The Three-Legged Stool: Leg One: Spiritual Formation

The image of a three-legged stool is often offered as a metaphor for healthy, well-balanced Christian formation. Like a three-legged stool, Christian formation needs to stand solid on multiple points of contact. The legs of the stools are described in various ways: (a) prayer, study and service, (b) worship (reach up), pastoral care (reach in) and evangelism (reach out), or (c) justice (ministries of God the Creator), spiritual formation (ministries of God the Redeemer) and care (ministries of God the Sustainer). For our August 15, combined presbyteries meeting at Mission del Sol in Tempe, the three legs of the stool are spiritual formation, congregational formation and missional formation. Today I would like to describe the workshops offered for spiritual formation.

There are seven workshops offered in the area of spiritual formation. These workshops cover areas of theological discourse to practices of prayer, from educational training of children to training of adults, from discernment to discipleship, and from helping the sheep we are called to shepherd to becoming the shepherds we are called to be.

·   Essential Tenets of the Reformed Faith: a panel discussion on what constitutes the core of our Reformed convictions regarding what we believe as Presbyterians. All church officers vow to “sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith.” Do you know what they are?

·   Christian Discipleship 101: in a new apostolic era in which many do not know even the basics of Christian faith, what does it look like to train up disciplined followers of Jesus?

·      Praying the Labyrinth: a labyrinth is a tool for prayer and an invitation to immerse into contemplative reflection upon the face of God. Do you long for such an experience?

·   Twelve Steps as Path of Formation and Discipleship: not only for addicts, the twelve steps are rooted in biblical faith and historic Christian practice, which is to say the steps also apply to each of us who are not addicted to substances per se but to our own sinful ways!

·     Forming Leadership Teams into Communities of Discernment: elders make lots and lots of decisions, but are we guided by God’s Word and listening to God’s Spirit? What does the need for spiritual discernment call for in the midst of crazy-hectic meeting agendas?

·   Growing in Grace and Gratitude: grace and gratitude are touchstones of Presbyterian faith, life and identity; learning how to invite children to live into these touchstones is the focus of this workshop presented by a representative from Presbyterian Publishing.

·   Understanding Addiction: every church suffers from folks caught in the web of addiction, and our common call is to help them find new life and abundant life in Jesus. How can you be part of the healing journey for a brother or sister?

This event is open to anyone interested!

For a complete list of topics, click here.

To register for the August meeting and to reserve your place in one of the workshops, click here. 

Grace and peace,

Brad Munroe

Reflections on SCOTUS

The Supreme Court has ruled and social media is ablaze. Did your pastor discuss the Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality or did s/he talk about something else, anything else, “Please don’t make me talk about it again from the pulpit”? Each pastor and each congregation must choose its own way forward in the cultural conversation toward the goal of making it a Christian conversation for those of us who call upon the name of Jesus.

            As I pondered what to write this week, I realized that I lean into the latter camp described above: Please…! Confessing this sentiment, and confessing, too, my tendency to seek cooperation and collaboration as sacred values within the Body of Christ, I have prayerfully considered how I would respond. There is already a flood of information out there – how many posts, links to stories and rainbow colored photos did you see on Facebook? – andI do not presume to speak the definitive word but would like to share the following as resources for conversation.

            Resource #1: Our Challenging Way  This is a theological reflection produced by the Theology and Worship Unit of General Assembly and is co-authored by a well-known evangelical (Charles Wiley) and well-known progressive (Barry Ensign-George). In their paper, Wiley and Ensign-George discuss the unique challenge we have set ourselves upon as a denomination by allowing for a radical freedom of conscience regarding marriage equality. These two theologians write in understandable language to address such questions as “Is [this way] Reformed,” “Can a denomination do this,” and “Why accept the challenge”? They also get a bit wonky, for a brief time, and address the concern about the “Kenyonization” of marriage equality (ask your pastor). The pdf can serve as a good conversation starter and is found here: http://www.presbyterianmission.org/site_media/media/uploads/theologyandworship/pdfs/our_challenging_way_6_november_2014.pdf

            Resource #2: A Thought Exercise on Gracious Inclusion–  This thought exercise comes from two pastors in National Capitol Presbytery, Don (an Inter-Varsity evangelical) and Jim (a Sanctuary Movement progressive). These two colleagues observed the dysfunctional “dialogues” with their presbytery, their own contributions to the dysfunction, and wondered if there was not a better way. Over a meal at a presbytery meeting, they shared an idea: what would happen if we pitted the worst of “my” argument against the best of “your” argument? Such conjecture reverses the usual course of things in which we argue against “the straw man/woman” by trumpeting our strengths while heckling our opponents’ weaknesses. Don and Jim made a covenant with each other: they each committed to listening for the very best in one another, the most faithful, cogent, biblically-grounded, Spirit-inspired arguments, while being honest about the fragile nature of some of their own convictions. Hmmm. This is another good conversation starter.

            Resource #3: The Convergence of American and Presbyterian Freedom  It is not lost on me that this letter will be published the week of July 4^th, and I am cognizant that our American democracy is patterned in much of its political form and thought culture on our own Presbyterian faith, of which a central conviction is that “God alone is Lord of the conscience, and faithful, intelligent Christians will sometimes disagree. Therefore, mutual forbearance and respect in matters of conscience should be adhered to.” Many are the instances in which great American leaders diverged in their opinion: Hamilton vs. Jefferson, Lincoln vs. Douglas, Kennedy vs. Nixon, and now Roberts vs. (a different) Kennedy. As our nation has endured, so shall we: by God’s grace. May we heed the words attributed to St. Augustine, who wrote: “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”

Grace to you today and always,

Brad Munroe

Summer Spirit: Spirit Gathered

There is no better time for a kid than Summer Camp, and Montlureis finishing its fourth week! Pray for Stephanie Hamilton! Pray for the counselors! And pray for the all the children and youth who will be blessed by getting away from their routines in order to get into Jesus.

Last week I served as chaplain for the senior high camp andwas excited to bring this year’s theme at Montlure: Power Up in the Spirit. The fourthday’s lesson was taken from Ephesians 4:1-6, which says in part:

…Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called, one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

This passage was quite fun to teach as it allowed me to break out the story from Dr. Suess’ The Butter Battle in which two tribes from the same locale war over the correct way to butter bread: butter side up versus butter side down. I divided the campers into two groups and asked them to shout out their answer to the question, “What is the proper side of the bread to butter?” As each side made their voices heard, in ever increasing volume, the cacophony blurred into a single, guttural cry that sounded something like, “AAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!” Sadly, this exercise is in some ways a metaphor for the Church.

There are seven “ones” in this brief passage of Ephesians: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. Seven being the symbolic number of heaven for the ancient Israelites, this passage speaks both literally and symbolically toward our unity even in the midst of our differences, the triumph of diversity over division for those who share in Jesus Christ.

But how is such unity in diversity accomplished? In the presbytery as it is in the church, in the church family as it is in the extended family, among all families and friends, the character qualities the Lord seeks of his people, and which draw us toward a common heart for the Lord Jesus, are humility, gentleness, patience and forbearance. To demonstrate the reconciling power of these character qualities, imagine the reverse of these traits. What kind of teamwork, unity and common purpose is found when members are arrogant, obnoxious, impatient and intolerant?

At the Camp Dance the evening of day four, the senior high campers – a famously cliquish tribe – brought joy to my heart as I observed them dance with one another almost exclusively in groups, large and small, constantly morphing, constantly changing who was dancing with whom. It was as if they had figured out that jocks and musicians, theater folk and brainiacs were all different and yet somehow one. Our presbytery and our churches can learn a lot from their example. Indeed, may we learn from their example the “new math” of the Kingdom: 1 + 1 + 1+ 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = ONE!

Pray on these things,

Brad

Summer Spirit: Spirit People

There is no better time for a kid than Summer Camp, and Montlure is finishing its third week! Pray for Stephanie Hamilton! Pray for the counselors! And pray for the all the children and youth who will be blessed by getting away from their routines in order to get into Jesus.

This year I will serve as chaplain for the senior high camp andam excited to bring this year’s theme at Montlure: Power Up in the Spirit. The third day’s lesson draws from 1 Thessalonians 4:4-7, which says in part:

…our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you…You became imitators of us and of the Lord.

This passage reminds us of the importance of authenticity in the Christian life, of speaking not just a particular, Christian language but living the peculiar, Christian life, for the Gospel calls us not just to proclaim “simply with words” but to be the kind of Spirit infused people who live with a deep conviction in the Lord. Simply put: the Gospel calls us to move beyond our rhetoric and into relationship.

Please note the conjunction: and. As Presbyterian Christians, we believe creed and conviction live in harmony with conscience and call. We are called to live into God’s truth because we believe God is relational in God’s essential character and nature (Holy Trinity), because Jesus came to live among us as God’s living Word upon the earth (Incarnation), because this same Jesus sends us out in the power of the Holy Spirit to be instruments of reconciliation and work toward God’s justice and joy (Missio Dei). This powerful message is conveyed through our authenticity.

Paul’s asks the Thessalonians to imitate him and the Lord, to see the Lord through his (Paul’s) living. As I sit awaiting the campers’ arrival at Montlure, I am reminded anew of the significance of our example: our children learn the truth of their baptism as they see how we love them; our youth learn to live deeply into their baptism as they watch – and they are watching! – the faithfulness with which we seek to follow Jesus. Who we are matters!

May we throw ourselves into God’s mercy, trusting in his love, seeking to listen to the Spirit’s nudges that will lead us into joyful mischief that launches us toward sacred conundrums that cause us to learn anew of our absolute and utter dependence upon God, and that he is faithful to enable us to become Spirit people, the living stones of a Holy Temple, our adoption as children of the One, True God!

Pray on these things,

Brad

Summer Spirit: Spirit Power

There is no better time for a kid than Summer Camp, and Montlurehas kicked-off! Pray for Stephanie Hamilton! Pray for the counselors! And pray for the all the children and youth who will be blessed by getting away from their routines in order to get into Jesus.

This year I will serve as chaplain for the senior high camp and am excited to bring this year’s theme at Montlure: Power Up in the Spirit. The second day’s lesson draws from Acts 2, which says in part:

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

What strikes me in these verses is the sense of passion Luke conveys. It is not just a wind from heaven but a violent wind, both to destroy former ways and to build new creation. It is not just tongues for speech to reverse the Babel curse but tongues of fire to burn up the detritus of human alienation in order to purge the way for true community.

What strikes me in these verses is the sense of totality Luke conveys. It is not just the house but the whole house, as if more than the people but all of creation is included in God’s work of re-creation. It is not just the apostles but all of them, as if Luke is loath to allow even one saint to be forgotten or, worse, allowed to refuse the call of God upon them.

What strikes me in these verses is the sense of utter and absolute dependence upon God that Luke conveys: as the Spirit enabled. This is a foundational conviction of Reformed faith: God first, then we respond to the movement of God. In Acts, the Spirit speaks, then the disciples preach; the Spirit enables, then the work begins.

Passion. Fiery, burning hearts. Being totally and completely devoted to God in any, all and every aspect of our lives. Utterly and absolutely dependent upon God, seeking only to step where God leads, only to act as a response to God’s call, yet convinced that if God has called then we are able, for God has made us able. Does this describe your life? Your church? Your presbytery?

I will answer this last question: no, it does not. But thanks be to God! We have room to grow as a presbytery! And you have room to grow as a church! And as an individual! May we throw ourselves on God’s mercy, trusting in his love, seeking to listen to the Spirit’s nudges that will lead us into joyful mischief that launches us toward sacred conundrums that cause us to learn anew of our absolute and utter dependence upon God, and that he is faithful to enable us to do all things through the Spirit’s power.

Pray on these things,

Brad

Summer Spirit: Spirit Nudges

There is no better time for a kid than Summer Camp, and Montlure kicks off this week! Pray for Stephanie Hamilton! Pray for the counselors! And pray for the all the children and youth who will be blessed by getting away from their routines in order to get into Jesus.

This year I will serve as chaplain for the senior high camp. I am excited by this opportunity and welcome the chance to be in relationship with these young disciples who bring passion, energy and vision to the Church and our call to be God’s people for the sake of the world.

This year’s theme at Montlure is “Power Up in the Spirit.” The first day’s lesson draws from John 14:25-27, which says in part:

The Advocate (Counselor, Teacher, Comforter, Helper), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave you; my peace I give to you…let not your hearts be troubled or afraid.

Reading this passage anew I am reminded of the universality of the promise: all followers of Jesus will be offered the gift of the Holy Spirit. That means you, me and everyone in our churches is offered God’s Spirit. Second, I am reminded of the intimate leading of the Spirit’s work as Advocate / Counselor / Teacher / Comforter / Helper. This means we should expect God to be personally involved in relating to us, but what happens if we do not notice the Spirit’s teaching, the Spirit’s counsel, the Spirit’s comfort, the Spirit’s “nudges”?

Are we noticing the Spirit’s nudges in our churches? Are you noticing them when you listen to a sermon and sense God’s invitation to act in a certain direction? Are you noticing Spirit nudges as you prepare and deliver that sermon? Are you noticing Spirit nudges as you get coffee in the foyer after services – who is God calling you to greet and welcome? Are you noticing Spirit nudges during a Session meeting, as a new idea is proposed that may not be the way you’ve done it before but very well may be the way God would have you move forward today?

Are we noticing the Spirit’s nudges in our communities? Are you noticing the opportunities to bless others throughout your day? Are you noticing the young parent overwhelmed with more young kids than hands, and how you can offer blessing? Are you noticing the pockets of poverty creeping into a neighborhood where it had not been before? Are you noticing the opportunities for your church, as a faith community, to bless others in your neighborhood?

Spirit nudges are always God’s blessing to us even if they often lead us into a joyful mischief that launches us toward sacred conundrums that cause us to learn anew of our absolute and utter dependence upon God. In such moments when our absolute and utter dependence on God is our only option, may we find solace in the words of Jesus: “Peace I leave you; my peace I give to you…let not your hearts be troubled or afraid.”

Pray on these things,

Brad

Board of Pensions Update: Call to Health

The Board of Pensions has changed the way it funds medical dues. Beginning last year and continuing forward, there is a smaller deductible for those who participate in the Active Health program.

When members participate in Call to Health by completing specific actions before September 30, 2015, they earn a reduced individual and family deductible: from 1.5% to 1.0% of effective salary for 2016.  For example, a member earning an effective salary of $60,000 will have their deductible lowered from $900 to $600 merely for spending a few minutes online inputting one’s medical results. This is easy money, folks, just for doing what is in your own best interest to do anyway.

To participate in Call to Health the plan member must do the following:

1.     Schedule and complete a preventive care or well-patient exam with one’s doctor.

2.     Answer the phone if wellness nurses or a coach calls from Active Health.

3.     Choose two additional actions from the following list:

a.      Complete a health assessment at myactivehealth.com/pcusa,

b.     Input your lab result numbers from your wellness physical,

c.      Complete and verify that you have had a vision exam,

d.     Complete and verify that you have had a dental exam,

e.      Participate in nutritional counseling,

f.      If you use tobacco, participate in the Active Health cessation program,

g.     If invited, attend the BOP sponsored, eight day, Presbyterian CREDO retreat.

In other news, the Board recently announced that it is giving an “apportionment increase” of 4.7%. What this means is that all participants – retired, active, as well as former participants – are getting a 4.7% raise as of July 1, 2015. For example, a retired pastor receiving a $30,000 annual pension from the Board will now receive $31,410 annually.

So to summarize: the Board of Pensions is offering discounted deductibles for those who participate in the Call to Health program (the Lord giveth) and everyone participating in the Board’s pension program is getting a raise (the Lord giveth again). May the name of the Lord be praised (with kudos to the Lord’s servant, our Board of Pensions).

Grace out,

Brad Munroe

P.S.  If you, your family, or any of your church leaders have any questions please contact our Regional Representative, Clayton Cobb at 267-844-2411, or ccobb@pensions.org.  He would welcome you call.