Friends,
To stay informed about the voting process and rationale for the proposed amendments to be voted on at this year's annual conference: visit the following North Alabama Conference website
http://www.northalabamaumc.org/page.asp?PKValue=1338
Also, to see a supposedly balanced take on the proposed amendments, please read the following document: http://woconsole.brickriver.com/files/oFiles_Library_XZXLCZ/09Amendments-Letter-For-Against_HPWKFI7M.pdf
Blessings!
UMC Young Clergy Tweets
Pray40 Tweets
6 Questions Tweets
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Young Clergy Gathering with Bishop Willimon
Today at 10:00 am, the young clergy (40 and younger) in the greater Birmingham area gathered with Bishop Willimon at Canterbury UMC to discuss two topics: issues facing young clergy in North Alabama as well as Bishop Willimon's goals for the next year, as covenanted with the Episcopasy Committee. There were around 18 young clergy present, two District Superintendents, Bishop Willimon and the Director of Connectional Ministries.
First, we discussed the balance of patience and determination needed in young clergy to both work for change, but also be patient for systems and structures to have the necessary time to change. This led us into a discussion on taking young clergy seriously. We realize that respect does not come naturally and that it has to be earned with actions; however, when an organization or conference asks for feedback from young clergy we simply do not want to be heard. We want to be in dialogue. We want to be part of the solution or told that what we are seeking is out of bounds.
Next, we spent some time critiquing the itinerant system -- saying that from our perspective "shuffling the deck" every four years has hurt churches and pastors...as well as the denomination. We affirmed the conference's move to take seriously the needs of the churches and the gifts of the pastor; however, we were concerned that clergy were not given enough time to build deep roots for ministry. It seems that as soon as a clergy person shows signs of effectiveness, that pastor is moved up the ladder on to the next "project."
We also asked the cabinet to consider the nature of the families of clergy today, such as dual-income families, childcare needs, school systems, etc. Our discussion circled around the Board of Ordained Ministry's questions on itinerancy in the ordination process and asked if it was possible to say yes, we affirm the itinerancy process, but "help our unbelief."
Next we had a lengthy discussion on what young people are passionate about. They like Jesus, but not the institution of the Church. They want to attach themselves to a movement, not to maintenance. We spent some time diagnosing this issue, but did not come to a real sense of how the conference and denomination as institution can reclaim the nature of a "movement" except through transparency and effective communication of where we spend our money for mission and outreach. We also suggested that we add a missional component to the conference's four priorities and suggested that a measurement of mission and outreach be added to our church evaulation process: the Dashboard. The apportionment system was also referenced in this conversation.
We tied this discussion about integrity with what financial gifts we are given by the congregations to the giving habits of young adults. Young adults, we felt, give to movements and not to institutions. Young adults give for an immediate result. Bishop Willimon asked us to be courageous in dealing with talking openly and honestly about money with our congregations, specifically to say that being released from the hoarding of "stuff" to find happiness might be just the salvation that people are looking for in today's climate.
We ended our time together dreaming of the creation of an intentional community in the urban area of Birmingham where young adults and perspective clergy could live, pray, and work alongside other co-journers and a part of the "life together" would be working with the impoverished as well as in area churches discerning the call to ministry.
Bishop Willimon's closing words were to commission us to do the work of changing the church instead of simply diagnosing the problem and expecting the conference staff to do the work. He seems to hope that small revolutions will be ignited by young clergy and the laity they lead -- revolutions or "movements" that grow and spread to other churches...throughout the conference.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Ministry Lessons from Jesus and Peter
In seminary, I got the message that clergy were the bearers of orthodoxy. Whether that was the point of our curriculum, that is the message I got.
In my two rounds of paperwork for commissioning and ordination, I got the message that orthodoxy mattered. Sure, they wanted to know about effectiveness, but the major question remained: explain baptism to us. The United Methodist Church is so afraid of Southern Baptists sneaking into its ranks that it usually misses the more pertinent questions.
In the two local churches I have served, very few were hungry for orthodoxy. They appreciate it, particularly when it is delivered to them in practical ways. People seem to be hungry for orthropraxis: how do we live in this world now that we have encountered Father, Son and Spirit?
Churches that seem to grow are churches where leadership and preaching connect people to real ministry. Where people matter so much more than getting it right from the beginning. Growing churches are messy -- they allow people to train in leadership and ministry through trial and error.
But behind the scenes -- is always good orthodox thought and coaching. But that is not the end. It is not the goal. Strategic orthodox leadership produces orthopraxis over time in the community.
I hate to use this example because it reeks of paternalism, but I am reminded of my three-year-old daughter. She continually wants to do things herself. She wants to make her own sandwich and in the course of preparation gets peanut butter all over the kitchen counter. I am at her side coaching her through the process and I know if I stay involved and stay out of the process at the same time: she will one day master it.
I am reminded of Jesus and Peter after the resurrection: "Peter, do you love me?" Yes, Peter says. I know I messed up denying you and all of that. But I am back now. I love you.
"Tend my sheep." The pastor has been imaged as a shepherd ever since. I believe that Jesus is asking more of Peter than simply to be a chaplain in a local church. Look at Acts and see what "tending" Jesus' sheep really looks like. There is action, risk-taking, even martyrdom. Let's remember to look at the whole picture here. Peter's vocation is being God's companion in world transformation.
Too often, we limit our vocation by moving into preservation mode: we will sustain orthodoxy at all costs! We will save our form of worship! We will save our conference staff
We will save our denomination by recruiting young clergy.
At some point, it all has to go back to Jesus and Peter. Why are we here? Why are we pastors? To what vocation have we been called to?
Yes, let's make the process towards ordination easier and more faithful. Yes, let's move towards appointments that fit gifts and strengths and opportunities for leadership to be utilized within the local congregation. Yes, let's seek out help, coaching and collaboration and stop relying on the conference to provide everything to us.
But at some point we have to realize that Jesus has placed this vocation in our hands. It's not about who is respected or not. It's not about the hypocrisy of closed systems.
It's about leading movement in local churches and in the conference as a whole towards faithful living that is contagious. At some point, we have to realize that we have everything we need to practice ministry faithfully -- we just need a seismic shift in our understanding of our pastoral vocation.
At some point we need to stop waiting for permission and start tending sheep.
In my two rounds of paperwork for commissioning and ordination, I got the message that orthodoxy mattered. Sure, they wanted to know about effectiveness, but the major question remained: explain baptism to us. The United Methodist Church is so afraid of Southern Baptists sneaking into its ranks that it usually misses the more pertinent questions.
In the two local churches I have served, very few were hungry for orthodoxy. They appreciate it, particularly when it is delivered to them in practical ways. People seem to be hungry for orthropraxis: how do we live in this world now that we have encountered Father, Son and Spirit?
Churches that seem to grow are churches where leadership and preaching connect people to real ministry. Where people matter so much more than getting it right from the beginning. Growing churches are messy -- they allow people to train in leadership and ministry through trial and error.
But behind the scenes -- is always good orthodox thought and coaching. But that is not the end. It is not the goal. Strategic orthodox leadership produces orthopraxis over time in the community.
I hate to use this example because it reeks of paternalism, but I am reminded of my three-year-old daughter. She continually wants to do things herself. She wants to make her own sandwich and in the course of preparation gets peanut butter all over the kitchen counter. I am at her side coaching her through the process and I know if I stay involved and stay out of the process at the same time: she will one day master it.
I am reminded of Jesus and Peter after the resurrection: "Peter, do you love me?" Yes, Peter says. I know I messed up denying you and all of that. But I am back now. I love you.
"Tend my sheep." The pastor has been imaged as a shepherd ever since. I believe that Jesus is asking more of Peter than simply to be a chaplain in a local church. Look at Acts and see what "tending" Jesus' sheep really looks like. There is action, risk-taking, even martyrdom. Let's remember to look at the whole picture here. Peter's vocation is being God's companion in world transformation.
Too often, we limit our vocation by moving into preservation mode: we will sustain orthodoxy at all costs! We will save our form of worship! We will save our conference staff
We will save our denomination by recruiting young clergy.
At some point, it all has to go back to Jesus and Peter. Why are we here? Why are we pastors? To what vocation have we been called to?
Yes, let's make the process towards ordination easier and more faithful. Yes, let's move towards appointments that fit gifts and strengths and opportunities for leadership to be utilized within the local congregation. Yes, let's seek out help, coaching and collaboration and stop relying on the conference to provide everything to us.
But at some point we have to realize that Jesus has placed this vocation in our hands. It's not about who is respected or not. It's not about the hypocrisy of closed systems.
It's about leading movement in local churches and in the conference as a whole towards faithful living that is contagious. At some point, we have to realize that we have everything we need to practice ministry faithfully -- we just need a seismic shift in our understanding of our pastoral vocation.
At some point we need to stop waiting for permission and start tending sheep.
Online Developments with Young Clergy
Jenny Smith details the initiatives underway with our movement with young clergy: Recent Initiatives.
Andrew Conrad details how you can stay connected in online media with other young clergy: Social Media Guide
Andrew Conrad details how you can stay connected in online media with other young clergy: Social Media Guide
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Young Clergy Meet-Up
Most of you know Jenny Smith who has been organizing the conversation in our denomination on young clergy issues and concerns. Below you will find links to her notes from a recent meet-up in Nash-vegas. She summarizes the movement:
Summary and Notes 2
Summary and Notes 3
Our bottom line goal is to find creative ways to support this currrent group of young clergy and those coming after us. There aren't a lot of us and we want to do everything we can to help more young adults answer their call into ministry. We love what we do and want to serve alongside each other.Summary and Notes 1
Summary and Notes 2
Summary and Notes 3
Monday, October 27, 2008
Get Some Guts
I recently went to Ginghamsburg UMC as part of something called the Young Pastor's network. It was a pseudo gathering of "high capacity" pastors under 35 that were from the eastern half of the USA.
What does high capacity mean anyway? You can't use a single term that could describe me that would make me feel better than any of the other people in the world answering their calls. I'm flattered, really. But as Adam Hamilton reminded us, Christ might call me to low capacity, and while I doubt it, I'd be cool with that.
Mike Slaughter preached wonderfully about the work Christ is doing in Africa. He lovingly described the transition from where the church was to where the church must go. He laughed at himself for his mistakes and challenged us to get some guts. "That gal has guts" - you've heard that before, right? Daring, courageous, maybe even a little disrespectful of authority.
Get some guts. And by that I mean stop whining about being old. Moses was flipping ancient before he even STARTED the RIM program. Do something with where you are and ignore the naysayers. Sure, maybe you can't preach, but that isn't cause you are old.
Get some guts. And by that I mean stop whining about being young. You gotta grow up kid! But there is never a better time to start proving yourself than now. So what, the Church doesn't hear you... Jesus was under 35 and we still haven't gotten what he was spouting! Would Jesus have been more holy if he had lived to 55? Being old doesn't equate to better. But it often equates wisdom. You might have no experience but we have a solution for that: its called experience.
Get some guts. Love the other party. I'll put it this way... Does thinking of Jesus as a republican make you cringe? Or a democrat? Then your heart is hardened. What if Jesus were homosexual? Did you just flinch? Your heart is hardened.
You need a heart that can see Jesus in all his children.
I propose a plan: 1) quit hating. What if no one ever said anything negative about you. What if you never said anything negative about anyone ever? And I am not talking about the whole "its not gossip if its true" crap. Search your heart when you criticize. Is it because you hate that person? Are you just mad it wasn't your idea or because it threatens something you love? Stop hating...Look for how it benefits Jesus. Because if it benefits Jesus and his Kingdom, it benefits you (as an aside, just because you like it doesn't mean Jesus does).
If you quit hating, you will find not only do you stop talking bad about them, you start acting better towards them. The talking is only an important tmarker to push you towards action.
I'm not saying you quit criticizing or being honest. But don't take it so personally and you will move from seething wrath to brutal honesty. (sugar sweet is never good unless God made you so sweet you get swirl your finger around in your tea to make it better. Think encouragement and positivity)
2) Put yourself in their shoes. I have a much harder time feeling angry with someone when I know who they are. What their desires are. What their dreams are. What their frustrations are. What their hurts are. In effect, they become human.
Another phrase might be "What is good for the goose is good for the gander"- in other words, although I can't remember a single time I've heard that term in conversation, being good for your neighbors is good for you, and ultimately good for God. Rob Bell says the Good News of Jesus Christ should be good for the whole neighborhood.
Even Richard Dawkins, radical athiest that he is, should benefit from the Gospel.
3) Seek God in mystery and knowledge. If you celebrate God's creativity and power in your knowledge of the world and celebrate God's majesty in the size of the known cosmos, you will find a PERSON to share life with. Sure, you can enjoy a good movie without understanding plot dimensions or character development, but if you know your stuff, its like savoring a fine wine right? I differ with Chuck Colson on this point... In How Now Shall We Live? I remember him talking about how appreciating classical music takes work.
Hogwash. You naturally appreciate the beautiful and the deeper you go the more you might pull from it, but the tools are there.
You CAN find meaning in life without God - but that meaning can't love you back like our God can.
Flip side, never stop seeking knowledge of God. And I mean the mystery of God is never an excuse to not get closer to Jesus. So many in oue society think they know Jesus when they've never cracked a bible or spoken to a Christian. The quicker we address ignorance and replace it with knowledge the quicker the Kingdom of God will reign on earth.
To seek God is to admit you need God. To admit you need God is to accept futility without God. Futility without God equals repentence.
If you haven't figured it out yet, these three points are what Micah, the prophet, expected from Israel. Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you God.
How can you be just if you hate your neighbor?
How can you bring God's mercy to someone who you don't see as a human?
How can you walk with God (humbly!) if you don't look for Jesus in the questions and answers of life? Humility begins with admitting you can learn something new.
Or is your heart too hard? Get over yourself. Get some guts.
~Jack Hinnen
What does high capacity mean anyway? You can't use a single term that could describe me that would make me feel better than any of the other people in the world answering their calls. I'm flattered, really. But as Adam Hamilton reminded us, Christ might call me to low capacity, and while I doubt it, I'd be cool with that.
Mike Slaughter preached wonderfully about the work Christ is doing in Africa. He lovingly described the transition from where the church was to where the church must go. He laughed at himself for his mistakes and challenged us to get some guts. "That gal has guts" - you've heard that before, right? Daring, courageous, maybe even a little disrespectful of authority.
Get some guts. And by that I mean stop whining about being old. Moses was flipping ancient before he even STARTED the RIM program. Do something with where you are and ignore the naysayers. Sure, maybe you can't preach, but that isn't cause you are old.
Get some guts. And by that I mean stop whining about being young. You gotta grow up kid! But there is never a better time to start proving yourself than now. So what, the Church doesn't hear you... Jesus was under 35 and we still haven't gotten what he was spouting! Would Jesus have been more holy if he had lived to 55? Being old doesn't equate to better. But it often equates wisdom. You might have no experience but we have a solution for that: its called experience.
Get some guts. Love the other party. I'll put it this way... Does thinking of Jesus as a republican make you cringe? Or a democrat? Then your heart is hardened. What if Jesus were homosexual? Did you just flinch? Your heart is hardened.
You need a heart that can see Jesus in all his children.
I propose a plan: 1) quit hating. What if no one ever said anything negative about you. What if you never said anything negative about anyone ever? And I am not talking about the whole "its not gossip if its true" crap. Search your heart when you criticize. Is it because you hate that person? Are you just mad it wasn't your idea or because it threatens something you love? Stop hating...Look for how it benefits Jesus. Because if it benefits Jesus and his Kingdom, it benefits you (as an aside, just because you like it doesn't mean Jesus does).
If you quit hating, you will find not only do you stop talking bad about them, you start acting better towards them. The talking is only an important tmarker to push you towards action.
I'm not saying you quit criticizing or being honest. But don't take it so personally and you will move from seething wrath to brutal honesty. (sugar sweet is never good unless God made you so sweet you get swirl your finger around in your tea to make it better. Think encouragement and positivity)
2) Put yourself in their shoes. I have a much harder time feeling angry with someone when I know who they are. What their desires are. What their dreams are. What their frustrations are. What their hurts are. In effect, they become human.
Another phrase might be "What is good for the goose is good for the gander"- in other words, although I can't remember a single time I've heard that term in conversation, being good for your neighbors is good for you, and ultimately good for God. Rob Bell says the Good News of Jesus Christ should be good for the whole neighborhood.
Even Richard Dawkins, radical athiest that he is, should benefit from the Gospel.
3) Seek God in mystery and knowledge. If you celebrate God's creativity and power in your knowledge of the world and celebrate God's majesty in the size of the known cosmos, you will find a PERSON to share life with. Sure, you can enjoy a good movie without understanding plot dimensions or character development, but if you know your stuff, its like savoring a fine wine right? I differ with Chuck Colson on this point... In How Now Shall We Live? I remember him talking about how appreciating classical music takes work.
Hogwash. You naturally appreciate the beautiful and the deeper you go the more you might pull from it, but the tools are there.
You CAN find meaning in life without God - but that meaning can't love you back like our God can.
Flip side, never stop seeking knowledge of God. And I mean the mystery of God is never an excuse to not get closer to Jesus. So many in oue society think they know Jesus when they've never cracked a bible or spoken to a Christian. The quicker we address ignorance and replace it with knowledge the quicker the Kingdom of God will reign on earth.
To seek God is to admit you need God. To admit you need God is to accept futility without God. Futility without God equals repentence.
If you haven't figured it out yet, these three points are what Micah, the prophet, expected from Israel. Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you God.
How can you be just if you hate your neighbor?
How can you bring God's mercy to someone who you don't see as a human?
How can you walk with God (humbly!) if you don't look for Jesus in the questions and answers of life? Humility begins with admitting you can learn something new.
Or is your heart too hard? Get over yourself. Get some guts.
~Jack Hinnen
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