Yesterday, our retiring seminary president spoke eloquent words that are a vision that we can all live by.
He shared that 15 years ago, when he became president, a former president said this to him, "If it isn't broken, it doesn't come across the president's desk."
Our now retiring president interpreted this statement to us this way.......
The president must look up from her/his desk to see all that ISN'T broken. If they keep their gaze only on what is before them, they will think that the whole system is broken. When in fact, all these gifted people are doing what is their's to do and making it all work.
Amy's spin.........
We must continually look up from our own work, to see how and if we are still relevant to our surroundings. We must continually look up from our own work to see that others are are making the bigger picture work as well. It doesn't all rest on the shoulders of one or two, or the bosses or the administrative team.
The good of the whole rests in the workings of each of us .....connected.....collaborative.......accountable.......joyful.......... doing what is ours to do.
And doing it well.
asgr
Monday, April 30, 2007
Servant Leadership redux
At a recent conference in Toronto (lovely, wonderfully diverse Toronto!)....I heard Eddie Gibbs speak. He is a Brit, raised in post WWII Anglican England....and is a current authority on the emerging church and church growth. He is on faculty at Fuller Theological Seminary.
Immediately upon returning home, I had to buy his two books ChurchNext, and LeadershipNext. Excellent books.....and I'm only into the first couple of chapters of each. I'm a new Eddie Gibbs devotee.
One of the eye jolting awakenings that has come through his writing....is so simple. Yet, so right for what I'm needing to hear. He talks about how the church has gotten "servant leadership" all wrong, when we try to put that paradigm onto Jesus, in the way that we live it out today. He says that in today's culture, Servant Leadership is really Doormat Leadership. An attempt to meet the needs of all, putting our (ministering persons) own needs to the side. This leads to burnout and to leaving ministry altogether.
Gibbs says that Jesus never did servant leadership in that model. He was never a servant to the masses, in that he put everyone elses needs first. Jesus was a servant to God and God's call for his life. That is the statement that got me. Gibbs goes on to say that through Jesus' faithfulness to God's call through being a servant to God, Jesus did all that he was to do.
Now, we are not Jesus. I am not. You, dear reader, are not. We are not God incarnate. But, we are called to sacred work. The thing that we MUST see, is that we must stay fast to serving God....and sometimes that will be at odds with what the world AND the church sees as Christian ministry. We are not to be swerved. If we are all faithful to what God is claiming within us to do and be, then it will all get covered. We are to be collaborators, and not lone rangers. None of us can do it all, nor should we. What we should do (and this is a JOYFUL should) is to claim our part and do it well. Then, looking around, we can claim what others have been called to and find joy in their faithfulness.....even when it is something different that our own call.
Yes indeed. I'm jazzed.
asgr
Immediately upon returning home, I had to buy his two books ChurchNext, and LeadershipNext. Excellent books.....and I'm only into the first couple of chapters of each. I'm a new Eddie Gibbs devotee.
One of the eye jolting awakenings that has come through his writing....is so simple. Yet, so right for what I'm needing to hear. He talks about how the church has gotten "servant leadership" all wrong, when we try to put that paradigm onto Jesus, in the way that we live it out today. He says that in today's culture, Servant Leadership is really Doormat Leadership. An attempt to meet the needs of all, putting our (ministering persons) own needs to the side. This leads to burnout and to leaving ministry altogether.
Gibbs says that Jesus never did servant leadership in that model. He was never a servant to the masses, in that he put everyone elses needs first. Jesus was a servant to God and God's call for his life. That is the statement that got me. Gibbs goes on to say that through Jesus' faithfulness to God's call through being a servant to God, Jesus did all that he was to do.
Now, we are not Jesus. I am not. You, dear reader, are not. We are not God incarnate. But, we are called to sacred work. The thing that we MUST see, is that we must stay fast to serving God....and sometimes that will be at odds with what the world AND the church sees as Christian ministry. We are not to be swerved. If we are all faithful to what God is claiming within us to do and be, then it will all get covered. We are to be collaborators, and not lone rangers. None of us can do it all, nor should we. What we should do (and this is a JOYFUL should) is to claim our part and do it well. Then, looking around, we can claim what others have been called to and find joy in their faithfulness.....even when it is something different that our own call.
Yes indeed. I'm jazzed.
asgr
Friday, April 27, 2007
FSBO Richmond Indiana
Ok, shameless promotion here.....but its my blog and my house and a family dream.
We are selling our lovely, traditionally classic four square, two story home for $119,000. It has tile and hardwood floors, ceramic tile kitchen counters, lots of cooking and storage space in kitchen (room for two cooks), LR, DR, FR, main floor laundry, 1.5 baths, 3 bedrooms plus extra bedroom or office in basement (unfinished but quite usable), high efficiency furnace and central air on BOTH floors......with programmable thermostats.......energy saving/money saving. perennial beds, front porch, back deck, large fenced in back yard, two car detached garage and asphalt drive, established neighborhood with long time residents, mature trees, near beautiful Glen Miller Park, Golf course, Rose Garden, east side shops and restaurants. Stove, fridge and dishwasher (older model) stay.
We can help pay up to $2000 of buyer's closing costs if no realtor is part of the transaction.....this allows us to keep the price low and still meet our financial goals. We ask for one day notice for showing. Email us today!
We are selling our lovely, traditionally classic four square, two story home for $119,000. It has tile and hardwood floors, ceramic tile kitchen counters, lots of cooking and storage space in kitchen (room for two cooks), LR, DR, FR, main floor laundry, 1.5 baths, 3 bedrooms plus extra bedroom or office in basement (unfinished but quite usable), high efficiency furnace and central air on BOTH floors......with programmable thermostats.......energy saving/money saving. perennial beds, front porch, back deck, large fenced in back yard, two car detached garage and asphalt drive, established neighborhood with long time residents, mature trees, near beautiful Glen Miller Park, Golf course, Rose Garden, east side shops and restaurants. Stove, fridge and dishwasher (older model) stay.
We can help pay up to $2000 of buyer's closing costs if no realtor is part of the transaction.....this allows us to keep the price low and still meet our financial goals. We ask for one day notice for showing. Email us today!
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
outer courts
The outer courts
......its Sunday so I heard a good sermon.
I’m lucky that way. Many people do not hear good sermons. No, I’m not talking about those who don’t go to church. I’m talking about those who DO go to church. Too many sermons are written with a good heart and heartfelt intentions....but they lack scholarship and craft.
Today’s sermon was at the Monroeville Church of the Brethren near Pittsburgh. A colleague and I traveled for the weekend (I for fun with other friends, and he for work....poor guy), and this church was on our way home. The preacher was Scott Holland. Scott happens to be Professor of Public Theology and Peace Studies where I work.
The text was the palm Sunday text from Luke. But the kicker came at the end. Scott riffed on pluralism and openness and a a most interesting political season ahead. Then, he said that Jesus himself anticipated a church that was open and inviting to all. Maybe you know the story. Jesus comes into the temple in Jerusalem. His anger is ignited because of the commerce happening in the court. We have ALWAYS heard that Jesus’ anger was due to the lack of respect for God’s house. That they had turned the house of prayer into a den of thieves.
But, says Scott, the outer court was indeed the place for moneychangers, sellers of pigeons, doves and other sacrificial livestock....that was part of the deal in the temple. What incited his anger was the disrespect in the outer court. This was a place for the stranger. It was a place for the traveler. It was the place for the non Jews, the Gentiles, to be welcomed. The sellers and buyers and moneychangers had taken over the whole of this space, putting business before hospitality, moneymaking before the spirit of God;’s kingdom. He threw them out in anger because they did not keep safe a place for all.
Jesus creates space for all. The stranger, the traveler, the one outside of our own faith tradition and expression. This is the gospel. This is God’s realm.
I sit with this. For this is how I read the gospel. The Good News. It is not about “my” salvation.....but the making and saving of place for all. And I am one among many. Special in the living of my own life, yet part of the choir of faith. I like that.
And the outer court? Well, thats where the prodigal son’s father still waits with the willful son.....where God sits with us all.
Live well, Live Large
amysgr
......its Sunday so I heard a good sermon.
I’m lucky that way. Many people do not hear good sermons. No, I’m not talking about those who don’t go to church. I’m talking about those who DO go to church. Too many sermons are written with a good heart and heartfelt intentions....but they lack scholarship and craft.
Today’s sermon was at the Monroeville Church of the Brethren near Pittsburgh. A colleague and I traveled for the weekend (I for fun with other friends, and he for work....poor guy), and this church was on our way home. The preacher was Scott Holland. Scott happens to be Professor of Public Theology and Peace Studies where I work.
The text was the palm Sunday text from Luke. But the kicker came at the end. Scott riffed on pluralism and openness and a a most interesting political season ahead. Then, he said that Jesus himself anticipated a church that was open and inviting to all. Maybe you know the story. Jesus comes into the temple in Jerusalem. His anger is ignited because of the commerce happening in the court. We have ALWAYS heard that Jesus’ anger was due to the lack of respect for God’s house. That they had turned the house of prayer into a den of thieves.
But, says Scott, the outer court was indeed the place for moneychangers, sellers of pigeons, doves and other sacrificial livestock....that was part of the deal in the temple. What incited his anger was the disrespect in the outer court. This was a place for the stranger. It was a place for the traveler. It was the place for the non Jews, the Gentiles, to be welcomed. The sellers and buyers and moneychangers had taken over the whole of this space, putting business before hospitality, moneymaking before the spirit of God;’s kingdom. He threw them out in anger because they did not keep safe a place for all.
Jesus creates space for all. The stranger, the traveler, the one outside of our own faith tradition and expression. This is the gospel. This is God’s realm.
I sit with this. For this is how I read the gospel. The Good News. It is not about “my” salvation.....but the making and saving of place for all. And I am one among many. Special in the living of my own life, yet part of the choir of faith. I like that.
And the outer court? Well, thats where the prodigal son’s father still waits with the willful son.....where God sits with us all.
Live well, Live Large
amysgr
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