A Letter to the Bishop in the Wake of Tragedy

January 10, 2008

Dear Bishop Whitfield,

I am writing to inform you of recent events and brag on our connectional ministry.

In the early morning of Sunday, December 23 our former youth director Michael Beckworth shot and killed his wife’s boyfriend, then turned the gun on himself, killing himself as well. This news was a severe blow to many in our church who knew, loved, and were blessed by Michael. They were reeling, cast into a swelter of emotions—sad, angry, despaired, exhausted, confused, frustrated—and needed care. The media quickly sprang on the tragedy, conveying Michael as current youth pastor of Westover Fellowship because our website had not been updated. Then the Associated Press wrongly promulgated his earlier termination as a ‘firing.’ It was quickly piling up to be a huge mess!

In the immediate wake of this tragedy, Doris Stevens called to ask permission to arrange for a professional counselor to visit with our youth and church. Dr. Shara Atkinson of Lubbock facilitated one session with a large number of our youth on Wednesday then another open session for the church as a whole on Sunday. As a result of Doris Stevens’ welcomed intervention, we offered our people opportunities to heal and learn from this tragedy through forums for mutual expression, critical paradigms for better understanding, and practical handles for more healthy living. Though these were not meant to provide the totality of healing we may all need, they ensured our taking first steps toward healing in positive, constructive directions.

In addition, upon hearing Westover’s link to Michael published by the Associated Press, Eddie Allsup offered the services of Shane Skeens of IndigoSpin in Lubbock. By the time our Christmas Eve service began at 6 pm—the same day the story ran over the AP—Shane constructed an official statement for press release and amended our cantankerous website to convey apologies and explanation of our errors. He also coached me on speaking to the press and preparing our leaders should occasion arise. Because of Eddie Allsup’s initiative, we avoided a major public spectacle.

There are others who took an active role, including Rosemary Prumer and Todd Dyess.

Though I had ministered in the midst of tragic circumstances previously, this sort of heinous event was unique and the ramifications in our congregation and community much larger than I was prepared to handle on my own (and this amidst Christmas church events and a looming out-of-country family vacation). In the end, our congregation and its pastor were protected and cared for as a result of the immediate response of our conference leaders and the resources available by virtue of our connectional ministry. It is a proud moment for us as a conference and one that can never be overstated.

Many Blessings in Christ,
Rev. Jonathan Sims

Costly Grace

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor who was imprisoned for speaking out against Hitler’s Third Reich, discussed the meaning of a disciplined Christian life. He wrote about the difference between “cheap grace” and “costly grace.” Cheap grace merely accepts the gifts of God without any real depth of commitment:

“Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our Church. Cheap grace means grace sold at the market. Cheap grace means grace as a doctrine, a principle, a system. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipline, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”

Contrasted with this cheap grace is what Bonhoeffer called costly grace:

“Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs us our life, and it is grace because it gives the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son, and what has cost God so much cannot be cheap for us.”

As we journey through our November sermon series, How Can I Help?, we will be reflecting on our commitments to Christ and his church. As we do, let us ask God how we can be more faithful, how we might experience more “costly grace,” how we may appropriately respond to a loving God who paid for our life in full, on Calvary.

Blessings,
JON

Worship?

This week in my devotional time, I happened across an excerpt from William Law’s A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life…

“One who makes it a rule to be content in every part and accident of life because it comes from God praises God in a much higher manner than one who has some set time for the singing of the psalms.”

“The person who dares not say an ill-natured word or do an unreasonable thing because he or she considers God as everywhere present performs a better devotion than the person who dares not miss church.”

“To live in the world as a stranger and a pilgrim, using all its enjoyments as if we used them not, making all our actions as so many steps toward a better life, is offering a better sacrifice to God than any forms of holy and heavenly prayers.”

William Law is striking a cord at the heart of Christian worship… It’s not about style. It’s not about a religious checklist. It’s not about hearing a good sermon or singing good songs. It’s not about feeling good or feeling convicted. It’s about minute by minute living for Jesus Christ. Worship happens on Sunday morning, but it is at the same time much bigger than Sunday morning. Or as one preacher said—the validity of our worship depends on what happens when we leave the church. Praying ceaselessly, giving thanks continuously, seeking the purer life of love and peace… these bring us to greater and better living and more effective witness to the world. “Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads un in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” (2 Cor. 2.14)

Let us give thanks to God for the worship that happens in our lives, every part of it.

God bless,
JON

Report 7--Remeber Your Call

(Report from School of Congregational Development at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS)

Last night's worship service was amazing. The celebrative music, the prayer time and communion, and most especially this service the message!! Bishop Jung of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference was preaching. He is a Korean by birth, child of God by adoption, United Methodist by profession, and proclaimer of God's word by calling. Though it was challenging to follow his broken English, the message was outstanding--all of it.

He described his struggle with the recent appointment as Bishop. He felt a vision to evangelize the Northern Illinois conference through church planting, but everyone kept telling him it wouldn't work. He prayed and prayed, and God still gave him the same vision. And still leaders in the church and conference said it couldn't be done. They gave him advice--just lay low for a while, get to know the people of the conference, and you'll see how our conference is.

It tore him up inside. And at one point he found himself in prayerful consternation, writhing in the pains of his heart, torn between two options. He fell down on his knees in prayer, sobbing in desperation for God's still small voice, a word of encouragement and hope. His prayerful posture eventually brought him to grasping for life the leg of his conference table. Had anyone walked in they would have assumed him an idiot. A bishop of the United Methodist Church weeping on the floor like a baby, holding on to a table leg in desperation? What came of it?

God gave him a vision for church planting! He set some goals he thought might be reached by 2020, and set out to accomplish them. At the present rate these goals will be met by 2010. God is good!

Bishop Jung's message echoed what I have heard from other bishops and leaders at this conference--Quit playing church!! Get out and MAKE DISCIPLES. Every one of our speakers possess a 'self-critical' stance toward the church (e.g. the loyalty to rigid and inhibiting structures of the UMC) matched by an amazing confidence in the power of God to use the UMC for making disciples of Jesus Christ. Have we lost confidence in the Holy Spirit?

I personally find this refreshing. Ten or fifteen years ago it would have been unheard of for a bishop to criticize his own organization. At the same time, ten or fifteen years ago there was not a great deal of confidence in the Lord. Sure, confidence in the UMC to become a great organization, but not confidence in God and his imperative to make disciples. There is a difference. And what a joy it is to see our denominational leaders negotiating the higher things for the sake of the kingdom.

Remember your call! It's not just a good sermon title. It is an invitation for all of us to grasp hold of the Lord's imperative to make disciples, to be on our knees in desperation, and to seek the fulfillment of God's promises!

Blessings in Christ,
JON

Report 6--New Church, part 2

(Report from School of Congregational Development at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS)

The ministry track which I am attending is "New Church--Post Launch" presented by Brad Kalajainen, Sr. Pastor of Cornerstone Church in Grand Rapids, MI. He presents the Top 15 Post Launch Learnings. In a previous blog, we looked at the first 7 of these (http://drinkrain.blogspot.com/2007/08/report-from-front-3.html). Now we look at the rest...

8. Devlope a Clear Strategy. Move from vision statement to how that will be accomplished, and aim to do that in all ministry.

9. Invent a Workable Organizational Plan. Reduce the size of decision making groups. Meet often for action, not discussion. Give permission to ministry leaders/staff to make decisions that align with vision/goals.

10. Communicate Effectively. Newsletters need to be about vision--every issue. Provide opportunities for involvement in every publication (bulletin, etc.). Use testimonies in church often. Email for internal communication. Update website often.

11. Get People Involved in Outreach. Servant evangelism, mission trips, community involvement all give courage and motivation for members. Invite friends!!

12. Keep Stewardship Central. Stewardship is at the heart of our devotion to God, for it is the material expression of our spiritual loyalties. The goal of a new church is to become self-sufficient. Preach it; teach it; celebrate it!

13. Develop Leaders. What to expect of leaders--come spiritually prepared for worship (expect to minister, not to be ministered too); Give God your best when your on, be the best family person when your off; Be enthusiastic, optimistic and energetic; Tithe; Work out problems with co-workers without quitting; Be loyal to your spiritual leaders; Carry a vision for your area; Keep one eye on eternity; Have a lot of fun.

14. Work toward Adequate Space. Expect a crowd. Raise money from alternative sources. Be highly visible.

15. Keep it Fun! Expect a positive, enthusiastic attitude from leaders. Do a lot with humor. Encourage a 'can do' attitude. Preserve your family and sanity.

Report 5--Steps to Positive Church Culture

(Report from School of Congregational Development at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS)

Today I joined the group attending Woods Chapel UMC in Lee's Summit, Missouri. We went to their 11:15 am worship service--one of 5 Sunday services--followed by three hours of listening to the pastor and staff share their history, vision, methods, etc. Though much of this has already been said in other venues, it is good to see another church operating off similar principles, yet with a unique expression. One thing that struck me is the amount of mistakes all these churches make. Ministry is at times messy--like the 'elephant' of a previous blog (http://drinkrain.blogspot.com/2007/08/report-4-conversations-with-leader.html) --but somehow it does the trick. This is, of course, contrary to my personal preferences, for I like things very neat and orderly. It is uncomfortable for certain. Let me outline it, plan it, organize it, but don't make me move ahead in discomfort and challenge with the inevitable promise of messiness. Hmmm... I've got a lot to learn, but at least I am willing.

During our seminar time, Jeff the pastor shared steps to building a positive church culture, addressed mainly to pastors/leaders...

1. Be yourself, authentic. Don't be afraid to share strengths and weaknesses, hurts and joys. Be normal and relevant.
2. Keep your faith alive. Nurture a devotional life, not just for the sake of teaching/preaching. Find an accountability partner.
3. Share power. Foster a team spirit. Apologize when you are wrong. Mentor others, empowering them to be in ministry. Remember, this is all about effective ministry, not control.
4. Have high expectations. Membership is a privilege, not a right. Leaders need to be highly committed. Everyone is called to ministry; no one comes to sit. Quality people are drawn to excellence.
5. Model servanthood. Ask those who are mad at you, "How can I do a better job?" The bishop can give you an appointment, but only by winning people's trust do you become their pastor. Give credit to others for successes; take responsibility for failures (they failed b/c you didn't provide the necessary steps for them).
6. Believe in your future. Are our best days ahead or behind us? Are we here to save our church, the denomination, or the lost? Rejoice in small victories, for the culmination of them will bring the big victories.
7. Model joy. The 'church lady' (from Saturday Night Live) never won anybody for Christ. We have the greatest privilege to share God's love.
8. Keep an outward focus. Hospitality must invade and pervade. Those who are not here matter more than those who are. Look at facilities as an Ellis Island not a museum--the point of the church is transformation not immaculate property. Things will get messy, but if lives are changed, who cares?

Results of a Positive Culture...

1. Joy.
2. Lives are touched and transformed.
3. New people come to the church.
4. Giving--"when the heart strings are warm, the purse strings are loose."
5. We fulfill our purpose as a church--making disciples of Jesus Christ!!

Report 4--Conversations with a Leader

(Report from School of Congregational Development at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS)

Friday evening I shared in dinner, fellowship and prayerful discussion with Bryan Sims (no relation, though he's originally from Canyon, Texas). Bryan is one of the leaders of Spiritual Leadership, Inc. of Lexington, KY and facilitates leadership 'Incubators' across the nation for numerous denominations, churches, organizations and businesses. Interestingly, the Northwest Texas Conference is at the vanguard of this new wave of leadership development, and we are seeing the fruit of its effectiveness across the conference.

Bryan is a friend of many years and we share a penchant for academic endeavors as they playfully interact with ministry and the Kindgom of God. It is no surprise that our discussion at dinner quickly turned down the road of innovative theories on leadership. Bryan, who is working toward a PhD in leadership, has stepped into the world of "complexity theory."

Complexity theory has been influential in strategic management and organizational studies. The theory is used to understand how organizations adapt to their changing environments. The theory treats organizations and firms as collections of strategies and structures. When the organization or firm shares the properties of other complex adaptive systems--which is often defined as consisting of a small number of relatively simple and partially connected structures--they are more likely to adapt to their environment and, thus, survive. It is sort of like "chaos theory," but with direction and purpose.

Bryan hopes to approach church and ministry through similar categories. If the church is to survive and thrive in a fast-paced culture of quickly shifting values, viewpoints and patterns of behavior, then the church will need to be an 'organism' that is able to adapt with speed and effectiveness. The church, then, will need to become 'responsive' in its structure and organization for ministry to the changing demands of the world. At the same time, the church must hold fast to its timeless truths. Reaching a healthy balance between these two realities is, of course, the challenge for all churches, but one which we see happening through the leadership incubators of SLI and creative innovations in ministry across the world.

What does this look like? Conventional churches operate with a rigid organizational structure--committees, processes, roles and expectations are all set out with clear parameters. The typical image for conventional churches is a ship. This mechanical structure is steered by one leader who controls the direction of the whole ship and gives specialized knowledge to the staff to move it forward. Once built, properly staffed, and filled with passengers (i.e. members), the ship can then be directed to pursue its course.

In contrast, churches that hope to survive in the coming generation will need to be much more flexible. Principles, vision, guiding patterns of being will be at the heart of ministry, allowing the visible 'structure' of ministry to be adapted from time to time. Adam Hamilton provides a surprising analogy for this type of church--a running elephant. Barreling forward with bravado, ministry at Church of the Resurrection is very messy, at times stomping on things without grace or concern. Leadership at Church of the Resurrection involves trying to keep the elephant heading in the right direction, stepping out of the way at times. It is a highly structured environment, but the structures change--the vision and values don't! Other images come to mind as well--vine and branches, a human body--ancient analogies that reflect the organic, fluid nature of God's kingdom.