure disease and play saxophone, soldiers who give their passion and leadership in between deployments, dead-eye shot farmers, trucker theologians, ice-water veined CEOs, insightful entrepreneurs. God gives them the gifts to do these amazing things. They love God. They love their church. They do whatever they can to help the church to do good ministry.
At least 90% of them cannot state why they are serving in their particular position in church.
It's hard for me to imagine how such talented people with such a strong sense of purpose in other areas of their lives settle for such meandering when it comes to the direction of the church.
Maybe it's because making a decision cuts off other possibilities, possibilities that may hurt another human being, and that's not Christian. Maybe.
Congregations often can't decide what their board should be--a representative group or a leadership group. For the life of me, I can't figure out a good reason why a church board needs more people present (this doesn't mean I am against public meetings, only meetings where so many are required to attend). As if more people in the bureaucracy means more frequent and faithful ministry. I believe a church board is best served with five people (seven at the most), with energy directed toward being transparent about ideas and decisions, rather than creating more structure. Yet, time after time, I find boards with 13, 15, 17, 20+ people on them (probably related to a representation understanding). The meetings are frequent, long and arduous. People serve them out of a sense of duty (which is not a bad thing), but it is misplaced energy. People are busy. Regular, frequent meetings might have been a way to bring people together in the past, but that train already departed. If the goal is fellowship and contact, don't facilitate the gathering under the guise of a business meeting, go for fellowship.
I remember in my early years of ministry, there was a movement to make church boards into small spiritual communities. In some ways, that trend was like putting pearls on a pig. The idea did not address the underlying problem. The structure of the church was not serving joyful ministry. The members ended up serving the structure of the church. Joy departed. Fatigue and discouragement spread. I remember an alert about the pitfalls of building up church boards as opposed to congregational ministry and discipleship, which began my search to convert the countless hours I spent attending time wasting meetings and missing opportunities to spend evening time with my family.
Jesus once said that Sabbath was made for humankind, not the other way around (Mark 2: 23-28). Congregations place too much energy in serving their structures. Serving structures makes the congregation more susceptible to power plays. Congregations may find more joy if they find their joy in ministry as opposed to bureaucratic wrangling. Once congregations can claim where they find joy in ministry, then they can determine what kind of structure their congregation needs.
I find new light when I find a congregation with the courage to find their joy in serving God and release themselves from serving a structure. Jesus did not say that Sabbath was bad, and that is was good when it served abundant life, rather than as a weapon for the powerful. Structure for a church is not bad, but it easily become an idol, and a despised one at that.
What do you see in your congregational boards?
At least 90% of them cannot state why they are serving in their particular position in church.
It's hard for me to imagine how such talented people with such a strong sense of purpose in other areas of their lives settle for such meandering when it comes to the direction of the church.
Maybe it's because making a decision cuts off other possibilities, possibilities that may hurt another human being, and that's not Christian. Maybe.
Congregations often can't decide what their board should be--a representative group or a leadership group. For the life of me, I can't figure out a good reason why a church board needs more people present (this doesn't mean I am against public meetings, only meetings where so many are required to attend). As if more people in the bureaucracy means more frequent and faithful ministry. I believe a church board is best served with five people (seven at the most), with energy directed toward being transparent about ideas and decisions, rather than creating more structure. Yet, time after time, I find boards with 13, 15, 17, 20+ people on them (probably related to a representation understanding). The meetings are frequent, long and arduous. People serve them out of a sense of duty (which is not a bad thing), but it is misplaced energy. People are busy. Regular, frequent meetings might have been a way to bring people together in the past, but that train already departed. If the goal is fellowship and contact, don't facilitate the gathering under the guise of a business meeting, go for fellowship.
I remember in my early years of ministry, there was a movement to make church boards into small spiritual communities. In some ways, that trend was like putting pearls on a pig. The idea did not address the underlying problem. The structure of the church was not serving joyful ministry. The members ended up serving the structure of the church. Joy departed. Fatigue and discouragement spread. I remember an alert about the pitfalls of building up church boards as opposed to congregational ministry and discipleship, which began my search to convert the countless hours I spent attending time wasting meetings and missing opportunities to spend evening time with my family.
Jesus once said that Sabbath was made for humankind, not the other way around (Mark 2: 23-28). Congregations place too much energy in serving their structures. Serving structures makes the congregation more susceptible to power plays. Congregations may find more joy if they find their joy in ministry as opposed to bureaucratic wrangling. Once congregations can claim where they find joy in ministry, then they can determine what kind of structure their congregation needs.
I find new light when I find a congregation with the courage to find their joy in serving God and release themselves from serving a structure. Jesus did not say that Sabbath was bad, and that is was good when it served abundant life, rather than as a weapon for the powerful. Structure for a church is not bad, but it easily become an idol, and a despised one at that.
What do you see in your congregational boards?
Monday, January 9, 2012
Where There Is Chaos, God Is There (Genesis 1: 1-5)
Sometimes it's easy to find the presence of God, especially when things are going well. When things are going well, blessing is evident. However, when we see chaos, discord and messes in life, it may lead us to think that God is absent. Genesis 1 is a creation story that tells us that God created out of chaos. God addresses chaos by lovingly creating with a word. Not only is a word delivered to bring some order in the midst of chaos, but the creation (including you) is employed in bringing order to the chaos. This is a good thing. God said so.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Living with a #FAIL in You and in Congregations
Congregations in decline live in the midst of a self-fulfilling prophecy. They fear failure. They fear failure in their ministry, then fail to act on the opportunities in their midst. The ministry often takes a slow and painful descent into the abyss. This descent is mined with blame, doubt and despair. The descent is accelerated by a fear of failure.
Failure is magnified these days. With continual exponential expansion of communication opportunities, someone is ready to pounce on a failure for individuals, organizations and congregations. Tracking failures is a cottage industry--even big business (think tabloids), and a hobby. For Twitter, you only have to search for #FAIL and you have a quick view of the failures of the day. No one enjoys having their failures exposed in public, let alone among their family and friends.
There's nothing particularly church-related about the fear of failure that exists in any organization, although I think congregations have particular traits in their relationship with failure. I think there's different theological and emotional ammunition wrapped in a congregational ministry as we ponder the fear of failure. I believe the thinking develops like this--ministry is closer to God, then it must last forever, because God does not change (which is a loaded statement).
Seth Godin's post on being wrong highlights a tipping point. All of us are going to be wrong. You will make mistakes. I will fail. The tipping point is whether we are able to claim the failure proactively as fuel to learn, grow and seek the next opportunity to embrace. Godin ignites an excellent point that may shed light on the collective disappointment and anger with the U.S. Congress. No one is ever wrong, and all actions are subject to spin. No wonder Congress can't get any traction.
The Christian practice of confession and forgiveness can be informative for congregations, individuals or anyone else confronting their fear to act. Rooted in the ultimate failure in the cross (what a colossal failure of a chosen leader to be executed before he even had a chance to lead for a long time), Jesus resurrection from death frees us to confess our sin, failures and brokenness without fear of being abandoned by God. In confession and forgiveness we are reminded of God's faithfulness. We are free. If you are free, why worry about failure? It's going to happen. So if failure is going to happen, what are you going to do with it?
Failure is magnified these days. With continual exponential expansion of communication opportunities, someone is ready to pounce on a failure for individuals, organizations and congregations. Tracking failures is a cottage industry--even big business (think tabloids), and a hobby. For Twitter, you only have to search for #FAIL and you have a quick view of the failures of the day. No one enjoys having their failures exposed in public, let alone among their family and friends.
There's nothing particularly church-related about the fear of failure that exists in any organization, although I think congregations have particular traits in their relationship with failure. I think there's different theological and emotional ammunition wrapped in a congregational ministry as we ponder the fear of failure. I believe the thinking develops like this--ministry is closer to God, then it must last forever, because God does not change (which is a loaded statement).
Seth Godin's post on being wrong highlights a tipping point. All of us are going to be wrong. You will make mistakes. I will fail. The tipping point is whether we are able to claim the failure proactively as fuel to learn, grow and seek the next opportunity to embrace. Godin ignites an excellent point that may shed light on the collective disappointment and anger with the U.S. Congress. No one is ever wrong, and all actions are subject to spin. No wonder Congress can't get any traction.
The Christian practice of confession and forgiveness can be informative for congregations, individuals or anyone else confronting their fear to act. Rooted in the ultimate failure in the cross (what a colossal failure of a chosen leader to be executed before he even had a chance to lead for a long time), Jesus resurrection from death frees us to confess our sin, failures and brokenness without fear of being abandoned by God. In confession and forgiveness we are reminded of God's faithfulness. We are free. If you are free, why worry about failure? It's going to happen. So if failure is going to happen, what are you going to do with it?
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