Saturday, February 21, 2009

Committees

I’m in both an honored and dubious position. Two different committees want me.

The problem I’m having is not which committee to serve on, but am I called to serve on any committee? Don’t get me wrong, I have the utmost respect and gratitude for those that are called to fill those positions! Committees are a fundamental part of the Presbyterian way and are the nuts and bolts of the everyday operations. It’s that everyday focus on one aspect of church life that prompted me to turn down the request to serve on Session last year and makes me reluctant to attach myself to a committee now.

My experience, at work, home, and church has showed me I have a gift for seeing how things interconnect across boundaries. These boundaries are often artificial and established by people to make things, understandably, more manageable. The two projects I’m currently most interested in have arisen from just such insights to interconnection. It is also these two projects that are making me attractive to these two committees. However, this gift, and the unknown of where it and the Spirit will lead me next is why I’m leaning toward addressing my commitment to these two projects and not to a particular committee(s).

It may seem like I’m splitting hairs here. Being on Session is a definite solid commitment for three years and I made the right choice there. A commitment to a committee is less rigid but signing on to two committees because I’m interested in two projects doesn’t ring fair and honest with me. But if I make my commitment to helping launch these two projects I am more than willing to attend the committees that they fall under. I just want to make it clear that, for now at least, it’s these projects that are my focus. Now if I’m just worried about semantics and this means I’m “on” the committee, so be it. I just want to be clear about expectations.

I suppose this loyalty to a project rather than “structure” is showing my leanings toward the emerging culture attitudes in this regard? Something we need to be more aware of these days. Ah, the joys of being born at the transition!

Maybe the two committee Chairs can live with this committed non-commitment? :-)

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Losses!

Whoa, the loss of four great men in only a couple months; John Martin, Ernest Hooper, Norm Schlemmer, and now Bill Richardson! Great in the sense that each of these men is a great example of the Christian life we’re offered in following and becoming disciples of Jesus. Men whose Christian lives spoke across the generations.

Some interesting observations came to mind during their memorial services regarding the place of these men and Faith Church in the context of sharing the Gospel with an emerging culture.

  • A large percentage of our newest members seem to be in the older generation. A reminder to us all that serving and sharing the Gospel with this generation is not to be taken for granted.
  • These men’s lives are a reminder of the rock solid love of God that the emerging culture needs to hear and understand.
  • A reminder that there is no retirement from the Christian life and sharing the work of Christ in the world.
  • These men seemed to move freely between Faith’s worship services, both traditional and contemporary. I’m sure they had their preferences but the worship of God was the purpose and in these men it showed.
As we move forward together in faith, in the life of Faith Church, we would do well to remember and share these men’s stories.

They will be missed!