The Gospel of Lament: Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

“My soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.”

            My wife, Laura, took a class on Scripture interpretation this summer, and at the beginning of a lecture on psalms of lament the professor read from Psalm 88. In her written response to the lecture, my wife commented on how life-giving and soul-refreshing were the words of the psalm. Laura’s colleagues were startled by her response: “How can lament such as Psalm 88 be life-giving and soul-refreshing?” In a summer of family tragedy, and with her family living in Houston, and with my family living in Florida, she found the unflinching, unapologetic honesty of Scripture to be the balm in Gilead.

“I am shut in so that I cannot escape, my eyes grow dim with sorrow.”

 This week I had the privilege of meeting the new class of Young Adult Volunteers (YAVs). One of the YAVs, Leah Bishop, asked my thoughts about the pain and suffering they had already encountered, even in their first week: parents locked in detention centers, homeless families, the list continued, even as they knew they would bear witness to more pain and more suffering. Our conversation swirled around the notion that the Christian life invites a cruciform spirituality. In Christ, through Christ, and with Christ, we do not avoid the darkness but move through it to encounter the light. We do not escape brokenness but accompany it - within ourselves and others - trusting we are accompanied by Golgatha’s most famous resident who himself bore our suffering. One expression of cruciform living is the ability to rise to the occasion in times of crisis, to allow the Spirit’s life to be expressed as tangible compassion. As a people, we respond.

“They surround me like a flood all day long; from all sides they close in on me.”

 Many of you have reached out to the presbytery asking about our denominational response to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. You want to respond! Let us also remember the fires in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, and California. And, yes, help is needed and your response will be appreciated. Here is the good word from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, which is funded through your gifts to the One Great Hour of Sharing:

• Put together Gift of the Heart kits, especially hygiene or clean-up buckets: pda.pcusa.org/page/kits.
• Contact the PDA Call Center about volunteer opportunities: 866-732-6121.
• Give directly to the crisis of your choice: pda.pcusa.org
• Stay aware by getting connected: Facebook.com/PDACARES.

“O Lord, God of my salvation...incline your ear to my cry.”

Grace and peace,

Brad Munroe

Sexual Misconduct Prevention Training Face-to-Face in Casa Grande September 29

One COM initiative in both presbyteries is to broaden the opportunities (and requirements) to participate in sexual misconduct prevention training. The core values that lay behind these initiatives include (a) everyone needs training and (b) the more expansive the training the better equipped we will all be to protect our children, youth and adults by creating safe environments physically and structurally through our policies, procedures and observance of safe practices.

Training is required of all active Ministers of Word and Sacrament, CREs, candidates and inquirers each year. Online training is offered through our insurer Hugh Wood / Insurance Board and can be accessed rather easily by sending an email request for access to Carolyn McBurney in the presbytery office. (if you have used the online system before, your user ID and password will be the same)

For those who prefer a face-to-face training, we will host a combined presbyteries training at First Presbyterian Church of Casa Grande from 9:00 – 12:00 on Friday, September 29. Please RSVP to Carolyn if you plan to attend on September 29. This training is open to anyone who desires to attend and will include a discussion of the dynamics of abuse, best protective practices for keeping children, youth and adults safe, issues for crafting a congregational policy, and a review of legal issues related to churches.

Mary Jo Norton, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Superior, will be our presenter. Mary Jo is an experienced presenter on this subject matter. Her initial impetus to learn more and become “the local expert” relates to her being a member and in leadership at a church where abuse happened within the congregation. Because of that experience Mary Jo sought out training, then became a trainer, and has consulted with congregations on policy creation and implementation of best practices. I am confident she will help us all add to our depth and breadth of understanding. Thank you, Mary Jo!                                                    

Brad Munroe

Metrics in Ministry: The Gospel According to Harvey

How does one measure the impact of Harvey? What measurement adequately describes what the nation witnessed this past week? Scientific exclamations of millennial flooding do not capture the heart of Harvey’s devastation; economic forecasts even less so. It is rather the stories we are witnessing that tell the tale.

            Witness.

It’s a funny word in some ways. A biblical word but not one we Presbyterians are very good at using; or perhaps it’s just we are not very comfortable using it. We often think of witnessing as a synonym for evangelism, yet its connotations merely suggest a willingness to speak truth regardless of the situation: to bear witness.

We bore witness to pain and devastation this week. And we bore witness to the indomitable human spirit among those who had lost everything they owned, the fathomless wellspring of human compassion in neighbors, and the undaunted courage of first responders. How does one measure the impact of Harvey? Let me respectfully suggest we measure it by bearing witness.

My wife’s cousin, Travis, lives in Kingwood, Texas where flood waters rose to the bottoms of STOP signs. Travis posted a video of him taking his jet ski through the streets in search of people in need of help. I bear witness to Travis.

Our friend Shirine’s home was flooded, but neighbors helped her escape to safety. I bear witness to Shirene’s neighbors.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has sent out a link through which you and I can give to help the flood victims in South Texas (pda.pcusa.org). The American Red Cross will make more headline news in Houston but PDA will be there long after the Red Cross have closed up their emergency operations. It’s just how PDA rolls. I bear witness to PDA.

Last week I introduced the distinctions between different kinds of metrics from Gil Rendle’s book, Doing the Math of Mission: inputs (the resources we put in: money, staff time, etc.), throughputs (the things we do: worship, Bible study, mission project), and outputs (the numbers: people who attend). The metric that matters is outcomes: what change is affected by our inputs, throughputs, and outputs? How are our people different? What impact is made on the community?

Many will measure the outcome of Harvey by the numbers: economic indicators, meteorological records, or, tragically, its death toll. All these metrics are fair enough and valid in their own way. Yet I choose to measure Harvey according to the response it evoked in the human spirit: to care and to share, to pray and then to act, to grieve and yet remain unbroken. I bear witness to these things. I bear witness to you.

Knowing you will step up,
Brad Munroe   

Metrics in Ministry: Small Churches with BIG Impact

We have a “Butts and Bucks” problem: our B and B anxiety often leads us to a B and B theology, which devolves into a B and B idolatry. Too often we worship at the altar of big dollars, filled pews, and the alleged security these things bring.

I can almost hear some of the internal debates swirling around the presbytery as these words are read: “Yes, didn’t Jesus say, ‘Where two or three are gathered, there I am present also’?” “What are you talking about, Brad? In Acts, God ‘added to their number daily those who were being saved.’”

This past week, in the midst of the swirl of the national news frenzy (I’m still against white supremacy, by the way) and the swirl of hurricane images heading for Texas (I’m still concerned about my son, in-laws and all other Texans, by the way), I have been blessed to encounter Camille Josey of the Presbyterian Outreach Foundation. Camille organizes the POF Small Church Initiative and got me to join POF’s Small Church Initiative Facebook page. What a blessing!

On the Outreach Foundation Small Church Initiative Facebook page (you can join, too, by the way), I read stories of small churches making big impacts in their communities. I read stories of one church creating a brew pub that invites patrons to fund community ministry (now that’s a church I want to attend), another church replacing Christmas poinsettias with a butterfly garden, and still another church creating a public park. In my own travels, I have noticed the far more intimate expressions of connection that occur in small church worship versus large church worship.

In Gil Rendle’s book, Doing the Math of Mission, he talks about helpful and unhelpful ways churches monitor metrics. As noted above, our prevailing anxiety leads toward the metrics of Butts and Bucks. But is there another way? Rendle believes there is. He suggests a distinction between metrics that matter and metrics that don’t. Metrics that we measure don’t tend to tell us much: inputs (the resources we put in: money, staff time, etc.), throughputs (the things we do: worship, Bible study, mission project), and outputs (the numbers: people who attend). The metric that matters is outcomes: what change is affected by our inputs, throughputs, and outputs? How are our people different? What impact is made on the community?

I will talk more next week about the distinctions between these different metrics, but for this missive it strikes me that the outcomes in small churches suggest a prophetic challenge to our prevailing B and B anxiety. There is a place for the kind of fellowship where one cannot hide in anonymity, where “anonymous Christian” is the oxymoron it is. There is a place for the kind of church where “everyone knows your name,” where care is extended in personal and relational ways. There is a place for the kind of Christian faith nurtured by communities where accountability is not really optional.

Some of you from larger churches who are reading this missive may be thinking to yourselves, “But, Brad, large churches can create small group opportunities, too, you know!” Point taken. But what all y’all from larger churches have to create, small churches already are: let’s honor, affirm, and celebrate them for all they do for the sake of Jesus and the people Jesus’ loves.

Not being ornery, just sayin’,

Brad Munroe   

When Tragedy Strikes

Tragedy struck twice last week, and I was left to wonder, "Where does grace reside?" One tragedy is known to all, public in every respect, while the other tragedy is private, known and felt and mourned by a much smaller number. In both the public and private tragedy, the question of God's grace was a living concern.

        The public tragedy to which I refer is, of course, Charlottesville. This tragedy is both the loss of three lives but also the failure of some to speak truth: white supremacy is inherently and intrinsically violent. Even in the absence of any physical violence, there is moral violence and spiritual violence in its presence. Full stop. Breathe. Question: where does grace reside?

        The private tragedy to which I refer occurred when my wife's 24 year old cousin and her 4 year old daughter were victims of a double homicide. The fact that their murderer has been captured does not and cannot lighten the shadow of grief, anger, and despair to which our hearts have been invited. Full stop. Breathe. Question: where does grace reside?

        Living in the shadow of these twin towers of tragedy my mind has wandered a bit. I find myself wondering what went through Dietrich Bonhoeffer's mind in the 1930's. At what point did he think to himself, "I must speak, must act, yet must seek to live into costly grace." I remember Karl Barth who reminded us that we can live without knowing the answers to all of life's questions but not without knowing if what we proclaim is true, if the Gospel really matters: the love of God, the resurrection of the dead, the promised new creation.

        This week I am finding grace resides in the shadows of these twin griefs. For some, clarity has been found, courage discovered, and with these gifts of Holy Spirit the truth spoken in love. For others, the lament of their soul has been accompanied by a "peace that passes understanding" even while an unquenchable fire has been lit that will, I believe, prove to be the refiner's fire. For still others, the still, small voice of the Spirit has spoken and in the whisper repentance invited.

        For me, I am finding grace in the company of family and the compassion of friends. In the darkness of shadows the light of our Savior's promise becomes more authentically felt; at least, such is my experience. I am finding grace in the comfort of our shared conviction: it is all true, and the Gospel really does matter. And because the Gospel matters I will speak. Full stop. Breathing. Yes, I will speak.

In the eye of Jesus,

Brad Munroe 

PGC: Connected through (and for) Mission Announcing New Round of Mission Grants

ATTENTION: SEEKING CREATIVE IDEAS FOR MISSION! It is my pleasure to announce a second round of mission grant funding is now available. This second round of mission grant funding will distribute $19,500 to mission projects and mission partners throughout the presbytery and is available because of your generosity, expressed through our congregations!

The mission grant application forms can be here: http://pbygrandcanyon.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Mission-Priority-Application-Form-R21.pdf. The grant applications are open until September 24, 2017. The Congregational Resourcing Team will evaluate all grant applications at their meeting on October 3, with all applicants alerted of the team’s funding decisions no later than October 6.

As this process of mission grant funding is still relatively new to the presbytery, the team’s process continues to evolve and become more focused. They now have criteria by which all grant applications will be evaluated. The purpose of creating the criteria is to be able to make values-based decisions; the purpose of communicating the criteria is so that you, Dear Reader (and potential grant applicant), will be able to craft your application accordingly. Here are the criteria:

·         Is the purpose of the grant request clear and comprehensive (i.e., does it convey the mission’s who, what, when, where, why and how)?

·         Is there a connection to Presbyterian mission?

·         Does it encourage multi-ethnic relationships or ministry?

·         Does it encourage congregational networking and partnerships?

·         How many individuals will be impacted?

·         What is the level of innovation or creativity?

·         Is there a clear and specific plan to evaluate the mission’s effectiveness?

The Congregational Resourcing Team assumes no grant application will receive full marks on all of the categories, so please don’t stress if your plan is stronger in one area and weaker in another. Each grant application will be reviewed with grace and funding decisions will be made with prayer.

Grace and peace,

Brad Munroe

On Being Presbyterian:New Round of Mission Grants

It is my pleasure to announce a second round of mission grant funding is now available. This second round of mission grant funding will distribute $19,500 to mission projects and mission partners throughout the presbytery and is available because of your generosity, expressed through our congregations!

The mission grant application forms can be found HERE and the grant applications are open until September 24, 2017. The Congregational Resourcing Team will evaluate all grant applications at their meeting on October 3, with all applicants alerted of the team’s funding decisions no later than October 6.

As this process of mission grant funding is still relatively new to the presbytery, the team’s process continues to evolve and become more focused. They now have criteria by which all grant applications will be evaluated. The purpose of creating the criteria is to be able to make values-based decisions; the purpose of communicating the criteria is so that you, Dear Reader (and potential grant applicant), will be able to craft your application accordingly. Here are the criteria:

·         Is the purpose of the grant request clear and comprehensive (i.e., does it convey the mission’s who, what, when, where, why and how)?

·         Is there a connection to Presbyterian mission?

·         Does it encourage multi-ethnic relationships or ministry?

·         Does it encourage congregational networking and partnerships?

·         How many individuals will be impacted?

·         What is the level of innovation or creativity?

·         Is there a clear and specific plan to evaluate the mission’s effectiveness?

The Congregational Resourcing Team assumes no grant application will receive full marks on all of the categories, so please don’t stress if your plan is stronger in one area and weaker in another. Each grant application will be reviewed with grace and funding decisions will be made with prayer.

Grace and peace,

Brad Munroe

P.S. A big apology shout-out is owed to Montlure Ministries, as I neglected to list them as one of our mission partners in last week’s missive! (The irony that I wrote that week’s missive from a Presbyterian camp (Ghost Ranch) is not lost on me.) Hey, Montlure: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!