Over the years, I learned to listen very closely to the language used by an individual who sought me out for counseling. In particular, I listened for the tense of the verbs the individual used when describing an incident that had caused him or her a great deal of pain. When the individual used past tense verbs, I knew that individual was stuck in the past. For example, if the individual continually said, “I should have done ...,” or “I should have said ...” I knew that individual was locked into what had happen. The pain and the anger of the past was as intense today as it was when the incident occurred. On the other hand, if the individual used future tense verbs, I knew that healing was occurring and that individual was moving beyond the painful incident. For example, if the individual said, “The next time I will do ....” or “The next time I will say...”, I knew the pain and hurt of the past was being or would be replaced by a new and healthy future. The tense of the verbs an individual used was key in understanding where that individual stood in dealing with hurt and pain in the past.
Congregations are large corporate individuals. Each congregations has its own unique personality and temperament. Like individuals, congregational language indicates where that congregation is in its faith journey. Therefore, I listen carefully to the language congregational members use to describe their congregation’s present state of mind and soul. Following is an example of the verb tense used by the disciples at Epiphany to describe our congregation this Thanksgiving season.
On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Joyce worshiped at Epiphany and then enjoyed a piece of pecan pie at Piefest. She has been to Epiphany several times over the last year and has gotten to recognize many faces and learn some names. Epiphany’s members have been very gracious in welcoming my wife. Each time she has come to Epiphany, many have thanked her for letting me share and be a partner in Epiphany’s ministry. The comments of Epiphany’s disciples are a heartfelt expression of gratitude.
On Thanksgiving Day, Joyce and I talked about the worship service, the sermon, Piefest, and the conversations she had with many of our members. In those conversation she said, “There was a difference in last night’s welcoming and appreciation. Every conversation that had a thank you in it talked about the last year with past tense verbs. For example, ‘We were in bad shape’ or ‘We needed help’.” When present tense verbs were used, they always referred to “how good things are at Epiphany.” When future tense verbs were used, they always referred to what we are going to do.
One of my great joys is that Epiphany is not stuck in the past. Oh, I’m sure some hurtful memories will raise their ugly heads now and then but I am also sure that the present and future tense verbs indicate that we are going to grow, we are going to be faithful when we love Jesus by serving others, and that we will follow wherever the Spirit leads indicating the positive spiritual state of Epiphany. This was a good Thanksgiving not only for the worship, Piefest, and the turkey on Thanksgiving Day. It was an especially good Thanksgiving for the gift of future tense verbs used as we describe where Epiphany is on its faith journey as it loves Jesus by serving others.
Pastor Pete
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Just For Fun
Normally, my blogs have been serious. Through them I have shared my thoughts about Epiphany. I explained the theory behind my strategies, pointed out current and future challenges, and described the issues in calling a new senior pastor. My blogs have the purpose to inform and to create conversation between you and me. In contrast, this blog is JUST FOR FUN.
I read in the Cincinnati Enquirer that Cincinnati’s Symphony Orchestra now has a tweeting section for those who want to tweet during an evening’s concert. Tweeters communicate their impressions of the musicians and comment on the conductor’s style. According to the Enquirer, tweeters of all ages are attending the symphony.
After reading the article, I said to Joyce, “Joyce, what would you think if we had a tweeting section at Epiphany during worship?” I thought the Epistle side of the sanctuary (the right side facing the altar) in the far back on the riser could be the tweeting section. The rules are; 1. tweets needed to be mostly positive, 2. tweets are sent to family or friends in the same section so the tweeter can make sure the receivers heard the sermon comment the sender wanted them to hear, 3. tweets are sent to friends not at church but should hear this sermon.
The same set-up would apply to the contemporary service with the same rules. Playing along with this idea, imagine the fun the assisting ministers and praise band members could have sitting through the sermon the second time tweeting warnings that the sermon’s punch line is coming next. We could even set up tweets between the preacher and the congregation to create an interactive sermon. (By the way, some churches already have interactive sermons using tweet technology.)
To continue JUST FOR FUN, I had a conversation with my son just before the stewardship campaign started. We talked about fund raising in the church. I joked that the radio broadcasts of the Bengals have numerous paying sponsors for different parts of the game. For example, there is the Heinz (catsup) red zone when the Bengals are 20 or less yards from their opponent’s goal line. My son and I mused what it would be like to have sponsors for various parts of the worship service. For example, The Confession is brought to you by Kleenex, The Sermon by Verizon (can you hear me now?), The Prayer Of The Church by Fidelity’s green line to keep you on track, and Communion by Panera Bread. I wonder what we would charge each of these sponsors to be mentioned each week? (By the way, many experts believe the church needs to have many income streams if it hopes to survive financially in the 21st century.)
On a serious note, I suspect that the music purists grumble at the idea of a tweeting section and religious traditionalists think I am sacrilegious when talking about sponsors for each part of the worship service. But, I applaud the Cincinnati Symphony for not sitting on its hands saying, “Poor us, no one is coming.” Rather, the Symphony is trying to connect its magnificent music to a world wired through instant communications. And, I think it is a good thing that we can laugh (or at least I can laugh) at ourselves. Laughing at ourselves allows us to think outside the box in order to connect the Gospel to a world filled with technologies, symbols, and images that speak to human need.
Pastor Pete
I read in the Cincinnati Enquirer that Cincinnati’s Symphony Orchestra now has a tweeting section for those who want to tweet during an evening’s concert. Tweeters communicate their impressions of the musicians and comment on the conductor’s style. According to the Enquirer, tweeters of all ages are attending the symphony.
After reading the article, I said to Joyce, “Joyce, what would you think if we had a tweeting section at Epiphany during worship?” I thought the Epistle side of the sanctuary (the right side facing the altar) in the far back on the riser could be the tweeting section. The rules are; 1. tweets needed to be mostly positive, 2. tweets are sent to family or friends in the same section so the tweeter can make sure the receivers heard the sermon comment the sender wanted them to hear, 3. tweets are sent to friends not at church but should hear this sermon.
The same set-up would apply to the contemporary service with the same rules. Playing along with this idea, imagine the fun the assisting ministers and praise band members could have sitting through the sermon the second time tweeting warnings that the sermon’s punch line is coming next. We could even set up tweets between the preacher and the congregation to create an interactive sermon. (By the way, some churches already have interactive sermons using tweet technology.)
To continue JUST FOR FUN, I had a conversation with my son just before the stewardship campaign started. We talked about fund raising in the church. I joked that the radio broadcasts of the Bengals have numerous paying sponsors for different parts of the game. For example, there is the Heinz (catsup) red zone when the Bengals are 20 or less yards from their opponent’s goal line. My son and I mused what it would be like to have sponsors for various parts of the worship service. For example, The Confession is brought to you by Kleenex, The Sermon by Verizon (can you hear me now?), The Prayer Of The Church by Fidelity’s green line to keep you on track, and Communion by Panera Bread. I wonder what we would charge each of these sponsors to be mentioned each week? (By the way, many experts believe the church needs to have many income streams if it hopes to survive financially in the 21st century.)
On a serious note, I suspect that the music purists grumble at the idea of a tweeting section and religious traditionalists think I am sacrilegious when talking about sponsors for each part of the worship service. But, I applaud the Cincinnati Symphony for not sitting on its hands saying, “Poor us, no one is coming.” Rather, the Symphony is trying to connect its magnificent music to a world wired through instant communications. And, I think it is a good thing that we can laugh (or at least I can laugh) at ourselves. Laughing at ourselves allows us to think outside the box in order to connect the Gospel to a world filled with technologies, symbols, and images that speak to human need.
Pastor Pete
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Making Good Better
While I was at my former church, Good Shepherd, I would hold an all day staff meeting once or twice a year. The purpose of the meeting was to plan for the future. I knew from my reading that such meetings too often talk about what went wrong or at least what did not work as well as the staff had hoped. When a staff emphasizes what went wrong, the staff becomes defensive. Emphasizing past failures is not a good way to set a positive agenda for the future.
In contrast to what the literature portrays as normal, I set the agenda for Good Shepherd’s staff planning meeting to emphasize the positive. I asked the staff to name what went well in their ministry area (ministry lane in Epiphany language). For the first 5 to 10 minutes, there was a reluctance to name successful ministries or parts of a program that went particularly well. Then the dam of false humility opened and the flow of ministry names and specific aspects of those ministries gushed out. Each successful ministry was listed on a board or newsprint pad. Normally, we would have at least 50 ministries or programs in front of us.
Once we had our list of what went well, we went back over the list and asked the question of each ministry, What can we do to make this success even better? If it really worked well what new ideas can be added to enhance what is already good? Since we were working from what was done well no one on the staff was defensive when another staff member offered a new idea or enhancement. In fact, the staff built upon each suggestion.
One of the surprises that comes from this planning strategy was that problem areas were usually addressed and corrected by the suggestion to improve what was already good. Someone might say, But what about this or that? When we went back over the enhancements we made, the this and that were resolved.
I write this blog the week before Thanksgiving. As individuals, and as a church, I think it would be fun to list what has gone well for us over the last year. I stress what went well! For me, it was the support of my wife, Joyce, as I entered a new adventure at Epiphany. It was the acceptance I received as the interim senior pastor from congregational members. It was the quickness of the trust granted to me by the staff. It was the enthusiasm of those who attended my Bible study classes. The list goes on and on.
From my list, I am thinking about additional ways to say thank you to Joyce for her support. I am thinking about what I can do to continue the trust relationship that has been built between you and me. My mind wanders during my morning prayers about future teaching opportunities. All of this is so very positive.
So let me ask, What has gone well for you over the past year? Will the things that went well make it on your thank you list as you celebrate Thanksgiving? And, can your list be included in your daily prayers in such a way that you explore with God ways to make the good things in your life even better?
Pastor Pete
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Attributes Of A Senior Pastor
I have been asked by a number of people about the call process and the search for a new senior pastor. I have talked with Scott Watamaniuk (chairperson of the Call Committee) about using my blog as a way to answer those questions. I hope the following helps you understand what has and is happening in the call process.
One way to understand the call process is to recognize that there are basically three types of clergy teams in the church. The first team is baseball. A baseball player primarily plays one position. A baseball player does not have to coordinate his play with the other players on the field; i.e., it does not matter if the third baseman plays on or off the line to the first baseman. A good baseball player functions effectively in a congregation worshiping less than 150 per weekend.
The second team is doubles tennis. A doubles tennis team is made up of two pastors who are about equal in the skills and abilities. They divide the ministry of the congregation according to their personal likes and dislikes. They easily substitute for each other when required to do so. In doubles tennis, each pastor has to coordinate his or her efforts with the other pastor. A doubles tennis team serve congregations worshiping between 200 and 400 per weekend. When attendance reaches 400 per weekend, growth stops in a congregation led by a double tennis team.
The third type of team is football. In a football team, the senior pastor is the coach and every other staff member is a position player. The coach is responsible to coordinate the play of the team so the team can achieve the goals of the congregation. Senior pastors who are football coaches lead congregations worshiping more than 400 per weekend.
Epiphany is searching for a senior pastor who is a football coach! Epiphany’s current worship attendance (between 400-450 per weekend), puts it numerically in the top 4% of ELCA congregations. That means the Synod is looking for senior pastor candidates for Epiphany from about 4% to 5% of ELCA congregations. The Synod may also look for candidates who are excellent doubles tennis players and who are willing and capable of becoming a football coach. The pool of candidates is small.
There is another element to the call process that needs to be recognized; namely, the current economy. Some prospective candidates do not want to move because they believe they cannot sell their house in this market. Others do not want to move because their spouse is afraid that he or she cannot find a job in our area. These two factors grow a small pool of candidates even smaller.
The above realities (a future senior pastor needs to be a football coach, be willing to take the risk that his or house will sell, and that a spouse will find a job) is a “perfect storm” effecting Epiphany’s search for a new senior pastor. Despite these challenges, Pastor Ed Williams, who is responsible for finding candidates for Epiphany, has identified two candidates who are willing to talk with our call committee. One has already visited the congregation. The other is coming in another week. As of today, there is a third possibility.
I write this blog to help you understand what is happening in the call process. Questions? Ask and I will try to answer them.
Pastor Pete
One way to understand the call process is to recognize that there are basically three types of clergy teams in the church. The first team is baseball. A baseball player primarily plays one position. A baseball player does not have to coordinate his play with the other players on the field; i.e., it does not matter if the third baseman plays on or off the line to the first baseman. A good baseball player functions effectively in a congregation worshiping less than 150 per weekend.
The second team is doubles tennis. A doubles tennis team is made up of two pastors who are about equal in the skills and abilities. They divide the ministry of the congregation according to their personal likes and dislikes. They easily substitute for each other when required to do so. In doubles tennis, each pastor has to coordinate his or her efforts with the other pastor. A doubles tennis team serve congregations worshiping between 200 and 400 per weekend. When attendance reaches 400 per weekend, growth stops in a congregation led by a double tennis team.
The third type of team is football. In a football team, the senior pastor is the coach and every other staff member is a position player. The coach is responsible to coordinate the play of the team so the team can achieve the goals of the congregation. Senior pastors who are football coaches lead congregations worshiping more than 400 per weekend.
Epiphany is searching for a senior pastor who is a football coach! Epiphany’s current worship attendance (between 400-450 per weekend), puts it numerically in the top 4% of ELCA congregations. That means the Synod is looking for senior pastor candidates for Epiphany from about 4% to 5% of ELCA congregations. The Synod may also look for candidates who are excellent doubles tennis players and who are willing and capable of becoming a football coach. The pool of candidates is small.
There is another element to the call process that needs to be recognized; namely, the current economy. Some prospective candidates do not want to move because they believe they cannot sell their house in this market. Others do not want to move because their spouse is afraid that he or she cannot find a job in our area. These two factors grow a small pool of candidates even smaller.
The above realities (a future senior pastor needs to be a football coach, be willing to take the risk that his or house will sell, and that a spouse will find a job) is a “perfect storm” effecting Epiphany’s search for a new senior pastor. Despite these challenges, Pastor Ed Williams, who is responsible for finding candidates for Epiphany, has identified two candidates who are willing to talk with our call committee. One has already visited the congregation. The other is coming in another week. As of today, there is a third possibility.
I write this blog to help you understand what is happening in the call process. Questions? Ask and I will try to answer them.
Pastor Pete
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
10,000 Hour Rule
Malcolm Gladwell, in his book Outliers, describes the 10,000 hour rule. This rule maintains that those who are very successful have spent 10,000 hours in learning or practicing their skills. For example, Dr. Gladwell asserts that the soloist at the symphony practiced 10,000 hours, the musicians in the orchestra practiced 8,000 hours, and music teachers practiced 2,000. To this discussion, Dr. Gladwell asserts that Mozart practice 10,000 hours to hone his musical skills.
The 10,000 mile rule applies to every area of life. In the computer world, Bill Gates, Steven Jobs, and Bill Joy all had 10,000 hours of practice (experience) with computers before they became icons in the technological age. The best athletes also practiced for hours before they make it to the “big time.”
Dr. Gladwell concludes that practice is essential to success. If you and I really want to be good at what you do, it takes hours upon hours of practice.
I am still in the glow of Reformation Sunday with its emphasis on Martin Luther’s interpretation of the Bible and the implications of that interpretation for daily living. We are saved by God’s grace. God has set us free from our dysfunctional behaviors (sin) to love and serve each other. God is a “Mighty Fortress” so we have nothing to fear. We are saved by faith and faith alone. Paraphrasing Jeremiah, these truths are written on my heart.
Within the glow of the Reformation, I am fully aware that faith is often a paradox. With all of his emphasis on God’s grace, Luther also knew the 10,000 rule of practice in his life and in his writings. Christians were and are to practice their faith on a daily basis. There is not substitute for this practice according Luther and the teachings of the Lutheran Church. Two examples follow:
Luther taught that Christians should make the sign of the cross when they wake in the morning to remind themselves that they are followers of Jesus. As followers of Jesus, all they say and do throughout the day is to give glory to their Lord. In the evening, Christians make the sign of the cross to remind themselves that they will sleep peacefully with the protection of God. Practice your faith twice a day, Luther taught.
Luther taught that Christians should recite and meditate daily on the 10 Commandments, The Apostle’s Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer. Using a medical metaphor, the 10 Commandments is the diagnosis identifying our sinful nature. The Creed is the treatment God has for our sinful nature; i.e., Jesus who lived, died, and was raised to that we might have eternal life. And, the Lord’s Prayer is the medication that we take daily. The medication reminds us that God is our Father and the giver of all that we need. (As a side note, Luther’s catechisms follow this format. The catechism begins with the 10 Commandments, followed by the Creed, followed by the Lord’s Prayer.)
In conclusion, the temptation exists to deny the 10,000 hour rule of practice. We substitute the fallacy that the Mozarts and Jobs of this world were just born with their skills. We make the same assumption that people with great faith just happened to stumble onto their faith. In contrast, Luther is right in teaching that those with great faith not only believe and rely on God’s grace but they also practice that faith by making the sign of the cross, meditating on the 10 Commandments, the Apostle’ Creed, and the Lord’s prayer. According to Luther, practice is an essential part of building our faith.
Pastor Pete
The 10,000 mile rule applies to every area of life. In the computer world, Bill Gates, Steven Jobs, and Bill Joy all had 10,000 hours of practice (experience) with computers before they became icons in the technological age. The best athletes also practiced for hours before they make it to the “big time.”
Dr. Gladwell concludes that practice is essential to success. If you and I really want to be good at what you do, it takes hours upon hours of practice.
I am still in the glow of Reformation Sunday with its emphasis on Martin Luther’s interpretation of the Bible and the implications of that interpretation for daily living. We are saved by God’s grace. God has set us free from our dysfunctional behaviors (sin) to love and serve each other. God is a “Mighty Fortress” so we have nothing to fear. We are saved by faith and faith alone. Paraphrasing Jeremiah, these truths are written on my heart.
Within the glow of the Reformation, I am fully aware that faith is often a paradox. With all of his emphasis on God’s grace, Luther also knew the 10,000 rule of practice in his life and in his writings. Christians were and are to practice their faith on a daily basis. There is not substitute for this practice according Luther and the teachings of the Lutheran Church. Two examples follow:
Luther taught that Christians should make the sign of the cross when they wake in the morning to remind themselves that they are followers of Jesus. As followers of Jesus, all they say and do throughout the day is to give glory to their Lord. In the evening, Christians make the sign of the cross to remind themselves that they will sleep peacefully with the protection of God. Practice your faith twice a day, Luther taught.
Luther taught that Christians should recite and meditate daily on the 10 Commandments, The Apostle’s Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer. Using a medical metaphor, the 10 Commandments is the diagnosis identifying our sinful nature. The Creed is the treatment God has for our sinful nature; i.e., Jesus who lived, died, and was raised to that we might have eternal life. And, the Lord’s Prayer is the medication that we take daily. The medication reminds us that God is our Father and the giver of all that we need. (As a side note, Luther’s catechisms follow this format. The catechism begins with the 10 Commandments, followed by the Creed, followed by the Lord’s Prayer.)
In conclusion, the temptation exists to deny the 10,000 hour rule of practice. We substitute the fallacy that the Mozarts and Jobs of this world were just born with their skills. We make the same assumption that people with great faith just happened to stumble onto their faith. In contrast, Luther is right in teaching that those with great faith not only believe and rely on God’s grace but they also practice that faith by making the sign of the cross, meditating on the 10 Commandments, the Apostle’ Creed, and the Lord’s prayer. According to Luther, practice is an essential part of building our faith.
Pastor Pete
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