Thank you for this, Brian. We worked through the book of Lamentations together during Advent this year. Spending such intentional time with and in lament together was very powerful. A much-needed practice in today's world, for so many reasons. Thanks for sharing these prayers with us. - Lynette
I appreciate this post. I do find it unfortunate though, that it starts off by trying to say that this is not a political action. I agree whole-heartedly that working for justice for all, and fighting racism, is a biblical position. However, many of the suggestions given to work toward becoming a church of reconciliation and justice are political. It's not a bad thing for it to be political. They are religious and political, let's own that and not hide from it in fear of potential backlash.
I'm a little concerned about the overall negativity of this post. It's hard to tell if the article is written largely from personal experience being generalized, or from many conversations the author is having with other pastors. As a pastor myself, I balk at adjectives like "many" or "most" when referring to pastors, because I do not find myself in this article.
Pastoring has, for me, been a delight. Yes, it has challenging moments, but none of them have (to date) compared to the challenge I found teaching elementary school to be for me.
If this is written largely from personal experience, I would gently encourage you to seek out your classis mentor (if you're new to pastoring) or your regional pastor (regardless of how long you've been doing this). Perhaps conversations need to be had within the congregation, or between pastor & council.
One picky piece - the rise in Article 17s. Firstly, an Article 17 is not actually "firing a pastor." It is supposed to make possible the separation (amicable or adversarial) of a pastor from a congregation. In the CRC it is one of the only ways it is possible for a pastor to leave a congregation if they are not retiring or leaving pastoring entirely. It has a bad rap, but is not always laden with such heaviness in coming to that decision. Those numbers are rising partly because of conflict between pastors and congregations, but also due to many other factors that don't involve such unfortunate back stories. Let's not give more negative press to Article 17s than we need to, for the sake of both pastors and congregations who find themselves needing them for many other reasons.
Thanks for sharing some of the difficulties you're discovering in the ministry, and may God meet you in the needs arising in your life and ministry!
Thank you for a reminder to have the same attitude as Christ as we interact with each other. How we are together matters, not just what we discuss together.
Pride and contempt of each other and our interpretations of God’s Word does not honour God. As you have all mentioned, God is love. And Paul has taught us that love is patient, and kind. It does not envy or boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
Paul also tells us that where there is knowledge, it will pass away. We know in part, but someday completeness will arrive and the partial will pass away. I look forward to that day. But in the meantime, I hope that we can speak with each other out of humility and in love, so we don’t end up as clanging cymbals, or nothing.
At Good News in London we're doing Suffering & Shalom, a series on Lamentations, ending with Isaiah 40 & John 1 for Christmas Eve & the (Sun)day after Christmas.
We're a relatively small congregation here at Good News and my understanding is that we use an excel sheet - definitely a good next step from the cards. I'm sure some programs could be helpful, but excel's not a bad option, in my opinion. Blessings on your ministry at Lakeview!
Posted in: Prayers of Lament for Congregational Use
Thank you for this, Brian. We worked through the book of Lamentations together during Advent this year. Spending such intentional time with and in lament together was very powerful. A much-needed practice in today's world, for so many reasons. Thanks for sharing these prayers with us. - Lynette
Posted in: Statement About The Deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor
I appreciate this post. I do find it unfortunate though, that it starts off by trying to say that this is not a political action. I agree whole-heartedly that working for justice for all, and fighting racism, is a biblical position. However, many of the suggestions given to work toward becoming a church of reconciliation and justice are political. It's not a bad thing for it to be political. They are religious and political, let's own that and not hide from it in fear of potential backlash.
Posted in: What's So Hard About Being a Pastor?
I'm a little concerned about the overall negativity of this post. It's hard to tell if the article is written largely from personal experience being generalized, or from many conversations the author is having with other pastors. As a pastor myself, I balk at adjectives like "many" or "most" when referring to pastors, because I do not find myself in this article.
Pastoring has, for me, been a delight. Yes, it has challenging moments, but none of them have (to date) compared to the challenge I found teaching elementary school to be for me.
If this is written largely from personal experience, I would gently encourage you to seek out your classis mentor (if you're new to pastoring) or your regional pastor (regardless of how long you've been doing this). Perhaps conversations need to be had within the congregation, or between pastor & council.
One picky piece - the rise in Article 17s. Firstly, an Article 17 is not actually "firing a pastor." It is supposed to make possible the separation (amicable or adversarial) of a pastor from a congregation. In the CRC it is one of the only ways it is possible for a pastor to leave a congregation if they are not retiring or leaving pastoring entirely. It has a bad rap, but is not always laden with such heaviness in coming to that decision. Those numbers are rising partly because of conflict between pastors and congregations, but also due to many other factors that don't involve such unfortunate back stories. Let's not give more negative press to Article 17s than we need to, for the sake of both pastors and congregations who find themselves needing them for many other reasons.
Thanks for sharing some of the difficulties you're discovering in the ministry, and may God meet you in the needs arising in your life and ministry!
Grace and peace,
Lynette
Posted in: Talking About Human Sexuality With Love
Thank you for a reminder to have the same attitude as Christ as we interact with each other. How we are together matters, not just what we discuss together.
Pride and contempt of each other and our interpretations of God’s Word does not honour God. As you have all mentioned, God is love. And Paul has taught us that love is patient, and kind. It does not envy or boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
Paul also tells us that where there is knowledge, it will pass away. We know in part, but someday completeness will arrive and the partial will pass away. I look forward to that day. But in the meantime, I hope that we can speak with each other out of humility and in love, so we don’t end up as clanging cymbals, or nothing.
Posted in: Current Sermon Series?
At Good News in London we're doing Suffering & Shalom, a series on Lamentations, ending with Isaiah 40 & John 1 for Christmas Eve & the (Sun)day after Christmas.
Posted in: Track Church Membership Using Excel?
Hi Josh,
We're a relatively small congregation here at Good News and my understanding is that we use an excel sheet - definitely a good next step from the cards. I'm sure some programs could be helpful, but excel's not a bad option, in my opinion. Blessings on your ministry at Lakeview!
- Lynette