Yet, despite my “no,” I also have a sense of what a “good
death” is. I also see one of my fundamental roles as a ministry developer to be
a companion to others experiencing a death as we seek to make it a “good death.”
Parishes, ministries, and ministers must engage with death—dance with death--when
we acknowledge that we no longer should continue that which no longer brings
energy for the people involved. In many ways, we “dance” with death when we
engage in making changes of any sort—good or bad—for they involve a grief for
what was and what may no longer be.
Perhaps one of the most challenging, yet compelling and
beautiful, activities in which we ministry developers engage is that of
pastoring others through a change that leads to a good death. We are called to
demonstrate that we care, that we will be there as a companion each step along
the way, and that we join them in grieving that loss. But the other important
part of the journey along the path to and through a “good death” is to assist
others in seeing the new birth that comes out of a good death. A good death
always leads to a new birth of sorts, for we must till the seeds of death back
into the soil and nurture them for them to spring forward into that new birth.
We also must be patient. We must nurture, watch, and
sometimes just wait for the new birth to sprout. We then must repeat the
process once again.
Yes. That is one of the fundamental tasks of being a
ministry developer—being the loyal, patient, caring companion to help open eyes
and hearts to what is before and grieve with others the good death from which
the new birth may emerge.
Theresa+
