This coming Sunday, November 4th, I will be delivering a sermon that I really don’t want to preach. As part of the New Consecration Sunday campaign, the pastor’s sermon needs to be on the topic of stewardship and the need of the giver to give. I am in my 24th year of ministry and in that time I can probably count on one (maybe both) hands the number of times I have deliberately preached on the topic of stewardship. It is just one of those topics that makes me (and many other pastors) uncomfortable.
I hope, however, that the sermon this week will be a turning point for me. I have been doing some thinking and reading recently to prepare myself for this sermon. I believe that a new way of looking at the topic of stewardship is beginning to grow within me. I’ve already told the Administrative Board that they may be hearing more such talk from me in the year ahead. They said, “Go ahead and talk about it.” So pray for me as I prepare for this Sunday and as I begin to look at the year that lies ahead.
”God gives us the boat and the oars, but then tells us, ‘It’s up to you to row.’ Making ‘positive acts of faith’ is like training this faculty; it is developed by training, as the muscles are developed by gymnastics.”
–From Letters from the Desertby Carlo Carretto
This passage got me to thinking about the training that the church provides to persons that are it’s elected leaders. In the past I have thought that training would be good, but also felt that I didn’t want to impose it upon members of the various church boards and committees. My mind has changed on this issue. I cannot assume that just because the Charge Conference elects a person to a leadership position that he or she has any knowledge as to what he or she is supposed to do. Using the quote above, it would be like putting them in the boat (giving them the job) but then not giving them the oars and asking them to steer the church in a certain direction. Sure they could put their hands in the water and try to painfully pull the boat along, but how much easier would their job be if I had given them the oars!
As the new crop of leaders is announced, I will begin providing them with materials that will help them better understand what they have been called to do in their leadership role. For pastors that might be reading this blog, I encourage you to check out www.buildingchurchleaders.com I have used material from this site for years. However, I have never fully utilized the training capabilities of the material found on this site. I will be utilizing this material in the months that lie ahead.
For my church members reading this blog. I want you know that I have new expectations of the leaders of the church. I expect them to show up and take an active role in their ministry area. I further expect them to take the time to learn what they have been called to do and will provide them with material to make this learning possible.
At the Natural Church Development Church Health Team meeting the other night, we talked about how to show appreciation for the service that persons offer to the church on behalf of God’s kingdom. It became clear that we don’t do a good enough job of thanking people for the work that they do. We can’t say thank you enough and often we forget to say thank you at all.
I’d like to take a moment to thank some people for the work that they do for the Kingdom of God.
I’d like to start with Dave Parris. Since my arrival in 2005, Dave has been faithful in carrying out a number of ministries at the church. First of all, he has been the Chairperson of our Administrative Board. In this ministry he has guided the church through several decisions and provided leadership and direction for our church. Due to health reasons, he will be stepping down from this position in January of 2008. He also has been at work behind the scenes. He’s faithful for cooking at the United Methodist Men’s breakfast. He helps get the luncheon meats for Union Mission each month. He also makes trips to Sam’s and Lowe’s with Joe Johnson when things are needed at the church. In case I haven’t said it before, “Thank you for your loyal service.”
Another person that I would like to thank is Patty Douthat. As many of you know, Patty wears many different hats at the church. She is a member of the paid church staff with the position of Church Treasurer. In addition, she also serves as the Chairperson of the Finance Committee and as the Financial Secretary. She also leads the Ewilda Whitenack UMW circle. Over the past two years, she has also headed some major events at the church such as the Christmas Workshop that we have held the first weekend in November. In her spare time, she is also wife to Justin and mother to Conor and Isabelle. In January of 2008, she will no longer act as the Chairperson of the Finance Committee. We have been searching for someone to replace her in this ministry role and we have found an able bodied person to do just that. I’d like to thank Patty for her service to the church.
Another thank you needs to go out to Joe Johnson. Joe is the head of our United Methodist Men and the Chairperson of the Building and Grounds Committee. As the head of the United Methodist Men, he makes sure that the monthly breakfast is prepared and keeps the group moving ahead with projects. As the Chairperson of Buildings and Grounds, he, along with helpers like Dave Parris, Jack Allen, Wally Rangeo and others, keeps the church and parsonage in good repair. He also is willing to help out in lots of different ways around the church. If you need something done, ask him and he’ll ry to get it done. Thanks, Joe for all your hard work at the church.
That’s not all the folks that I need to thank, but it is a beginning. In the weeks ahead, I will add other people to the list of those that need to be thanked. I suggest that you also thank them for their ministry to the church. If you know of someone that you think should be included, then let me know and I’ll arrange to thank them for their work as well.
