Graduation!

After squeezing a three-tear degree into eight, I am proud to say that on Sunday, May 23rd, 2010, I received my Master of Divinity degree from Florida Center for Theological Studies. I wasn't expecting it to be, but it was actually a very moving experience, mostly because I was joined by a couple of dozen of my friends and co-ministers from my church who came down to Miami on a bus.

One of the speakers was Dr. Miguel H. Diaz, the current U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican. That was pretty cool.

The other speaker was Daniel O. Aleshire who is the executive director of the Association of Theological Schools. He shared a simple, folksy message based on the life of his father-in-law, Dr. Herbert Gabhart who had recently passed away. Dr. Gabhart had been the president and, later, chancellor of a small Christian university, Belmont University. I found the three lessons he shared valuable:

1. Be grateful. Always thank those who have helped you along. Dr. Gabhart showed as much gratitude for the small gifts as the large.

2. Be generous. Dr. Gabhart was frugal but not miserly. He did a lot with a little. He took as much joy in not spending money as others take in spending it. However, before he died, he was able to donate back to the school every penny they had paid him in salary over his several decade career there. That is awesome!

3. Be persistent. One New Year's Day, the main building of Belmont College was destroyed in the fire. At the end of what must have been a heart-breaking day for the college president. He emerged from his charred office with a sketch of a new building and enough money pledged to begin its construction. Every collegue and friend who called to offer their condolences was asked to contribute to its rebuilding.

There are many theories and lifts of what is required of great leadership. But for me, now, these three seem like a great place to start.

The Challenge of Being a Truth-teller

This Sunday, we talked about how "Every Life...Needs a Truth-teller," experiencing together the story of David and Nathan, who came alongside David and took the risk of speaking truth into his life.

In my sermon I mentioned M. Scott Peck's description of pseudocommunity that occurs when we are involved in "communities" and relationships, but fail to take the opportunity to speak truth to one another, to hold one another accountable.

However, there is a shadow side to speaking truth. When we speak  truth to those about whom we care, we risk being rejected and/or misunderstood. It has been said by a friend of a friend who I never had the opportunity to meet before he passed away, "The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off." Another risk we take is exposing what we understand to be the truth to the examination of others who may not agree with us, whose truth might be different than ours.  Peck says that the antidote for pseudocommunity is to risk the chaos, yes chaos, that is possible (probable?) when we speak truth.  Risking and pressing through the chaos can lead to the blessing of true community.

What better place than a community of faith, centered around the unconditional love and acceptance of God, is there to practice being truth-tellers? How can we create a place, an environment, that offers as much safety as possible for us to encourage one another and hold one another accountable on our spiritual paths?

Worship, You Write the Blog

I had lunch with a colleague yesterday and the conversation turned to worship styles. All of us church folks have an opinion on worship styles. Those of us "in the biz" talk (and argue) about theological and aesthetic considerations and what style of worship attracts the most people to church.

However, worship is about more than just the style of music that is sung or the sermon that is preached. It is about who we are with, where we are, what frame of mind and heart we are in.

I invite you to share below an experience you have had where you can say you worshiped. Maybe it was at a glorious Easter Sunday service or a quiet Christmas Eve service. Maybe it was at a childhood camp around the fire. Or maybe it was at a symphony or  Grateful Dead concert. When was a time where you came in contact with something "other" or "more" when you were with a group of people (whether 10 or 10,000) Click the comment link below and share your story!

The Light of God in the Prism of People

Last night, I attended the interfaith prayer circle for the National Day of Prayer in Lake Worth. It was a meaningful time for me. It is a powerful experience to gather with those of different beliefs who are willing to come together and make space for, and even engage in one another's practices.

Yes, sometimes another's ritual or practice is so different from one's own that it is a bit awkward, somewhat uncomfortable. But I see that as an opportunity for growth, expanding my understanding of God beyond what I am comfortable with.

Here is the prayer I shared, as best as I can remember it:

Our source of life, of love
We thank you for your presence with us
We thank for you for your constant, abiding presence with us always
And we thank you for this opportunity to see your light through the prism of your children gathered here
Allowing us to experience you in all of your colors and words and images and genders and sounds and silences.
Grant us your Spirit of imagination, allowing us each to see what would be possible if each of us gathered here lived fully our understanding of you, the shift that could happen in our culture, in our world
We pray especially today on this National Day of Prayer for our leaders
We start right here where we are by lifting up Renee, Cara, Suzanne, and Scott to you,
Encourage and enliven them, lift them up
Give them the courage to lead and to speak
Give them the humility to listen and make space for one another and for the voices of those they govern
Amen

Jason's Job Transition FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

On May 14th I will begin a new job as a chaplain with VITAS Innovative Hospice Care, a hospice care provider in Palm Beach County. I will be transitioning from a full time paid position with our church to a part time paid position with our church. This will be new experience for our church and it brings up some different emotions and questions in people's hearts and minds. Some of the questions I will attempt to answer here. Other questions and emotions we will seek to experience and work through as we continue our journey together.

How did you learn about the chaplain position with VITAS Innovative Hospice Care?

I have recently completed a six month internship with VITAS as a requirement for school. Clinical Pastoral Education, an educational experience composed of supervised ministry and theological reflection is a requirement of both ordination in the Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ and my graduation from Florida Center for Theological Studies. Just as I was finishing my internship, a chaplain position became available on the team that services the Lake Worth/Boynton Beach area. I was invited to apply for this position and was subsequently hired.

Why did you decide to take this position now?

There are several elements that make up the answer to this question.

First, I found the work with hospice patients to be very rich and meaningful. I have the opportunity to have spiritual conversations with people who may have never had them before. As an interfaith chaplain, my role is to be a companion to them, listening for, and facilitating interpretation of, what is spiritually meaningful for them. I recognized in myself and those I worked with recognized in me some undiscovered gifts in this area which I am looking forward to developing as I continue to grow into the minister God has called me to be.

Second, our church's current financial reality (currently operating at a $70,000 a year deficit) is not suitable for supporting a full time pastor. By me becoming "bi-vocational" (a pastor with two jobs, not at all unusual for small and medium-sized churches), there is financial pressure taken off of our church and there is a little more long-term financial security for me and my family.

Third, after much prayer and consideration, I believe this is a good next-step in our ministry together. Financially, this allows us to continue our ministry together indefinitely. It takes the issue of survival off the table and creates the space for us to listen to and follow the still-speaking God into a vital and thriving ministry in our community. Eccclesiologically (Are you impressed? It's a big word that just means regarding how a church operates and functions.), it moves us another step closer to the ministry of the church being dispersed and decentralized from a few "paid professionals" to all of us together.

So now you'll just be a part-time minister?

Nope. I will still be a full-time minister, just like you are. And now, just like for you, part of that ministry will take place in another work place between Sundays. And even though my hours and salary will be reduced, I will still be the full-time pastor of our church, providing leadership and facilitating our ministry together.

What if there is an emergency that happens during the day? Will you still be able to "do my funeral?"

Yes. My hours with VITAS provide some flexibility so that if there is an emergency I can break away and attend to it, especially since my work with them will be in this general vicinity. And yes, with some negotiation, I will still be able to officiate at weekday funerals and memorial services. 

How are you going to be able to do all of this?

Well, honestly, I am going to have to get a little bit better at asking for help. There are many of you who have already graciously offered to help with whatever you can and I am busy organizing some of my responsibilities to hand-off.

What can I do to help the church?

OK, this is sort of a trick question. We often think of the church as an institution, building, or entity that needs our protection, support or help to continue to exist.You are the church.  So the question really becomes:

How can I be the church?

Ahhh, there ya go. Fix a meal for a neighbor in need, babysit the kids of the young couple you know who desperately need a night off, call the friend that you heard is going through a hard time, introduce yourself and sit with the stranger who wanders into church on Sunday morning, offer to work in the nursery once a month so that our younger adults can be in worship, tell a friend the difference Jesus has made in your life, share a song or testimony in a worship service, at lunch sit with the kid that no one else sits with. I could go on, but I think we get the idea.

How are you going to grow the church working part-time?

Just as well or as poorly as I did full-time. I can't grow the church anymore than I can grow a tomato plant. God grows a church. We, together, facilitate that growth by loving God, loving others, and serving the world. This transition gives us more time to practice!

Won't this make it look like we can't support a full time pastor? What will people think?

People that are interested in being the church, not just going to or being served by the church, will not be concerned with whether the pastor is a full-time or part-time position. In fact, there is a trend in missional churches (churches that are intent in carrying out the great commission and great commandment) to minimize the percentage of their budget spent on staff and buildings so that more money is available for loving God, loving others, and serving the world.

I look forward to continuing the conversation with you in the comments below or by email.
  

Imagine

Our conference minister, Kent Siladi, in his address to the annual meeting, invited us gathered to imagine:

+ All God's children welcomed, valued, and loved
+ Looking at our congregations and asking who is not here and ask why
+ Churches addressing  injustices in our community: education, farm labor, etc.
+ Churches attracting people, reaching out to others
+ Building bridges to one another, connections to one another
+ Seeing our churches as centers of experimentation.
+ Reaching out to other faith communities
+ Listening deeply to one another

Good stuff!