This past school year, as you may recall, I was enrolled in the Pastoral Leadership Program offered at the Seattle University’s school for theology and ministry. Since I am working part-time as rector at St. Alban’s (70% time – which means seven half-day ‘modules’: Sunday mornings, plus three weekday mornings and afternoons, or afternoons and evenings, for services, visits, meetings, office time, calls, preparation, etc.) this year it was possible for me to take part in the program on my own personal time. My mother made a gift to cover most of the cost of the program, the continuing education funding was fully used this year, and I made up the rest from my own salary.
Among my goals for the program was to explore how the Spirit of God is experienced as active in congregational ministry. How are we to live, knowing God is present and active in our lives and has a purpose for us as his people?
As your priest, one of my joys has been asking that question about our own parish life together, and noticing how God is present and active in our midst as a congregation.
Here are some things I have seen:
1. We have experienced God’s presence in pastoral visits, in worship, in working through conflicts, in celebrations, weddings, baptisms, and memorial services.
2. The Holy Spirit has been stirring a number of us to ask how we can live more faithfully into the calling God has for our congregation as his people here, now.
3. We are growing in our awareness and appreciation of the many ministries active in our midst, and how God is at work through our fellow parishioners.
4. We have seen vestry leaders work together to enhance the clarity and openness of such governance functions as by-laws, finances, and stewardship.
5. We have seen leaders in the congregation stir new energies in ongoing ministries, including newcomers and outreach, and initiate such new beginnings as the ministry of young families and young adults.
All these are encouraging signs of God at work in our midst.
The program at Seattle University was ecumenical. There were two other Episcopal priests, ordained clergy of other denominations, and workers in various lay ministries. We were from diverse backgrounds, including African-American, Native American, English, and even Californian-American participants.
Reflecting with fellow ministers – lay and ordained – of diverse backgrounds has provided me with a broader perspective on some points of dynamic tension in our own congregational work together at St. Alban’s.
We spent a considerable amount of time on congregational dynamics – learning how people work together in a group, from small (vestry) to larger (congregation).
This has helped me to see ways we can move forward, that I might not have discovered on my own, toward the goal of a healthful and loving community.
What the pastoral leadership program gave me, among other things, was a sense of call in action – how my own professional and vocational roles play out in a congregational setting. This insight has helped me think about how each member of this congregation has vocational and professional roles that enrich our common life. We come together in worship to be refreshed and encouraged, hear the Word, express our common faith, and share in the Eucharist; we go forth into the world renewed, bearing the Good News.
a. The church can become a safe place for everyone to come for this refreshment and encouragement, a place where we all celebrate our diverse gifts and callings.
b. The church can create a place where we discern together how our various gifts are meant to mix into a blessing for the world around us.
c. The church can emerge as a place where the world and its needs are met with prayerful concern and generous, compassionate response.
d. The church can make space for each of us to express our ministry both in our life together and outreach to the world.
We took time to learn how to include prayer and quiet time in our days, and to seek renewal in Sabbath-keeping and other spiritual practices. These practices help me to listen more deeply to the Spirit, and to ground all of my ministry – preaching, teaching, organizing, individual pastoral care, and celebrating – in God’s grace and presence, so that I can serve faithfully and well as your parish priest.
Through programs like Pastoral Leadership, and the continuing education offered by the diocese through clergy training days and the monthly Fresh Start program for new clergy, I do more than fulfill the canonical requirements for continuing education – I put new tools in my toolbox. More than that, I gain new insights into how we work together, pray together, and worship together, as God’s people called to worship and service at this time in this place. –Fr. John
St Albans Grapevine July 2009 JRL
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