Presbytery Survey / Conversation: Toward a Shared Missional Clarity

It was a pleasure to be guests of the Elders and Deacons Association as we gathered as a presbytery at Vah-Ki Presbyterian Church on April 2. Our Native American brothers and sisters provided warm welcome and gracious hospitality as we worshiped and worked under their ramada: thank you, EDA!

For my pastor’s report I asked those gathered to share their thoughts with one another about the purposes of a presbytery in general and of our presbytery specifically, and I promised I would share the results of their feedback. Below is a snapshot of their responses:

The verbal responses were, as I expected they would be, all over the spectrum, from “only do COM and CPM and nothing else” to “our minister needs to be ministered to – burn-out prevention.” If there were themes that emerged from the written responses, however, they clustered around the ideas of (1) supporting racial-ethnic ministry, especially Native American ministry, and (2) seeking a sense of relational, connectional ministry together. Below are representative comments:

      Native American and Hispanic ministry is what makes our Presbytery unique – it is our genetic DNA, and we agree that the pastoral cohorts are a good thing.

      Churches / congregations working together, sharing expertise on training / mission projects / mentoring is key.

      I think COM’s efforts to be in conversation with churches on a regular basis is, though a work in progress, great!

In a time of transition, clear, calm and connected communication is critical to the health of communities, especially faith communities. May we continue this year in a season of such communication first with God (prayer), then with ourselves (personal reflection), and also with one another (fellowship).

Grace and peace,

Brad Munroe

P.S. A big shout-out and THANK YOU to the member from Palo Cristi who wrote: “EFocus is awesome!” J

Reconciliation 101: Finding Christ in Conflict

NOTE OF APOLOGY: Before I begin this week’s missive, I need to apologize. Last week I used the word “schizophrenia” as a vernacular phrase instead of as its clinical meaning. I was politely but firmly reminded by some with loved ones who suffer mental illness that such language can be hurtful and minimizes the very real pain experienced by those who suffer and the families who love them. I want to convey my heartfelt apologies to any who were hurt by my insensitivity. I will be more careful with my words moving forward and encourage us all to use my short-comings as a writer to learn a lesson for our own choices with words (James 3:9-10).

Last week, in discussing conflict and reconciliation, I noted my own, personal resistance to engaging in conflict and my journey toward personal and professional growth in this area. I noted also that many, if not most, of our New Testament letters address issues that were creating conflict within our earliest Christian communities. As I reflect upon the notion of conflict in Christian communities, I marvel at how much more we are like the Apostolic Church than we give ourselves credit for! Without naming anyone in particular, I have visited many congregations within the two presbyteries during the last two years and have addressed issues creating conflict within 25% of the total number of our congregations.

At the Lombard-Mennonite training, one of the subjects we discussed was the difference between issues that can be negotiated to resolution versus issues that can be discussed but typically not negotiated versus issues that cannot be negotiated. Issues that can be negotiated include:

·         Behaviors such as sharing space, respecting boundaries, communicating about problems and following through on promises and responsibilities,

·         Processes regarding how decisions are made, rules followed and schedules observed,

·         Management of financial, accounting controls or maintenance of property.

Issues that can be discussed but typically not negotiated include:

·         Principles, values, personal style, emotions and perceptions (e.g. what “really happenend”).

Issues that cannot be negotiated include:

·               Addictive or abusive behaviors, issues requiring investigation of possible ethical or criminal breach.

Why are these distinctions important? These distinctions provide clarity of purpose. We can find resolution on certain things (e.g. behavioral expectations, processes, etc.) but must set clear, impermeable boundaries on other things (e.g. an ethical breach). We may desire, even passionately long for, resolution on conflicts over principles and perceptions, but such desire is typically not possible; our passionate longing for agreement on all things will remained unrequited. A more realistic goal is the cultivation of a spirituality of respect, the development of an ethos in which all parties learn to speak to truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

How about you? Is your church the shining city set on a hill when it comes to conversing about today’s difficult topics? In a season of political discontent, faithful conversation is needed that reflects the best practices of the Way of Jesus. May each of our congregations be that city set on a hill; others seeing in us the presence of Christ in our midst.

Journeying forward together,

Brad Munroe

Reconciliation 101: Finding Christ in Conflict

The last few weeks have been a bit schizophrenic for me. Oh, I don’t mean that in a clinical way – no DSM IV (or is it V?) diagnosis, at least not yet. Rather, I have lived in the world but not of the world in a radically disjointed way: I have participated in the Lombard-Mennonite’s Conflict Reconciliation training while, like the rest of us, enduring the abyss of this year’s political campaign. Talk about living in two minds!
A bit of background is in order. Grand Canyon Presbytery, through their mission priority grant program, authorized training with the nationally recognized Lombard-Mennonite Peacemaking Center for a team of six. The training was the most intensive week of education any of us have ever experienced. What I learned and am learning is that peacemaking is not only Christian vocation (Matthew 5:9) but lifelong journey. And it is certainly work that must begin within the church.
Our trainer, Dr. Richard Blackburn, a Mennonite pastor, had us participate in an illuminating exercise at the beginning of the week. He asked us to line ourselves up along a continuum, with one wall representing “avoids conflict at all cost” and the opposite wall representing “gleefully seeks conflict.” I stood closer to the “avoids conflict” wall, along with a majority of the participants, where many of us were expressing the opinion that conflict creates anxiety for us. I was intrigued, therefore, to hear a participant standing near the “seeks conflict” wall. His reason for seeking conflict is that allowing unresolved issues to remain between himself and others creates anxiety for him. Amazing! Each of us had our own stories to tell.
Conflict was a commonly told story in the early church. From Jesus’ paradigmatic model for dealing with conflict in Matthew 18:15-22 to the healthy examples in Acts 6:1-7 and Acts 15:1-35, to the unhealthy example in Acts 15:36-41, the need for and possibilities of reconciliation abound. Have you ever wondered what conflicts inspired Paul to write 1 Corinthians 6:1-6 or if Jesus had a particular kind of conflict in mind when he taught the disciples Matthew 5:23-24? Do you recall the names Euodia and Syntyche of Philippi (Philippians 4:2-3)? Conflict and the call to journey toward reconciliation litter the pages of the New Testament.
My personal journey of faith is now calling me to communicate more directly, more forthrightly, to move further away from the “avoids conflict” wall. I am not sure I will ever get anywhere near the “seeks conflict” wall, but I resolve to have the conversations I need to have when I need to have them. I resolve to handle myself, as far as is possible, with integrity and compassion: using my best “active listening” skills, making “I-statements,” and inviting others into a true dialogue which shares a common heart even if we do not share the same idea.

How about you? Is your church the shining city set on a hill when it comes to conversing about today’s difficult topics? In a season of political discontent, faithful conversation is needed that reflects the best practices of the Way of Jesus. May each of our congregations be that city set on a hill; others seeing in us the presence of Christ in our midst.

Journeying forward together,

Brad Munroe

Seeking Congregational Renewal: We got the grant! Yay!!!

It is with great pleasure that I announce that General Assembly approved our Presbytery Transformation Grant. This grant will help fund retreats, educational seminars, online training, personal coaching and demographic studies to be utilized by congregations to catalyze their efforts toward congregational renewal. These activities will be designed to benefit both ruling elders and teaching elders, as our conviction is that shared leadership for ministry is essential to congregational transformation!

            Our presbytery’s transformation grant application focuses on several themes:

1.      Promoting Congregational Evangelism – skill development for individuals, ideas for congregations, sharing the Gospel in Word through faith sharing

2.      Leading through Change – skill development for pastors and Sessions on steps required to lead a congregation in changing contexts, with adaptive rather than technical processes

3.      Cultivating Multi-Cultural Ministry – steps that encourage movement in the direction of becoming more multi-cultural as congregations, and what steps that stifle such movement

4.      Initiating Congregational Renewal – learning to evaluate one’s changing neighborhood, demographics and ministry challenges and concrete steps to take toward discussion, planning, and action

5.      Moving toward Missional Ministry – learning the theology and specific practices that help congregations move toward building community and compassion with and for their neighbors: mission + relational = missional

6.      Ministering to Millennials – learning the new cultural ethos of younger generations and how churches can respond in helpful ways relationally, missionally and, of course, technologically

The plan is to host Leadership Training Events beginning on Fridays at 1:00 the day before our stated presbytery meetings. Each training event will include two, 90 minute workshops in the afternoon, dinner, and one workshop after dinner, with the keynote presenter preaching at the next day’s presbytery worship. When possible, a workshop will be scheduled for Saturday in association with the presbytery meeting. Expenses for both dinner and hotel rooms for those traveling from out of town will be paid by the grant. Registration details will be forthcoming in July, so stay tuned!

Seeking to Row in the Same Direction all for the sake of Jesus and as the Body of Christ,

Minds and Hearts Set on Christ: A Preaching Cohort for Teaching Elders (and Native American CREs)

I am pleased to announce the Presbytery of Grand Canyon’s partnership with the Presbytery of The Inland NW and the Whitworth Institute of Ministry (WIM) in providing an opportunity for teaching elders to participate in a year-long preaching cohort that will include participation in the Whitworth Institute of Ministry in Spokane, Washington July 18-22, 2016, to be followed up with monthly gatherings from August – May for prayer, processing, personal reflection and pastoral support of our common task of proclamation. The preaching cohort is funded primarily from a grant provided by General Assembly and supplemented by PGC.

The preaching cohort invites pastors into a year-long process of:

·         Renewing our spirits - “Rekindling my love for the lover of my soul”

·         Relating in our communities - Pastor cohorts and congregations

·         Refining our craft - “Mind and Heart” preaching and teaching of God’s Word

This summer’s WIM will feature Mike Breen, Dale Bruner and Brenda Salter McNeil and addresses the question of how Christians can be effective witnesses for the Gospel during these incredibly tumultuous times of cultural change. Building upon the Book of Esther – “Maybe you were made for such a time as this!” (Esther 4:14, The Message) – WIM 2016 will address the vital question of what Christian discipleship looks like in the 21^st century. For more information on WIM, visit: www.whitworth.edu/wim.

Here are some key facts to keep in mind if you are a teaching elder in Grand Canyon:

·         Space is limited to eight persons per cohort, with registration on a first-come, first-served basis. This cohort will be facilitated by Brad Munroe. Email Carolyn McBurney to indicate your desire to participate; Carolyn will follow-up with registration details at a later date.

·         There will be a second cohort specifically for Native American teaching elders and open also to Native American commissioned ruling elders; this cohort will be co-facilitated by Martha Sadongei and Brad Munroe.

·         Registration for this preaching cohort is from April 1 – 30, so please indicate your interest sooner rather than later.

·         The General Assembly grant and presbytery supplement will cover the following costs:

o   For the general cohort: WIM Registration, housing, up to $350 for travel to Spokane, and monthly meetings in Phoenix.

o   For the Native American cohort: hotel and food costs associated with Friday – Saturday mini-retreats in August, October, January, March and May, with locations switching between the southern and northern areas.

Grace and peace,

Brad Munroe

The Transformational Journey: Jesus as Transformational Leader

For our final installment on Jesus as a Transformational Leader, I once again want to quote from
Ed Stetzer and Thom Rainer, authors of Transformational Church:

1.      Jesus embraced other cultures. Jesus embodied a cross-cultural gospel focus. He was not afraid or offended by the Samaritans. He went out of his way to talk with them and refused to give up when they rejected him. The heart of Jesus is for people, all people. It is illustrated by the life-changing conversation Jesus had with a woman at a well (John 4). The Holy Spirit birthed the church in a multicultural, multilingual environment.

2.      Jesus gave up his will. Jesus surrendered his will to the Father. A transformational leader is in tune with the heart of God. He is not confused about who belongs to whom. Jesus prayed shortly before his death: “…not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36). We are not able to equal his work. But as transformational leaders, we must resolve to do whatever God requires.

3.      Jesus surrounded himself with [broken, hurting] people. Jesus was attractive to [broken, hurting] people. By offering grace and truth, [Jesus offered healing]. As much as we are sincerely driven to make our churches attractive, the most beautiful element of our churches is people enjoying a transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.

4.      Jesus’ vision was leveraged by prayer. Prayer is continually connected to the mission of God in the life of Jesus. Jesus explained the power needed for the harvest was found in the resource of praying. “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” (Matt. 9:37-38). The source for harvest workers is not in recruitment strategies, but in prayer.

5.      Jesus felt the needs of people. Why did Jesus weep at the death of Lazarus? (John 11:35) Simply because he grieved the loss of his friend. Jesus was a man who deeply loved others. He felt their pain. Jesus felt compassion because the people were “weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt. 9:35-37). Jesus cared for people who were hungry and afraid. He cared for the physically sick, the spiritually oppressed and the economically marginalized.

6.      Rather than ask ourselves WWJD, perhaps a better question is What Would Jesus Be? Before we seek to ignite transformation in our congregations (or presbytery), we might do a bit of self-reflection. As leaders, how would we rate ourselves? At which of these five actions are we most like Jesus and least like Jesus? How can we lean into our strengths? How can we invite and enlist those around us to help us minimize the damage we do because of our weaknesses?

The Transformational Journey: Jesus as Transformational Leader

The past two weeks we have looked at how Jesus led toward the goal of transformation. Ed Stetzer and Thom Rainer, authors of Transformational Church, see Jesus through a similar lens and offer ten observations about his leadership, the first five of which are recounted this week:

1.      Jesus invested in people. Jesus invested in people because he believed in people…Jesus demonstrated incredible confidence in the potential of people to let him use them for a higher purpose.

2.      Jesus saw long and far. Jesus’ leadership was evident in John 17:20 when he said, “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their message.” Jesus was living beyond the moment. With the pressures of local church leadership, it is possible for us to shorten our sight. We must never reduce God’s desire to inconsequential measurements. Transformational church leaders are looking further than ever before. Instead of a two-year church calendar, we need to plan for the next century of impact. Jesus prayed for thousands of years into the future.

3.      Jesus sent people away from him on mission. Luke 9:1-2 and 10:1-2 give the picture of Jesus sending the believers away to do ministry. He sent them to touch the hurting and work for the harvest. The environment around Jesus had disciples constantly coming and going.

4.      Jesus grieved for communities. “As he approached and saw the city, he wept over it…(Luke 19:41-42). Jesus was heart-broken over the rebellious nature of Jerusalem’s inhabitants. Jesus wept over a community and calls us to love ours. “How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, yet you were not willing!” (Matt. 23:37)

5.      Jesus led a balanced life. By the use of the word balance, we mean his perfect investment in multiple environments. Jesus knew the value of time away from the crowds. On several occasions he retreated from crowds to spend time in prayer. The Bible reports, “After dismissing the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan” (Matt. 15:39). He pulled away from the crowds to rest and pray.

Rather than ask ourselves WWJD, perhaps a better question is What Would Jesus Be? Before we seek to ignite transformation in our congregations (or presbytery), we might do a bit of self-reflection. As leaders, how would we rate ourselves? At which of these five actions are we most like Jesus and least like Jesus? How can we lean into our strengths? How can we invite and enlist those around us to help us minimize the damage we do because of our weaknesses?