Clergy Blog: "On Change and the Church" by the Rev. Nurya L. Parish

Contrary to popular wisdom, the proper first response to a changing world is not to ask, ‘How should we change?’ but rather to ask, ‘What do we stand for and why do we exist?’ This should never change. And then feel free to change everything else.

- Built to Last, Jim Collins and Jerry Porras

It has become commonplace to suggest that the twenty-first century is a time of unprecedented change both for the church and for the world. But over the two millennia of our existence, the church has seen countless changes.

The Roman Empire rose and fell. The Great Schism led to two separated churches, East and West. Through the development of the printing press, texts became accessible to the masses. Literacy, once the privilege of the few, became the right of the many. The Reformation reorganized the church again. And now, the rise of the Internet is reshaping civilization as we know it. 

“What’s past is prologue; what’s to come, in yours and my discharge,” wrote Shakespeare. In response to today’s changing world, this summer at General Convention the church unanimously decided to appoint a task force to recommend restructure at the national level. 

More recently, our neighbors in the Diocese of Indianapolis passed a similar resolution focusing on the diocesan level. Most likely, your church also is wondering how best to change to meet the times.

Collins and Porras advise that the future of the church rests in rediscovering our core purpose and principles, and reshaping our forms and structures to express them appropriately today. The first question to ask in any change initiative is “Why are we here?” Our catechism responds: “the mission of the church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ” (BCP, 855).

This stated purpose claims two universal truths: first, that we live in a world where people are no longer at unity with God and one another; second, that the restoration of this broken world is found in Christ. As the church, we accept these truths, pay attention to them, and proclaim them to the world.

“The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord,” sings the hymn. As we change to meet the times, this cannot change. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). In fact, it is He who leads us ever forward, that generations to come might also know his name and participate in the restoration of the world which he both began and continues until the end of time.

The Rev. Nurya L. Parish, is the associate priest at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids. She can be emailed by clicking here. Her blog is called Plainsong Farm.

Clergy Blog: "The Promise of a Relevant, Growing and Engaging Church" by the Rev. Brian Coleman

I had the good fortune, the year I was ordained, to come into contact with a community organizer who asked to have a meeting with me in my office at the church. I was a newly minted priest working as a Curate in a downtown parish in Los Angeles. In truth I was floundering a bit, not sure what I was supposed to be doing, or what ministry I was supposed to be engaged in, so I welcomed her visit, and jumped at the chance to get involved in the living wage campaign and workers’ rights issues she was organizing communities around on behalf of hotel workers in Santa Monica and baggage handlers at LAX International Airport. 

Thus began my long and fruitful involvement in community organizing, not just in Los Angeles, but during my ministry in the Church of England and now as I serve as Rector of St. Thomas Church in Battle Creek. Throughout, I have found the tools of relationship building, power analysis, strategic planning, even organizing actions and demonstrations around particular social justice issues to be indispensable for the success of my ministry in the wider communities in which I serve.

It has also been highly conducive to the parochial work that makes up the lion’s share of my efforts and energy.

Recently I was elected the president of JONAH, a faith-based community organizing affiliate of the national Gamaliel Foundation. One of Gamaliel’s claims to fame is that it was the incubator in which President Barak Obama was formed politically and where he learned his skills in leadership and community organizing as he worked with Roman Catholic Churches on the South-side of Chicago, early in his career. JONAH has been working in Battle Creek for the past six years to develop a network of congregations who will be able to speak with one voice and effect change in our city for the good of its residents, especially those who are on the margins due to social, economic and racial disenfranchisement.

The point of such organizing is unapologetically clear: it is to ensure that the faith and values of member churches and organizations have influence in the public arena, and so that as decisions are made by the powers that be, we have a voice and a place at the table. Simply put we organize so that we may have power, and we want power so that the decisions that are made reflect the priorities of our faith and values.

A crucial element of community organizing is training leaders and equipping them with tools in order that they might be better able to effect change and wield power in their spheres of influence. Recently JONAH embarked on a renewed campaign to train the leadership in our member churches in these tools or organizing. One such tool is called the “one-to-one”. This is an intentional, but uncommon conversation wherein the participants seek to uncover each others’ self-interest – what drives them, what makes them tick – in order to better serve the common good and develop networks of shared interest. It is about building relationships and building power. To Christians this may sound very utilitarian, until you understand that these encounters can be Sacred Conversations where we seek to discern not only one another’s self-interest, but more deeply God’s will for our lives. In a culture that isolates individuals from community, and which increasingly alienates us from one another and our selves, what more holy occupation could there be than to oppose these forces and bind ourselves together in relationships that are based in mutual discernment, and concern for the common good? 

I charged my Vestry, three months ago to engage in these Sacred Conversations, and they have been busy undertaking their mission with every active member of the congregation. By the time the process is complete we will have engaged in over 156 Sacred Conversations. We are beginning to see patterns and commonalities in the lives of those with whom we worship, we are gaining clarity about who we are called to be and what we are called to do, we have a deeper understanding of the challenges individuals face, and how we might respond to these challenges in faith and hope.

I fully expect this to transform the culture of St. Thomas Church. In fact, according to findings from the Congregational Development Research Study * engaging in such community organizing can strongly benefit a variety of congregations. As reported by participating lay leaders and clergy in interviews, potential benefits include the following: 

1.  More relationships among congregants and with members of other faith traditions
2. Transfer of leadership skills learned by lay leaders and clergy at trainings that are applicable to many different arenas, e.g. congregational, organizational, professional, and personal 
3. An increased number of leaders who participate in the congregation’s programs and work 
4. Heightened visibility and influence of the congregation within the community
   5. A deeper understanding of the faith tradition’s call for mission
   6. An increase in congregational membership

Now, I ask you, who wouldn’t want these benefits for their church? Have I piqued your interest? I hope so. You can learn more about faith-based community organizing and get hands-on experience at the upcoming Diocesan Leadership Days to be held on February 9th, 2013– St. Luke’s, Kalamazoo February 23, 2013 – St. Marks, Grand Rapids March 2, 2013 – Grace, Traverse City Mark your calendars, register as soon as you can, and I’ll see you there!

*Renewing Congregations The Contribution of Faith Based Community Organizing, Flahtery and Wood, Interfaith Funders, 2002/3

The Rev. Brian Coleman, rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, can be reached via email by clicking here.

Staff Blog: "Let the Leaders Lead" by the Rev. Canon William J. Spaid

When I visit a congregation that is preparing for a clergy transition I tell them that although they will breathe a sigh of relief when the new clergy person arrives, the transition will not be over until they and the new priest have lived together through one full liturgical year or longer. I don’t think people believe me. However, the most challenging time of a clergy transition is after the new priest arrives. Unfortunately it is not unusual, and almost predictable, that within 6-8 months of arrival I will get a call from a warden, vestry member, or other “concerned” individual with the news that their new priest is not a good fit or is behaving badly and not a good priest. Usually by the time I receive a phone call a system of negativity is already set up that escalates into unhelpful and even debilitating conflict.

Remember that our clergy leaders are on the same page as lay leaders in our congregations. Everyone wants to further the mission of the church.

Everyone wants congenial relationships within the community and community growth. Everyone wants what is right for the good of the Church. The Church invests heavily in our clergy leadership and we depend on them to be capable pastors. There is a long and careful discernment, formation, and evaluation process prior to ordination. I believe our parish search committees engage in a prayerful, cautious and diligent search process. Both the Bishop and I are committed to making careful inquiries to our colleagues in other dioceses regarding candidates. All of this work is done in anticipation and preparation for calling capable and well-qualified clergy to pastor and lead our congregations. But when they arrive trouble soon begins.

Relationships are at the heart of our congregational conflict. Sometimes the congregation is still attached emotionally to the previous pastor and the way things have been done. It would be wise to remember that the previous pastor, in most instances, chose to leave the congregation and move on to other things. The congregation should be willing to let go and move on too. However, new clergy should realize that they are always in a relationship with the previous pastor even if they never see or speak with that individual. I believe some of the conflict parishes experience is associated with the gate keeping of the congregation – Who gets information? (Do you hear the phrase “everybody knows that…?”) How do people know about parish traditions? Who makes decisions? This has a wider effect too on congregational development, because to the degree a congregation is able to welcome and assimilate a new pastor is pretty much the same degree they will be able to welcome other new comers.

I also think that some of the conflict relates to our lack of understanding of our own polity. Episcopal clergy do not work for the vestry, but with the vestry on behalf of the Bishop. The canons instruct us that Rectors and Priests-in-Charge have full authority and responsibility for not only the worship but for the spiritual jurisdiction of the parish. For a Christian that is pretty much every bit of our lives. It seems to me that a prudent pastor would want to know about and have a say in the direction of all ministries and programs of a parish, working with the vestry to understand community values, set priorities, determine resources, and practice good stewardship and accountability to one another and the community.

So, what’s the good news? The good news is that the conflict we experience in new clergy relationships is normal. It is part of the transformation from pseudo-community (where we’re all nice to one another like a veneer over our true selves) to authentic community where we accept one another for who we are and learn to work together to further the Kingdom of God. Theologian Richard Neuhaus commented, “Real community is not homogeneity. It is the discipline and devotion of disparate people bearing with one another – the hard tasks of love.”

A change in clergy leadership is like moving the dial on a kaleidoscope. The patterns of colored beads change and you can never go back to the previous patterns, only new patterns emerge. Healthy congregations live into new patterns of ministry. How can you be helpful? If you are the clergy person listen and teach, and ask questions to discover the traditions of your new community. As lay people instead of complaining to others about your new priest, go to the new priest and say help me understand why… When someone complains to you about the new priest, don’t feel responsible for that individual’s discomfort, rather encourage that person to go to the new priest. If you are unhappy do not go to others to create an Unhappiness List to present to the priest; it is not helpful. Healthy congregations treat the conflict as normal and assume it will work out in time; they are forgiving and generous. They are not anxious. They recognize that a new clergy person will have different ways of organizing and practicing ministry and they make space and celebrate. Healthy congregations focus on mission strengths and not on congregational or clerical personality. Healthy congregations let their leader lead.

Canon Spaid has worked for the Diocese since January 2003. .

"I Am an Episcopalian" by Patrician Johns

On July 4, 1948 I was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. I was baptized a few days later in a Bayonne Episcopal Church.

When I was 10 years old I was confirmed at Christ Church in Stanhope, New Jersey. At that time I was given a silver chain with a medal on it. On one side was the dove of peace and on the other the phrase “I am an Episcopalian.”

I am concerned when I hear that the Episcopal Church is working to become “mission oriented.”

During my lifetime I have experienced the church reaching out in missions. The Episcopal Church was very active in the civil rights efforts in the 1960s and before. When I was a child we could bring our Unicef boxes to church to be blessed. Many churches sent volunteers to assist communities in the aftermath of disasters. This is an effort that continues today.

I believe that individual churches should reach out and be visible in their  communities. I think having an Episcopal church being a venue during ArtPrize in Grand Rapids is wonderful. Next year I hope that the Grand Rapids churches continue to participate. One simple way would be to open the church sanctuaries to become resting places for those trying to see all 1500 pieces of artwork and whose feet really hurt. Just think how appreciative art lovers would be to find a bathroom they could use.

I do think that our churches need to do more to attract members. This will not be easy and will take time. I think the effort can begin by being visible in the community. This can mean serving a free breakfast during the summer as Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Hastings did this summer. Even making sure that churches advertise in local papers or help support community organizations and events are ways to reach out for new members.

I am telling you my own experience because I believe that there are many ways for the church to welcome both new and returning members. Sometimes church members can experience the spirit even in another denomination but still be true to their own. As an adult I moved away from the church but if anyone asked me what church I went to, I would reply, “I am not a member of any church but, I am an Episcopalian.”

More than 32 years ago I married my husband Michael. Ours was an outside wedding, looking at a lake in New Jersey. The ceremony was officiated by the Methodist minister from my in-law’s church.

Ten years later our daughter Elena was born. Several days after she was born she was baptized on Thanksgiving Day at an Episcopal church in Northfield, Ohio. Michael’s parents were there as well.

We moved to Michigan when Elena was just about 3 years old. We did not belong to any church but as a writer for a community paper I knew about many of the activities of the churches in the community.

When she was 11 years old, Elena told me that she wanted to go to church. She went first with some friends to the Middleville United Methodist Church.

Then she said she would like to go to a church with a woman minister. I had heard that Saint Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church in Orangeville had a woman priest, Barbara Wilson.

We were welcomed there by both Barbara and members of the congregation. It didn’t matter whether we knelt or stood. We were accepted and this was celebrated in the “Peace.” We chose to attend there and kept going. Elena was confirmed, served as an acolyte and sang solos during services.

One of my best memories of being at Saint Francis is Elena singing “As the Deer” with her grandparents and her dad Michael sitting in the pews.

As a college student she sang “As the Deer” as requested by her grandmother before she died in 2009. At the Methodist Church in Butler, New Jersey there were many tears of joy and reflection during this part of the funeral service.

Because of a medical problem, I cannot drive to Orangeville to attend services any longer. Mother Barbara has been there for me in what has been a very difficult time for me. I have learned a great deal from Mother Barbara. My faith is deeper and my understanding of Christ in my life is clearer.

When asked I still say, “I am an Episcopalian.”

Patricia Johns is a member of St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church in Orangeville, Michigan. She can be reached by e-mail by clicking here.