Yesterday marked the start of my fourth appointment year at Calvary. Which means at the end of this year, I will have been at Calvary as long as I was at my first appointment. Such a milestone certainly invites reflection, both on my time at Calvary as well as the different ministry settings of the two appointments. It also begs the question (which must necessarily go unanswered) of what year 5 (God willing) and beyond holds.
Itineracy is a funny thing. Well, maybe not so much funny. Good or bad, it's what we sign up for as United Methodist pastors. It allows for moves when they are needed--if you're fortunate. It also makes for moves perhaps when you are not ready. Most of all, it guarantees that everyone involved (except the bishops, I suppose) remembers that they are not in charge.
I am loving being at Calvary, and our family feels so blessed to be part of the community here. It has and continues to provide me with many lessons, and I am very cognoscente of the way it is constantly pushing me to grow. The difficulty of trying to write a blog about this, is that many of the things that have and continue to help me grow, and some of both the joys and challenges are ongoing, and not really appropriate fodder for a blog.
Here is some, though, of what I think of when I reflect this year on my three years at Calvary:
-Awesome lay people. We have some really gifted lay people who are so committed to the work at Calvary. Moving forward, we need to find more ways to connect people to opportunities to serve, and we need to make sure all we're doing is being done effectively and efficiently, and with clear visions and goals. I believe that if people see their gifts, time and resources being used well and making a difference, they will give sacrificially. We need to make sure that is happening.
-Pride in our congregation and "stuff." I love that folks at Calvary take such pride in the quality of the programs at Calvary, and in the spaces that make it happen. A building does not a congregation make, but I think the way our building is so cared for evidences the good stewardship that the congregation seeks to have for all areas and resources. We need to communicate the impact of that more effectively--so that people see what a difference that care really makes for programs, like our recent VBS, for example. We also need to take care to apply that same high standard to all we do--holding one another and our leaders and staff to a high standard. In a constructive way that seeks to make more and stronger disciples, we need to be honest about when changes or shifted use of resources are needed to raise the quality of our ministries.
-Authentic relationships. Nothing defines Calvary more than the strength of our relationships. It is why people visit Calvary and never leave (you can only imagine the people who planned to church-shop but never made to another church because of the hospitality and welcome they received). Relationships matter, but we need to be intentional about cultivating these. At a church the size of Calvary, and especially as we continue to grow, these relationships do not happen as casually as we might like. We also need to find ways to cultivate relationships across the naturally-formed groupings. It's natural and appropriate for people to connect with a small group within the congregation as their primary connection. We just need to make sure they are also involved in an every-evolving wider network.
-Dream big. For the past few years, we've been trying to dream together about where Calvary will be in the future. We need to start naming big, specific goals that excite us and call us to do more and do better. Beyond just doing more of the same, or doing what we're doing better, we need to stretch ourselves. If we're not, we're probably not following God's call. The vision we shared this past Sunday for vastly expanding the VBS program--a vision that only requires 10 more adults to happen--is just such a vision.What other dreams has God given us?
-Grow disciples. One of our strengths at Calvary is our adult education programs. I love that we have so many adult Sunday School classes. But we could and should be doing more. We need more people to step up to help lead studies, and we need ideas for creative ways to help adults grow in their faith and understanding.
These are just some of the areas that make me excited about what's happening at Calvary, and which also, I believe draw us into the future. Though the talk for a while in church leadership and business was to look for weaknesses and try to eliminate or moderate them, lately the prevailing wisdom suggests focusing of strengths and building on those. To move into the future with energy, excitement and moving into growth, we need to celebrate our strengths and use them as vehicles for growth and improvement. I think we're beginning to make some fundamental changes to our leadership, structure and operating systems that will allow for that to happen, and I hope you'll share any ideas you have.
Most of all, it's been a blessing to serve at Calvary, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds!
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