On Being Presbyterian: Partners in Mission

What does it mean to be “Presbyterian”? Some will answer this question based on a shared theological consensus reflected in our Book of Confessions: from Nicaea to Barmen and beyond our perspective on the Faith is that all things belong to God – first, last and always! Others will answer this question based on a shared polity reflected in our Book of Order: there is much truth to the old saw about Presbyterians liking to do it decently and in order (but what is “it”?). I want to answer this question based on shared mission.

Did you notice that in each of the above responses, we find the word “shared”? To be Presbyterian is to be connected with others: proclaiming a shared theological heritage, governed by a shared polity, expressing ourselves in shared mission.

One of the reasons Presbyterians have “shared mission partnerships” is theological. In John 17:20-21, Jesus prays,

I pray…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

I hear in these verses both Jesus’ expressed ideal for our unity, that it may reflect the Triune Oneness of God, and Jesus’ intention that our unity may be expressed in our mission, that our “sentness” by Jesus in John 20:21 reflect his own mission of redemptive love, salvation and shalom, justice and joy.

Within the Presbytery of Grand Canyon, we have mission partners among our Native American congregations, partners among our Hispanic churches, as well as supporting ecumenical efforts as the Arizona Faith Network and young adult ministries through campus ministries at ASU and NAU. Each of these our shared mission partnerships have at least two things in common: they minister Christ’s love to economically fragile communities and are themselves financially fragile.

The fragility of all our mission partners is mirrored by the fragility of our congregations, which bear the burden of helping our partners minister God’s love to others. You and your congregation enable our mission partners to speak Christ’s love, discern the Spirit’s guidance, and enact the will of God in the lives of their people. At least, this is the ideal: your congregation sending our mission partners into the world.

The reality is somewhat different. The reality of our congregation – mission partner relationships are that they appear to be tenuous, underdeveloped, and uneven. Some congregations connect with a particular congregation or ministry, while still others have no connection at all. Congregations with a robust relationship with a mission partner support that partner, while other partners languish. What, then, shall we do?

I have no desire to cast blame but an intense interest to respond helpfully to the fragility experienced by our mission partners. What shall we do? What should “they” do? What can you do? I have some ideas about how to answer these questions, but prefer first to hear your ideas. What do you think needs to happen to express our unity in faith through unity in mission with these our brothers and sisters?

Grace and peace,
Brad Munroe

CALLING ALL ACTIVE PASTORS!

It is my privilege to invite active pastors to participate in a learning cohort focused on Discipleship for the program year 2017-2018. Using the Discipleship Pathways model from Ascending Leaders (www.ascendingleaders.org), we will gather to encourage one another in fellowship and prayer, (for surely these are life-giving things), as well as to empower our ministries by discussing what it looks like to make disciples. Here are the topics we will be discussing:

September 28 – The Four Stages of Discipleship: what does each stage look like and how can we tell them apart?

October 26 – The Wall: what happens when discipleship stalls and how can we help reignite folks?

November 13-14 –  Optional Retreat at Moon Ranch in Sedona: Spiritual Pathways

November 30 – Catalyzing Growth: what helps and what hinders formation and growth?

January 25 – Catalyzing Growth II: -- the five best practices for your church culture if you want to encourage discipleship growth.

February 22 – The Discipleship Path: defining what is core and what is C.O.R.E. for discipleship?

March 22 – The Discipleship Path II: affirming all the options and celebrating your leadership gifts and style (using the Grip Birkman assessment tool).

April 19 – The Discipleship Path III: being intentional about “next steps” (or, change is an intentional act). [Please note the different week of the month due to PdC conflict.]

May 24 –  Disciple Forward: resources and action plan for continuing the path of personal and communal growth.

This year’s cohort will be held at Valley Presbyterian Church on the above listed Thursdays from 3:15 – 6:15. Snacks will be plentiful, and childcare is available upon request (contact Carolyn McBurney). Each gathering will follow a similar rhythm:

3:15 – 4:00      Gather for fellowship and sharing “highs” and “lows”

4:00 –  4:15     Opening worship

4:15 – 6:00      Topic discussion

6:00 – 6:15      Closing prayer in small groups or as a cohort           

To register, please send an email to Carolyn McBurney in the presbytery office (pbyoffice@gmail.com); Carolyn is the go-to “registrar.”

Grace and peace,

Brad Munroe

Ignite the Spark! and The Big Event

It is time to register for the next Ignite the Spark! and our annual, combined presbyteries, Big Event, which is widely acclaimed as folks’ favorite presbytery meeting. I find this acclamation curious: why is the Big Event folks’ favorite meeting?

Well, let’s admit that the bar is set pretty low, for most folks are not overly excited about any business meetings, be they Session, their employer, or your local Rotary Club. But I suspect something more is going on with the Big Event. I suspect we are drawn to community; drawn to connecting. I believe we experience our best selves when we are giving ourselves to others in, through, or as the Body of Christ. The Big Event’s focus is on who we are, together, as Christ’s Body, and how we can live into the fullness of that hope for the sake of the world. What’s not to like about that?

This year’s Ignite the Spark! will feature communication specialists from the General Assembly. This is not a “sexy” topic but as we live in the Information Age and the world of Social Media 2.0, communication within our congregations and to our communities becomes a vital link to faithful ministry and mission. Does your church have a clearly defined message? Do you have a strategy for communicating that message within and beyond your congregation? Do people in the community have any, possible, (even a remote possibility), clue about what your church stands for? What about understanding how they can get connected with your faith community, or through your faith community make a difference in the lives of others? If you answered no to any of these questions, Ignite the Spark! on Friday, August 11 is for you.

In addition to Friday’s Ignite the Spark!, there are communication workshops at Saturday’s Big Event. Included among the offerings on Saturday will be workshops on building a basic website and using social media to get your message out. If you are reading this missive, you are likely of an age (because our demographic is skewed toward “mature”) where you’re thinking, “I’m not the techie in my church.” Noted. On the other hand, someone needs to gather the information; someone needs to begin building the bridge toward our communities. If not you, who will it be?

Praying for you all,
Brad Munroe