St. Francis Day Reflections

While other clergy are busy with special “blessing of the animals” services in their parishes, I reflect on the fact that I live in the middle of God’s creation as a missioner in Western Maryland. It seems so very appropriate that I reflect on the locations of the churches with which I work on this, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.

As I look at the membership listing for the Living Stones Partnership--a partnership of dioceses, seminaries and other communities of faith involved in local ministry (see http://livingstonespartnership.org)—I realize that what led us to appreciate local ministry connects us in another manner. And that is our respective settings—our beautiful environs. Each partner holds claim to being located in “God’s country,” knowing full well that what we say and what we do are two very different things. We seem to have that unique appreciation for our environment and for the fact that we live on earth, on loan from our creator, loving God. Thus, at the very core we are a partnership of communities of faith with a sense of creation and our need to preserve it at all costs.

And that generally means living more simply and more responsibly. It also means being self-sufficient.

Living Stones in many ways is not just a partnership of communities of faith involved in local ministry. We are a partnership of communities of faith that, for various reasons, understand local ministry and the “ministry of all baptized.”  We are communities of faith with smaller parish memberships, parishes located more distant from each other and particularly more distant from institutions of higher religious education. We look to ourselves and to each other to solve problems. We look to each other for leadership. More importantly, we look to each other for the tapping and growing of gifts—giftedness from God for God, for the community and for each other.

We are adept at gifts identification, particularly in others, even though we may be hard-pressed to identify them in ourselves. The Appalachian, (or mid-western, or New England, or other) pride and humility, all wrapped into one, accounts for our unwillingness to self-identify. 

Sounds very Christ-like now that I think of it—Christ never tooted his own horn, and he certainly did not teach his disciples to do so either! Instead, he guided his followers as a shepherd, a companion and a gentle and prodding teacher.

Hmmm…perhaps I have discovered something about ourselves worth pondering further. The “ministry of all baptized” model grows out of humility and gifts identification in others in many ways. But it also grows out of a sense of independence—not one where we don’t need and help others. Heavens, we are the first to bring a home-baked pie or cake to a sick friend or pick up the phone to pass along a prayer chain message! But it is a sense of independence that gives us the fortitude to trudge on and keep to the pilgrim journey—a journey of life-long learning, seeking counsel from neighbor and friend, and helping neighbor and friend in doing what Christ taught us was and is Church—Church in the world, doing ministry. Ministry in the world, in the valley gaps and on the mountain tops. Ministry side by side along the pilgrim path.

Theresa

Authenticity and Identity

When someone is in a position of church leadership, others soon identify him or her as the “go to” person. I remember my years as assistant head usher in the early 1990s in Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. I was greeting people, distributing bulletins and helping guests locate the nursery and other facilities. I thrived in that role. But what really made me realize that I was a leader was that Easter vigil service when something went wrong. People looked to me to solve the problem, which I did. In fact, I liked knowing that others saw me as a leader and actually depended on me to take responsibility while providing a sense of calm. Yes. That was nice.

But oh, there still was a difference when I became ordained; when I was the person to lead the service, versus be a volunteer or licensed lay leader. The buck stops with me now. If a service goes flat, they look to me. I no longer am “one of the girls” in church. I am the source of calm or of worry. I set the tone for the congregation. I also must look only to myself as the person ultimately responsible. That also is fine. I have no problems with that. But will the aspirants to leadership positions feel the same?

How do I explain this change to those whom I counsel when discerning their calls to ordained or commissioned leadership? Is it something that I can articulate and they can really understand? Will it be something that they live into gradually, or is it something like an epiphany, much like the V-8 commercial, with a hand slapping one’s forehead when it dawns on him or her when it occurs?

Further, how do I explain what it was like discerning a call within a parish that still remembers me as the insecure and skinny teen of long ago? That image haunted me early in my discernment process. I had to leave that church and continue my discernment for a few more years before I could break free of that shadow. I had that luxury, but those who are discerning calls within mutual ministry, within communities that they never left or returned, do not have that luxury. How do I help them with that shadow side of ministry development within their “home” parishes?

I keep raising these issues with the “aspirants”; life is different and will be different as they discern and accept their calls to leadership in the church. Perhaps I need to accept that I cannot fully explain it for them. I cannot fully prepare them. I can only hope (and pray) that I am there to support them when it happens and that they will understand that, yes, we tried to prepare them for that day, even if there was no way for them to comprehend all of our efforts. Will that be enough? I pray that it is. I guess that is all that I can do, with God’s help.

Theresa

 

Autumn Reflections

I am blessed to live and work in the mountains of Maryland, where fall means brilliantly colored trees, followed by a flurry of raking as the leaves fall from the trees, decorating the yards and fields.  And all while dealing with the ever-growing grass that seems to peek out between the colored leaves that dot my yard. I am graced with a full palette of color and textures of moist grass and drying leaves as I travel the roads of western Maryland.

It also is a time when activity seems to peak within the churches and communities. Fall festivals attract people from far and near, bringing visitors to the region, competing for hotels and restaurants with the college students and their alums. Churches compete with each other with harvest dinners of turkey and ham, accompanied by homemade cakes and pies. Fresh apple butter smeared on homemade bread or biscuits is a treat that I particularly enjoy this time of year.

Church doors and windows close to keep out the chill, and church attendance increases as people return to school and work. Each week is like a homecoming as people catch up with each other and what all they have been doing the past few months.

The musty smell of furnaces being lit to take away the evening chill remind us that winter weather is swiftly approaching. The so-called lazy days of summer are gone, and the days when we wall ourselves up inside are not yet upon us. We approach our lives as if this were our last chance for community before the uncertainty of bad weather haunts us once again.

My question is: Where do people find this new-found energy? As a missioner and ministry developer, I seem to be out of step with everyone else. I love the smells and tastes of autumn, but I frankly find that the life of a ministry developer is quite exhausting this time of year. Church activities are at a high, and I am still recovering from the task of filling in for all of the vacationing clergy over the past three months. I hate cold weather, so I certainly don’t look forward to that, but I find myself wistful for the slower pace of winter (other than Advent and Christmas and Lent, of course!).

Hmmm. Perhaps it just means that I have my work cut out for me—ministry development in sync with the development and training of new ministers! I think I finally got it—so watch out folks! This ministry developer is now on the prowl to deputize more ministers to help with this wonderful task of doing church in Western Maryland. Don’t say I did not warn you!

Theresa

Claiming Sabbath

The Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition, defines “Sabbath” as a “day for resting” and offers “Lord’s day” and “rest day” as synonyms for “Sabbath.” For me and others with regular church service responsibilities, however, this presents quite a conundrum, for Sundays are anything but a Sabbath day.

Before I became “responsible” for services, whether lay or ordained, and was a mere “volunteer,” it still was a Sabbath. It remained a worship experience and the duties stopped once I completed the service and/or my pastoral visits. Now, Sunday “duties” extend often late into the afternoon and evening, and the worship services are times of performance and service by me, for others, not something where I can be refreshed.

But I admit, however, that I still find that I am energized by each service and day of visits, so I know that I truly must be called by God to do this work.

I know that many Christian clergy strive to use either Monday or Friday as their day of Sabbath, seeking that that day might be a day of rest and refreshment for service to their congregations. But claiming a Sabbath when a ministry developer, with responsibilities for both clergy and lay at several churches (and in my case, eight churches), is something that I find difficult.

Is it wrong for me to be so sensitive to the fact that the clergy and lay for whom I am responsible are bi-vocational and thus might  be surprised to find I might be “unavailable” on a Monday or Friday, when they are working hard at their non-church job? Not to mention that those who successfully claim a Sabbath have differing Sabbath days between them and thus might seek my counsel on the “typical” Sabbath day that I select? And of course my formation responsibilities and multi-church duties generally mean Saturday rarely can be a day of “rest” any way.  

So I admit that it remains a continuing quandary for me, even after struggling with this for nearly two years. Other clergy in more conventional positions chastise me regularly for my lack of success in claiming a consistent Sabbath day and even more so for rarely claiming one. So I raise this query for my followers, and particularly other ministry developers who also are supply to so many clergy (particularly during the heavy month of August).  What might I learn about this by looking at what those with yoked or clustered churches do? And how do I turn off the smart phone without guilt?

I know! I should just turn the old smart phone off, right?! Readers and followers, any suggestions on making the techno break, cutting the old 3G cords, so to speak? I value your ideas and feedback. My clergy widower/husband will value your comments even more than me, I suspect!

Theresa

Community Building Across the Churches

As a missioner working with multiple churches and congregations, keeping abreast of each congregation’s activities--whether social, outreach, pastoral or otherwise --is a key component of being effective in my position. Many of the churches are very small. Church members generally are related by blood, adoption or marriage. Further, many are life-long members of their churches, even if they may have strayed away from church attendance for a period of time. Their only reference point for what church is and does is the church that they currently attend. Thus, they have vivid shared memories of what activities are key to their church’s identity. These traditions pass along from generation to generation, with great expectation that a particular activity will occur exactly in accordance with that tradition.

As one might imagine, this makes my life interesting as a relatively new transplant to the region, serving eight churches. Further, although I greatly value tradition, it has been emotionally impractical for me to hold on to such things when it comes to church. Because of my circuitous career and educational path, I have been active in over a dozen Episcopal churches over my adult life. This number does not even include the dozens of churches that I have attended while on vacation, through my Education for Ministry experiences, or even with friends who attend other churches. Although I visit my childhood church occasionally with my parents, I have been gone too long for my early church memories to be my reference point for a meaningful spiritual and religious experience.

I simply have had to “let go” of the expectation that nothing will change. Although I always had a church “home” where I was active, I long ago abandoned the idea that, whether as a matter of loyalty or even inertia, I must attend activities only at my own church. My career and educational travels have exposed me to far too many ideas for me to not think in terms of multi-church activities and joining in the mission, outreach or social activities at other churches. I grew up United Methodist, attended a Presbyterian youth group, and served with ecumenical and interfaith groups in the cities and towns where I have lived previously. It also did not hurt that there was no shortage of preacher kids in my high school class, opening up opportunities for learning about other denominations and attending activities with other churches.

In essence, norms and tradition are in the minds and eyes of the beholder. And these are changing in beautiful Western Maryland. Norms are changing and becoming the new “tradition,” little by little. Further, the sprouting and growth of inter-church activity is becoming ever-more visible, even during my nearly two years in Western Maryland.

Admittedly, some seeds were planted decades ago. A long-time tradition is the annual women’s picnic hosted by one church, to which the women of the other Episcopal churches are invited. The people come, and they have fun!  

New sprouts also are increasingly visible (and growing). A recent regional meeting resulted in a wonderful sharing of ideas for working with each other and with other area churches to be Church in the world. We learned of others’ gifts and how we might use them as members of the bodies of Church and Christ. We shared resources and solutions, on hearing of certain gaps in fulfilling their outreach objectives. Simultaneous problem-solving and community building. What a joy to behold! Additional seeds of community have sprouted and are gaining roots with the aid of parishioner-gardeners who are able to look beyond their own yards.

Theresa

Yes, I really DO need to consult my calendar

As a ministry developer, I seem to be in transit between churches and congregations much of the time, if not literally, at least figuratively. I switch gears many times each day between projects but also between focusing on one church or congregation versus another. I generally preach and lead services at two different churches on a Sunday, often for three services in boomerang fashion. That means totally different audiences with totally different personalities, and thus often different sermons depending on how God might be speaking to me as I pray over the readings and get further inspired while standing in the pulpit.

The Sunday morning of worship services might then be followed by pastoral visits for a vacationing clergy person from one of those churches or even a third church or a fourth. Oh, and what about the mid-week services? It may be easy to find supply for the vacationing clergy on a Sunday, but what about the mid-week services? With bi-vocational clergy in so many of the churches, they are unavailable to help with that need, so if means I get the opportunity to spend time with a different pocket of parishioners who frequent the mid-week morning or evening services.

Or what about any weekday nursing home services that rotate between the area Episcopal and other churches? Oh yes. Which ministerium or ministeriums should I join? And do their meetings or liturgical discussions overlap or can I attend them all? As the coordinator and supervisor of some of the other Episcopal clergy, should I even not be involved, to allow the truly local clergy have their own fellowship and educational group with “the supervisor” also attending?

And what about the Episcopal transplant to our attractive and ever-growing retirement destination? The shut-ins without any attachment to a specific local parish should not fall between the cracks merely because they have no local connection to a church. Thus, I am graced with the opportunity to actually have a small “congregation” of folks—albeit they do not meet together—that considers me their pastor as I visit with them and bring them communion.

And I really must not forget the ministry development components of the position. Another shifting of gears is needed. Thank goodness for e-mail and phones, especially mobile ones! I also must not forget my trusty GPS for those visits to little corners of the region. It really is not very helpful to follow a local’s directions when the directions involve turning by the “old Walmart” and then the Smith farm when the Walmart building is now something entirely different and the Smith farm is now a residential development and have been so long before I moved to the region.

Maybe it is the detective in me, but the mystery of where my day might lead keeps my day interesting and helps me increasingly love doing what I do. Admittedly, keeping track of my whereabouts and proposed whereabouts is not easy. So, when I actually tell folks that I need to check my calendar/date book, remember that I really do!! I simply cannot keep track of it all in my head, and I don’t even try to! Let’s just hope I don’t lose my datebook! Or it may mean a very lost Theresa!

Theresa

Matchmaker, Matchmaker

I found myself humming and singing the lyrics to the refrain from the well-known song from Fiddler on the Roof as I reflected on the life of a ministry developer working with more than a half a dozen churches. It also is where my heart lies--connecting people and resources, connecting people with people, and locating resources and information. It is the detective in me and perhaps in any effective ministry developer. We assist churches and people in getting "connected"; we make "matches." And it does not violate any canon on improper relationships!

Seems like learning how to make these connections is one of the most important skills (gifts?) that a ministry developer needs to be effective. No one expects the ministry developer to have all of the information or even be good at all things, but an effective developer does need to know how to research, locate, and pass along information. It also does not hurt if the ministry developer also loves being this matchmaker, which I do! Perhaps that is the reason I also found myself also humming part of the tune from The Sound of Music--"these are a few of my favorite things."

Theresa

Story-telling, Story-making, Story-listening

In my previous post, I reflected on the importance of our biblical heritage, as well as the importance of delving into history to better understand that past. As I reflected on this a bit more, I realized that exploring our biblical history also offers lessons about the importance of story-telling, story-making and story-listening.

Having been raised in the valley of the Appalachian Mountains and now living in the heart of Appalachia, I know the importance of storytelling. It is a critical component of our lives and of our connections with each other. I find I look forward to my own family gatherings, where we share stories of our past, both collectively and individually.  

But I realize that storytelling and memory are not restricted to family gatherings or even non-church settings. I can still remember the Sunday school building of my childhood with its Victorian architecture. The building’s layout is still clear to me even though the building was demolished when I was not yet a teen. I still remember the many faces and places of my church experience.

But I now am transplanted to new place nearly 200 miles away. The stories of these churches are new to me. I realize the importance of the individual and collective stories of each of these churches and of their people. The stories are critical to my getting to know the people and the churches. The facts and fables that populate the people’s impressions of their churches and of each other make nearly indelible imprints on the maps that they use for being church and doing ministry.

The memories and stories impact the manner in which they engage with the people and places of the other churches in the region. The fables of long-ago-deceased parishioners continue to impact how today’s parishioners engage with each other, and particularly with me. I needed to learn these stories. The stories explain who the people are, who they see themselves to be, and who they may perceive me to be.

I took this realization very seriously. I have asked many questions. I have asked people to share their stories with me, both orally and in writing. More importantly, I have listened. I have learned how different today is for them from the past—both good and bad. People are wistful about the good memories. They want to hold on to those memories. But I also learn of those memories that are less favorable. Those stories also provide bridges for me in learning how to assist them in developing new futures as well as creating new memories.

By and large, people see the good and the bad. On reflection, they find that they are open to changes, even if small or incremental. As we engage with the story-telling, I am finding that I hear a lot less today than I did a year ago, the standard response to many of my earlier suggestions for change: “We NEVER did it that way.”  And that is a good thing, wouldn’t you agree?

Theresa 

Learning from our Biblical Fathers and Mothers

Most of the churches with which I work have elected to use the Track One or historical readings for this long period of Sundays after Pentecost until Advent. Thus, we will focus on the fathers and mothers of our biblical faith. We can once again learn about their importance to our biblical heritages and faith by delving into history, reading of their faith and witness.

As a ministry developer for several small churches, I see the importance of history and memory for the folks whom I serve. Last week, I decided to do Canticle 13 instead of the Psalm. Each of the nine times we said and heard the words “Glory to you,” I wanted to break into song, remembering the melodies to which those words are set in other churches that I attended over the years. I gravitated to my memories of what that canticle’s words and its tune mean for me. I remember the Gloria Patri of my own youth in another tradition and my fondness for the Gloria from a close relative’s church today.

I also am attracted by the history behind the canticle, which I shared with the church I visited last week. I noted my admiration that the three young men whose canticle we read could sing words of thanksgiving and joy from the heart of a blazing furnace on account of their faith in God. I also was impressed by the great level of detail to which the full Song of the Three Young Men gave thanks to God for all creation, including the heat of summer, the cold of winter, whales and cattle. More importantly, it offered me a reminder of mankind’s connection with all of creation, as we engage in continued creation, destruction, and re-creation of the earth and its bounty.

Serving rural churches in a beautiful setting of mountains and creeks makes it possible for me to reflect frequently on our connection with the land. That in turn reminds me of our connection with family and friends as we gather each week to offer support to each other, break bread together, share the common cup, and depart into the world to do God’s work.

Eucharistic visitors take a part of themselves and their congregations as they take communion from the services to parishioners. I make a connection with folks as I make pastoral visits or accompany parishioners for important events where they need a friendly companion—a friendly face in the scary crowd.

These connections reflect our own historical connections with each other—connections based on the stories and memories of ourselves and of our ancestors. We rely on these memories, both historical and fabricated, to maintain the connections that make us whole. Without those connections, it is difficult to make those visits, to engage in those conversations, and to build increasing trust and love within the community.

I am hoping that my frequent interactions with the various churches over the summer months, filling in for vacationing clergy, will allow me to help carry the stories of our biblical history into the present and future. I have the opportunity to grow further connections with them as we create new stories that will be the histories of future generations. As we unravel the historical pasts, we can weave new possibilities to be shared and passed along for generations ahead.

May I have the patience to wait and see what unfolds as our new beginnings while companioning my “friends” in this new history of creation!?

Theresa 

Personality Types and Ministry Development

When I have completed Myers Briggs Type Indicator™ personality assessment questionnaires in the past, my balance between any two of the indicators has varied from time to time. All of this has depended on the time in my life at which I was completing the questionnaire and whether or not the assessment program had a spirituality, vocational, or other basis.

Despite these variations, however, I generally “test” out as being fairly strong on the Introversion end of the Introversion to Extroversion scale and very strong on the Judging end of the Judging and Perceptive scale. In my past professions I simply needed to make decisions, meet deadlines, and move on. This trait has been quite helpful in my current vocation and particularly today as I find myself putting together a sermon or a service booklet for a particular Sunday or Holy Day.

I also have tended to be more highly Sensory, versus iNtuitive on the S/N scale. Thinking or Feeling? A borderline case for me, although I generally score slightly closer to Thinking rather than Feeling. My previous professions as a tax lawyer and a legal editor caused me to be more of a Thinker than I am or need to be today, when Feeling certainly seems to play more into the work of a ministry developer.

I ponder all of this as I think about how my personality type seems to interplay with my current calling to ministry development. As a ministry developer, I need to be a good listener and withhold judgment as I take in the relevant information. Yet, I must make quick decisions in times of urgency or when I have limited time with the persons with whom or for whom a decision is needed.

Perhaps it is my introverted, sensory nature of sitting quietly, observing the group dynamics, and analyzing what I was hearing before speaking--and thus being “the invisible person”--that prepared me well for sitting, taking in information, thinking on it, and then considering solutions. My petite stature, the stereotypical view of women, and my ability to sit quietly (as introverts are more prone to do) seems to fit well with this calling. (As anyone who is good at being “invisible” will tell you, remaining quiet is the key to information gathering. Speaking reminds others of your presence and thus you lose the benefit of invisibility.) I guess the one “growing edge,” as they say, with my MBTI fitting with the nature of this work is that I need to withhold the Judging aspect so that I withhold judgment as I take in the information. Did I read that gesture of body language correctly? Did I detect something in the tone of voice that indicates an issue? Or, am I overanalyzing it all? Is the person just having a bad day and so the extraneous information is luring me away from the “correct” path of thinking?

With a supportive supervisor and colleagues, I am honing that urge to come to judgment based on limited information. I regularly use them for reality checks and to bounce off ideas. I also benefit from their wisdom that is less clouded by the trees that might be obscuring my view. All of this is to say that all of this is an evolving process and that perhaps with my MBTI being as it is, my allocation between the various types will slide a bit here and there as I discover and hone the traits best suited to do this work—God’s work.

Theresa 

The Special Moments in Parishioners’ Church Lives

As the itinerant priest, I float from church to church on Sundays and holidays, trying to conform to the church norms--what they might include or exclude from their services, what songs they sing, whether they stand or sit at certain times, etc. But I remain nevertheless the outsider. I am the outsider who is available in times of crisis as well as those times when they simply need a priest for the day. I will never be a member of the parish, although I work hard to get to know the folks, their concerns, and even their likes and dislikes. I remain the missioner, the ministry developer, and even simply the supply priest. I will make the wrong assumptions about what is the “norm” from time to time. Virtually all of the churches can speak to times where I forgot which church’s norm I needed to follow and started leading the “wrong” (as in the not customary) prayer or canticle.

Yet, I also need to guide the churches and their teams to “try on” different ways to do liturgy, different ways to do church. That generally does not endear me with folks who like things they way they always have been, but I understand the fine line that I walk, I walk the fine line in balancing the two concerns, sometimes successfully and sometimes not so much so. I am sure that the churches can tell anyone better than I can how I score on that front. But, I guess I am doing at least okay on that front.  I invested a lot of time early on in spending time, sitting, listening, and of course eating with the people. We rural churches do know how to cook, as they say!

But today I am thinking of those other times, those special times in parishioners’ church lives when being the outsider and the “newbie” is a further reminder of that status. The fact is: as a priest without a church home, I have few opportunities for doing these special liturgies, such as baptisms and weddings. These are special celebrations that intersect greatly with nostalgia, memory and friendships. The persons involved want certain clergy who have been instrumental to their church lives to conduct the services, in their churches. I agree with that goal. I know that I wished to do the same when I was planning the key moments in my own church and personal/family lives.

I wonder at times if I might ever be involved in any of those special events in the people’s lives. It certainly would be an honor and a privilege. It’s not like I am being selected because they like the beautiful church building! I have none!! But when that time may come, there remains a key interpersonal issue: How do I become involved with the service without hurting the “home” team members’ feelings. I am hoping that what I expressed earlier in this posting will hold true. In other words, that I will have built the connections with the folks that they do not see it as an affront but an addition to all that they may provide. The clergy have the opportunity to celebrate and even worship with the people instead of performing. I would not ever want to step on toes or cause hard feelings. In fact I would hope that I would try to incorporate the others in the church to the extent possible so that all feel that they are being fed, spiritually and otherwise. I am an additional guide and shepherd for assisting the church in providing for the spiritual and other needs of the church’s parishioners. I am helping them serve. I am just another instrument for doing so. When I remind myself of that fact, all seems to be just as it should be. I should be able to walk that fine line and soften any hard feelings that might arise out of such a situation. I know impact and intent are two different things. I hope that my extensive training on that dichotomy will come in helpful in doing the dance but also remind me that apologies sometimes will be needed. I just cannot guaranty that the impact will parallel with the intent each and every time. But good relationships, a genuine love for the people and an authentic apology certainly cannot hurt!

I guess what it comes down to is: I can only continue to observe, learn, watch, and pray on that. Yes, prayer seems to be at the heart of it all. I guess my prayer is that God may guide me through the discernment process as the situations arise, so that I proceed with wisdom and pastoral care--so that I proceed in a thoughtful manner that serves the Church and its people. That is about the best I can do, right?

Theresa

In, Aside, and Astride the Trenches

As I drive by the overflowing creeks and rivers on my way between the churches and my home, I cannot help but think of creek banks and trenches. The water is rushing so mightily and eerily close to the roads and houses. A quick rush of waters or a sudden change in the depth of the water and someone or something may be pulled away. It is so hard to keep one’s footing along the banks and trenches even when the water is flowing smoothly, but the concerns greatly increase when something unexpected happens.

Seeing these creek banks and trenches reminds me in some ways of the “cautions” of my work as a ministry developer. Many of my colleagues in the ministry developer world would say that we live, work and play in the trenches. We dig deep into what is going on at the various churches with which we work. We have the luxury of offering an objective stance that allows us to notice what is transpiring from the outside. More importantly, we can offer objective advice about possible options and solutions. For years, people have said that I “speak the truth”; perhaps that is both a gift and a burden that ministry developers must share. We are called on to “speak the truth” diplomatically, with care and love. Yet, sometimes, it is difficult to be the diplomat while speaking the truth in a manner that is truly heard as intended.

But today I am not thinking about this work from the midst of the trench, with mud squishing between the toes. Today, I reflect on the cautions that I must take to assure that I do not fall into the trench because of the unexpected—my failure to be prepared. Not that I can always be well prepared. God’s work is not predictable. But it does require me to keep my balance and to get my bearings as I move from one ministry or church to another, making sure that I do what I need to do and not spread myself too thin. Or hurt too many feelings in the process. It is a true balancing act. Although my favorite part of gymnastics was the balance beam, it was not because I have good balance. I am quite clumsy in fact, as anyone who knows me will attest. But I guess a good sense of humor does not hurt, and the ability to trust in friends and colleagues to pull me out of that trench when I happen to take a misstep. Since my colleagues in this work are many miles away, it is even more important that I develop communities within the various parishes (and outside them as well) to help give me reality checks and forgive me when I do take that occasional misstep.

As I look back again at these flowing creeks and rivers, I see a lot of energy. I see a lot of energy as well within the parishes themselves. I pray to God that I can keep my footing as I walk the trenches and do this work. I also pray that others will find it in their hearts to rescue me when needed.

Theresa

Springtime Amnesia

Oh, the pleasures of springtime in rural Western Maryland! The church yards and unpaved roads may be muddy from the nearly-daily rain, but (alas!) we begin to enter our annual amnesia of the hazards of travel during the less pleasant (at least for me!) periods of ice and snow.

The women’s groups may now resume their monthly meetings. We can plan other evening activities as well. Unlike our urban and suburban church friends, our activities ramp up, instead of slowing down.

Sure, the churches with young children slow down and stop having children’s activities because of soccer, softball, and camping activities.  But those churches with few children and youth seem to find renewed energy as they host their fundraising dinners, look to parishioners to assist with monthly church workdays, and host festivals and picnics once again.

I notice more smiles and a renewed commitment to engage in activities, certain that a May or June snow is unlikely to create travel concerns. I notice that I am energized as well. I now can go to evening meetings and not begin and end in the dark. Even memorial services and celebrations of peoples’ lives can be scheduled without wondering if icy roads are in store.

The flipside? We now must worry about excessive heat. Will the wedding party wilt for the lack of a good breeze in our “natural-air-conditioned” churches? For me, the biggest challenge is projecting my voice throughout an entire worship service, including sermon, with the doors open to allow a nice breeze (and perhaps even a stray bird or creature to enter). Will the friendly bear that enjoys the church’s dumpster dare to come and join us in our melodious singing as well?

Ah—I love the life of a missioner! Winter and early spring may pose travel concerns and possibly unexpected cancellations, but oh the wonders of late spring and summer! The fresh breeze wafting in the windows and the casual, more intimate nature of worshiping amidst the sounds and smells of nature is so inviting. Suburbia does not know what it is missing.

Theresa

Musings from Holy Week

As a missioner working with eight churches, I try to make it to one or more services or activities at each of the eight churches from Palm Sunday through Easter. Each of the last two years, I have made it to six of the eight. What a grand week,  getting to worship with so many different people, walk the stations at different churches, watch children scramble to find hidden eggs, attend multiple Easter parties, and even assist with a feeding ministry!!

I guess it is one week of the year when there is a kaleidoscope of opportunities to experience. The biggest problem is learning how to schedule out the week in a way that still allows for getting to as many churches as possible. There are fewer special worship opportunities for Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday, and nearly all of the churches have overlapping service times on Holy Thursday/Maundy Thursday. After all, a church can strip the altar only once! Emotionally, I am not too sure any of us could handle that too many times in a day in any case! Reading and preaching from the Passion three times on Palm Sunday is rough enough!

Good Friday is somehow easier, as there are so many ways to experience that day liturgically. For me this year, it was an 8 a.m. communion from the reserved sacrament, a 12 noon Good Friday liturgy, a 1 p.m. Stations of the Cross, a 2 p.m. Good Friday liturgy, and then a 7 p.m. Good Friday liturgy with communion from the reserved sacrament. Whether participating as a leader or as a congregant, each was very meaningful. It also was necessary to my journey from the Last Supper to the cross and to the tomb. All to be followed by the long wait until we can celebrate Easter with the Easter Vigil. Darkness to light to celebration. Yes; a great week indeed.

What are your thoughts and reflections on this week? Is it just too difficult and draining a week to sustain the energy and feel like it went well? Does the secularization of Easter distract too much from the spiritual energy and experience of the week? Other thoughts? I would love to hear them.

Theresa

Deafness to call to serve

As I attended Ash Wednesday services this year, I was struck by the words of the Litany of Penitence (BCP p. 267-9). I have spoken these words each year for far too many years for me to count, yet this year I noticed the words more than I ever had before. At that moment, I made a promise to myself to continue to reflect on the words throughout the next 40 days of Lent, and beyond.

I don’t know how well I have done in that regard—honestly, I would guess that I have failed. I guess there is never enough prayerful thinking on those very words. More importantly, I cannot ever stop putting into action the heart and intention of the words that I spoke as I confessed to God for my failures and asked for God to accept my repentance. 

Today, however, I reflect particularly on two portions of the Litany:

“We have been deaf to your call to serve, as Christ served us.

We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved

your Holy Spirit.”

Have mercy on us, Lord.”  

and

“Accomplish in us the work of your salvation,

That we may show forth your glory in the world.”

As a ministry developer, I am called to model service to God and Christ and assist others in doing the same. Listening to that call and helping others to do the same is hard but rewarding work.

We all know that we are called to serve God and Christ, but it is not always easy to know what that call may be, where it might lead, or how it might unfold. We may not even recognize our own gifts. We have to rely on God’s mercy to assist us in that endeavor. We have to rely on prayerful seeking of God’s guidance and mercy in looking past the times when we said “not now” or “you have to be kidding!” instead of saying “yes, send me.” We have to rely on faith to keep on the right path and trust in God that we are doing God’s work, and are doing this work in accordance with God’s commands, on account of our faith in God and Christ.

But as a ministry developer, it goes much deeper and broader than this. We not only have to give up control so that God can “[a]ccomplish in us the work of [God’s] salvation” but also encourage others to do the same. That seems a daunting task. An impossible one.

As I reflect on those words, I realize that it is just the same all over again. It is a matter of my letting go of control and allowing God to lead me, use me, guide me in accomplishing God’s work so that I and others with whom I minister “may show forth [God’s] glory in the world.”

Hmmm. I think I will take advantage of the excuse of Lent and its cocoon-like environs to pray on this more heartily and listen to God more intently to guide me as we journey through Lent and approach the celebration of our risen Lord. 

Will you join me?

Theresa

Ministry developer "hats"

I refer to myself as a ministry developer. It seems to be common lingo among those “in the industry” of connecting ministry resources and ministry needs, within the framework of engaging people to live into their baptismal covenant to do God’s work, with God’s help. But it also seems to be a misnomer in many respects; I am not developing ministries but instead am companioning and teaching people to be better ministers of God and Christ.

The fact that I wear so many “hats” in that regard sometimes astounds me. When am I a teacher, as opposed to a shepherd, or a companion, or an encourager, or even a safety net as I coax others to take some risks and even “try on” something new? The tasks and roles bleed into the next, but not in the sense of a bowl of cake batter but more like a rainbow of roles. Each role is distinct and yet it isn’t at the same time.

Ministry development is much like the rainbow’s arc of colors, where the red blends to become orange, the orange becomes yellow, etc. There is no clear point where one color becomes the next and no longer is the same. Much like a rainbow, ministry development also can be most beautiful to behold, as one sees the results of people taking on new or expanded ministries or even just feeling more confident in their own ministries.

Much like a rainbow, the task of ministry developer also is difficult to “capture,” whether figuratively or literally. Just as we cannot reach the point of the rainbow or find the legendary pot of gold at either end, the roles and tasks of a ministry developer just keep expanding out of reach. We cannot fully describe the roles to others, and there is no one definition that is true for all ministry developers.

Similarly, there is no end to the ministries that can develop or the persons who may be guided to live into their callings as ministers. There always is room for growth, learning, and new experiences. Thus, unlike a rainbow, there really are pots of gold to behold and they appear along the way as we journey together toward the rainbow. The pots of gold just keep appearing, often when least expected. Much work is invested by the people involved (as well as the ministry developer), and the pay off may be small or large.

We may find the pot of gold where it is least expected. It may just appear when one feels the most defeated in the work, but it will appear and appear again, and perhaps appear once again, twofold and then threefold.

The most difficult part is patience, I guess. My own and that of others. Yes. Perhaps that is what a ministry developer really is—someone who helps instill patience and continued energy into God’s ministers and ministries, and does not abandon them along the way. I am much like a parent guiding a young child on a bicycle with training wheels. One day, the minister is balancing all on his or her own and does not even notice that I no longer am holding on but standing behind, smiling one giant grin.

Now that is ministry development!

Theresa

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog. As I noted in my profile, it records some of my meandering thoughts as I serve as the first full-time ministry developer for Western Maryland. "Ministry developer" is one of my many “hats” for the Region and the Diocese of Maryland. As a ministry developer, I have both the joy and the challenge of companioning others as we all become people of MOAB. Not Moab like Naomi and Orpah of the Book of Ruth, but MOAB as in Ministry Of All the Baptized. As baptized Christians, we are called to use our God-given gifts to serve God and the Church in the world. According to the Episcopal Catechism, on our baptisms, God adopts each of us as God’s children and “makes us members of Christ’s Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God.” (Book of Common Prayer p. 858)  Perhaps more clearly, when we renew our our Baptismal Covenant with God and Christ, we affirmatively agree that we will proclaim the Good News of God in Christ, seek to find and serve Christ in all persons, and strive for justice and peace in the world. Ministry is not something restricted to the ordained. All baptized Christians are called to serve God and Christ and to do so by serving to achieve justice and peace for all others. But we are hesitant to take the risk—to take the plunge into the waters of our baptisms—to do just that. It is easier in some ways to allow others to do the work. It is easier in many ways to wait for another person to act and then follow along. Sure, there are leaders and there are followers. We need both, but each of us is gifted, and each of us is required to use those gifts. We are all members of the whole and the whole is not whole without our contributions, whatever those might be. Encouraging others to demonstrate and use their gifts is my mission. Supporting them in that service is part of that mission. As I travel and spend time with the various people of the Region, I learn so much about the rainbow of gifts that the people have. Such an array of gifts, shining forth and complimenting the hues and textures of the gifts exhibited by others! Such a rich array! It is awesome! And much like a rainbow, it never ends. With each effort that we take to find the limitations on our gifts, we see the rainbow just spreads further. It just spreads further and further, with the pot of gold being something shared with all.

Thank you for joining me in this meandering pilgrimage of exploring and pondering ministry development and our shared ministry in the Church. More thoughts about this grand pilgrimage later….

Theresa