Bishop Jung is inviting YOU to fellowship with him this month! (see details elsewhere in this newsletter). Bishop Jung is passionate about “bearing fruit” that will win hearts for Christ through the ministry and service we offer through our individual congregations and our collective denominational action. As we embark on… building a vision for ministry in 2013 and beyond, I am intrigued by this concept for our collective presence and for each one of you as you grow in your relationship with God in this community.
Our 2012 visioning retreat lead us to concentrate our efforts on better communication of our ministry to one another and beyond our walls. Since that September event we have increased our visual imagery in weekly bulletins, poster announcements and the newsletter to heighten the potential for information retention of our materials. Paula and Don have worked hard to launch our Facebook presence beyond a group (where people need to request access) to an “open” church page that everyone can view and interact with. Paula continues to work on improving our website and a group of folks have been invited to…
…offer input as to how our website should look and function.
My continual question amidst all of this wonderful work is, “What are we communicating?” and “Is our message open to ALL?”
The leadership group that met in September will again convene in April for an evaluation of our progress thus far and a forecasting of next steps. As I prepare for this event in light of Bishop Jung’s passion, I wonder, “ How will our focus bear fruit?”
Pastor Andy and I are only 2 of the ministers in this community – ALL of you are ministers as well. We claim this in worship and we will work harder to lift this in every area of our shared ministry. We (collectively) are the church together, friends, and I believe that a first fruit of our commitment to this attitude of openness is TRUST that in this place ALL are truly welcome!
Some say that this creates chaos and that without one clear “leader” the vision is lost. I believe that God has given us the key to avoiding this concern – communication. Andy and I will continue to lead AND we will continue to offer the community the freedom to lead along with us – birthing ideas, offering funding, creating pools of helping hands and bringing God glory as more people become passionate about their relationship with God.
Others worry about how being open to ALL might change the “beloved” community – I simply see a living commitment to what already happens here! You already embrace diversity, our community IS poor people, gay people, challenged people, people of color, people who are aged, people who are oppressed and outcast in society alongside those with means, those who have held great governmental power, those who have lived with spotless integrity and those whose life choices and pathways have caused them pain, shame and suffering. Over the holidays, several of our ministers (yes, that’s you) shared a welcome statement making the rounds on the internet with me. After I read it, I smiled and said, “Come into my office.” That welcome statement has been hanging on my wall and I’ve been using it to center my prayers about my “communicating” so that it might “bear fruit”. I think God is blessing and confirming our shared path in ministry. Friends DO let friends bear fruit! Here’s the statement: I’m also gonna post it on the CUBE and on Facebook for your comments. Please read it, make/take a copy of it if you wish and talk about it. I wanna know, “Do we/can we communicate this?” Get back to me!
Peace to each of you,
PK