Where have all the priests gone, long time passing…?

At a convocation meeting this week a senior priest in our diocese cautioned us that we need to begin taking the job of raising new clergy from our congregations seriously, if we are to continue being the Church as we know it in the post-baby-boomer era.

It was a sobering moment as the priest invited us to consider the number of clergy positions that will be open in the next few years as retirements escalate and pulpits and altars become vacant.

This is one piece of a very complex puzzle.

A transition-ministry colleague in the Midwest wrote on Facebook this week:

The priest shortage continues. With 17 diocese (Province 5-6-7) presenting we have:

40 full time positions

18 clergy presented as available

My colleagues also noted countless part time positions in their diocese that are open.

Lord have mercy. Friends we need to find different ways of being the Church.

I am delighted with the openness and transparency with which we are able, now, to address the Changing Church.  And, like my colleague in the Midwest, I believe that the time has come for us to try out some different models for being Church, here in Central Pennsylvania.

Like what?

Old Models:  merging, yoking, circuit riding, clusters, formation of locally raised priests

New Models:  churches without bricks and mortar, ecumenical “merging,” inviting shared space with secular partners, hub ministry, regional missional presence, lay pastorates, cross-diocesan partnerships, and more.

This step into trying on new models requires a willingness to risk, experiment, and to be vulnerable.

It also assumes that we are all on the same page about what it means to “be church.”

Hence, Important Discussion Number One:  What do We Think We’re Doing Here?

Until we can agree on a definition of What Church is All About, then we’re going to be at cross purposes in designing experiments and new models for being Church.

Here’s what I think Church is all about.  I’d invite you to think, on your own about this and, if you have other ideas, to add them in the comments section below of on my Facebook Page.

Church is…

·      A gathering of people to worship God in the beauty of holiness.

·      A gathering of people to celebrate and be strengthened by the sacraments.

·      A gathering of people to hear and respond to the Word of God in Community.

·      A gathering of people who share common values and ethics based on Jesus’ Way.

Church is…

·      A place where all are welcome, diversity is valued and love of neighbor is practiced without restraint.

·      A place that is used as a resource for serving God’s mission by hosting groups, educational and formational activities focused on nurturing the human body and soul in ways that promote healing and/or growth in faith

·      A place that is not conflict-free, but a place in which the truth is spoken in love and difficulties are reconciled.

·      A place where one can find community.

·      A place from which we are sent to serve God’s mission in the world caring for the least of these and striving, as participants in God’s mission, for justice, peace and love.

What do you think?

Please join this forum and add your own ideas.

In future weeks, I hope to address other parts of the “puzzle” here in this blog.  They include (but are not limited to)

·      What is Church? (beginning in this entry)

·      Lay and Clergy leadership (including Raising and Forming leaders) and the Quarter-time Priest phenomena

·      Regional Presence vs. A Parish in Every Town (Convocational identity and collaboration)

·      Ecumenism

·      Diocesan structures and service

What else?

meetings. more meetings.

Years ago, when I was in the first year of my curacy, an old and very wise canon of the Church pulled me aside at a dinner party to give me some words of reassurance.  He told me: "Audrey, don't worry, I hear that in heaven, there are no meetings."

Meetings- oh meetings-  they are an important part of our corporate life together.  They are necessary if we are to proceed in a manner that respects the ideas and participation of each person and values the democratic process.

So why do we groan at the thought of another meeting?

Because meetings do not always make the best use of the participants time and can be, except for the person presenting, a passive activity that ends up discouraging or de-incentivizing people rather than motivating and exciting its participants.

I go to a lot of meetings every week.  One study that I read suggests that the average executive spends at least half of her or his work time in meetings.  I'd agree, that in my case that is true.  If you add in the one-on-one meetings that I participate in every week, that percentage might climb to 75 or 80%.

So what's the point?  Why do we meet?

There are different types or purposes of meetings:

• to share information.
• to create something
• to build relationship
• to review or evaluate something
• to problem solve
• to gather opinions 
• to develop a work plan
• for mutual support...

This is not an exhaustive list (what can you add?) and some meetings may include one or more of these purposes.  In fact, if you reflect on the meetings that you've been to in the past week, which of these purposes would you select for them? One or more?

The spring time in our calendar seems to a key meeting time in the year.  In our diocese we have convocation meetings that gather our parishes together in their seven regional groups.
In recent past, the convocational meetings of our diocese have had their agendas created and directed by diocesan leadership.  It was the "Bishop's meeting."  This year I have invited the Convenors and Assistant Convenors of each convocation  to take responsibility for planning their own meeting and to give me just a few minutes to offer an update from my office.  It's been fun to see the different shapes and styles of the meetings that are taking place!    I've been to three of the six meetings so far. (Through we have seven convocations,  by tradition, the Northern Tier and West Branch combine their meetings in the fall and spring. I'm not sure why, and will be asking about that when their meeting takes place at the end of the month.)

So far, the meeting styles have included

• sharing information
• creating something (or exploring the possibilities thereof)
• gathering of opinions
• mutual support

I've learned a lot about the various programs of different churches and regional groups and have great pride in how our Episcopal Church is participating in God's mission across our diocese.

One of our convocations spent more than an hour working with a guest presenter, The Rev. Jim Sasser-Strader, learning about adaptive leadership and exploring its identity as a convocation and working to discover a shared purpose.  That group, the Harrisburg Convocation, had some good conversation at its meeting about how it might work together on a project supporting youth in the convocation, particularly focusing on the risks of drug use and addiction that is reaching epidemic proportions in our area.    The Lancaster Convocation gave each parish a moment to outline its recent activities and they also talked about a shared mission project, ALERT (All Lancaster Emergency Response Team), and their collaborative RIM  (Resurrection In Ministry) ministries.  And just last night at the Southern Convocation meeting we heard from three clergy persons about some of their work in diocesan leadership roles, learning about the work of the Commission on Ministry, the Emergency Response Team and the Social Justice Committee.

Because we are Christians, we pray at our meetings.
Because we are church folk, we eat at our meetings.

These are not add-ons, but important parts of what we do, as we ground the meetings in prayer, seeking and inviting the presence of the Holy Spirit in our gathering; and break bread, enjoying fellowship and community around the table.

Meetings.  Lots of meetings.

Here's a  link to an old sketch starring John Cleese of Monty Python fame.  It is called, "Meetings, Bloody Meetings"
https://youyu.be/ZWYnVt-umSA

See you at our next meeting.

Conference Follow up

As promised, here is a follow up to our participation in the Bishops United Against Gun Violence Conference in Chicago, last week. (April 20-22).

I have asked for the two diocesan members who accompanied me, Ms. Shayna Watson of St. James’, Lancaster, and The Rev. Rebecca Myers of Nativity, Newport and St. Stephen’s, Thompsontown, to offer their reflections on the conference as guest-bloggers.

At the end, please find a link to the Episcopal News Service article regarding the event.

Thanks to both Shayna and Rebecca for their companionship on the trip; their witness and work on the issues of gun violence, racism and poverty; and their willingness to contribute to this blog.

Back to our usual format next week!

 From Shayna:

I am tired of talking about racism. I am tired. I am tired of being reminded of blackness through derogatory means. I am tired. I am tired of white fragility and making people feel ok about their complacency and participation in systemic racism. I am tired. I am tired of hearing about gun violence and war. I am tired. I am tired of seeing people without homes and families struggling as a result of socioeconomic poverty. I am tired. 

I believe that we are all tired, exhausted from vicarious trauma of what we watch on the news, read in the newspaper, and experience directly. Though wary we grow, this work is critical and necessary to the life of the Church and its people.

Racism. Poverty. Gun Violence. Each are topics in and of themselves to be discussed and processed. Each topic holds their own challenges in how they manifest in psychologically, physically, socially, and of course spiritually. How does the community of faith recognize the intersectionality the three, of the Unholy Trinity? 

The Unholy Trinity Conference offered space, tools and inspiration for communities of faith to take the lead on and responsibility of the soul of our communities. Together, we explored the intersectionality of the Unholy Trinity and how we each have played a part, perpetuated, and or suffered at the hands of the toxicity that the unholy trinity renders. In order to understand how the three are connected, we have to investigate the history of our country. We have to investigate power dynamics. Most importantly, we have to investigate ourselves-how do we view these ideas, behaviors and address our families, communities and the Church.

We used liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer, Hymns, prayers from our bishops, and biblical texts as tools to visit these topics and to address the gaping wounds left as a result of them. Two of the texts were 2 Samuel 21:1-14 and 2 Kings 6:24-33-texts that lifted up the most ugliest sides of humanity, and yet the narratives were paralleled to our current events. After the conference we were challenged-commissioned to envision a better community, a better world. A world where faith leaders are well-informed about gun violence, racism and poverty in order to administer trauma-informed spiritual/pastoral care to our families, to our congregations, to our communities.

Let us support one another as we have been called to do. Let us do this work in love for the sake of justice. Galatians 6:9, “So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.”

Shayna J. Watson

From the Rev. Rebecca Myers

Comments on Unholy Trinity Conference  

Nature of the change in understanding racism and poverty:

Just before attending I finished Kelly Brown Douglas' book, Stand Your Ground, so that coupled with her presentation is reinforcing how I look at space where people gather -- what kind of space is this, I ask? Is it white space only? This helps me look at a space and see what other dynamics are occurring. As the conference went on, I could name how it was predominantly White space in the way it was organized and structured...not entirely, but in some key ways like dialogue ways - timing participants' answers and the way questions were asked in one respect. Where we marched and how that all occurred.

I'm sitting with and exploring the answer to Kelly Brown Douglas' question, "Why don't White people get it?"

I participated in/witnessed conversations and dialogue that was racist and sexist during the conference. That is always a learning experience, as a person perceived as White. Since I live and work in an all-White context, I'm always exploring how to undo racism. Those racist/sexist conversations and reactions are helpful in that regard, as they are also troubling in how we respond and how the conference is structured.

I've always believed that reducing gun violence is about something bigger than guns and Damon from the Black Lives Matter workshop gave me something to think about. He said not to even talk to him about legislative efforts as long as the US is arming local police departments and selling armaments around the world to other countries....

What do I wish had happened that did not?

A list of definitions or even definitions that could be presented by the speakers. Because there was no definition around the word, "racism" for instance, there wasn't a good way to address racism when it occurred in the conference and likewise with other words.

Also, some preferred ways of dialogue. For instance, when a bishop took issue with two statements of Kelly Brown Douglas, he didn't in my opinion show respect for her thinking. He just disagreed and felt entitled to his opinion rather than just saying he was having a hard time understanding her meaning or needed to hear more from her about his discomfort with what she said. Then, after disagreeing with her, he failed to address his question to her,instead asking the other two people on the panel to respond. The moderator did not pick up on this, which I experienced as racist and sexist. However, Kelly Brown Douglas did respond anyway.

At the conversation I had at lunch there was criticism about how things were presented by People of Color and no willingness in fact being adamant  to ask the people on the panel to explain more or recommend some reading or videos to help with understanding the presentation. The presenter's words were deemed wrong and rude.... Others at the table (all White) tried to bridge the discussion, but eventually, we all just moved on to something else where there was more agreement.

So, I guess more awareness about dynamics between the dominant/oppressor group and people who experience oppression is needed, because an all together mixed group creates some dynamics that reinforce that the space is White and will be enforced as such.

Advice for Future Planners

I was always taught to work in an anti-racist way led by People of Color working on their own internalized oppression.... I would use that statement to guide the planning for future conferences. How can the space be for all people? Who is excluded by the parameters of the conference - location, cost, design? Model a racism free planning process and conference design and event.

Rebecca Myers

And, here’s the link to the ENS article:
http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2017/04/25/unholy-trinity-serves-as-call-to-action-on-poverty-racism-gun-violence/

racism, gun violence and poverty

Dear friends,

I am here in Chicago attending the Bishops United Against Gun Violence Conference that is titled: "The Unholy Trinity:  Racism, Gun Violence and Poverty," and we are gathered to pray, study scriptures, learn, witness and strengthen each other as we explore the intersection of these three ideas and how they keep us far from realizing God's dream of wholeness for us and for our world.

We are resurrection people and this is good and holy work, made all the richer in the bright light of Easter as we are filled with the hope of the empty tomb.

Today we gathered in prayer, joined in small groups to study and connect with a passage from 2 Kings which contained both  horrific violence and God's promise of a new day, enjoyed the fellowship of a good meal together and then heard, briefly, from a young man, Diamonte, whose life was changed 3 years ago when he was shot 5 times while playing on a Chicago playground. He has turned to speaking to groups about his experience as part of his healing process.  He will graduate from High School in June.  The facilitator for our scripture studies while we are here is Dora Mbuwaysango who is an Old Testament Scholar and professor at Hood College in MD.

Tomorrow we'll have our "three-note" speakers on Racism, Gun Violence and Poverty, (The Rev. Canon Kelly Brown Douglas, Julian DeShazier and Natalie Moore), a facilitated response moderated by The Rev. Gay Jennings, we will make a public witness in the streets and wrap it all in prayer and more scripture study.

More as the conference unfolds... or when I get home.

Grateful to be here with The Rev. Rebecca Myers of Newport, PA and Ms. Shayna Watson of Lancaster, PA.

Good Friday

taking the day for prayer, fasting and meditation.

small world

When things begin to seem unmanageable in the big world-

When structures built to protect our weakest begin to crumble-

                        affordable healthcare

                        immigration agencies

                        regulations protecting our natural resources

                       

When nuclear bomb testing in North Korea becomes a monthly event,

When women by the million need don knitted caps in intimate pink

                        to claim their voice,

When another suicide bombing barely captures the attention

 of our press because the numbers  of life lost were not

 by the dozen,

And when civil war turns to chemical warfare killing women, children and
           men overcome by evil gases…

When all of this happens,

I post pictures of smoothies

                           and pasta,

                           and chickpeas swimming in curried broth.

I pray.

I meditate.

I beg God’s mercy and compassion on those who are victims.

And then I capture just the right angle on tonight’s vegan dinner-

 a Lenten fast without chicken, steak, bacon or trout,

 no yogurt, cheese or butter.

The very idea that loading up on rice and beans instead of 
               meat will change me, somehow.

Nearing the end of these forty days, I am disappointed-

                seeing, now, that my kitchen is a very small world

      and that God calls me to step away from the stove

      and into the place that is (in the words of Thomas Hardy) 

madding.  Just madding.

The call to discipleship-

            sharing the love of Jesus and the Good News of resurrection

  demands change, risk, and traveling to places that are

 out of our comfort zone.

But discipleship also guarantees community.

We are not asked to go it alone.

And even disciples need to eat.

Gathering at table, Jesus told them:

 “Take, eat, this is my body.”

 “Drink this, all of you. “

Jesus didn’t eat alone. Or snap photos for his Facebook friends of tonight’s supper.

He ate. He drank. He talked. He taught. He listened. In community. 
           With the Holy Spirit swirling all around, like a nervous busboy 
                     keeping up with the pace of the meal.

May we be drawn out of our small worlds

into this big one-

            to care for each other,

  to be One in Him,

  and to know that resurrection hope is the main dish,

with enough in the bowl to feed the world.