United and Untied

I am a member, actually a pastor, in the United Methodist Church. One of my favorite jokes is that the Free Methodists are as free as the United Methodists are united. It is funny, but it is true. There is not a lot that unites our world-wide fellowship of churches, missions, members. We cover the entire theological perspective. We are loving and grouchy. We are open and closed-off. We are biblical and open to "fresh moves of the Spirit."

But, shouldn't we United Methodists be united? In fact, shouldn't all Christians be united? We all have the same faith system. We believe the same stuff (essentially, anyway). So we ought to have some generic affection for one another. We should be looking out for each other. We're all on the same team after all.

The key, for United Methodists and for all Christians, is the central point of our faith. As long as we all agree to focus on the story, the meaning, the message and the significance of Jesus, we should be able to get along. When we have Jesus in the right place we will be fine.

However, its hard to keep Jesus where he goes. We would much rather think of ourselves and our issues than to consider the will of God. Shame on us!

The old cliche says that there is "no 'I' in team." Likewise, there is no "I" in church or Jesus. We need to get over ourselves and our agendas and focus on Jesus and what it is that he wants for our lives, our families and our churches.

A while back I heard someone speaking on this very topic. He said that we should always keep Jesus in the center. He emphasized the importance of the cross of Christ and pointed out that the cross is shaped like a "t". This semantic memory trick also illustrates an important truth.

When we have the order correct, when I am in the right place and Jesus is in the right place, I can experience being united.

However, when I get out of order, when I put Jesus in the wrong place, that's when I am untied.

A New Thing?

It is too soon to tell, but we may be seeing a new thing. I know, that seems awfully dramatic and I am sure there is at least a little bit of hyperbole contained in that statement. But why don't you judge.

Readers of this blog will know that I periodically address issues concerning teens, young adults and particularly ministry to young people. It is a very important thing to my heart. And although my job description- in real life and on this blog- do not necessarily bear this out, I believe that a big part of my life is to work with young people and encourage them to move into leadership.

In recent years we have seen more and more young people getting serious about there faith. Some examples of this phenomenon include the growth of Passion Conferences, Teen Mania and other missions organizations devoted to recruiting and deploying teens throughout the world, and the increase in emerging, or post-modern churches and congregations. Whatever you think of the practices and theology of the emerging movement, it is bringing young people to the church and life to dead places.

I think that I am seeing this new thing "up close and personal." Last week the youth of my denomination made a stand at our regional Annual Conference. Although the issues are insignificant in terms of the church at large, or even my denomination in particular, our young people are proclaiming their faith and asking to be encouraged, supported and taken seriously.

Here is what they are trying to do...

• They are recruiting more teens from across North Indiana. Their purpose is to encourage committed Christian kids and to draw new teens to Christ.
• They are building a support network of adults to advise, encourage and assist them. They are wise enough to know that credibility and respect are still beyond their years and their experience. They are turning to others to counsel and help them.
• They are using many tools to communicate with each other and with others. They are using all the normal tools that teens typically rely on, email, texting, IMing and cell phones. But they are also trying to build a web-presence starting with a blog (http://youthministries-ccym.blogspot.com).

I am looking forward to seeing what inspiration and energy can do. I am excited to see what the future of the church and ministry in general can be.

Annual Conference Issues

This week United Methodist leaders from all across North Indiana, my home area, will be meeting at Purdue University for their Annual Conference. There are some important issues that are at hand. I am going to write about them here in the hope that by doing so, I will get some clarification on my own opinions and positions on these issues. I do not believe my opinions to be right. That is why I am struggling here.

1. A proposed merger with the South Indiana Conference. First of all, we are not supposed to call this a merger. We are joining to form a new entity. The idea is that a new conference will be streamlined and more administratively and financially efficient. However, It seems that the ultimate outcome will be less ministry effectiveness. Bureaucracy will move farther from the local church. Administrative costs will rise due to increased travel time and expense as well as fewer personnel to administer the churches. My biggest concern is that by merging we are giving ourselves the illusion of ministry activity. We can feel better about our ministry failures (or apathy) because we are busy doing something else. In our organization we re-organize or re-structure every few years so that we do not have to do what God has called us to do.
2. Decreased budgets. Two years ago our conference changed the way it collected funds from the local churches. Originally there was a monthly bill, or apportionment, that each church was required to pay. In 2006 we got more biblical and changed our system to a voluntary tithe. The problem is that too many churches are not paying a tenth of what they collect. Our budgets are now in- or very near- crisis. This issue will have to be dealt with. I am in firm agreement that the tithe is the biblical method of collecting funds. However, something has to change because this isn't working.
3. Sending of the Saints. In 2007 we approved a resolution that called for every local church to reach out to new people and new groups. The sending of the saints called every congregation to start a new faith group within calendar year 2008. It now looks like many churches are not going to accomplish that goal. There may be a movement to change the directive by watering it down. In essence, the new proposal would let a lot of churches and Christians "off the hook."

I am sure that there will be other issues that will be important. These three, however, are the ones that are occupying my thoughts and my prayer time in anticipation of Annual Conference this week.

For vs. Against

Here we are in a presidential campaign year. For more than six months we have been listening to candidates tell us how great they are. Well, that's not exactly true, is it. Candidates don't often talk about their good qualities or positions, they tell us how bad their opponents are. Muckraking, mudslinging and negative campaigning are at an all-time high. And there are still seven months until the election.

And Christian people are no different. In fact, they are probably worse. We support candidates or causes not because of what we, or they, are for, but what they are against. We are against immigration. We are against gay marriage. We are against abortion. Over and over it happens. We surround ourselves with negativity and try to hold onto a little corner of the past. We want to remember and return to the 'good old days' before all this bad stuff came up.

My own denomination is a perfect example. In a few weeks the General Conference of the United Methodist Church will be meeting in Texas. At that assembly delegates will make decisions on various issues and church policies. Most of the campaigning that is happening (campaigning in a church is a scary thought) is against the evils that seek to destroy.

How sad it is that the good news is overshadowed by complaints against someone else and their position.

It is time to make a change. I suggest a different approach for political candidates, churches, denominations, organizations and individuals. Let's focus on what we are for.

• I am for affordable, quality education for all people.
• I am for affordable, quality health care for all people.
• I am for supporting all people with the love of Jesus.
• I am for conversations and dialogue to deal with our disagreements.
• I am for a standard of living that will allow everyone to have a measure of dignity.
• I am for telling everyone I know about the difference that a life in Christ can make for them.
• I am for supporting families.

I am going to do my best to be for things from now on. Maybe you would like to join me.

If it can happen here...

Some ladies from my churches recently asked me to read a book called, If It Could Happen Here, by Jeff Patton. Although many of the ideas in this book are not new to me, it was good to see these ideas coming from a fellow United Methodist Pastor. I came away with the following specific things.

1. The church must be committed to quality, even when it is costly or inconvenient. That includes worship, music, preaching, care, fellowship, all aspects of ministry.
2. The only true motivation to grow in the church and in ministry is a result of an honest, open and deep relationship with Jesus.
3. True renewal and change can only come with commitment from the whole congregation, not just the leaders, or pastor.
4. The world requires that we do everything with excellence. We are not competing against other churches, but with Hollywood, the media, video games and the internet.
5. Change is possible in any church. There are not limits to what God can do, or boundaries to where he can work.
6. Evaluation of everything is key.

Why I am blogging

• Here I will be sharing my thoughts about life, ministry, community, movies, music, etc.
• I will also be providing information and links that will hopefully be beneficial to many people.
• I will provide content on activities and events at Howe and Pretty Prairie United Methodist Churches, The Shed and Howe, Indiana.
• Sometimes I will just leave random thoughts and rambling entries.
• There will also devotional and inspirational comments, as well as Bible studies and lessons.
• I will occasionally include tips for growing in the Christian faith.
• I may offer commentary on current events and news in the world, nation, community and church.
  

I hope that you will join me on this journey from time to time.