Giving Tuesday

December 2 is Giving Tuesday.  Huh?  What's that?

First there was Black Friday, a day when masses of people crowd into shopping malls and gorge themselves on stuff they'll probably toss out in a year or two, but the day is said to keep our economy flowing.  Then there was Small Business Saturday, a day when US Americans are to shop locally in those small shops that are independently owned.  Next we have Cyber Monday, when all the people that go to work can sit at their computers and shop online for those things they could've gotten on Friday or Saturday, but opted to stay home and rake leaves instead.  Now, there is Giving Tuesday.  It's a day set aside to encourage people to make a gift to a church, a charity, a non-profit.  So, Dec 2 is Giving Tuesday.  What are you gonna give.  Here are some suggestions:

1.  Your congregation - Consider an extra gift to your congregation on this Tuesday.  And make it one of those no strings attached gifts.  You know, here is an extra $50 over and above my regular giving.  Why?  Cause, I know that God makes me a better person when I generous.

2. The ELCA World Hunger Appeal - This has become my go to charity for giving.  I like it better than Heifer cause I know that more of my donation actually goes to help people, as opposed to getting sucked up in TV ads.  Here's the cool thing.  ELCA World hunger works with the same people on the ground as Heifer and the like.  So in the end you are giving to the same on the ground hunger ministry, only through ELCA World Hunger, more of your gift goes to the place that makes the difference.  

3. Global Mission Companion Synods.  In New England we partner with the church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and in Honduras.  The New England Synod supports scholarships for kids to go to school, health related ministry and church construction.  Consider a gift in that direction.

 

From the Bishop of Ferguson

In the aftermath of the announcement of the decision of the grand jury not to indict the police officer in the death of Michael Brown, many of you have been asking how we might offer support. Bishop Roger Gustafson of the Central States Synod of the ELCA, wrote today:

Dear Colleagues,

It’s been a busy couple of days, but I wanted to update you on the happenings in Ferguson and the rest of metro St. Louis. As you know, there was a large spasm of violence last night after the grand jury’s decision was announced. As I walked the streets of Ferguson this afternoon it was clear that business people are getting ready for more of the same – lots of windows being boarded up, merchandise being moved to the backs of stores, etc. There’s a rumor that the Chicago chapter of the New Black Panther Party is in town, along with members of the KKK. If those boys decide to tangle, it could be a nasty night.

Our congregation in Ferguson, Zion, is two blocks from a main street downtown. Pastor Rick Brenton had the church open through the night for whomever wanted to come in for prayer and conversation. Yesterday I met Scott Megwer, a local businessman and member of the Governor’s Commission. He’s exactly the sort of person that commission and this city needs: eager to listen, eager to build a way forward, fully aware that this is a long-term project that’s going to require a lot of patience and persistence. 

I met this morning with an African American woman who is completely heartsick over the many dimensions of the tragic aftermath of Michael Brown’s death. The police and National Guard who were obviously more present in some areas of the city than in others, the businesses that were allowed to burn, the looting that was allowed to happen, the mistaken public perception of the violence that “they’re doing it to themselves” – in her perspective it’s all an illustration of the bad drama that characterizes the black experience. Her name is Janis. Please remember her tonight; I’d like to be able to tell her that the congregations of the New England Synod are praying for her, personally.

Speaking of prayer, I’d invite yours as well: for wisdom to know the way forward, and for courage to step out.

Peace,

Roger Gustafson
Bishop
Central States Synod | Evangelical Lutheran Church in America


As a partner in the Gospel of Jesus Christ I encourage all of us to remember the people of Ferguson, in particular Janis, Pastor Rick Brenton, Mr. Scott Megwer and Bishop Roger Gustafson.

Bishop James Hazelwood 
New England Synod

The New Mission - Joining God in the Neighborhood

The old mission was get people to join the church, and discover God there.  We've spent 500 years with that focus, and particularly in the United States that has been our focus in the post WW II era.  The incredible growth of Christian congregations that occured after my parents generation returned from the global conflict to hault fascism resulted in a huge economic boom.  That was accompanied by a baby boom, that included a church boom.  Denominations expanded and grew in the 40's, 50's and 60's.  But, then it all started to shift in a different direction in the 1970's.  The steady decline of institutional forms of Christian expression began. A new school of thought emerged in the 1970's. It started with Donald McGavern and later Peter Wagner at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California.  It was called the Church Growth Movement.  I'm a disciple of that movement and as a parish pastor I borrowed some of the principles that enabled two congregations I served to expand their outreach.  Yes we grew.  We grew through an approach to ministry that emphasized removing the barriers that were discouraging people from coming to church.  This meant genuinely welcoming children, sermons that were rooted in real life, celebrating broken people as embraced by God, rearranging the worship service to be contextualized to where we resided. I was always suspect of some of the theological tenets connected with the movement, but more so, I was deeply uncomfortable with the marriage of consumer capitalism and congregaional marketing.  The movement needed a corrective, and it received it.

In the 1990's and early 2000's, many of us sought to deepen our congregational life in both the historic roots of the Christian faith as well as the practices that had for centuries deepened people's spiritual vitality.  We shifted the focus to the Schema Creed, found in Jesus emphasis on Loving God and Loving Others.  The idea was that a spiritually formed person loves God by following Jesus and loving others.  While still maintaining certain adjustments from the church growth movement, we moved down and out.  In other words, the idea was let's get deeper (down) so that we can serve others (out).  Faith in Action became a central part of our ministry focus.  The new mission, or as I prefer to call it the ancient/future mission, is to join God in the neighborhood.

This is a very difficult shift for many who have been conditioned and trained in the church culture of the 20th century.  But, I now believe that the future of the Jesus movement will be much more diverse that it is today. In the future, we will have congregations.  But we will also have other expressions, such as spiritual life centers that teach yoga, Tai Chai, meditation, prayer all with a Jesus centered philosophy.  There will also be businesses such as Bean Towne Coffee, which function as businesses but have a covert Christian philosophy of service and charity.  We are also going to have small communities where people gather a couple times a month, maybe for a meal, faith conversations, service.  In other words, more explicity in the world expressions of the Christian movement, as opposed to retreat from the world expressions.

The biblical basis for all this can be found in Luke 10:1-12.  Typically known as the sending of the 70.  I've come to love this chapter of Luke's gospel.  (Click the scripture link if you want to read the passage now.) As Jesus is sending out these disciples, in pairs, he exhorts them to find a house and stay there, eat what they eat, shower them with peace, and as you go take no purse or bag.  In other words, leave the baggage behind.  In our time, you could translate this passage as: "Go be anthropologists.  Go immerse yourself in the culture, eat what they eat, wear their clothes, shop in their shops, watch the TV and movies of the people in the neighborhood.  As you get to know them, develop friendships.  Be the person people look to as the source of something deeper.  Don't sell Jesus and his philosophy, live Jesus and his philosophy."

Alan Roxburgh's great, and I mean this book knocks my socks off every time I pull it off the shelf, goes into this thinking deeply.  It's called Missional: Joining God in the Neighborhood.  (I've got an autographed copy, bet you are super jealous. Maybe in the future I'll put it on ebay and become a very rich man, and donate all the proceeds to some cool Jesus movement)

Some quotesfrom the book:

The good news is that God is doing something far bigger and more imaginative than can be placed in these small, parochial categories.

It is through the ordinary people of God, the nameless people who never stand on stages or get their photo in the news, that the gospel will indwell their space.

It may be that Christian but not churched, is the new expression of spiritual but not religious.

The lord of creation is out there ahead of us;  he has left the temple and is calling the church to followin a risky path of leaving behind its baggage.

Roxburgh makes us nervous, because he is challenging deeply held assumptions about what it means to be a Christian and to be the church.  But, he is not doing this only in books and lectures, he is living it out in his home in Vancover, BC. He lives in a house of family and Jesus followers attempting to exlore what this all looks like.

-

How does this fit here in New England, the synod of grand experimentation.?

Last Sunday, I was at St. Ansgar Lutheran Church in Portland, ME, where we celebrated the beginning of a new ministry in the neighborhood.  Together with a whole host of partners, chief of which is the people of St. Ansgar but includes Episcopalians and others, we installed Pastor Maria Anderson.  She's half time at St. Ansgar and half time in the neighborhood.  That's right, 55% of her time is going to be spent in the neighborhood.  No, not recruiting people to come to church.  Instead she'll be entering into the lives of people, exploring and understanding the culture of spiritually curious but institutionally allergic Portlandiars. Who knows what will develop over time? - a small group in a coffee shop, a monthly dinner club, a weekly book club, a mission and service core.  We honestly don't know.  We are giving up a bit of control here.  We are saying, Jesus you lead.  We've been trying it our way, we'll now try it your way, Luke 10 way.  

If this ministry sounds exciting, interesting, curiously wonderful, and you want more information.  Send me an email, I'll connect you. If you are sensing this is something that needs some Holy Spirit mojo, stop reading right now, and offer a prayer for Maria and St. Ansgar.  Offer thanks for their courage, and wisdom going forward. You can also offer up a prayer of thanks for Pastor Tim Roser, my Associate for Maine who pushed this experiment forward. If you are inspired and thinking how can I support this ministry, and you want to help it continue, consider a donation.  If this ministry makes you think, wholly molly Batman, this is not the church I grew up in - you are right.  It is different.  You weren't wrong, you aren't a bad person, it's just that the world has changed, and is changing.  It's not your fault.  But, I believe that a big part of our calling in this time is to explore ways to move the mission of Jesus forward into the next millenium.  I'm not entirely sure how to do that, so we are just gonna keep experimenting our way into God's future.

ELCA Conference of Bishops Statement on Immigration

On the eve of the President's Speech on Immigration, the ELCA Bishops release this statement.

 

Immigration Statement

November 20, 2014

Conference of Bishops

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

As people of faith and leaders of the church, we support public policy that protects

children, reunites families, and cares for the most vulnerable, regardless of their place

of birth.

The treatment of immigrants is a core religious value. To welcome the stranger is to

welcome a child of God. In the New Testament, Jesus tells us to welcome the stranger,

for "just as you did it to one of the least of these... you did it to me.’” (Matthew 25:40)

Each day in our congregations and in our service to the community, we see the

consequences of this broken immigration system: separated families, children returning

home to find their parents have been deported, and the exploitation of undocumented

workers.

By removing the threat of deportation for many people, we are showing compassion for

people who have been here for years, working hard to provide for their families, obeying

the law, and contributing to the fabric of our community.

While today’s action addresses a pressing need, it does not provide a path to

citizenship, establish policies that prioritize family unity, or create more efficient

channels for entry of new migrant workers. Our hope is that congress will address these

and related issues, including the practice of family detention, which undermines our

values as a people of faith and a nation of welcome.

The Scriptures consistently show a significant concern for immigrants:

When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner

residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you

were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:33-34)

The positive role of immigrants in our history, economy and our community is

unmistakable. We support this compassionate first step toward reforming an

immigration system that is flawed and requires many of our neighbors to live in the

shadows in fear.

The ELCA Conference of Bishops

Transformational Leadership Day 2 at Duke

It was a cool, crisp day on the campus of Duke University.  After a morning tour of the chapel, we spent a couple hours with Wes Granberg-Michaelson, former General Secretary of the Reformed Church in America exploring the subject of Transformational leadership.  The General Secretary is the equivalent of Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton in the ELCA.

Wes has a long history in denominational work, both in the United States as well as Globally.  Sitting with him at lunch yielded some great stories about his travels.  But, most of the morning was focused on the Spirituality that is at the heart of organizational change.  He highlighted for us the fact that, at his last count, there are 6,243 books on Leadership currently available on Amazon.  The vast majority of them are focused on technique.  He's not disputing the value of technique, but helped us see the need to focus on the person of the leader.  "All the doing has to be rooted in being."

Shortly after his election as General Secretary, he announced publicly that he would be taking one day away per month to go on a spiritual retreat.  This saved his soul and his butt, because it recentered him on a regular basis.

Wes lifted up the importance for denominational leaders to have a spiritual director, using the metaphor of fly fishing.  "I like to go fly fishing in Montana with a guide, because a guide has been down that river before, and knows the pitfalls, smooth spots and location of the fish."

I have a couple of pages of quotes related to the soul of leadership from this day.  It was a rich conversation with a person who worked hard at organizational change, while keeping it rooted in a spiritual activity.

The afternoon gave some time off, so I took a long walk around the Duke campus.  Mostly, cause all this sitting has gotten to me, and I needed to move my body for a while.

But, the late afternoon session was a very helpful session on change style.  While we all recognize that change is a part of life, as well as our work, we learned (not surprisingly) that people have various approaches to change.  Using an instrument called the Change Style Indicator, we each discovered our preferred approach to change.

If you imagine a continuum.  On one end is the Conserver, on the other end is the Originator, and in the middle are the Pragmatists.  

Conservator..........................................Pragmatist.........................................Originator

You plot yourself along that spectrum.  Not surprisingly for those of you who know me, I landed between Pragmatist and Originator.  Remember, it's a spectrum or continuum, not an either/or

Conservator's prefer to accept the exisitng structure, and like change in incrementation.

Pragmatists explore the structure of an organization, and prefer change that is functional.

Originators challenge the structure, and prefer change that is expansive.

The key learning for me was the value of each part in the change process, and viewing all the types as making contributions along the way.

All of this was rooted in the work of William Bridges, author of many books on Transition, which explored the process of change.  Interestingly, Bridges used the Exodus narrative as an influential part of his work.  

Bridges describes the process of change as initially a process of grief.  What's ending? What am I loosing?  What do I have to let go of as we move through this change.  This explains why most people's initial reaction to change hoisted upon them is "no."   They are grieving what they may loose. As you move forward through the neutral zone, the "Back to Egypt" committee rears it's head and points to how good we used to have it. The leaders job is to focus people's eyes on what is ahead.  Ironically, like Moses, once the New Beginning is reached, it may require a new leader to move people into the Promised Land.

A great dinner, and a night off to process what we've learned.  More tomorrow as we wrap up and head home.

Where is Innovation Happening in the church?

This week I'm at Duke University for a four day seminar on Leadership for the Denominational Executive. There are 24 of us here, mostly Methodists, a few UCC, a pair of Episcopalians and me.  I'm the only bishop, and the only Lutheran.  It's nice being a minority for a change.

I really didn't know what this was going to be like.  But, Rev. Laura Everret, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches highly commended the program.  So I went, and boy, am I glad I did.  The focus is right where we need to be in the church.  Our first full day began with an exploration of both Traditioned Innovation and Disruptive Innovation.

Dave Odom lead us through an understanding of the latest thinking on Innovation.  This video gives you a good overview. 

Traditioned Innovation seeks to take something that is in existence, and improve upon it.  This is mostly what we do in the church.  Actually, it's mostly what business does as well.  Example:  The iphone was a disruptive innovation, but now all Apple is doing is building a better battery, screen, etc.  In the church, one could say that although we may have Jazz worship, outdoor worship, liturgical worship, rock n roll worship, silent worship - it's still worship.  That's traditioned innovation, we are improving an existing.

Later in the day, we spent time with Marlon Hall.  He is a gifted pastor, filmmaker, artist and incubator of hope in the Houston, Texas area.  You can read a short piece about Marlon here or check out his video blog.  Marlon is an example of a disruptive innovator.  What does a disruptive innovation look like in the church?  It begins by asking a very different question than the question we normally ask in our congregations. "Who is the church not paying attention to?"  From there, ideas are germinated.  Awakenings Movement, of which marlon is the pastor, is a church without walls, but it's more than that.  It is a nomadic church, as it moves location every 3 months.  It incubates in the community.  It's a very different view of church.  Read more about it here.

What can we learn from all this thinking about innovation?  The last session of the day focused on the work of Roger Martin, who wrote a book called Opposable Mind.  Here is the basic premise:  Most of us, and increasingly more and more of us thinkin either/or categories.  However, Martin found that the most effective people tended to have a both/and view or the ability to see multiple options.

This has to do with a mind set shift.  THe first move is to reject the instinctive either/or reaction.  The second move is to wade into the complexity of the problem.  The third move is to explore how the oppositions of option A or option B can mean.  What do they need from each other.

This all starts to lead down a path toward engage a set of skills or tools centered around assertive inquiry and generative reasoning.  We ask lots of questions, infact the rule is you need to ask 8 questions before you can make any statement.  It's about making the move from critic (something all graduate level educated folk are trained to do) toward cultivator.

We then engage experiences as learning times.  A key question in any activity is centered around, 'what did I learn from this?'  It's especially important when we are trying something new, engaging in experiments.  Whether something is a success or a failure is not the first question.  THe central question is "What did I learn from this today?'   That seems like a question worth asking at the end of every day, every sermon, every business venture, every drive, every thing we do.

As in any intensive learning experience, there is so much more.  But this gives you the intro to what I'm engaged in, here in Durham - home of the Blue Devils.

 

Crucial Conversations

I've become a follower of the work at Vital Smarts.  This is Joseph Grenny's company.  he is the author of the book everyone on the whole planet shhould not read, but absorb.  Crucial Conversations.  The article below came to my inbox this week.  I thought there was a lot of wisdom here, and written in a contemporary business style, it reflects the values of jesus teachings from Matthew 18.



Changing the System
By David Maxfield

Please enjoy the article below or read it on our blog.

Dear Crucial Skills,

I'm president of my church choir's advisory council. The choir has long had a "slush fund" that is used for various choir-related expenses, but it is not administered by the advisory council. I would like to change this, but am unsure of how to approach the "owners" of the fund. These are members of the choir who make decisions on whether money can be spent without any general choir input.

Recently, they denied the advisory council's request for a small amount of money saying it was an "inappropriate" use of funds. I don't want to turn this into the Inquisition, but the advisory council members think we should all have more input. Any suggestions as to how to approach our colleagues and gain their cooperation?

Signed,
Looking for Guidance

Dear Looking, 

This situation may seem very unique, but it isn't. I think many of us have felt the need to change an established system that is supported by entrenched interests. How do we make these changes? And how do we involve people who believe they will lose power, money, prestige, etc. as a result of these changes?

Get the facts. I would begin by learning the history behind the current arrangement. The creation of the "slush fund," which seems peculiar now, probably made a lot of sense at the time it was established. For example, maybe it was part of a contract the church negotiated when hiring key choir members. Determine the original rationale for the arrangement and evaluate whether those reasons still make sense.

Enlarge the decision-making group. The change you are suggesting should not devolve into a power play between your advisory group and the current owners of the fund. Instead, the interests of the entire church should be foremost. This means involving a broader group of respected decision makers who aren't identified with your group or the current owners of the fund. This more objective group will have greater credibility with the whole church.

Involve the current owners in the decision. Don't let them feel excluded or disrespected. Make sure they have a seat at the decision-making table. They will be the best advocates for the current arrangement, and the decision makers need their perspective.

Maintain respect. When changes are made, the people who created or supported the prior arrangement are often made to look bad. In this case, using words like "slush fund" paints them as corrupt. I doubt they are corrupt. The facts are that they created and managed a system that has worked—at least to some extent—for years. They shouldn't be vilified for this. If the church can create a new system that works better, that's great. It doesn't mean that the old system was somehow evil, unfair, or incompetent.

Give time for the transition. Don't pull the plug in a sudden way. Instead, create a gradual, orderly transition. For example, if the current owners already have a two-year plan for the funds, go ahead and approve it. Let them take their plan to completion, and then get their involvement in creating the next plan. If the transition is abrupt, it may be seen as a money grab, instead of as a long-term structural improvement.

I hope these ideas help.

David 

've become a follower of the work at Vital Smarts.  This is Joseph

Why are you doing so much with Episcopalians?

This weekend I was invited to be the guest preacher at the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island's annual convention by Bishop Nick Knisely 

Last month I presided at the Eucharist during the Western Massachusetts Episcopal Convention, preached at Pr. Bill Peterson's installation as the new Rector of All Saint's Episcopal in New Hampshire, and spoke at the Clergy day for Lutherans and Episcopals in East Longmeadow, MA.  What's the point?

Called to Common Mission is the name of the agreement between our two church bodies, where we now have formally agreed to engage in mission together.  Our clergy can serve in each others congregations, and most importantly, we can now do ministry together.

Here's what we got going so far:

Cathedral in the Night, Northampton, MA and soon to be Pittsfield, MA.  This is a joint effort to be a church without walls serving the homeless Veterans of these cities with worship, a meal, ministry of care giving, and social services.

Church without Walls in Providence, RI. A similar ministry with both Lutheran and Episcopal clergy serving together.

Missional Community, Portland, ME. A new venture reaching out to young people who are spiritually curious but church averse in the Portland area.  Pr. Maria Anderson just started this project.

Iglesia Luterana, a Lutheran congregation worshiping at All Saint's Episcopal in Providence.

Escuela de Laos, OK my spanish is breaking down, but this Lay School of Ministry which began as a Lutheran only program, is now connecting with the Episcopal church.

FARM, Swanton, VT where Kim Erno is reaching out to Mexican migrant workers in Vermont.

There are others, and there is more to come.

Each tribe, that's what I call the denominations, has gifts and each has shortcomings.  We are working together to leverage the gifts and minimize or compensate for the short comings. So far we are engaged in some pretty cool stuff. Some Jesus stuff. 

That's why I'm driving all over Kingdom come, aka New England, to help ensure these relations are fostered and nurtured.

Question for you:  Do you know the Episcopal church near you?  What have you done with them?  Shared a meal?  Joint Ash Wednesday worship? Merged a pericope study group? Maybe just taken a priest out for coffee, or a beer or a glass of cherry?

Most significant things start with relationships.

 

Guest Blogger Geoff Sinibaldo

Check this out  Click here

While this is not rocket science, I want to lift up Geoff Sinibaldo's most recent blog post on greeting people outside. I can't tell you how much this small thing CHANGES EVERYTHING. Yes, that's not hyperbole, I mean it. From the get go you are setting the tone for what is going to happen. What does this say to people coming to church when the pastor is on the sidewalk welcoming people, even when it's cold and he (or she) is out there. Love the pic of Geoff in his signature ridiculous looking hats. Even when's it's rainy - Go buy one of those big honking' Golf Umbrellas.

But you say, I can't do that, I've got to prep for worship. I say, prep for worship on Saturday. get out there and greet people. You could wrap a whole theology around this behavior.

Here's a challenge try doing it this sunday. Yup just try it one sunday, see what happens.  And you can do it whether you are the pastor or the usher or the sunday school class of a teacher and 5 kids.

Maybe it's the first step out into the Neighborhood.

Last Call Brian McLaren

Brian McLaren in Hartford - LAST CALL

Nov. 10, 7 p.m.

Emanuel Lutheran Church

Hartford, Conn.

 

This is your last chance to register to attend a public lecture by celebrated author, speaker and activist Brian McLaren at Emanuel Lutheran Church (311 Capitol Ave., Hartford, Conn.), sponsored by the New England Synod and several ecumenical partners. 

 

REGISTRATION IS OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT ON THURSDAY, NOV. 6. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

 

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, McLaren 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!

A Email from the Left Coast

I received this email, guess people outside read this blog as well.

Subject: Kudos on Experimentaion
Message: Dear Bishop,

My name is Mark Price. I am an ELCA pastor, but I am not a member of your fine synod. I currently am (very happily) serving St. Paul Lutheran Church, Lodi, California in the Sierra Pacific Synod.  I am writing today because I am finding a lot of inspiration from the notion of being a Synod of Experimentation and a congregation of experimentation and a pastoral leader of experimentation.  I showed your video to the congregational council last night and it was greatly appreciated.  I want to say "thank you" for using social media in such an effective manner to get this simple idea out. (20% of our time and resources set aside for experimentation - simple, timely and straightforward.)

At St. Paul's we are experimenting with a "Year of Jubilee. We began September 1. In this year our congregation has committed itself to minimize its meetings.  Instead we gather one Sunday per month for a combined morning worship service. Some weeks that means that the space is overfull but it is worth it, because after worship we gather with the following agenda.

1. Groups of 6-8 form around round tables. Each table has a 'host.' People are encouraged to gather with others that they do not know well. (our congregation worships 250 so this is possible.) The small groups then engage in directed conversation designed to increase their connection with one another. (The purpose of St. Paul's is to connect with God, each other and the world.)

2. We then have a member of the community give a ten minute "Ted Talk" about their faith. The key question that the talk is to answer is "How do I experience God's activity in my daily life?" or "How, where, when do I connect with God?" 

3. A catered lunch is then served family style and over the meal people in the small groups are asked a directed question which enables them  to share how they see God active in their daily life.  Near the end of lunch, the treasurer gives a brief report on how our financial stewardship is doing and what connections that gives us to the world.  

4. After lunch is cleared we then break out into active ministry groups. Some of these groups deal with institutional matters (like the Christmas pageant) but other groups - the best ones - are formed based on a shared interest or calling. "How to start a Bible Study," "Random Acts of Kindness," "Care of Creation Gardening,"   are some of the ministries that have formed. 

If folks don't wish to gather in a group for planning, but want to do something that day, then we try to have at least two hands on activities. Last month there was advocacy letter writing table and a packing LWF kits table. 

5. The entire event is surrounded with music that is unapologetically camp based with lots of hand motions and . . . silliness. But it seems to be working in that the music and silliness builds connection and community.

During the week we try to limit our meetings to Bible Studies, fellowship, worship and music. Not every board has been able to let go and do their ministry in a new way on Jubilee Sundays, but most have.  (The Deacons do like to meet and publish minutes etc., and Social Ministry is really excited about their ministry and they like to meet more than once per month (thats a good thing) and the council meets but in a very different way to take care of some of the necessary institutional business.)  

There is much more to tell about our experiment and the story is still unfolding as we are only two months into our year.  The council and staff are constantly tweaking the idea but we think it is creating a deeper sense of connection with God and within the community of St. Paul's. We are hopeful that it will also create a deeper connection with the world - but we aren't there yet. However, along with the deeper sense of connection has come some renewed energy for ministry. 

Thanks for giving me a place to share the opening chapter. 

The bigger point is that I hope you can feel good that your Synod of Experimentation is having an effect beyond your synod.

Thanks!

Blessings,

Mark

How to Change a System

“If a system is going to change, someone has to begin behaving differently.” 
Edwin Friedman, Rabbi, Family System Therapist, author of Generation to Generation & Failure of Nerve

 

Edwin Friedman, Rabbi, Family System Therapist, author of Generation to Generation & Failure of Nerve

I also heard him say something to the effect of "when a system is stuck, you can't think your way out of stickiness."

However, be forewarned. When you start behaving differently, you'll wake up feeling great one morning. Watch out.  Most of us know this from a little life experience. 

What's in Your Experimentation Wallet, ah Church

Pastor Christian Holleck recently sent me this letter.  He and his wife Tiffany are co-pastors at St. Peter's in Harwich, MA

October, 14, 2014

Dear Bishop Hazelwood,

I watched and listened to your encouraging and timely video message on being a synod of experimentation.  It struck a chord with me; that is, it is helping me make sense of some of the ministry we have been recently been engaged at here at St. Peter’s. 

  • We have been experimenting with art in worship, at one time having a potter set up his wheel in the back of the sanctuary during worship, having artists in the congregation paint during worship on a Pentecost Sunday.  More recently these artists have painted the Stations of the Cross which we hung up in the sanctuary during Holy Week.  We now have an Art Ministry Team and have rented exhibits which are displayed in the sanctuary (We’ve had Otto Dix lithographs depicting Matthew’s gospel and now “From Eden to Eternity,” colorful molas from the San Blas Islands.)  We also have a room dedicated as an Arts and Craft studio we hope to develop further. 
  • Our Reconciling in Christ Team hosted an interdenominational clergy panel discussion with clergy who self-identify as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgender and represent five different denominations.
  • We had a group of nine go to Iona, Scotland for a week to live in Christian community and worship daily in the 13th century Benedictine Abbey.
  • We are re-starting a youth group using an intergenerational approach which includes inviting older adults in the church to be involved in hosting some of our gatherings. 
  • We have collaborated with Tree of Life to host a Humanitarian Benefit Concert for Gaza.  

 

Some of this experimentation has been unintentional – it just happened- and some has been intentional.  Some has been received with tremendous joy, some has been more controversial.  Some has focused on the spiritual growth of members and some on the needs of the community or world.  

Tonight at church council we will share your video presentation, I will share my reflections (i.e. this letter)  and we will have conversation about what it might mean to more deliberately embrace our Synod’s resolution (both communicating and implementing.) 

For now, I want you to know we are listening and experimenting (so is Pope Francis-wow!)   Thank you for the encouragement to engage in “graceful experimentation, innovation and creativity to further the mission to which God in Christ has called us.”

Peace,

 

Christian

I'm doing something crazy

One of the common recurring questions I hear from church leaders is around the topic of money.  As I've talked and listened for over 25 years as a pastor, and now 2 as a bishop, I can safely say that most congregations don't know what to do about money.  We don't know how to talk about it, we don't know how to manage it, we don't know how to ask for it, we don't do money very well.

Here's the irony.  What did Jesus talk about more than anything else?  Yup, money.

So, here is my crazy idea, and I've already been asked by two churches to come and do it. So form a line.

I'll come to your church and conduct a 103 minute session called, "The One Year Money Plan."  I may change the title, as that sounds like something out of a slick TV sales book.  Here's what will happen in those 103 minutes.  We will work together as a leadership team, draft and plan a one year stewardship plan for your congregation.  It'll be customized to your church.  It will include a calendar of what to do each month, and who is going to do it.  This will be a complete year round plan for your congregation, based on your culture and your current giving patterns.  It'll also be based on the core principles of developing health generosity in Christians - Give, Thank, Tell.

Notice I have not said this will be a "Five easy steps" plan.  You will have to do work.  Your pastor will have to work hard.  Your church council will have to step forward.  Your financial secretary and your treasurer will have to work hard.  I'm also going to ask people to give more, and I'll start by asking the pastor to increase his or her giving, and then I'm going to ask your church council to increase their giving, and then you are going to go to your congregation and ask every active participant in your congregation to increase giving.

Then we are going to thank people.  We are going to plan a way to thank people.  Thankfulness is the core attitude that we will celebrate and strategize.

Then we are going to Tell stories, good stories, stories about giving and receiving, stories about God's grace in our lives.  Holy Moly Batman, we are going to give Lutheran Testimonials.

You'll have a plan, a purpose and a goal.  You'll know what to do for a whole year.  You won't have to have long boring Stewardship Committee Meetings. But, you might have to have a "Let's have a Party" committee.

My request to your church is that you agree to increase your mission support to the ELCA and the New England Synod.  That's the fee for this hands-on let's get something done about this money question project.

Here is where it get's crazy.  I'll make a $100 donation to your church to do this for you.  Yup, as a sign that your bishop is truly crazy, and holds highly the value of generosity.  I'll show up with a $100 check.  I'll do this for 12 churches, 2 are already in, where are the other 10?

Who's in?  Who is crazy enough to try this out?  Who believes that God in Christ is such a generous God that we don't need to worry about money, we need to celebrate the extravagant economy of God's radical unconditional Grace.?

Send me an email jhazelwood at nesynod.org 

The Best Feedback Ever

If you read this blog, you know that one of the events I'm known for these days is "Conversations with Nones."

These are ongoing conversations with people who do not particpate in any faith community, church, temple, etc.  It started here in New England at our 2013 Synod Assembly.  You can view that conversation here. Then Philadelphia Seminary invited me last April.  Last weekend, Bishop Mike Rinehart invited me to Houston, Texas.  Each time is unique, and so far every conversation is fascinating.  But, when I was sent this response, I knew I'd gotten the best feedback ever.

Lutherans & Episcopalians in Wolfeboro, NH

My sermon for the beginning of Bill Peterson's ministry at All Saints in Wolfeboro, NH.  The congregation had struggled with the first hymn (one I did not know), but when we sang Charles Wesley's Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, the sang boldly and with joy.

Click here for a listen.

The scripture is Ephesians 4: 7-16

The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. 15 But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

Road Trip - New Hampshire, Texas and Maine

Both my wife, Lisa and my Executive Asst, Lyn, are saying "You are crazy!"  

At first, I thought they were talking about this upcoming road trip, but then I realized they were making general observations.   I'm on the road, more than usual this month.  On Friday, I fly to Houston, Texas to be the keynote for the Gulf Coast Synod's Leadership Day.  We are bringing the "Nones" conversation on the road.

 

On Sunday morning, I'll be in Windham, Maine for the 30th Anniversary of Faith lutheran, and that afternoon, at Water of Life for Carolyn Neighoff's ordination.  Then the Lutheran and Episcopal Clergy of Western and Central Massachusetts for a connection day, as we continue the process of making connections between our two tribes.  Oh, yea, and last night, I was preaching at the installation of Pr. Bill Peterson at All Saint's Episcopal in Wolfeboro, NH.