The assets that are our pastors

VP Ron Morgan and I have at long last sat down with each of our pastors to review the year past and current. As those who know him can imagine, Ron did a wonderful job of creating a space where real sharing could occur. I learned a great deal from this process.

Our pastors are truly longing for feedback of all types. We will be developing a survey with the goal of getting broader based feedback than is typical. However, like our meeting, surveys are events, and our pastors deserve and need an ongoing process that allows them continuous growth.

As a Council we need to figure out how to address this need, however, it will take a commitment of the congregation to ongoing feedback. As discussed in a recent blog, there are many reasons people might find it difficult to provide pastors feedback. However, none of them are ultimately legitimate, or at least helpful.

As a congregation and as a Council we need to treat our pastors as the incredible assets they are. I believe that the Church is the people, and the work of the congregation, the collective ministry of God’s people. In the Lutheran tradition pastors are called to ministries of Word and Sacrament. Everything else we, the priesthood of believers, are all called to; every aspect of ministry and administration of the Church.

We may, for a variety of reasons, ask or let our pastors take on responsibilities we can, and possibly should do. However, we must recognize that the congregation, its vitality, its faithfulness, its growth, its steadfastness, its ministries, its outreach, its education, its physical plant, its financial health, its hospitality, its resilience, all are our individual and corporate responsibilities as members.

We at First Trinity ask and permit our pastors to take on what is truthfully more than their fair share of responsibilities. Yes, we are paying them, but just like you can pay someone to care for your home or your children, they remain your responsibility.

I am concerned that we have not been good partners with our pastors. We know how fortunate we are to have them, we appreciate their work ethic, their talents, their availability, the many ways they minister to us. However, it is clear to me that we can and should do more to support them, to more equitably share the responsibilities that our in fact our own. All they are asking for is feedback, but I think we can do better.

Whatever solutions we raise have to be based on the experience and needs of both our pastors and the congregation. This requires dialog and commitment to mutual problem solving. I am going to raise this issue with our church Council next Sunday morning. If anyone wants to join in this discussion they can meet with us in the library at 7:45 a.m., talk to Council members and officers, talk to the pastors, or even respond to this blog.

This issue is tightly interwoven with each of the year’s priorities:

• It is all about stewardship. How can we be better stewards of the asset that is our pastors? What would change if we were each better stewards of all our God-given gifts, including our time and energy?


• It is also all about governance. How can we redesign our governance structure to allow First Trinity to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible and to provide a reliable vetting process so we can confidently identify how all of our activities and programs fit in our overall strategy for achieving our vision, living out our mission, and be true to our values.


• And, most certainly, it is all about redevelopment. We have a lot of work to do as a congregation before we can make wise and informed decisions regarding what to do about the asset that is our location and our land. Unfortunately most of the work has been born by Pastor Tom. The Redevelopment Committee and the Council need to step up to the plate and make the best possible use of Pastor Tom’s experience, knowledge and talents and do the rest ourselves.
  

These are the questions and issues that we will be exploring together in the coming months. I look forward to your input and trust that together First Trinity will make decisions that recognize and make prudent use of the God-given assets we have in Pastors Tom and Wendy.

Prayer request

Sometimes when we watch the news tragedy seems so far away. I have been extremely busy this week, never getting home in time for the evening news, just catching NPR in the morning, which has been focused on the economy and world affairs during my brief window of availability.

I received the following in this morning's email, from a dear friend still working at Concordia College, my alma mater, and where I was a dean for 13 years. She lives in Moorhead, MN, just two blocks north of the college, and about seven blocks from the Red River, across the road from Fargo, ND.

My friend Peggy lost her house to the flood today. I'm sitting here listening to the news. It's not good. I'm not even sure what to say, except I'm scared and I'm feeling compelled to write our family and friends. Somehow, it makes me feel better to connect with you all. We've had rain, ice snow. Today it snowed 7 inches and it's still snowing.

Today, they evacuated people from Oxbow (just south of Fargo. Airboats are the only way in and out now since the ice, snow and and water are everywhere. Tomorrow, they are evacuating Eventide Nursing Home and it's assisted living facilities (just 7 blocks from us). The town of Georgetown(just north of Moorhead) is being evacuated since they are building a circle dike around the town. They haven't issued an evacuation notice to us yet but Chip is emptying the basement as I write this.

We are grateful for all the help that is coming to town and all the positive thoughts that you have shared. The energy that people are bringing to the effort helps us feel hopeful that we're going to beat this. The mayor says he is "skeptically optimistic". Not sure what that means. The volunteer effort does inspire hope in humanity. Watch the news and keep us in your thoughts. I'm not sure if I'll get to update you all again. I just felt the need to take a moment out to write but now it's back to the shuttle vans and sandbags. Thanks.

All of a sudden I remember the horror of the 1997 floods, yet they say this is worst. I can only imagine what my friends, my former colleagues, my former community, both those I know and those I do not, are going through. It is not just Fargo-Moorhead, it is the entire region. I feel so far away, so unable to respond.

Yet, there is something I can do, and I will. I will ask for the prayers of this First Trinity-St. Matthew's community, for the communities that are so struggling. Let us sustain those that labor and those that are weary and those that are cold and those that are broken hearted with the most powerful gift we can give, our prayers.

Wise Women Retreat

The Wise Women of First Trinity and St. Matthews - and friends - had a wonderful retreat this weekend at the Seton Retreat and Conference Center in Emmitsburg, MD, at the foot of Catoctin Mountain. All but three of the 19 women were able to come Friday, and we left after worship Saturday afternoon, with most of us stopping for dinner on the way home.

Many contributed to the planning and execution of the retreat, which focused on the theme of dwelling with God. Using dwelling as a framework we discussed and experienced opening ourselves to God's presence through scripture, nature, psalm songs, others, service and sacrament. There was plenty of laughter, rich sharing, and a few tears. Most of the group was able to delay their return for a final gathering at The Cozy Restaurant in Thurmont, which Fran Knoll had scouted out for us, even though she was gone for the retreat.

The weather was perfect, the women open and caring, and the scheduled allowed both structured and unstructured time to enjoy each other's company and get to know people better, as well as time for self reflection. This was the third annual Wise Women Retreat, and our experience and participation, though always varied, was rich.

I appreciated many things about this retreat, including:

• how well the women mixed and clicked - it was great to see the women of St. Matthews and have non-member and new friends join and so comfortably mix in;
• the number of women that contributed to the program;
• the openness of our sharing;
• the opportunity to get to know new people and more about people I knew;
• the newness and loveliness of the setting, which included a labyrinth;
• the discussion of moving forward with plans to build a peace garden to promote peace and reconciliation;
• the influence of women, not only each other, but the Daughters of Charity, the story of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, and the collection beautiful Madonna’s from all over the world;
• the time to relax and be still; and
• Pastor Wendy, for her organizational, leadership, and great facilitation skills.

We already have plans for the next retreat, scheduled for Saturday, March 6, 2010 at Hallowood Retreat Center, Comus, MD. This will be quite a bit closer, and hopefully will allow even greater participation. Women, mark your calendars!

Feedback for our Pastors

It is already March and for a variety of reasons we have not met with our pastors to review the year past and future. We are re-scheduled to do so later this month, but in doing so, both pastors made it clear that they look forward to hearing feedback on "how they are doing." Having them say that reminded me that congregations are not very good at supporting pastors by providing feedback, either positive or negative.

It is easier to give positive feedback than negative, but I wonder how many actually do so. I fear many of us too often take our pastors for granted. They are both really talented and committed people, and so we may just assume that by coming on Sunday and giving of time, money and talents, the pastors know that we are happy with their work. I hear all the time how well loved and well respected our pastors are, but I wonder how often they hear it? When was the last time you told one of the pastors directly something you thought they did especially well, or that you appreciated something they did?

For most of us it is difficult to provide negative feedback in any setting, let alone to pastors. While some people are willing to speak about their hot button issues, others have trouble with the idea of raising any negative issues with their pastors. To some, raised with the tradition of 'Herr Pastor,' giving feedback would be unheard of or incredibly pretentious. While pastors are called to serve congregations, many assume that members of the congregation are not in a position to question anything they do. However, it must be frustrating for pastors to hear of problems indirectly. I know that ours welcome feedback of all kinds. I have no desire to be the go between, so I am glad that people have not seen that as part of the job description of president of the congregation.

I have never been in a congregation with Elders before, so I am just learning their role. According to our First Trinity constitution, Elders shall serve as an adviser, counselor and sounding board to the Pastors. I hope that having Elders does not suggest that it is not the responsibility of all of us to advise our pastors on the ways that they minister most effectively to us, or on the ways they could strengthen their ministry. We are truly all responsible for First Trinity. While Pastors Tom and Wendy are called to ministries of Word and Sacrament, their other responsibilities are all shared. The success of their ministries impacts, though does not define, the success of First Trinity – however we might measure success. We owe it to our pastors, to ourselves and to each other to support our pastors with prayer, willingness to assume mutual responsibilities and to provide them the feedback they seek.

Ourstory

Sunday was a very special day for First Trinity and St. Matthews. We celebrated Black History month in several ways that honored and expanded 'ourstory.'

We were welcomed to the day with breakfast, graciously provided by Edna Hicks and Mazie Wilson, members of St. Matthew’s. It was hard to get started as members of both St. Matthew’s and First Trinity seemed to enjoy the extended opportunity for fellowship.

Dr. Cain Hope Felder, professor of New Testament Language and Literature at the Howard University School of Divinity, led a inspiring Bible study focusing on how our Christian story is one of inclusion, but has for too long excluded people of color and women. He shared his experiences in both being brought in from the margins, and bringing people in from the margins. He talked about the power of story and the importance of telling one's own story and seeing oneself inside the Salvation Story. His story was both his personal story and our mutual story.

Dr. Felder continued the theme he started in Bible study in his sermonic address during worship. He focused on Acts 8:26-39, the story of the conversion of the black Ethiopian Minister of Finance, the first conversion of someone who was not clearly Jewish.

Following worship we moved back to the Fellowship Hall for a lunch catered by New Course Catering, a division of the restaurant which is one of our partner ministries. There accomplished members and friends told their personal stories of African American history and witness with great dignity and sometimes humor, helping us better understand 'ourstory.' Margaret Rozelle, Melinda Dix Hunt and Pastor Tom acted in the one act play "Our Own Sit In" that Margaret wrote about one of her formative experiences, bringing the Civil Rights Movement to her small hometown. Ambassador Richard Fox shared his most impressive resume and stories from his life in the Foreign Service. Phyllis Faunteroy talked about her family and career as a teacher and librarian, and shared pictures she had painted. Dr. Roy West spoke powerfully of the racism he had experienced throughout his distinguished life.

Pastor Huber had also made arrangements for Cecilia “Cissy” Marshall to be with us. Ms. Marshall is widow of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (St. Matthew’s is naming the community center which they are building as part of their redevelopment in honor of Thurgood and Cecilia Marshall.) Unfortunately Ms. Marshall was in an accident and unable to attend. The good thing is that we now have the opportunity to follow-up with what we started Sunday with another program featuring Ms. Marshall.

If you attended Sunday's events they will remain with you, if you missed them you should listen to the podcast from the First Trinity website and seek out Margaret, Phyllis, Dick and Roy and learn about their many accomplishments and experiences as African Americans.

At 7 p.m. Wednesdays during Lent Pastor Huber will continue the discussion started by Dr. Felder. He will lead Bible studies that will help us explore stories from the margins of our faith tradition and how they can grow our understanding of Christ and 'ourstory.’ I am saddened because I will only be in town one of the Wednesdays, as I know I would get a great deal from participating each week.