Searching

            Diogenes, they say, wandered around ancient Athens with a lamp in daylight, saying when asked that he was searching for an honest man.  Whereas Diogenes was originally making a disparaging commentary on the state of his society, we’ve taken to using him as an example of a long, fruitless search for the right person.

            Over the years, I’ve heard more than a few people on pastoral Search Committees tell me that they felt like Diogenes, wandering, wandering, yet not finding the perfect candidate to be their next pastor.  Some have been quite discouraged when they compared themselves to the wandering philosopher, but, I assure you, they each, in time, found a candidate to call.

            As this congregation will be moving into the “active” search for the next pastor here in the next months, it may be helpful to sketch out the next steps down the road.  The Council has just asked for suggestions of active members for them to consider.  The Council will take those suggestions, look at the many factors that go into balanced and representative group that will be able to work together effectively and spiritually, and then present a slate, probably at a congregational meeting in late March or early April.  At that time, the broad outlines of the search process will be reviewed with the congregation as well.

            The newly-elected Search Committee will meet with someone from the Conference to be oriented to their task and familiarized with the process of the wider expressions of the UCC and the mysteries of computer matching local church profiles with candidate profiles.  The Search Committee will arrange its leadership and internal processes.

            The first half of the Search Committee’s responsibility is to prepare the congregational Profile.  We have a head start on some of this, using the material and learnings we developed together during the congregation-wide self-study.  However, the Search Committee might host some small-group opportunities for members to talk informally to them about the vision of the church for the next few years and what characteristics we want in the next pastor.  We anticipate that the Search Committee will share preliminary drafts of the profile with the congregation for comments while they are writing it, and when complete, have the congregation approve it.

            In contrast to the openness of the profile writing phase, when the Search Committee begins its second responsibility, they go into a quiet, confidential mode.  Great care must be taken to preserve the confidentiality of the interviewing process.  Since most candidates have not revealed that they are considering another call to their current congregation, it is potentially devastating for the names of persons under consideration to get out.  The downside is that members here will feel somewhat in the dark while the committee is out scouring the countryside for the next pastor.  We hope to alleviate that a bit with ongoing updates from the committee on their progress in general terms.

            Like Diogenes, who carried his lamp symbolizing knowledge even in daylight, the search process has a couple of lamps to guide them.  First, I suppose, is the light of Scripture helping them move toward Christ’s vision of hope and peace and justice and community service for this congregation and for the overall characteristics of church leadership.  More pragmatically, the United Church of Christ has a whole stack of documents and resources which can tutor the Search Committee, and there are lots of wise people who can offer advice and direction and contacts.

            But the main support upon which the Search Committee will rely is the support and encouragement of the congregation.  They will need to feel that we are behind them, praying for them, helping them, supporting them.  The Committee will feel enough stress to find someone sooner rather than later without us getting impatient or getting on their case!  The Council and the Committees, leaders, and this interim pastor will keep the mission and ministry and spirit of the congregation alive and moving forward so the Search Committee can do their work in peace and with all the diligence and care and patience it may take to find the strongest candidate who will be the best fit for this church (and not to settle for someone who is just “OK” in order to find someone, anyone!).

            So, as the larger congregation, I’d encourage you to support the preparatory work of the Search Committee, and to trust them and the leading of the Holy Spirit as they search for the one God is calling here next, no matter how long it may seem to take!  When you are tempted to say, “So, are you getting close to finding someone?” say instead, “I’ve been thinking about you.  You’re in my prayers.”  If the Search Committee has the trust and support and patience of the congregation, those are ’way better than Diogenes’ lamp!

                                                                                 In Christ,
                                                                               
                                                                                    David


Texts For Sunday Worship:

      From the Hebrew Bible        Exodus 24:12-18
      From the Epistles                2 Peter 1:16-21
      From the Gospels               Matthew 17:1-9

Marching the talk

     There seems to be more and better theology of compassion and justice on Facebook than in many Christian churches these days.  No wonder people aren’t interested in church these days.  Seriously?  Between Westboro Baptist, which may have single-handedly damaged the Christian “brand” for decades to come, misconduct and abuse and coverup, bills introduced to require Christian prayers in schools, the church’s gigantic history of intolerance, racism, and providing theological cover for ugly human behavior, and such off-the-wall weirdness as this week’s headlines that a snake-handling celebrity pastor died of a rattlesnake bite, what is anyone under 40 supposed to think about the church?  It’s hard to overcome that kind of self-inflicted damage to our reputation.

     However, over the millennia, despite ourselves sometimes, the thing that keeps the faith going has been the care and compassion most Christians have for others.  At our best it is care and compassion for everyone in the world, not a subset.  If you are not locked into that care and compassion only occurring through the institutional church but welcome any expression of the Spirit of Christ by any other name, there is cause for hope.

     In the last month or two, there has been an upswelling of words and actions decrying and working against racial violence, against sexual violence, supporting workers’ wellbeing, addressing income disparity, against predatory lending practices, seeking a healthy relationship between faith and science, encouraging better behavior from governments for their own citizens, for human rights of all sorts, for tolerance, and for a genuine improvement in everyone’s lives. I’ve seen a Sojourners article discussing our American tendency to read the Bible from a more self-centered, often self-serving social darwinism perspective instead of reading its clear call to justice, equity, and compassion for all.

     Then there was David Brooks’ New York Times opinion piece about how we are so often like the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son, self-righteous and dismissive.  He likens much of our public policy as self-righteously lecturing the poor instead of looking out for them as siblings in society.  Mind you, he was talking about public policy.  Using one of Jesus’ parables.  Breaking it out of its church captivity as if it shed light on our decisions and attitudes right now.  Which, for Christians, it certainly should.

     Other outside-the-church reminders of our wider obligations include a really great t-shirt with “Love your neighbor.  Thy Homeless Neighbor. Thy Muslim Neighbor. Thy Black Neighbor. Thy Gay Neighbor. Thy White Neighbor. Thy Jewish Neighbor. Thy Christian Neighbor. Thy Atheist Neighbor. Thy Racist Neighbor. Thy Addicted Neighbor.”  The list of neighbors fills the back of the shirt.  A longer— much longer— list should fill our hearts.  And our churches.  And the world.

     The UCC is suggesting we “March Forth on March 4th” for justice, whether through advocacy at the local or neighborhood or the national level or by actually doing something to improve the world.  Obviously, you could go to http://www.ucc.org/marchforth/ and check it out, or you can just march following your own lights in the middle of what you normally do.  But the point is to go beyond talking to doing something.  And March 4th seems like a good starting point!

     Finally, here’s a quote from author Sue Fitzmaurice: “Stop being offended by what someone said to you, that Facebook post, by a piece of art, by people displaying their affection.  Be offended by war, poverty, injustice.”  That’s good advice for people in and out of “the church.”  Be compassionate.  Care.  March.  Love.


                                                                                 In Christ,
                                                                               
                                                                                    David

 A quick reminder that we are leading worship this Sunday afternoon at Longview at 2 pm.  I’m encouraging as many of you as possible to join us at our “adjunct worship” there!


Texts For Sunday Worship: 
      From the Hebrew Bible     Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18
      From the Epistles            1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23
      From the Gospels            Matthew 5:38-48

Hearts

             February is “Heart Month” (it’s the month with Valentine’s Day and all the heart-shaped valentines and all.  A bit cutesy, but easy to remember!) .   Obviously, I have a somewhat different perspective on it after my cardiac bypass surgery in 2007.  (Have you seen your doctor recently? Watching your diet?  Exercising at least 30-45 minutes three or four times a week?)  Still, all the publicity about “Heart Month” got me to thinking about what is at the heart of a congregation.  Sharing the Gospel of God’s love is the central core of a church.  Everything arises from it and everything should serve it.  

 

Worship is often the first thing we think of, from the reading and preaching of the gospel message of hope, life, salvation, justice, and peace through the music and singing and the prayers, all clearly devoted to expressing our commitment to the Good News of God’s love.  But the other things we do serve the gospel, too.  Our Christian Education program both shares the gospel with our children and youth and helps them grow up to be able to share it themselves.  The ministries of care for members and of care and service to the community reflect our calling to share the gospel with love and compassion in tangible ways as well.  This congregation is deeply involved in ministries to alleviate hunger from supporting Kitchen Cupboard and Feed My Starving Children and the Weekend Backpack program and on to Heifer International, taking very seriously Jesus’ call to feed the hungry.  Our choir, choir director, and liturgists can direct our hearts to God from quiet contemplation to heart-thrilling glory.  Even the Building and Grounds committee demonstrate the gospel by making our building available to outside groups and community organizations.  Everything we do should rejoice in the good news and share it.  It’s the heart of the matter.

      Today is Valentine’s Day, which “ain’t all hearts and flowers,” as most of us know, being ostensibly based on a 3rd century martyr.  But the romantic overtones really got going in Chaucer’s time and was big for Shakespeare; the custom of exchanging messages with your loved one was popular in 17th century England and came to the American Colonies.  The first mass-produced valentines were in 1840.  A certain Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, MO first printed valentines in 1913. The massive merchandising and headlong rush to extravagant gifts naturally followed!    I sometimes think it would be nice if all the money that went to Jared went to Jesus’ least sisters and brothers.

      Let me suggest that you take a moment today or this weekend to wrest the heart of the matter back from the chocolate and pressed-sugar hearts and red foil and white lace and back to reminding the people around you that real love takes the other person seriously and hopefully, and that we are to care about and rejoice in everyone, not just the ones we feel warm and sentimental toward.  Come up with something that might truly show someone— even someone you don’t know very well— that you, we, and God loves them.  For real.  For life-changing real.  Put some heart into it, some Christian heart.  Be the way God says “I LUV U” to someone who needs it.

                                                                                    In Christ,
                                                                              
                                                                                    David



Texts For Sunday Worship: 
      From the Hebrew Bible          Deuteronomy 30:15-20
      From the Epistles                  1 Corinthians 3:1-19
      From the Gospels                  Matthew 5:21-37