Rediscovering the Gospel Part 3: Conversations with Joe Small- Sacramental Living

n this last installment on our wonderful experience at the Synod Kaleidoscope with Joe Small, retired director of General Assembly's Theology and Worship Unit, I want to describe one of the other key responses he gave to the question, "How can we proclaim the Gospel to a world (and a church) that thinks it knows it already?"

            After reviewing the profoundly secular culture in which we live, move and have our community in Christ Jesus, and after proposing to us the seemingly more radical vision for church renewal of rediscovering the Nicene Creed, Joe pointed our community of teaching elders and commissioned ruling elders toward immersing our congregations in the sacraments.

            At first blush, Joe's "Back to the Future" embrace of our theological heritage seems counterproductive: in a culture that idolizes the new, Joe seems to call for the old; in a world of glitz and glammer, shock and awe, Joe seems to call for the tired traditionalism. Or does he?

            I say "Joe seems to call..." because it is only a seeming, an appearing to be old and tired. Not so! Joe contends, and with him I whole-heartedly concur, that what is called for is not pejorative but rooted, grounded and foundational; it is the deep, immersive stream of transformation through participation in God's grace through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirt. These words and the realities to which they point - rooted, grounded and foundational, deep and immersive, grace and Spirit - are longings of (even) the post-modern heart!

            Of course, the above sentence is only true to the extent that we embody these words, incarnate them, live into their fullness with lives being transformed by the renewing of our minds, with hearts ablaze for God's peace and God's justice to reign on earth as it is in heaven, with words spoken in kindness, humility and generosity toward all. It is this kind of Church the world longs to experience, though they know it not. It is these kind of Christians that intrigue those who do not (yet) belong to Jesus. It is this kind of community, Joe contends, that might be renewed through a robust recovery of sacramental practice.

            Here is your homework: Look up the following passages in the postscript and list all the rich, variegated imagery associated with the sacraments of Baptism and The Lord's Supper. What kind of spiritual life do they describe? How do these images call to you as an individual, or call to your congregation as a faith community? What would it look like to lean into these ways of being in Christ?

            Finally, it's not too late to sign-up for the next Synod Kaleidoscope in Tempe, October 19-21, with Andy Dearman from Fuller (Houston), who will present on preaching Old Testament stories. Registrations can be found at synodsw.org.

Grace and peace,

Brad Munroe

P.S. Baptismal Scriptures: Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 2:37- 42; Acts 10:44-48; Rom 6:1-11; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Galatians 3:36-29; Colossians 2:11-15; 1 Peter 3:18-22.Communion Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; Mark 14:22-25; Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:14-23; John 6:25-51; Mark 6:30-44 and 8:1-10; John 6:1-14; Luke 9:10-17; Luke 24:13-35; John 22:4-19; Acts 2:43-47; Revelation 19:1-9 

P.P.S. Parade of the Infant in the French Reformed Church: "For you, little one, God sent his Son. For you... Someday you will learn of this and be joyful to share for someday you, little one, will love God because He first loved us."Food for Thought from Joe: "When I invite people to the Table, I am inviting them to Christ."

 

Rediscovering the Gospel: Part 2-Conversations with Joe Small: The Nicene Creed

Last month I was privileged to participate with other pastors and CREs in the Synod Kaleidoscope at Ghost Ranch Retreat Center. Joe Small, retired director of General Assembly’s Theology and Worship Unit, was the keynote presenter: a beautiful soul in an inspiring setting with delightful fellowship. Our conversations with Joe throughout the week asked the question, “What is the Gospel?” and “How can we proclaim the Gospel to a world (and a church) that thinks it knows it already?”

            After reviewing the profoundly secular culture in which we live, move and have our community in Christ Jesus, Joe proposed to us a radical vision for church renewal: rediscover the Nicene Creed! While some of you reading this may rejoice at Joe’s suggestion while others may roll their eyes, I think both reactions need to hear the context from which Joe’s admonition arises. For the earliest Christians, “doctrine” was less a set of proscribed items for mental assent and more a way to be guided toward a living, immersive experience of life with Jesus Christ.

            For example, while the Nicene Creed may seem at once both familiar and odd to the postmodern, Christian ear, Nicene grew out of controversy when a pastor named Arius sought to accommodate the Gospel for the sake of evangelizing pagans. In response to pagan confusion related to polytheism versus monotheism as these relate to Christ, Arius highlighted the Oneness of God by making Jesus created and something less than God. The Church responded quickly: if Jesus is not God, then God is unknowable, above and beyond, which means believers cannot be certain of salvation. Bishop Alexander felt that Arius threatened the assurance that Jesus announces God's good will. Further, if the Holy Spirit is not God, how can we be confident that our spirituality is of God? The debate was not about doctrinal lines of thought but about the spiritual dynamics of faith and the need for theology to express and guide Christian living.

            Dr. Small went on to make two salient points: “We see creeds as matters of assent but the early Christians saw them as guides intended to be a proclamation of the Gospel we must hear, a proclamation shared by all and responded to in faith and with faithful living…Our first obligation in responding to a creed is not to question or ignore but to ask why our forbearers felt the need to confess this faith? Why was this faith so important, and how can we receive their offering with gratitude rather than scorn?” Great questions! So here is your homework: Look up the Nicene Creed and put it into your own words as an expression of what it means to live as a follower of Jesus – “the only begotten Son of God…God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God.” How might these words shape, guide and give focus to your living in Christ Jesus?

            Finally, let me point the teaching elders and commissioned ruling elders toward the next Synod Kaleidoscope, which will be led by Andy Dearman, professor of Old Testament at Fuller Seminary’s Houston campus, and formerly of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Andy will be teaching on proclaiming stories from the Old Testament as well as looking at some of the ways our methods of biblical interpretation lead to different results with the text. A good time is sure to be had by all in Tempe, October 19-21. Registrations can be found at synodsw.org.

Grace and peace,

Brad Munroe

Conversations with Joe Small

Last month I was privileged to participate with other pastors and CREs in the Synod Kaleidoscope at Ghost Ranch Retreat Center. Joe Small, retired director of General Assembly’s Theology and Worship Unit, was the keynote presenter: a beautiful soul in an inspiring setting with delightful fellowship. Our conversations with Joe throughout the week asked the question, “What is the Gospel?” and “How can we proclaim the Gospel to a world (and a church) that thinks it knows it already?”

In an early lecture, Joe outlined the new secularity in which we try to communicate Jesus Christ:

• An absence of God from our public spaces both in terms of reference and relevance - (with the exception of politicians’ token prayer of “God bless America),
• The emptying of meaning in religious belief and practice, - (no more Blue Laws in the South or meatless Fridays for Catholics),
• The shift from a culture in which one’s highest moral and spiritual aspirations were to seek God to a culture in which God is subordinate or even unnecessary to support one’s highest moral goals - (the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a great charity without God talk),
• The decline of corporate and community life and the rise of individualistic and interior practices - (“spiritual but not religious”).

How can we proclaim the Gospel to this world and in these kind of communities? For Joe, the answer seemed to be: Move Forward to the Past!

Joe’s prescription for church renewal is for us to rediscover the rich tradition of our theological heritage, not for the sake of “subscriptionism” (the list of beliefs to which one must give cognitive assent in order to be “in” the club) but for the sake of being able to enter more deeply into a dynamic relationship with God in Jesus Christ. What do we mean by what we say? Why is confessing the faith in a certain way vital for our life together? How do our beliefs connect with our real, actual, lived experience of being in Christ Jesus?In the coming weeks, I am going to review a few of Joe’s thoughts on theology, baptism and communion, but I invite you to reflect upon what is central to your faith. So often we argue the periphery and neglect to celebrate the tremendous centrality we share together in Jesus.

Finally, let me point the teaching elders and commissioned ruling elders toward the next Synod Kaleidoscope, which will be led by Andy Dearman, professor of Old Testament at Fuller Seminary’s Houston campus, and formerly of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Andy will be teaching on proclaiming stories from the Old Testament as well as looking at some of the ways our methods of biblical interpretation lead to different results with the text. A good time is sure to be had by all in Tempe, October 19-21. Registrations can be found at synodsw.org.

Sexual Misconduct Prevention

Sexual misconduct prevention and child, youth and adult protection are both the work of communities. Each individual must learn and grow in the ways of safety and prevention, but the entire community is also responsible to ensure that its ethos is directed toward protecting our most vulnerable. Therefore, I am pleased to announce that both Grand Canyon and de Cristo presbyteries have available to them online training courses.

            These courses are offered through the two presbyteries' primary insurance carrier but are offered to ALL members. To clarify things from last week: all candidates, all active teaching elders (whether honorably retired or, more likely, still working stiffs, the key word is “active”), and all active CREs will be required to take one training course on an annual basis, pending approval of said policy from the respective presbyteries. However, any member can ask to take the online training courses by emailing Carolyn McBurney in the presbytery office. Your particular church is covered for training through the presbyteries regardless of its insurance carrier.

            The first course, “Meet Sam,” took me 20 minutes to complete. I was dismayed to discover that I did not know all the material already! My wife is a therapist who has worked in programs treating both victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse, and in my hubris I thought I knew all the course would cover. So imagine my shock when in a pre-test early in the training I got only six of seven questions correct.

            In Meet Sam I learned the difference between preferential, situational and indiscriminate molesters and how they relate to children, youth and the social environments constructed by the adults trying to create safe space. Can you describe these differences to another person? If not, it is a helpful distinction to learn. I learned also about the three keys a perpetrator needs in order to abuse. Can you say what those three things are? If you cannot, this course would be a great place for you to start deepening your awareness of the issues. (Hint: the three things needed are access, privacy and control, and the course explains them in detail.) I learned about the importance of physcial, emotional, behavioral, and community boundaries: to set clear limits for each and to be aware of anyone who violates them either intentionally or unintentionally. Finally, I learned the percentages of abuse perpetrated by family, friends and strangers. Can you name which category of relationships perpetrate the most abuse? This is the question I got wrong in the pre-test. I answered “friends” but the correct answer is family (60%), then friends (30%), and then strangers (10%).

            As a final observation, let me share a personal note: I felt sick throughout these 20 minutes. I resisted going in-depth into the material. I realized I prefer to remain ignorant. The thought of sexual abuse is repulsive to virtually all of us, which is why denial is so easy. And this is why these online training courses are so important: denial is not an option.

Grace and peace,

Brad Munroe

Abuse Prevention Training

I am pleased to announce that both de Cristo and Grand Canyon presbyteries now offer multiple, online, training courses in sexual misconduct prevention and child, youth and adult protection. These courses are offered through the presbyteries’ association with Hugh Wood / Insurance Board and are available for all members of both presbyteries. One’s church does not need to have insurance through HW/IB to utilize these training opportunities.

As part of the services provided by HW/IB, these training courses promote safety awareness and safe practices for individuals and congregations toward ensuring the protection of our most vulnerable members. Moreover, they are easy to use! Carolyn McBurney, the office manager for the shared staff, is the program administrator for the online courses, and all anyone who wants to participate needs to do is contact Carolyn with a request to take a course. I was Carolyn’s guinea pig to make sure the process was seamless, and the process went something like this:

• I made a phone call to Carolyn at 602-468-3820 (although I could have emailed her at carolynmcburney@gmail.com ).
• I received an email with a link to a website, a login name, a password and instructions.
• I followed the instructions (about three steps).
• I took one of the courses (timed at 20 minutes).
• The training course automatically sent an email to Carolyn indicating my successful completion.

It was that simple. It is as necessary as it is simple.

Because protecting our children and preventing sexual predation is the work of entire communities, I have proposed to the Commissions on Ministry within both presbyteries that their respective Sexual Misconduct policies be revised to include a requirement for annual training either at a face-to-face workshop or through the online courses. I believe we need “200% accountability,” by which I mean the expectation that everyone learns, grows and stays current with best practices (100% accountability) and that each of us expects the same of everyone (200% accountability). The final form of the policy revision and requirements are yet to be approved, but given that training is simple, straightforward and available to all, there is no excuse not to fulfill our due diligence as presbyters, candidates, youth workers, Sunday School teachers and nursery attendants.  Information will be available at the August 15 presbytery meeting and in the “Clerk’s Corner” on the Presbytery website.

Grace and peace,

Brad Munroe

P.S. Churches interested in utilizing the Presbytery to conduct background checks, may do so at a 50% discount for churches enrolled with the Insurance Board. Those churches not enrolled may participate, but will pay the full rate.  An application form will be available on the Presbytery website.  Complete the form and mail or fax to the Presbytery office (never email something containing social security numbers.) Your church will be billed for each check. 

The Three-Legged Stool -Leg Three: Missional Formation

The image of a three-legged stool is often offered as a metaphor for healthy, well-balanced Christian formation. As I discussed the last two weeks, our August 15, combined presbyteries meeting at Mission del Sol in Tempe, will be supported bythe three legs of spiritual formation, congregational formation and missional formation. Having discussed spiritual and congregational formation, today I would like to describe the workshops offered for missional formation. In a sense, we are describing a kind of trinity of foundational relationships: Communion with God (spiritual), Community with one another (congregational), and Compassion for the world (missional).

There are seven workshops offered in the area of missional formation, a combination of “big picture” perspective seminars and “local” descriptions of how sister churches are involved in the world for the sake of Jesus.

• Missional Ministry: Nuts and Bolts - Ken Page will look at ways to build bridges of blessing into our communities. What needs to happen to build mission that is relational and not just “Big Brother/Sister” offering a helping hand?
• Understanding The Changing Shape of Community - EneyasFrietas will describe the amazing transformation occurring at Urban Connect (Historic First) and new lenses through which one can see community; it’s not always what we think it is.
• Media: How an Image Based Culture is Reshaping How We Do Church - Jim Toole will describe the earth shattering concept that how we communicate dictates how we can think, or at least how we actually will think and what that means for churches trying to reach the world!
• Mission Partnership: Our Native Congregations - Martha Sadongei, Judy Wellington and Custer Lowe will discuss ways to be in partnership with our native congregations. How can a congregation do mission together with Native congregations in ways that help and serve?
• Sanctuary Movement - Alison Harrington and Eric Lederman will discuss the why’s and how’s of the sanctuary movement and its transformative impact on their congregations.
• Agua Fria Food Bank - Members of the Presbyterian founded food bank in the west valley will talk about food scarcity and how congregations can be involved in serving the least of Jesus’ brothers and sisters.
• Florence Project - Members of Grand Canyon’s Peace and Justice Network will discuss the plight of prisoners, especially immigrants in detention centers, and how we can fulfill our call to visit those in prison.

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

For a complete list of workshops click here

Grace and peace,

Brad Munroe

The Three-Legged Stool Leg Two: Congregational Formation

The image of a three-legged stool is often offered as a metaphor for healthy, well-balanced Christian formation. As I discussed in last week’s missive (link here), our August 15, combined presbyteries meeting at Mission del Sol in Tempe, will be supported bythe three legs of spiritual formation, congregational formation and missional formation. Last week I began with spiritual formation, for our relationship with the Lord is foundational for all things in our faith. Today I would like to describe the workshops offered for congregational formation. In a sense, we are moving from a personal relationship with Christ to our corporate and communal relationship.

 

There are nine workshops offered in the area of congregational formation. These workshops.

• Developing Congregational Leaders for Action: led by our keynote speaker, Steve Easom, this workshop will describe lessons Steve learned about leadership development from 35 years of pastoral ministry leading single pastor and multi-staff congregations. Steve’s passion is helping ruling elders launch ministries that serve the ministry and mission of the congregation.
• Congregational Renewal: will help congregations understanding the promise and possibilities for church renewal and give insight about ways to discover clear, compelling, Christ-focused mission.
• Church Life Cycle and Renewal: the prelude to Andy’s workshop described above, will ask the question, “How do we know when renewal is needed?” The short answer is “If you are asking the question, the answer is yes!”
• Handling Conflict: will provide tools for avoiding the potholes of problem personalities and how to overcome the obstacles of obstinate souls found within the church...yes, even churches have difficult people...sometimes...so I am told.
• Scripture Reading Practicum: will develop skills and offer tools for making the reading of Scripture the high point of a worship service that it is supposed to be and can become.
• A New Look at Your Benefits: Clayton Cobb, our Board of Pensions representative, will discuss new proposals for extending insurance coverage to lay employees to help you attract, retain and care for staff.
• Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Training: A representative from Praesidium, the leading abuse prevention provider, will discuss the new, online training programs available to help educate and protect our congregations.
• Risk Assessment: Mary Lammermeier from Hugh Wood / Insurance Board will discuss the most common liability risks for churches and how to minimize and manage risk.
• Clerk’s Tool Kit: Bob Schulz, our Stated Clerk, will train up clerks in all things decent and orderly - the Presbyterian Way!

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

For a compplete list of workshops click here

Grace and peace,

Brad Munroe