Each year, a United Methodist pastor is to make a "narrative" report of their year in ministry. The following is my report to the Charge Conference this past Sunday.
As I look back over 2013 thus far in my ministry with Christ Crossman UMC, I find that I have learned even more about adaptability and flexibility in serving an ever-changing congregation.
Personally, I participated in a Courage to Lead series of five discernment retreats. My stated goal for participation was to make discernments in questions about my ministry, education and possible retirement in the coming years. Along with these retreats, I applied to Wesley Theological Seminary in DC for admission to the 2013 Doctorate of Ministry program in Church Leadership Excellence. When I initially applied, I thought this might help me in determining an avenue of service after retirement from active pastoral ministry. Through the discernment retreats and participating in the first three courses of the D.Min program, I have come to the understanding that I still have a lot to learn and to offer in the active pastoral ministry, particularly here at C2UMC.
Last Spring, in reflections around C2's leadership and staff tables, I had a strong sense that we had made significant strides in turning around a decades-long decline but that we had reached a plateau. It felt as though we had paused to take a breath after a hard run, and then forgotten to start running again. It is important to take a pause to reflect, to catch our breath, to see where we need to head next. In looking at my particular part of this pause, I know that when a leader's attention becomes diffused or focused elsewhere, then a congregation can feel distracted. Over the last couple of years, I have worked hard to keep my focus up, but I do know that dealing with grief and illness sometimes blur sight. In particular, I feel as though I lost a significant portion of September and October of this year due to an ongoing health issue that has now resolved. Details became harder to manage. For this I apologize that I realized too late to make other arrangements to make sure that administrative oversight details could be more adequately covered.
While administration suffered some, I have continued to visit and provide pastoral care, while serving as the primary worship planner, leader and preacher. Even in the midst of loss and anticipated illness of beloved members, I find great joy in being present with them in the journey.
In my D.Min class this Fall, I have realized a couple of areas I need to strengthen in my leadership. The first area is that I have a tendency to hold back from setting forth hard invitations to people, partially because I am aware of how much they have going on in their lives outside of church. In this reluctance, I do not allow them the privilege of deciding for themselves how much they can commit in time or resources. The second area has to do with emphasizing calls enough by repeating them in different ways. Too often I assume that people will get bored or annoyed with a continuing emphasis. I neglect the reality that it usually takes a minimum of encountering a new idea five times before it really begins to sink in.
I have followed through on the authorization by the Church Council to work with the City of Falls Church on our proposal to redevelop the Miller House property next door to the church. The city's planning and housing departments were excited to deal with this proposal. Two meetings of a focus group were held here in this Chapel with members of city staff, neighboring congregations, community organizations and potential developers. The focus group made a recommendation that the extant house be razed and a new residence built for adults with disabilities, particularly intellectual disabilities. The city has now issued an RFI, request for information, to possible developers and groups to be received back in early January.
I find joy in working with our current seminary intern, Jeremy Koontz, and continuing to serve as a co-facilitator of PM&M colloquies at the seminary. Engaging in reflection with those who are currently studying and preparing for ministry helps keep me, and our congregation, better honed for our own ministry here.
I am excited about our new children's music ministry, and working with our lay leaders on a five-year plan that will help C2UMC put our ministry on the line.
I give thanks for the people and leaders of Christ Crossman who have offered me loving support and gracious challenge in serving together. Here's to being a part of what God wants to bless in the year to come.
Jeremiah 29:11
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
NRSV
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