reyes-chow :: FAITH

Why We Choose Denominational Life: Blake Horridge

2009-07-06T06:00:00-07:00

I am an American Baptist. Now, for the vast majority of folks, that probably sounds like I am a Baptist in America, which is true, but not the whole story. The American Baptists (formerly known as the Northern Baptists) are considered a mainline denomination fairly distinct from some of the other Baptist groups in the U.S. There are, for instance, some sizable differences between American Baptists and say Southern Baptists (who are probably the largest Baptist denomination here in the States). I can drink and dance, though some may disagree with the latter claim. I'm not a “bible-thumper” and I am not advocating the teaching of Creationism in schools. Even though I am a Baptist, myself and many other Baptists don't actually fit the stereotypes that have been associated with that term.

Now, before I go any further, I should say that I am the best and worst person to write an article in representation of the American Baptists. I am the worst person because, despite having grown up in the American Baptist Churches, I am no one of any real clout in the church. I don't get invited to important meetings and I'm not asked to preach at influential churches. Nor am I even officially a pastor of an American Baptist church. In fact, I have spent a good deal of time involved with ministries and churches that aren't American Baptist affiliated at all.

With all that being said, why should I be the person writing for American Baptists? Here is why: Despite the reasons listed above and despite the fact that I am a young man in a rapidly aging denomination, I am still American Baptist. My identity as an American Baptist has continued to exist, even when my affiliation seems torn and my involvement with denominational life, sparse. I have continued to consider myself an American Baptist when there have been countless reasons that I probably shouldn't care what my denomination is.

What is it about the American Baptists that makes me continue to call myself one? There a few reasons. First, there is the diversity in the denomination. I am currently attending the denomination's biennial meetings in Pasadena, CA and I am struck, as I have been at previous meeting like this, at the wide variety of theological views, ministerial passions, and ethnic backgrounds represented here. Being a white male and having grown up in the suburbs of Rhode Island, diversity was not something I enjoyed on a regular basis earlier in my life. The very fact that such a wide group of people can come together is encouraging to me, especially when it seems so easy for varying groups, be they theological, political, or ethnic, to self-isolate.

Second, and why I think such diversity is possible, is the freedom in the American Baptist denomination. Baptists historically have placed great emphasis on the life of the local church over the broader denomination, which has usually meant that the local church is the entity that has the final say on matters. Certain Baptist groups have gone away from this mentality, but the American Baptists hold to it as much as they can. Finally, being an American Baptist gives me a connection to a deeper history than I might find if I jumped ship and became “non-denominational”. Martin Luther King Jr., Walter Rauschenbusch, and Roger Williams (the founder of Rhode Island and advocate of religious liberty) were all American Baptists. The fact that I have some sort of connection to those people is encouraging to me.

I will be the first to admit that the American Baptist denomination is not without its flaws. Like many mainline denominations, many of the churches are graying and some are even dying. Young leaders and participants are still more of the exception than the rule in every region I have seen. Our denomination, like others, has been torn apart by issues like homosexuality. There is still a strong urge to keep things the way they were, stifling pastors and lay participants who might want to really try something new.

Even with all of that, I still have hope for our future. Right now, I am blessed to be part of a group of young (and by “young” I mean under the age of 40) leaders who want to work for the betterment of our denomination, even though some of us are the same age as many congregants' children and grandchildren. While we are still figuring out what that might look like, there is passion and intelligence in this group that gives me hope for what might be accomplished. Also, the same freedom of the local church that is such a characteristic of the American Baptist churches has the potential for letting congregations do new and amazing things as churches, IF they open themselves to new ways of doing things. I am not saying that they churches need to throw out everything that might seem “old”. However, since the American Baptist churches have no set liturgy, for instance, there are countless ways in which a church can worship to encounter a new generation of believers and non-believers. In a similar way, because of the theological diversity within the denomination, churches don't have to agree with one another on every issue and can still fellowship with one another for greater causes. Coming from a generation that is a little skeptical (and a little patronized) by folks trying to tell us how we should be looking at and doing things, the idea of going to a church where I am allowed to discuss and maybe even disagree about faith issues would be a refreshing change of pace from merely being preached at, in every sense of that word. Finally, with the ethnic and cultural diversity in the denomination, we have the potential for being an example to the world of how people can fellowship, worship, work, and struggle in a truly multicultural, multiracial, and multiethnic community, something that is much needed in world were people groups are coming in contact with one another more than ever before.

It is my hope in those things that convince me to stay in my denomination, at least for now. All of the things I mentioned above paragraph aren't here yet, though. Much like I await the return of Jesus in the hope of a new heaven and a new earth, I await a time when the American Baptist Churches can fulfill the great potential that they have for reaching the next generation of believers and non-believers. That hope may not be enough for some folks to stick around in a denomination where the most represented hair color at the general meetings is still gray and where sitting in something besides pews during worship is radical. But for me, hope is why I am still an American Baptist.

Blake Horridge, 26, is the Director of Academic Administration and Registrar at the American Baptist Seminary of the West.

Why We Choose Denominational Life: Wendy Johnson

2009-06-22T07:00:00-07:00

Next up in the WWCDL Guest Blogger Series which is focused on why some of us are choosing to live out our faith through in a denominational context is someone that I have enjoyed getting to know through a variety of emergent events in person and online, Wendy Johnson. Please take a gander at some past reflections and check out - or add your own - some tweets with the hashtag, #wwcdl. If you would like to submit an entry and/or know someone that would be great feel free to pass their names along to me.

Wendy Johnson [email]
Wendy is emerging and has been for a very long time. She often chronicles these growing pains on her blog, through her Twitter feed, , and on Facebook. Currently, Wendy is paid to be the communications director for The Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota. She is also working with friends and family to facilitate a service-based community outreach program called Second Sunday.

You know....it can be pretty easy to pick off denominations.

Afterall, they've been around for a while - in the case of the Anglican Church, since sometime in the 16th century. So of course, being the humans that we are - and being the human institution that the church is - awful, terrible, horrible things have happened. Some of them noticed in a large-scale kind of way, and some (maybe most) go completely unrecognized but have nonetheless torn at the very fabric of the denomination and of Christianity as a whole.

I get this. I know this. I believe that to participate in a denomination is to own my part in this -- past, present, and future. Acknowledging these things, I hang my head in shame.

And yet, I stay connected to this immensely flawed institution, this Episcopal denomination, this stuck, broken church. Why?

Because I also see the good. I see the good it has done and the good it can do. I see the creativity and hopefulness that is just at the edges, ready to be released. I see God at work among the people I know - individuals who are trying to figure out where they are called to be and what they should be doing.

I believe that the Episcopal Church, at its best, is adept and well-equipped to discern the will of God and to join all that God is doing. I believe that the longevity of this institution gives us a wealth of praxis and experience in the ways of Spirit that is informative and useful and it would be a terrible shame if it is carelessly cast aside.

Despite my "episcopalness" you will more regularly find me at Solomon's Porch on a Sunday. Why? Because apart from being Episcopalian, I am also a fully postmodern contemporary kind of person who just can't make the extraordinary leap from the world in which I live into the current version of of the Sunday morning Episcopal church in Minnesota. But, make no mistake, this is a choice made with considerable tension and sadness.

On a particular recent Sunday at Solomon's Porch I was called on to explain the Episcopal Church and why I'm still a part of it. With no opportunity for preparation at all, I was surprised to find myself pointing to the profound understanding of ritual and liturgy that has developed in the Episcopal Church over the hundreds of years -- this "practicing" undertaken by people like me. All the thought and reflection and trial and error that undergirds everything that happens in the church. In some deep sense, I crave participating in these centuries-old practices. I feel less than whole when the wisdom of those who have gone before me is lost.

Having been raised in the Disciples of Christ and having attended all sorts and flavors of Christian churches over the years, I have found no other church that sets aside and handles the sacraments with such meaningfulness, grace, and depth as the Episcopal Church. I like the hocus pocus. I like the mystery and the sanctity of the Eucharistic feast. I like the imagery and belief in the communion of saints. I want to stand at the communion rail and take my place alongside everyone who ever has been and ever will share that meal.

I also want and need that global community that only a worldwide denomination can offer. I recently led a mission trip to Cordova, Alaska with a bunch of kids from Episcopal Churches in the Twin Cities. The people of Cordova took us in and showed us the most extraordinary hospitality. Why? Because we were Episcopalians, which meant we are connected to them through this global communion. They needed to know nothing beyond that - not who we were, not what we were doing there, not how much we can pay them to offset expenses. I like being in communion with these gracious, hospitable, accepting people.

I have rarely entered a church - Episcopal or otherwise - that is not predominantly one race or culture. While I don't particularly aspire to participate in these monocultural settings, I have resigned myself to the fact that, for now, this is how people segregate themselves on Sundays. Participating in a global church allows me the comfort of knowing that while I don't have the privilege of a multicultural setting for my church, I do participate in a broader faith community that embraces all people. This globalized church gives me some sense of hope that these barriers can someday be broken down.

I heard Tony Blair recently say (on the Daily Show, of course) that in our new and expanding understanding of globalization, faith traditions have the ability to either enhance and support our networked world or to pull it apart. He is banking on the institution finding the way of connection.

Given my experiences, I'm with Tony Blair. I believe that the Episcopal church has the tremendous ability and potential to pull people together. Because of its emphasis on community over isolation, incarnation over separation, conversation over common theology, it is uniquely equipped and particularly agile enough to engage contemporary culture and issues and to re-form itself to meet the challenges our globalized age presents.

Why We Choose Denominational Life: Rev. Dr. Jennifer Ayres

2009-06-16T15:33:48-07:00

Next up in the WWCDL Guest Blogger Series focused on why some of us are choosing to live out our faith through in a denominational context is someone from the denomination in which I serve, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Ayres. You can also check out some twitterings about this or add your own with the hashtag, #wwcdl. If you would like to submit an entry and/or know someone that would be great feel free to pass their names along to me.

Jennifer R. Ayres
eMail | facebook

Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics
McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL

Minister of Word and Sacrament
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

First, full disclosure: Bruce is a friend of many years, and when he was elected moderator of our denomination, I made a foolish promise to “serve at the pleasure of the moderator.” Guess I was having a West Wing moment. I think I also was having a beer. And now, Bruce is having second thoughts about asking me to do this.

Truth be told, my friendship with Bruce over these last (omg) ten years, and my friendships with many other Presbyterians around the country and even the planet are no small part of my commitment to denominational life. We Presbyterians love to say that we are a “connectional” church. And this is indeed true, and gives me great comfort when I feel lonely in my own particular place of call. I always know that there is another general assembly, another conference, another working committee, that will bring me back into conversation with these partners in ministry.

This ongoing conversation with partners in ministry, however, is not particular to the Presbyterian world. I enjoy collaborative work with partners in ministry in other denominations, traditions, communities, and religious groups. And, as recent studies have shown, Christians are more likely to identify with Christians on the same end of the conservative-liberal spectrum, of other denominations, than they are to identify with members of their own denomination who are on the opposite end of the spectrum. I suppose this is true. Like many of my young adult peers, I am continually frustrated with my denomination’s sluggishness to fully welcome GLBTQ persons into all dimensions of the church’s life; with what recently seems like a de-prioritizing of our justice and advocacy work; and with more general reluctance to change. On the other hand, I also am frustrated by conversations with my peers in which tradition is understood only as a fetter and our denominational institutions are rarely trusted.

Why do I stay? As a conflict-averse southern girl, I should have taken off long ago.

But that’s not how a tradition works. Apologies to my peers who hate that word, but I think it is an important one for thinking about denominational life today. Sometimes we think of tradition as a set of rules – rules that are rigid, conservative, and a little too enamored with the status quo. And a tradition can take on that character. When it does, some folks prefer to call that “traditionalism.” Tradition more broadly understood, however, has multiple meanings, and I want to offer just one that continues to be life-giving for me.

Alasdair MacIntyre describes a tradition as an ongoing “socially-embodied” argument about those things that we say are good (MacIntyre 1984). When we enter into a community, we enter into a tradition. But instead of encountering a series of beliefs and practices that are pre-determined and immovable, which we either accept or reject, I like to think that we are encountering an ongoing conversation – an argument, even! – that has a history that is important, but also has a future that is yet to be known. We might call this a living tradition.

In plainer language: Although we might experience tradition, from time to time, as oppressive, fixed and of questionable relevance, I see my denominational tradition as a rich history of arguments about the things that matter. Of course, sometimes, I feel that we are having the wrong argument. And sometimes, I feel like everyone else is on the wrong side of the argument!

But, on the whole, I remain in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) because I am willing to be in an ongoing conversation in which the conclusion is not yet known. I am willing to do this because there are many aspects of this particular argument that are deeply significant to me: a profound way of accounting for the brokenness in the world, the practice of determining together what we say we believe, the rigor of studying the scriptures with care and precision, the challenge of relating faithfully to political and social structures. I consider these to be great gifts not only within the Presbyterian tradition, but also gifts to the larger Body of Christ.

How I relate to my denomination is an interesting question, because I teach ethics in a Presbyterian seminary that also is gloriously ecumenical. In some ways, my context for ministry requires that I wear my denominational identity lightly, and in other ways, I think the best way I can enter into this ecumenical context is as one who loves her tradition, but not in an uncritical way.

I suppose that my own role in the future life of the denomination is closely related to this tension. In my teaching, both with Presbyterian students and with students from other traditions, I like to think of myself as inviting learners into a living tradition: a space in which we can deliberate about the things that matter; a space in which we can live together, even with vastly different understandings of these things; a space in which one tradition encounters another tradition and is enriched for it; a space in which we are grateful for the deep faithfulness of those who came before us, and in which we imagine new opportunities for faithfulness among those who will come after us.

So yes, this conflict-averse southern girl does, indeed, want to stay in this living tradition.

MacIntyre, Alasdair C. 1984. After virtue: A study in moral theory. London: Duckworth.

Why We Choose Denominational Life: Gideon Addington

2009-06-09T07:01:24-07:00

A few weeks back, I invited folks to submit some ideas about why they are choosing to live out their faith through in a denominational context [Original WWCDL Post]. Today's is the first repsponse to the question and it comes from Episcopalian, Gideon Addington. You can also check out some twitter about this or add your own with the hashtag, #wwcdl. If you would like to submit an entry and/or know someone that would be great feel free to pass their names along to me.

Gideon Addington - Episcopal Church
blog | Facebook | Twitter | Email

I’ve been thinking about the question of denomination for some time now. This became a bit more acute when I attended an Emergent Church function in Albuquerque recently as we had such lived examples of ‘non-denominational’ life and such vibrant sense of Church that extended beyond all of our affiliations. This led me to seriously question these ideas of identity that seem to so often reach out and overwhelm those involved with an oppressive rather than liberating experience.

But the question of denomination, that is, should it exist, is largely a moot one. The fact is it does exist and more importantly, will almost certainly always exist. Our very nature as humans means we will gather together around common ideas of theology, opinion, aesthetic and anything else while at the same time creating an ‘other’ to explain ourselves via negativa. It is unfortunate, but the wide breath of human history would seem to indicate this is simply how it works. There are exceptions, but I know of no human institution that has not calcified to some extent after any significant lifespan. This is problematic, to be sure, as these institutions that are created to protect and foster our communities end up becoming an idol sitting between us and God.

When witnessing some of these small communities and house churches it is clear that there is something fundamentally right about this way of being together. That these small, dearly intimate, communities are probably a great deal more what Jesus had in mind than your average sprawling church with its gift shop, committees, vestry, political entanglements, and occasional institutional abuses. In fact, I’m not sure it is even in question what is probably best for our individual ‘souls’ - these small communities or our bigger churches. With the right people it is clear that these little communities can be beautiful, nurturing environments where we can find the spirit of God and open our eyes to the Kingdom.

The wrong people can quickly make such communities as bad or worse than the most egregious abuse of denominational authority. We must keep this in mind, always, in these discussions - the institution is only as good as its people and as a whole we’re a bit of a wreck. The excesses and evil of denomination are the excesses and evil of people. Denomination is simply what we call a group of people that differentiates itself enough from other groups of people to be identified uniquely. There is no special magic that suddenly makes a denomination something different than that aside from, perhaps, their own claims!

As to my own denomination, the Episcopal Church, we certainly have our issues. We are an exceptionally diverse church in terms of opinion and doctrine, and even style of worship (‘High’ and ‘Low’). We are not, regrettably, particularly diverse racially (though the Anglican Communion as a whole is) though we have a number of traditionally black churches in our denomination we are still, largely, a bunch of middle class white people and with all the baggage that entails. We are diverse politically - having the most strident conservatives and passionate liberals. It was not too long ago that we were referred to as “the Republican party at prayer” and that has changed a great deal - now we’re often perceived as that crazy liberal church with a gay bishop that seems suspiciously Catholic!

Part of the reason this is the case is that as a church we do not focus much on doctrine or having the ‘right’ beliefs. This is, quite frequently, something that is used against us. What brings us together is not shared doctrine, but shared worship. We are diverse, but we come together to pray and sing and worship the Lord, we break bread and share wine and we become a community in Him. This is something I love about being an Episcopalian - there is not going to be someone checking your doctrinal pedigree (most of the time.) It is becoming more common to see Episcopal churches with ‘open table’ communion meals - there being no prerequisite to share communion, the thinking being that this is the Lord’s Supper, not ours. I have to admit, I quite like this line of thinking. The ‘other’ is quite the hobgoblin amidst the issue of denomination, and this seems to me a good way of pushing it a bit further back.

We are often said to be obsessed with beauty. Our churches are frequently ornate and look like they have been dropped out of Europe, and we love that. Our ‘High’ churches often have all the ‘bells and smells’ and a service sung or chanted with choirs that sing such songs as to break your heart. You will not find any ‘praise and worship’ music in our churches, and if you did we would all likely leave - we’re terrible snobs. And while some of us are simply aesthetes, there is a purpose to all of this attention to these ornaments - it helps create a sacred space, a sacred time. In this beauty, in this alien environment of beautiful sights and strange smells, we experience the Spirit of God and find a way to leave the ordinary world behind and come into communion. Certainly we should all strive for such mindfulness all the time, but most of us fall short - in our services we aim for the sublime and sometimes we reach it.

These are simply two reasons I stay an Episcopalian. The sublime is something that is glossed over in so many churches, and doctrine turned into an idol in so many more but against us we often turn the achievement of the sublime into an idol and doctrine is almost totally glossed over.

I don’t agree with how the church has gone about everything. I get frustrated when I feel the church is not being fast enough to address certain issues or callow when it does and at times I am all too aware of how human the institution is and how far removed we seem from the itinerant preacher of Galilee we talk about so much. There are times I want to run off and join or start a house-church and leave all of this nonsense behind but I know the music wouldn’t be as good, and more importantly...

Our denominations, in all their sprawling, terrible excess are able to reach more people than these house-churches ever could. And I do not mean reach in terms of evangelizing (though that, too) but rather these organizations allow for enormous works of good in the world - charities whose scope would be far more than a small, independent community could ever accomplish. It may feel good to join a small community away from all the nonsense of denomination, and indeed, the world! But we are in the world, and our responsibility lies with our brother and sister. It is faulty, and it is fallen, but it is still where we find the presence of God.

Denominations will never go away, though they may look different or spend a great deal of time talking about how they are not denominations. It is true that we are living in a time of great transition and perhaps we need to all spend some time and hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

What excites you about your worship experience?

2009-06-07T15:00:00-07:00

[Image from mbcc worship: sculpey, journals, pipe-cleaners and coffee]

While I do enjoy worshiping with various congregations throughout my travels, I do miss worshiping with the community that I serve, Mission Bay Communion Church. There is so much I miss about worshiping with this group of folks and after a few weeks away, I have a tad bit of withdrawal from our particular congregational culture. I make no apologies about loving to worship with the congregation I serve as I know not everyone can say this is the case for their church. I am grateful beyond words.

During the past few months at MBCC we have been integrating new spiritual disciplines into our worship services that have been particularly life-giving. For those of you who have never been to MBCC, it is a pretty adaptable group of folks when it comes to pretty much everything including worship. While abundantly reformed in structure and content, over the years elements of worship have included interviews, lego stations, clay, sculpey, live mural painting, cooking, community prayer creation, live blogging, journaling and yes, twittering. The past few months we have done a few other interesting things that have felt pretty good:

Weekly Communion - I just adore weekly communion. I think there is something powerful about coming to the table each week. We may do it differently each time, but the idea that we return to the bread and cup each week has been meaningful. I think communion is such an amazing opportunity to remind the community what our faith is about and to invite visitors to enter into the journey of faith.
Reflection Stations - As we had Communion each week, we have also added some stations to allow folks to keep moving during the reflection time after the sermon/conversation. This usually included Communion, a prayer/candle station, offering station and stations of cross art throughout the sanctuary. Folks were also invited to journal, sing along with the band, twitter or simply pray. Over the summer we won't do Communion, but we will add some others stations, maybe an anointing or art station. We shall see.
Actual silence - The most interesting thing that we did during Lent and have continued is to take time for silence. With our daily lives as crazy as it is, what better way to acknowledge that fact than with intentional silence. And no, not the kind of silence that has background music, but actual uncomfortable sitting with only your breath and God to speak to you. During Lent we got up to about 15 minutes and since then we do about 2-3 minutes after each scripture reading. I would like us to do more, but baby steps. We as worship leaders are so concerned and uncomfortable with "dead time" during worship that inviting the silence is a good way for folks to become more comfortable with the movement of the Spirit. And I often say by way of introduction, "We [meaning I] may not like the discomfort that silence creates, but we need it."

Feel free to check out our summer order of worship if you want to know more, but what I want to know is, what excites you about your worshiping experience? What brings you joy, healing, laughter and life within the context of your worship experiences? The breadth of the ways people connect to and worship God amazes me. So . . . if you want to complain, feel free, but only if you follow it up with, "But I also really connect to God when we . . ." Deal?

So what about your worship experience gives you life and brings you joy?

Guest blogger series: Why we choose denominational life or WWCDL

2009-05-22T10:45:38-07:00

[image: paulikespics]

Ever since I wrote my own justifications for taking an active role in the life of my denomination: Why I Should Leave the Presbyterian Church (USA) and Top 10 Reasons Bruce Will Stay Presbyterian, I have wondered why others do the same. Over the past few years, I have met countless folks who not only stick with their particular denominational families, but are fully engaged in the transformation of their particular institutional structures and culture.

Yes, there are serious problems with denominations: they can be too rigid, too hierarchical, too well, "denominational" in all the of negative and unhealthy ways that one can think of. And yet people of deep faith emerge from these communities profoundly committed to Christ's call to live the complex life of the prophet, pastor, priest and poet. Everywhere I turn these days, I meet another person who is dissatisfied with what seems to be a throw the baby out with the bathwater mentality that implies that, while there may be plenty of positive ways to be the church and body of Jesus Christ, a denominational manifestation is not one of them. And in fact, denominations have been, are now and will always be harmful to the body.

While I fully admit that I am just a tad bit involve in the life of my denomination, it often seems that denominational authority causes more angst for it's detractors and critics than it does for those who are actually living their faith out through the life of said denomination. I don't give my denomination that much power to determine my worth or purpose in the ways and to the extent that so many think it does.

Sorry, it just does not and I suspect others feel the same way.

And to prove my point, I have asked some folks from a variety of denominational traditions to help us think through this idea and help to put feet on what denominational life has been is now and will become.

Here are some of the questions that I have posed to folks:

What are some valid critiques of your denomination?
What frustrates you most about assumptions that are made about your denominational?
Why do you stay and participate in denominational life?
What are the greatest gifts that your denomination brings to the larger church community?
What do you see as your role in the future life of your denomination?
What word of hope or challenge to you have for those who wholeheartedly dismiss the denominational experience, those who are struggling with remaining part of their denomination and/or to those who would resist transformation and renewal of denominational life?

So about once or twice a week for the next couple of months, I will post at least once a week. While I do have some names already lined up, if you or someone you know would address this well, feel free to drop me a note with contact info and a little background. No promises, but who knows.

Feel an also free to drop me a note on Twitter or post with the hashtag, #wwcdl with your thoughts and/or questions. You can also use your particular denominational flavor and I'll link here as they become real, #whyPCUSA, #whyUMC, #whyELCA, whyUCC, etc.

Game on.

Thou shalt not Twitter during worship, says . . . who?

2009-05-20T16:31:49-07:00

[image: jeimephotography]

Last week I posted a link on my Facebook page to an informal quiz that asked the question, Is it okay to twitter during worship? You would have thought that I was proposing making pants optional by some of the responses ;-) Well it may not have been THAT bad, but it was clear that there is some energy around the topic. Now I am obviously a huge participant of the twitter-lifestyle and but I have been surprised at the level of oppositional energy directed at those who are engaging in this form of social media and communal life.

While my next post will deal with The Benefits of Twittering in Worship, for now I will simply respond to what I see as the biggest basic critique of "allowing" or encouraging *gasp* people to twitter in worship.

To summarize, here is what I think is the general critique:

Twittering in worship is disrespectful, distracting and narcissistic as it pulls focus away from the communal experience of worshiping.

My first response is, "Well duh, of course it can be disrespectful, distracting and narcissistic." But, like all worship practices, used to an extreme or at inappropriate times, anything we do can be any of those things. So here is my push-back on those who would seek to not even entertain the idea of worship tweeting:

Regardless of the practice, discovering how to meaningfully respond to the movement of Spirit is a vital aspect of participating in the communal act of worship.

If you think about the breadth of ways in which we encourage folks to connect to God in worship, don't many of our worship practices have the potential to be just as distracting, disrespectful and unfocused? Somehow though, we have discovered ways to move beyond simply seeing acts of worship as acceptable vehicles of communication to seeing them as profound practices that allow us to more fully connect with the beloved community and to God.

Take for instance . . .

Journaling
Taking notes
Praying w/eyes down, w/eyes and hands lifted upward or out loud
Moving through worship stations: prayer, anointing, art, etc.

Again, I believe any of these practices have the potential to disrupt the worship experience in unhelpful or unhealthy ways. How many times have people lifted up prayers that were obviously more about THEM than the people they were praying for? Then there are those times during the passing of the peace that is hijacked by church business. And don't get me started on you knitters and the constant click click click click of your blasted needles ;-)

Sure Twittering is new and it may not be appropriate for every community, but let us not rush to judgment, react with fear and take a posture of rejection simply because it is new and different. It may not be for you or your congregation, but who knows, it just might be for someone else.

And yes, I twittered this.

40 Prayers 4 My 40th Birthday

2009-05-03T11:07:06-07:00

[image: robokow]

Today is my 40th Birthday. So far I have survived ;-)

The social media enabled well wishes via twitter and facebook have been overwhelming as I experience the blessings and breadth of God's presence in my life. While many of you I do not know personally, the willingness for folks to take a few moments to make contact does not go unappreciated. In so many ways we are living new ways be connected one to another. Thank you.

As you know, I also unapologetically told everyone What I want for the 40th birthday and the response has been wonderful. Thank for those that gave money to support human rights work in the Philippines, The SF AIDS Walk and the MBCC Food Pantry. I also appreciate those who took the time to offer their 40 prayers blog postings:

list updated on 05.03:

What wonderful expressions of how God's touch has been present in people's lives and the trust and hope that place in God's presence now and in the future.

As promised, here is my list of prayers for 40 things for which you are grateful, gives you hope or are in need of God's healing. These are in no particular order or organization other than free-flow and random.

Community of the Holy - To trite to start with Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit? Well, there you go. My gratitude for the experience of hope, creation, movement and community that all defy human understanding is central to who I am and hope to become.
The Holy Community - For those who have come before me, both known and unknown, and have fought and struggle for justice and peace so that I am my children might grow into who God intends for us to become.
Those that have no one to pray for them - That all the physical, emotional and spiritual and blessing in our lives will compel us to be blessings to others.
Robin - My lovely wife of almost 19 years. Thank you for your willingness to speak and act the truth to me when I may not be able to see it myself. Your love expressed in so many ways has allowed me to know God in, I hope, wonderful and complex ways. I so LOVE how we have been able to grow together. Plus we make awesome babies ;-)
Brian - For my brother-in-law's presence that is felt always: the joys of how you touched many in your life and the sadness as many still grieve your death.
My daughters - You are my joy and remind us every day of the complex and wonderful nature of God in our lives.
80's Pop Culture - For memories. Say what you will, the sounds and images from that time in my life still bring back fond memories of my formative years.
Eldest - For your wit and determination.
Books - For the possibilities that words bring to the world.
Middle - For your exuberance and sensitivity.
Music - For the complexity of life that is expressed in song and sound.
Youngest - For your wonder and empathy.
Art - For the inspiration that expression draws out from the world.
Baseball - For the greatest game in the world.
My Siblings - For your laughter, creativity, devotion to family and willingness to put up with your Manong.
Laughter and Tears - For the gift of expression and the laughter and tears that allow us to express our joy and grief in times of both.
My "Parents" - For both my actual ones, steps, in-laws and the countless committee members called and cajoled into helping to form shape all that I am;
Coffee and the places that serve it - For all that has transpired in my life around and amidst the experience and location of coffee and cafes.
Mom - For our journey. We have certainly been through a great deal together. You raised me to be the person I am today. I hope to have lived up to all that you have done to create opportunities for me to grow in body and spirit. Thank you.
Hope - While it is true we cannot not eat or spend hope, without it we are nothing. For those that choose to live a life fueled by hope in all parts of their lives, thank you.
Those facing persecution - For the countless clergy and church workers around the world who's service and commitment to faith is lived out every day in ways that I cannot imagine. For those who have been disappeared, tortured and repressed for their work with the poor and oppressed, may you find peace.
Dad - For our journey. While we have had our ups and downs in the past, I so value what our relationship has grown into. Your love and care for the girls and commitment to do all you can to support me in my adventures means so much. Thank you.
Joel - For our journey. As everyone one knows, you taught me how to pack like none other, you have cared for our mother like none other and lets face it, if not for you, I may not have made it through my teen years. Thanks for keeping that crazy lady from killing me ;-) Thank you.
Adventures - For those things that call me to move towards experiencing the wonder and freedom in Christ and away from a life driven by fear and cynicism.
Trinity Presbyterian Church - For my home church that, no matter the struggles, have served the community and it's members with a spirit and mind of compassion, justice and care.
Food - For all that it creates, expresses and encourages in it's preparation and consuming;
Technology - For the amazing opportunities is has created for positive action and the questions it has forces us to ask about community. And to those FB Friends and Twitter Followers, thank you for being a part of my larger expereince of community.
Friends - Those who speak the truth and no matter the time, distance and/or circumstance we pick up right from where we left off. You know who you are.
Oddities - Brussels sprouts, armadillos and terryaki mashed potatoes.
Farmers and Ranchers - For those that grow the food we eat and the ways in which they struggle and strive to feed and nourish the world.
Motorcycles - One of my spiritual disciplines. It's been too long.
David the Chess Player - Where ever you may be may God's presence be made known to you as you made God's presence known to me over our random and sporadic chess lessons.
The Oakland A's Baseball Club - Really not much more to say about that ;-)
Children around the world - That the known and unknown places of violence, hunger, abuse and isolation! May those with the power and authority do do so, create a world and experience where you may grow into who God intends: playful, hopeful and peaceful.
The Church - For the churches I have served over the years, the church where I am now privileged to be called Pastor and this denomination that has called me to serve for a brief moment in time, thank you for allowing me to explore and express how I feel God calling me to serve.
Musicals - For the amazing gifts that people offer to express the emotion, struggle, redemption and life. My top three in case you wanted to know: Rent, Avenue Q and Les Miserables.
Mentors - For those that, like it our not, you have had a hand in shaping my pastoral life: Joey, Lydia, Virstan, Leanne, Lucille, Phil, Francis, Odette and many more.
Rites of passage - For those markers in life when we must take time to reflect on our lives our communities and God's call upon out lives: graduations, commitments, births, deaths and even 40th birthdays.
Voices calling out - For those that are screaming, yearning and challenging me and the communities that I am a part of to be the community, church and Christians that I/we claim to be. Despite the different ways we may address the pain of the world, may we never become ambivalent to the struggles of life and spirit that so many face every day.
Life - For the very gift of each morning and the privilege and responsibility it is to breathe the breath that God has given.

Thanks again for all of the prayers and affirmations sent my way these past few days. My heart is full with the wonder of God.

What I want for my 40th birthday

2009-05-01T21:31:38-07:00

It is hard to believe that in just two days I turn the big 40. Yep, forty years ago on May 3rd in Stockton, CA this bundle of cuteness entered the world ;-)

Generally birthdays have never been a big deal to me, but as the day gets closer I must admit that to some extent it gives a frame of reference for reflection.

But reflection is for later and since some friends and family have asked, here is what I WANT WANT WANT; and to make it easier, I have provided multiple ways in which you can celebrate this awesome day in the life of ME ;-)

40 PRAYERS OF HOPE AND GRATITUDE

If you are a blogger or Facebook note writer, I would love for you to post a list of prayers for 40 things for which you are grateful, gives you hope or are in need of God's healing. Please feel free to leave a trackback so others can see it. I will be posting mine on my birthday. [My 40 Prayers]

40* TO SF AIDS WALK

While I am not able to ACTUALLY walk this year, I would love if you could sponsor me to make up for may lack of physical exertion. I'll be traveling as Moderator that weekend, but hold this cause near and dear to my heart. If you would like to sponsor my virtual walk, please visit MY WALKER PAGE to give online.

40* TO FIGHT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN THE PHILIPPINES

As you know I traveled to the Philippine last February and was moved by the ministry that is happening there on behalf of the poor. I am committing much of my energy to education and action around all of the abductions and repression of clergy in the Philippines. The Presbyterian Church (USA) has set up a special fund “Support for victims and families of human rights abuses in the United Church of Christ in the Philippines" and I would love if folks could give the cause. If you are interested, please please visit the PC(USA) support page and search for Project #E052070. You will be directed to a page where you can give online. More Info on the work of the Presbyterian Church in the Philippines.

40* TO FEED FAMILIES IN SAN FRANCISCO

It costs about $1.50 to feed a family through food pantries in San Francisco. Mission Bay Community Church has begun our food pantry and would love for you to take part. You can either mail a check to MBCC (32 Ocean Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94112) or give via secure EFT to MBCC with eGive. Just mark your donation with "Food Pantry" and, remember, YOU can make a HUGE difference with a small donation.

* There are many ways to make "40"

40 dollars = $40
40 half-dollars = $20
40 quarters = $10

Okay, so there you have it, what I want to help me remember this 40th year of my life. I very much appreciate the well wishes that have begun arriving already and I hope you can help be show my gratitude for life, by helping to make life better for others who are in need.

Overcompensation in pastoral leadership

2009-04-28T10:00:00-07:00

[image: tidefan]

A couple of days ago, I posted the following FB status update:

Bruce Reyes-Chow is thinking that one major "mistake" we make in leadership is trying too hard. What's on your list?

By the end of the comment flurry there were 30+ comments with musings and additions ranging from how we train lay leadership to letting go of control to focusing on spiritual health.

What I was trying to get at was that sometimes we so badly want people to see us as pastoral leaders that we try too hard. Sometimes it is in a new relationship or sometimes we have lost authority in the eyes of the other. Who knows why this happens: lack of confidence, unspoken conflict, urgency of a situation, etc.? Whatever it is, I have seen it over and over again, when we feel that our pastoral authority waning or absent we become desperate and we overcompensate.

The main way I have seen this is that we resort to words and knowledge as the source of our pastoral authority. We fall into the trap of believing that, "If they only know how much I know they will give me pastoral authority." This plays out often by talking at every possible moment:

we share our knowledge even if it may be tangentially related to the topic at hand or we force relevance so we can show how much we know, "That Christmas story reminds me of this one Easter when I . . .";
we recite our credentials, degrees, personal connections, etc. thinking that those things will add to the impact of our knowledge, "As I learned in my master's program when I studied under Smarty McSmartypants . . .";
we seem to talk only when we want to submit knowledge to others rather than to inquire and receive what others may give, "I know that really don't understand the topic, but let me say that I think . . .";

By doing these things we communicate a desperation that, in fact, works to further erode and impede the pastoral relationship. Left undressed resentment builds up, respect is lost and community begins to break down.

While I may post later on how we repair these kinds of relationships, I think the first thing to do is to discern whether or not this happens to you. I know that when I am at my worst, these things sneak into my pastoral life and I have to open up my spirit for a little talk with God. If I am wise, I will step back and see how I may have been putting too much focus on trying to earn some affirmation rather than respond to God's blessings.

When can truly open myself up to the Spirit, I am reminded that my worth comes from God, the one who gives me breath. My pastoral authority is then strengthened and renewed because it is not that authority that give me confidence of faith and action, but the power and presence of God in all parts of my life.