Westward Ho!: General Assembly Heads to Portland

The General Assembly will be in Portland this year; my flight is booked three weeks from today. As I look forward to our “Presbyterian Class Reunion,” (so-called because pastors who attend invariably reconnect with seminary classmates with whom they have not spoken in years, as well as colleagues from previous pastorates), I do so with a combination of hopefulness, anticipation and dread: hopefulness because there are initiatives on the Assembly’s agenda that I think can suggest a new path for our life together that avoids dichotomous, win-lose conversations; anticipation because those who attend the Assembly are shown the many ways the God who is sovereign in love through Jesus Christ is at work to bring joy and justice, salvation and shalom; and dread because most people will only hear about the three or four (maybe one or two) most controversial issues and define the entire Assembly based on this limited view.

As I look forward with hopefulness, anticipation and dread, I would like to share the words of the Rev. Clay Allard from Dallas, who wrote an opinion piece for The Presbyterian Outlook. Clay’s counsel on engaging the Assembly also works for engaging one another in our congregations:

·         Stay connected when it hurts. The easiest thing to do is withdraw when the assumptions of the majority inflict pain on the minority. We can only hold on if we have committed time and attention from one another.       We must stay attentive to one another even when we know that attention will bring pain, discomfort and struggle.

·         Respect, even when it feels like respect is not due or returned. We can only be responsible for our own attitude and self; that said, others can call out of us disrespect and dismissal when they say things with which we adamantly disagree. Division is fed by disrespect; love is killed by it.       Make sure if there is a crucifixion occurring that there isn’t a hammer or nails in your hands.

·         Give up outcomes as a way to understand the path. God does not owe us a mapped route to where God wants us to be. Sometimes God’s call leads us to actions that seem frustratingly slow/counterproductive/useless. Remember that God’s ways are not our ways, and persist in the path you are called to be on – even when it seems to be counterproductive. God loves us – God doesn’t give a serpent instead of a fish, or a rock instead of bread. Trust that.

·         Work for an audience of One. If pastors are (as someone once said) dogs at a whistlers’ convention, we need to know God’s whistle best. It is difficult to make people unhappy, to disappoint them, to be rejected and disrespected. But if Jesus Christ is happy with me at the end of the day, I know I’ve done well, no matter what those around me may think or feel. I’ll have to live more intimately and eternally with Jesus Christ’s opinion of me than I will with anyone else’s – even my own.

When the saints go marching in I plan to march with ‘em,

Brad Munroe

Ignite the Spark!: Preview of Coming Attractions

Last week I introduced the Ignite the Spark congregational transformation events that will be connected to future presbytery meetings and which will be funded by a grant from the General Assembly. Our initial Ignite the Spark! will feature the Rev. Dr. Tom Tewell from Macedonian Ministries in Atlanta on Friday, August 19 beginning at 1:00 and continuing into the combined presbytery meeting on Saturday, August 20. I would like to take this opportunity to preview our fall presenter, the Rev. Dr. Ray Schullte.      

The Rev. Dr. Ray Schullte is the executive director of the Center for Parish Development in Chicago. The Center works with congregations across denominations through online training programs for church members and distance coaching for pastors. At the fall meetings for both Grand Canyon and de Cristo presbyteries, Dr. Schultte will preview and overview the Center’s online offerings that include courses in vision discernment, missional practices, leadership development and generosity.

What excites me about the possibilities of our partnering with the Center for Parish Development is that they will allow our rural congregations to participate in Ignite the Spark! even if church members are unable to attend a Friday workshop. I am aware that our rural churches sometimes feel left out; I was once pastor to a rural church. Therefore, the leadership who helped plan the Ignite the Spark! congregational transformation events was intentional in designing something that can be accessed remotely, which the Center’s offering can both through the online modules as well as the coaching hours for congregational leaders that are available.

 The only down-side to our partnering with the Center is that participation in the online training programs is limited due to cost. We estimated that a percentage of our congregations will choose to partner with the Center and so designed the Ignite the Spark! budget accordingly. Registration will be on a first-come, first-serve basis; however, because this part of the Ignite the Spark! program is designed especially to offer help to our congregations located farther from the metro area, there will be preferential registration for rural congregations. More details will follow in the fall so stay tuned.

One last invitation: in talking with Ray Schultte of the Center, he invites three churches in the presbytery to preview the online courses and get involved even before the Fall. He would like to be able to point to specific churches within our presbytery who are using the online courses and interacting with their coaching staff. If you would like to be a part of this pilot program, please contact me at bradmunroe1963@gmail.com.

Jesus got a hold a me and he ain’t lettin’ go,

Brad Munroe

P.S. Here is a link for the Center: http://missionalchurch.org/online-learning-modules/

Congregational Transformation: Leaning into Renewal

Last week I attended my third (and final) year of the General Assembly sponsored Executive Leadership Formation program. Scary to say, but I am now a trained executive leader, a graduate no less! (Does this mean I am supposed to know what I am doing?)

One of the open space workshops was a conversation about congregational renewal and revitalization. What struck me in this conversation of presbytery leaders, all of whom were pastors of churches before taking their new position, is that there is no silver bullet, no magic formula for congregational renewal. The closest any of us came to having a magic formula was the leader from Illinois who claimed to have a magic wand that could transform a congregation. “Unfortunately,” he added, “I can’t find the right size batteries to make it work!” And so we are left to wonder and to work, to ponder and to pray.

The best ideas that were offered centered around the notions of discovering one’s connection with one’s community; to connect with one’s community in mission service that creates friendships and establishes connection, sharing, service and invitation. Churches seeking to engage renewal and revitalization through community mission found renewed energy in a shared sense of purpose with one another and an utter reliance on God’s help as they engage the twists and turns of interacting not on our own turf and terms but in the midst of the lives of our neighbors.

The best ideas that were offered centered around the notions of discernment and dialogue. A consistent story was that renewing and revitalizing churches were taking the time to engage one another in conversations about core convictions, theological values and how they get expressed in a congregation’s life together and in their mission. As well as spending time together in prayer, especially as leaders, these churches also entered into dialogue with God’s Holy Spirit. Stories were abundant about how the plan that church leadership intended was transformed by people, problems and opportunities God brought into their midst.

The best ideas that were offered centered around the notions of experimentation. It was striking to hear how many pastoral leaders expressed the need to lighten our grip on the idea of mission alignment (i.e. the idea that our mission and vision drive our staffing, our structure and guide us toward our internal ministry and external mission) for the sake of mini-experiments which seek to explore possibilities for God’s call upon a congregation. Several stories were told of congregational energy and vitality being renewed by a church’s giving permission and creating opportunities for members’ ideas and passions to be put into practice.

Do you desire to think together, pray together and discuss together ways your congregation can lean into renewal? Then mark your calendars for our first, “Ignite the Spark” event sponsored by funds received from General Assembly through a presbytery transformation grant (Friday, August 19 beginning at 1:00 and continuing into the next day, Saturday, August 20, at our combined presbytery meeting). Our keynote speaker will by the Rev. Dr. Tom Tewell, former pastor of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston, Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in Houston, and now executive director of Macedonia Ministries in Atlanta (registration details to follow). I look forward to seeing how God will work among us!

Jesus got a hold a me,

Brad Munroe

Board of Pensions 2017 Benefits Plan

At the recent Western/Central Regional Benefits Consultation, the Board of Pensions rolled out the 2017 Benefits Plan and provided important key information on the changes that have been made to benefit the denomination and those served by the Benefits Plan.  2017 represents the 300^th Anniversary of the Board of Pensions serving the membership of the denomination.

What

The Benefits Plan is made up of retirement, medical, death & disability, and optional areas of coverage and care.  Beginning in 2014 and continuing through 2015 there began conversations by concerned members to make changes to primarily the medical coverage portion of the Plan. The changes are scheduled to become effective January 1, 2017.

Why

Concerned members had identified issues with the program in effect currently.  Discussions were held with small & large groups, presbytery volunteers, people not in the plan, Teaching Elders, church administrators and participants in the 2015 Regional Benefits Consultation. The results of the conversations indicated a need for flexibility to meet the many constraints in our employment situations:

·         Menu options move from one-size-fits all

·         Solution helps congregations manage limited resources

·         New plan provides options for CREs and new forms of ministry

·         Transparency in pricing

Menu options open benefits to tens of thousands now without PC (USA) benefits.  The BOP Benefits Plan currently serves 10,300 active members with a potential to increase service to 130,000 members.

Who

There are three broad categories of members:

·         Installed pastors

·         Other teaching elders

·         Other employees

with the following general eligibility

·         Pastors (Called and Installed Teaching Elders)

o   No minimum hours requirement

·         Other Teaching Elders

o   Pastor’s Participation: 20 + hours per week

o   Specialized Ministries (self-employed)

·         All other employees

o   20 + hours per week

When

With the new Plan, major changes for the employer and employee are offered.

·         Employer choice and responsibility:

o   What may be offered: stand-alone options

o   Who may be covered: broad eligibility parameters

o   How much will it cost: pastor’s participation vs menu options

·         Employee choice:

o   Enroll or not

o   Needs –based coverage

Employer decision making process occurs from July 11, 2016 to September 30, 2016

Employee Annual Enrolment from October 17, 2016 to November 11, 2016.

Pricing

·         Pastor’s Participation

o   Uniform % of effective salary

o   Non-contributory

o   Restores call neutrality

o   Expresses minimums and maximums as fixed dollar amounts

o   Eliminates part-time income pro-rating

o   Extends as option for other teaching elders

§  Annual election by employer

·         Menu Options

o   Actual cost of service

o   Coverage level pricing

o   Employer specific

o   Regional adjustment of cost

o   Flexible contribution policy

·         Transitional Pricing

o   Designed for employers with employees transitioning from income based dues to coverage level pricing

o   Provides for three year glide path

o   Applies to specific coverage levels

§  Member + Spouse

§  Member + Family

o   Does not apply Teaching Elders in Menu Options

Summary

We have provided a summary of the basics of the new plan with major components of the options now available to both employers and employees.  There will be a lot to absorb, as we move through the process of making selections.  More information will be provided by the BOP in brochures which should be available shortly.  Hopefully options and flexibility will meet the needs of both existing and new members included in the coverage.  We are planning on Clayton Cobb attending the August “Big Event” to answer questions and provide additional information.  If you have questions you may contact Clayton at 800-773-7752, ext. 7048.  As always is the case, you may contact your Presbytery office for assistance.

Also know that with the celebration of the 300^th Anniversary of the BOP that the Pension Plan is in great shape with Funded Status at 124 % full commitments.

Your Stated Clerk

Bob Schulz

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