Come hear Brian McLaren
In 200, I arranged for Brian McLaren to come and speak at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Charlestown, RI for our "Growing a Healthy Church" conference. He had just published "A New Kind of Christian" He engaged people in ways that were eye-opening. Now, fourteen years later, he returns to New England. I encourage both clergy and lay people to come hear Brian. He is an articulate spokesperson for a faithful, yet progressive kind of Christian faith.
Celebrated author, speaker and activist Brian McLaren will deliver a public lecture at Emanuel Lutheran Church (311 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT), sponsored by the New England Synod and several ecumenical partners.
McLaren is the author of several books including "We Make the Road by Walking: A Year-Long Quest for Spiritual Formation, Reorientation and Activation" and "Naked Spirituality: A Life with God in 12 Simple Words." A graduate of the University of Maryland with a bachelor's in English, McClaren was awarded Doctor of Divinity degrees from Carey Theological Seminary in Vancouver, B.C., and Virginia Theological Seminary. He's also the theologian in residence with the Life in the Trinity Ministry. To learn more about Brian, click here to visit his website.
McLaren's lecture will be held Monday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $45, with discounts for clergy and students. To register and purchase your ticket, click here! Please share this information with those who might be interested, with our recommendation to sign up promptly, as this event is expected to sell out quickly.
Using Video for Church Communications
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There's some good stuff coming from Rich at www.unseminary.com
Here is his article on using your smartphone's video function for video communications in your church.
I've been thinking about this #IceBucketChallenge and how it's proven that smartphone videos are simple to produce and effective in communicating. How are you using the movie studio in your pocket to communicate with your people? Here are some ideas you can try this week!
Here are four simple tips to remember when shooting video with your smartphone to make the most of them!
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A Tale of Two Gifts
Rick doesn’t own Rick and Diane’s Brick Oven Pizza in Antrim, New Hampshire, but he does work there. I had stopped in front of this pizza place on my ELCA World Hunger Ride late this summer. I wasn’t planning to eat, just a stretch break as I made my way south along Route 10 and 31 in the Granite State.
“Nice Bike!” barked a voice from behind me. I turned around to see a large man with only a few teeth. We talked bikes, and travel for a few minutes.
“What’s the deal with the bumper sticker?” He was referring to the now faded, #bikeforbread ELCA World Hunger Ride sticker on the back fender. It depicts a cartoon version of me on the motorcycle.
“I’m on a ride throughout New England raising funds and awareness about hunger.” I answered, and then elaborated on where I’d been.
“So how do you raise money for it?” he asked in this curious manner. I described that people either bought T-Shirts, tugging at my own T, or people make donations.
“Donations, huh,” he gruffly responded, and then reached in to his pocket, pulled out a $5 bill and handed it to me.
I thanked him, asked him for a photo and noted the address of the restaurant.
Two days later I was sitting in a meeting room of one of our congregations here in Connecticut. The pastor had ordered lunch for the four of us. Along with the pastor, Sharon Magnusson of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, and myself was a lovely lady who was there to make a gift to the World Hunger Appeal.
At the age of 90, her financial advisor had recently suggested that she may want to consider sharing some of her gifts, rather than wait until her will would go through probate. She shared the story recounting all the details. She may be 90, but her age was not evident. This woman was smart and savvy.
“Next week, I’m having him draft a check for $100,000 to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.” She described how she had been a past contributor, but wanted to do more. “I just can’t imagine what it’s like for people to be hungry.”
The four of us had a simple lunch. We shared stories about moments of gratitude, humorous life events, and the power of generosity.
These two gifts express the best of human beings. When we are inspired to be servants of others, it brings out the best in people. My hope is that in reading about these two generous people, you too, will be inspired to make a difference, and give a gift to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. www.elca.org/hunger
I Don't Want to Talk about Ferguson
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2
Michael Brown, a young unarmed African American man was shot six times by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. Trayvon Martin was killed two years ago. In America an unarmed black man, woman or child is murdered almost every day in this country. And yet, I don’t want to talk about Ferguson, Missouri.
I don’t want to talk about Ferguson, because frankly it’s just too damn hard to have that kind of conversation. It would require gathering people from the whole range of the criminal justice system – police officers, mothers of young black men, prosecutors, poor white rural folk, merchants, Latino teenagers, fathers of suburban kids hooked on heroin. It would require the kind of crucial conversations that bring about deep understanding – and that’s a whole lotta work.
I don’t want to talk about Ferguson, because there are so many other things I can do. I can post my opinions on Facebook. I can go to the beach, and plan my vacation. I can turn on the TV and watch a news outlet that will justify my preconceived ideas.
I don’t want to talk about Ferguson, because it’s not only about race, (though that is a big part of it) it’s also about economic class. In this country, I want to believe we are all the same, but deep down I know this isn’t true. In fact, it may be easier, (though still extremely challenging) to have a multi-ethnic community in this country than it is to have a multi-class community. And, candidly, I’m a person who has it pretty good. I’m white, male, tall, overly-educated and pretty comfortable. Why would I want to get into this messy Ferguson conversation?
And then I read Jesus, Isaiah, and Paul. “Do not be conformed by this world, but be transformed…”
In this country there are 50 million Americans who are poor, the vast majority of them are people of color. In the scriptures, there are 2,357 verses that speak to the need to attend to the orphan, the widow and the poor. In my mind, I put those two sentences together and it defines everything I need to know about what God is calling us to do.
What can we do?
1. Stop preaching about the topic of poverty and race, unless you are willing to make something happen. While that may sound harsh, what I’m trying to do is push us from simply talking to actually walking. Faith without works is dead, is cheap grace.
2. Engage in crucial conversations on the criminal justice system. Pr. Tiffany Chaney is looking to engage people from a range of perspectives to address this topic in her neighborhood in Dorchester, MA.
3. Find ways to intentionally bring people of various backgrounds together. Pr. Dan Hille in Avon, CT is partnering over three years to connect affluent white teens with economically disadvantaged teenagers of color.
4. Find a church either nearby or in our synod and partner with that church. First in East Greenwich, RI is connecting with Gloria Dei in Providence. They are learning from one another about race, class and mission.
These are just the beginning, but we must find beginning points. It’s important to note that these are mutual conversations, in other words they are not one group informing another.
I don’t want to talk about Ferguson, Missouri, I want us to do something about Ferguson. If that can’t happen in the church of Jesus, Isaiah and Paul, then where else is it going to happen?
Bishop James Hazelwood
New England Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Willow Creek Leadership Summit
For 12 of the last twenty years I've gone to the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit. I missed the first year that Bono spoke, when he criticized churches for not doing enough about global poverty. I was in Honduras at the time, so I didn't feel so bad. Each year the summit provides speakers on a wide variety of subjects all related to the subject of growing as a leader.
You are a leader. Whether you are leading yourself, a family, a church, a division, a company. Leadership is something that needs constant attention. In short, I'm trying to say that everyone benefits from growing their leadership.
This year we had 32 people at the Rehoboth, MA site, plus about a dozen others at other sites around New England. Pastors, lay leaders gathering to learn more effective ways to lead the church of Jesus Christ. The topics included the challenge of having difficult conversations, the value of setting a framework for an organization, how to interject integrity into a ministry, what are the mistakes to be avoided.
You can see rough outlines of these talks on the WCA Blog.
Next year, we will gather again on August 6 & 7, 2015. Save the date.
A Journey in the Wilderness
Part of my summer reading has included this book by Gil Rendle.
It's a full and rich read. The first three chapters review much of what many readers of this blog already know. It outlines the last forty years of the mainline protestant church in the US. That early section concludes with a report on a 2000 study funded by AAL for the Lutheran Churches in North America. It found that many of the various programs of the previous 25 years had little impact on congregational growth and vitality. But, what it did find, and this book then spends the remaining 65% exploring, is that the congregations that had their own clear sense of identity and purpose were the ones that were healthy and vital communities of Jesus.
Rendle also spells out the challenge of helping established congregations and denominations discover and claim their sense of identity and purpose.
Where the book really gets helpful is in chapter four and following. For the first time, someone has outlined the dilema of change and continuity. Gil's writing style is clear and thorough, albeit a bit too thorough at times. (Is there a Cliff Notes version available?)
Much of what he articulates, we are already engaged here in the New England Synod, chiefly around the theme of experimentation and finding our way as we stumble forward. He centers his works around congregations needing to go deep into these questions:
Who are we?
What is God calling us to do, and not do?
Who are our neighbors?
Yet, he is clear that this is not about developing mission statements. No, Gil Rendle wants us to go deep into these questions, and explore them in the context of being a Wilderness people. Indeed, we are like the people of the Exodus. Some of us want to back to Egypt where the good old days can be found. But, as TOm Wolfe wrote, 'you can never go back home'.
My sense is that this is a book, primarily for pastors and denominationally leaders, though I do believe some lay leaders who are especially motivated would find this helpful as well. I plan to use it in my thinking and conversations with staff, synod leaders and fellow bishops.
"Stumbling is moving ahead faster."
For those of you who prefer to watch a video of Gil's presentation, Part one of a two part lecture is below. You can then find part two if you wish by searching Vimeo.
AC 2012 - Gil Rendle (Part 1) from NCCUMC.org on Vimeo.
A Portrait of Christ
Love this.... by Jeremy Cowart
What do you do on a Warm Day?
Linus likes to swim.
Gangs, Gaza and the Gospel
I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.
My eyes waste away because of grief; they grow weak because of all my foes. Psalm 6: 6 & 7
What other response can one have in these days of suffering? I listen to the news and think of our brothers and sister’s in our companion synods in Palestine and Honduras.
Today, in Gaza a short-lived cease-fire ended, with death and destruction. I was just in Israel and the West Bank in November eating lunch with Munther and Mona. I worshipped with Palestinian Christians in our Lutheran congregations, walked the streets of Jerusalem and witnessed the pain, hypocrisy and injustice of a people longing for peace.
Yesterday, as a nation we deported 50 women and children back to Honduras. The humanitarian crisis on our southern border grows everyday, as children flee the gang violence that is consuming Central America. It is a violence rooted in drugs and profit. In 2012, I slept in a humble cabin in the mountains in Honduras near the Nicaraguan border, worshipped with Dagoberto and worked alongside our sisters and brothers to build a church where the Good News of the Prince of Peace is being proclaimed today.
The New England Synod has a deep relationship with these two parts of the world. We are in companion relationship with the Lutheran Church in the Holy Land (ELCJHL) and in Honduras with both Lutherans and Episcopalians. As we watch, read and hear the news about two difficult and complex issues in our society – Immigration and the Middle East, I wonder what can we do?
These issues are riddled with complexities that are not simply distant, but quite connected to our own lives. The dynamics of the Middle East involve how we invest our money in foreign and domestic companies, how we buy our food in the grocery store, as well as our attitudes toward those who are a part of the Jewish and Islamic faith traditions. The issues of immigration are tied to our US drug use culture, our desire for products and services to remain inexpensive and our misunderstanding of people whose racial make up may be different than our own. 
The complexity of these parts of the world come home in our congregations when we have debates over how to invest our endowment funds, minister to the parents of drug addicted children and enjoy our hotel rooms being cleaned for us on Cape Cod. The world is not far away, it is here.
What can we do?
- I invite your congregation to include in your Sunday prayers and petitions, our brothers and sisters in Israel, Palestine and Honduras. Pray for an end to violence, pray for a fair treatment of all people, pray for understanding, and pray for the reign of God.
- Educate yourselves on both of these matters by seeking out thoughtful perspectives that deepen your God given compassion. Avoid the extremes in the media who seek to establish a preconceived agenda.
- Consider including information in your congregation bulletin or newsletter. Below are some links to resources.
- Consider joining me in making a financial contribution to support the Augusta Victoria Hospital in West Jerusalem and the Lutheran Disaster Relief for Unaccompanied Children.
- Realize that in a global society such as ours, everything is connected to everything. How we live our lives here in the US impacts the children walking in the streets all over the world.
Let the God whose compassion runs so deep for us, that the tears of an ancient Psalm resulted in the action of the extraordinarily generous gift of Jesus.
About the crisis at the Border
About the crisis in Palestine & Israel
Sincerely in Christ,
Bishop James Hazelwood
What I read on My Summer Staycation
My administrative assistant, Lyn Wasilewski, informed me earlier this summer that I had too much vacation time accrued. Yes, she keeps track of everything. She's the brains behind the bishop. So this summer, I'm taking a series of staycations. You know, stay at home, do those things you always say you are going to do when you have more time, but then the staycation comes around and you don't do them.
Anyways.... I'm spending some time reading this summer. Here's a few from the reading list.
I'm about halfway through Rodney Stark's big fat volume on the history of Christianity from a sociological perspective. Mr. Stark was born on the plains of North Dakota and began his life rooted in the cultural Lutheran ethos of the upper midwest. Years ago I read his wonderful account of the early church titled The Rise of Christianity. In this book, you essentially get Rise plus the rest of the history of Western Christianity to the present. I'm loving and hating this book as I make my way through it.
First of all, Stark challenges some of the conventional thinking that has dominated the history of the west. This is a tad bit infuriating, because he is making me rethink some of my assumptions. (Why can't I just have my little petty assumptions to provide comfort and solace in this age of discontent? Sarcasm intended) One example of the challenges comes through most profoundly in the section on the rise of Islam and the West's response. Stark makes a rather convincing case that the crusades were not entirely motivated out of religious zeal, and the islamic world did not view the crusades with the intense hostility we have been lead to believe. I'd love to see Karen Armstrong and Rodney Stark on stage at a Bishop's Convocation discussing their very different views on this subject.
The best part of this book is his explanation of how religious movements grow. He's making a case that it is primarily through social networks. When the book of Acts describe the early church's ministry to the orphans, the widows and the infirmed, Stark shows the significance of that ministry on the surrounding villages. Over time christians lived longer, had better hygiene, less disease, higher quality of life and the impact of that on the local onlookers was significant. The faith of the Jesus movement grew because people were attracted to a better life in the here and now .i.e., the kingdom of God here on earth. Those of you who read this blog know that I'm convinced we are in that early church kinda ethos, and it's faith in action that makes all the difference.
This is not a church history nor a history of theology. You won't find long chapters on the doctrine of the trinity here. Instead, you'll come away with a greater appreciation for the way culture, inventions and people impacted the west, and the growth of christianity. It's a big fat book, and at times you'll find yourself skimming, but I think it's one of the better overviews of the development of the faith.
I do wish he had not titled it the Triumph of Christianity, as that smacks of a successful dominance that I think even Stark himself would question.
Next up is Real Good Church: How our church came back from the dead, and yours can, too. Molly Phinney Baskette has written the book, I wished I'd written. So much of what is in this paperback reflects actions that I took in both congregations I served. I've only skimmed the table of contents and read some bits and pieces, but this looks to be the book I'm going to recommend our churches read. It will make a good church council study book.
Molly is pastor of First Church in Somerville, MA and this book is essentially the story of how she worked with 35 people on a sunday to revitalize her congregation. They went from 6 children to close to 100, just to give you an example. But, she also weaves in a deep faith focus to this revitalization. The book is funny, warm, practical and honest. Honest about the hard work that is required to bring about the needed change to turn a system around.
I'm hoping to sit down with Molly for an interview in our ongoing series on the effective small church - coming to a You Tube channel near you.
Finally, just arrived in the mail, and when I need something completely different from all this church stuff, is Bill Bryson's book One Summer: America 1927. Glen Ramsay suggested this to me, and I've been waiting for it to come out in paperback, because... well, because, sometimes I get tired of reading on my kindle and just long for the good old days of paper and ink.
1927 was quite a year in America- Babe Ruth, Charles Lindberg, Al Capone and the first talking film "The Jazz Singer". Bill Bryson's written some good stuff, and the narrative non-fiction genre appeals to me. I know, I know...I should read more fiction. I'll work on that, in my spare time. Maybe in retirement, when I'll get around to all those projects I didn't finish on my staycations.
Shalom in the community
I love this! In 3 minutes it gets at the core of what I believe the faith community needs to be about.
It's like a 2 Day Summer Camp for adults
If you are in ministry, business, education, government you will benefit from 2 Days at the Leadership Summit. I hope you'll join me and leaders from 19 other Lutheran congregations in New England at the Leadership Summit. There are sites all over New England, but I'm going to the SE Mass/RI site in Rehoboth, MA site cause it's closest to my home. The dates are August 14 & 15
I've been able to arrange a discount for anyone who is a leader or member of one of our New England Synod congregations. If you send me an email, I can send you the discount code. You may have already received it, if you are on our NES email list.
I know of no other place where you can get this kind of leadership education for ministry in the church or in the marketplace. Yes, there is always one speaker that rubs me the wrong way each year, but the other 8 always make up for it. Besides, sometimes I rub me the wrong way some time.
I've been attending these almost every year going back into the late 1990's. I can't recommend them enough.
Here's the link
Camp Calumet
This week and next, I am at our Lutheran outdoor ministry called Calumet. I'm hanging around as a Bishop in Residence for staff training, confirmation camp and family camp.
Bike for Bread
This summer I'm on a multi-part #bikeforbread ride to raise awareness and funds about the good work of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. Below is the map of part one.
If you want to join me on parts of the ride, send me an email using the contact form on this web page.
If you'd like to attend an event, here are a few upcoming ones
June 16 at Redeemer Lutheran in Woburn, MA 7:00 p.m.
June 17 at Holy Trinity Lutheran in Newington, NH at 7:00 p.m.
July 7 at Redeemer Lutheran in Bangor, Maine at 7:00 p.m.
Follow along on Twitter @bishophazelwood or #bikeforbread
I'll also be preaching this sunday at Nativity in Rockport, ME, and spending some time a Camp Calumet the first week of July as a Bishop in Residence
A New? Look at the Last Supper
Points for originality. Hmmmm, I wanna follow up on this with some research on what he's describing in this video. But if he is right, it's a pretty cool way of describing communion, especially to youth.
Thanks to Greg Possemato for sending me this.
Bishop's Report New England Synod Assembly 2014
Below is the You Tube of the Live stream of my report. It starts and 13:30 if you'd like to move ahead, and runs about 40 minutes