If you are under 40 and a clergywoman, check this out:
A group of young clergywomen have put together "the Preaching as Testimony"conference at the College of Preachers in Washington DC this August 6-10. It's for clergywomen under 40, it's taught by Anna Carter Florence, and there is scholarship money available.
More info here and here. Or, click on the revgals link to the right, as they've just posted the information there, too!
I'm not able to go...but hope that if you fit this group, you'll go!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Generation Tolerant
It is hard for me to believe that this is the fifteenth anniversary of the LA Riots. I remember being a student at Long Beach State and on campus when the rioting was at its worst. I was in LA-1 room 300 learning about the Maccabean revolt when a National Guard came into our classroom, machine gun in hand, commanding us to leave campus immediately-- that the city was imposing a curfew because the rioting had moved into Long Beach. The traffic leaving campus crawled...the anxiety level went through the roof. It was a very unsettling time to live in Los Angeles...remembering the riots invoke a sense that we've still got a lot of work to do when it comes to getting along. (thanks, Rodney King.)
As I was pondering the riots today, I came across this short op-ed piece in the LA TIMES. The point the editorial team makes is this:
"Not only are young people encouragingly unconcerned about the skin color or nationality of others, they don't think of themselves much that way, either. When asked the most significant aspects of their identity, they chose music and fashion. Their tribes? Punk-rock skaters, hip-hop activists, salseros. In terms of what young people consider most important about themselves, race and ethnicity didn't even come in second — that slot went to religion."
This caused me to stop and think about the church for a minute, and in particular worship styles (which is increasingly more how we identify ourselves in the church these days.) When people say, "I can't understand why young people can't worship OUR way, or THIS way (meaning with organ and hymn books), they totally don't get how young people identify themselves and/or express themselves. To be in community, then, would be to find ways to engage one another based on how we see ourselves and the world. Fashion and music are the ways to do that.
Does this mean that pastors should pick up Goth or hip hop fashion? No, because that would not be authentically who they are. But I think this pushes us to think about how we go about doing evangelism and hospitality in our churches. Are we finding ways to connect with young people in ways that resonate with who they are, or are we expecting them to conform to our ways?
One of my favorite professors in seminary, Prof. Dana Robert, once said that mission and evangelism done right is indigenous to the group you are trying to reach for Christ. In other words, leadership, language, expression of the gospel needs to come from within the community you are trying to reach. We're on the endangered species list because we've missed this connection and mode of sharing faith. Or so I think....
As I was pondering the riots today, I came across this short op-ed piece in the LA TIMES. The point the editorial team makes is this:
"Not only are young people encouragingly unconcerned about the skin color or nationality of others, they don't think of themselves much that way, either. When asked the most significant aspects of their identity, they chose music and fashion. Their tribes? Punk-rock skaters, hip-hop activists, salseros. In terms of what young people consider most important about themselves, race and ethnicity didn't even come in second — that slot went to religion."
This caused me to stop and think about the church for a minute, and in particular worship styles (which is increasingly more how we identify ourselves in the church these days.) When people say, "I can't understand why young people can't worship OUR way, or THIS way (meaning with organ and hymn books), they totally don't get how young people identify themselves and/or express themselves. To be in community, then, would be to find ways to engage one another based on how we see ourselves and the world. Fashion and music are the ways to do that.
Does this mean that pastors should pick up Goth or hip hop fashion? No, because that would not be authentically who they are. But I think this pushes us to think about how we go about doing evangelism and hospitality in our churches. Are we finding ways to connect with young people in ways that resonate with who they are, or are we expecting them to conform to our ways?
One of my favorite professors in seminary, Prof. Dana Robert, once said that mission and evangelism done right is indigenous to the group you are trying to reach for Christ. In other words, leadership, language, expression of the gospel needs to come from within the community you are trying to reach. We're on the endangered species list because we've missed this connection and mode of sharing faith. Or so I think....
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Boredom
So having wifi in the retreat center is a dangerous thing...it has given me connection to the world that most people go on retreat to get away from.....Something stuck to my soul from the "Beauty" lecture yesterday like the dried mango is sticking to my teeth right now...
Luther talked about the sin of "sloth" as boredom. Think about how many times you've been bored in context or another and thought of your boredom as sinful? I'm betting that many of us don't think about boredom that way. His point was to say that if God created all things, than our indifference or boredom keeps us from truly embracing all of God's gifts.
I think about how how fast and busy our world is that when we sit still long enough to open our spirits to God, there is a tendency to be bored, because we cannot see the beauty in the silence and stillness.
I also think about how younger folks are bored by the traditional ways we worship in Mainline churches. It does not connect with their understanding of beauty-- and therefore does not feel holy or filled with praise. On the flip side, there are many who are comfortable, er, complacent in their worship style that they cannot see beauty outside the hymnal, the organ, the same liturgy they've always done.
My point is this: it is important for us to think beyond our comfortable understandings of beauty for the sake of the gospel. In order to have a truly open table, where everyone is welcome to gather just as they are, we need to be vulnerable and open to other ideas of beauty-- whether that come in the form of Bach or hip hop.
Boredom comes from an unwillingness to engage. It is a great problem for the Church today, as it is also a problem for our society. How do we find ways to guide one another into new places of beauty and understanding?
Luther talked about the sin of "sloth" as boredom. Think about how many times you've been bored in context or another and thought of your boredom as sinful? I'm betting that many of us don't think about boredom that way. His point was to say that if God created all things, than our indifference or boredom keeps us from truly embracing all of God's gifts.
I think about how how fast and busy our world is that when we sit still long enough to open our spirits to God, there is a tendency to be bored, because we cannot see the beauty in the silence and stillness.
I also think about how younger folks are bored by the traditional ways we worship in Mainline churches. It does not connect with their understanding of beauty-- and therefore does not feel holy or filled with praise. On the flip side, there are many who are comfortable, er, complacent in their worship style that they cannot see beauty outside the hymnal, the organ, the same liturgy they've always done.
My point is this: it is important for us to think beyond our comfortable understandings of beauty for the sake of the gospel. In order to have a truly open table, where everyone is welcome to gather just as they are, we need to be vulnerable and open to other ideas of beauty-- whether that come in the form of Bach or hip hop.
Boredom comes from an unwillingness to engage. It is a great problem for the Church today, as it is also a problem for our society. How do we find ways to guide one another into new places of beauty and understanding?
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
On Beauty
Today in our lecture, Luther Smith talked about Beauty as a core value for spiritual formation. He said, "to reject the gift, to reject beauty is to reject the giver, the Creator."
It certainly is a call to seek beauty in all things. And it is a challenge to go beyond our comfort zones and places we are happy to seek beauty. As I think of the Church, I wonder if there is a place for the kind of beauty that would come from embracing a different way of being Church...tattoos, piercings, ipods and all... I encourage you to ask Luther's question, "to what places do you go that engage you with beauty in an extrordinary way? How do these places speak to your soul?"
May you know the beauty of this day...it is a gift from God.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Junior Highers Rock!
I'm in the middle of a whirlwind adventure that took me to Baltimore and back last week (I'll blog about that soon!), to lead a junior high retreat for about 200 people over the weekend, and now to the Academy for Spiritual Formation week in San Francisco! I can't wait to be home with my husband and dog for awhile!
As I sit in silence tonight, and ponder the theme of the day, "vision," (I preached at our Eucharist service tonight...which was both intimidating and exhilariating!), I can't help but think about the middle school kids I got to speak to this weekend. They were from United Methodist churches from all over the Annual Conference region. Kids from South Los Angeles who have never left the city, to kids burdened by irrational suburban expectations...it was a great gift to spend holy, fun time with these young people. I am still in awe of the leadership provided by two young female youth directors. They are both creative and passionate about youth ministry...and the kids experienced that.
I received a wonderful gift in terms of feedback from the youth and their charperones/parents about their experience this weekend. They were excited to engage me about their faith, about how much fun they were having (is that allowed in church?), and about the Spirit's stirring in their lives. Some voiced an interest in ordained ministry.
What impressed me most was their ability to get out of it what they put in it. The kids wanted to have a great experience, and they did. I'm still sore from jumping up and down on the concrete with them and we sang and worshipped together. I wear that pain and discomfort with pride. It reminds that if we invest in our young people, there is hope for the church. I sense that God wants us to follow through for them!
PS on Wednesday to Andy's comment-- I guess you don't know me very well! I am a junior higher at heart! :)
As I sit in silence tonight, and ponder the theme of the day, "vision," (I preached at our Eucharist service tonight...which was both intimidating and exhilariating!), I can't help but think about the middle school kids I got to speak to this weekend. They were from United Methodist churches from all over the Annual Conference region. Kids from South Los Angeles who have never left the city, to kids burdened by irrational suburban expectations...it was a great gift to spend holy, fun time with these young people. I am still in awe of the leadership provided by two young female youth directors. They are both creative and passionate about youth ministry...and the kids experienced that.
I received a wonderful gift in terms of feedback from the youth and their charperones/parents about their experience this weekend. They were excited to engage me about their faith, about how much fun they were having (is that allowed in church?), and about the Spirit's stirring in their lives. Some voiced an interest in ordained ministry.
What impressed me most was their ability to get out of it what they put in it. The kids wanted to have a great experience, and they did. I'm still sore from jumping up and down on the concrete with them and we sang and worshipped together. I wear that pain and discomfort with pride. It reminds that if we invest in our young people, there is hope for the church. I sense that God wants us to follow through for them!
PS on Wednesday to Andy's comment-- I guess you don't know me very well! I am a junior higher at heart! :)
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Prayer Blog
As the blogosphere has become an important place to exchange ideas and recently prayers, I ask for your prayers for Jenell Britt. She is a family member of mine and a truly lovely person. She's been in ICU battling for her life. You can read about her condition at the link provided. Thanks for your prayers for Jenell, her husband, Rex, daughter Debbie, son Mike and grandkids Carly and Danelle. And, of course, all who love and care about her....
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
AMAZING!
Joel and I saw the band MUSE last night at the Forum. Totally the best rock show I've seen....no words to describe it...
They totally rocked!
They totally rocked!
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Eddie Izzard - Easter and Christmas
Happy Holy Week! A little Eddie to put things in perspective...now mompriest won't need to find the video!
Take a page from their book...
I'm not a morning person. So I read the newspaper AND watch/listen to the morning news on tv. This morning something caught my attention: I went to a CSU school for my undergrad. I had heard that the professors were talking about walking out if they could not get a decent contract. Yesterday they came to an agreement. You can read about it here.
What struck me about the agreement, a whopping 20.7% increase over four years, is that their reasoning for this gigantic increase had everything to do with recruiting, "new, young talented professors to our system." The report says that with many aged professors retiring, the CSU system is having trouble recruiting the kind of high caliber professors they want because their compensation is low compared to universities around the country. The professors' union finally got the trustees to see that if they want a certain level of education, they needed to invest in the people who offer it.
A lesson for the church here?
What struck me about the agreement, a whopping 20.7% increase over four years, is that their reasoning for this gigantic increase had everything to do with recruiting, "new, young talented professors to our system." The report says that with many aged professors retiring, the CSU system is having trouble recruiting the kind of high caliber professors they want because their compensation is low compared to universities around the country. The professors' union finally got the trustees to see that if they want a certain level of education, they needed to invest in the people who offer it.
A lesson for the church here?
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Response
I was reading yesterday the Circuit West that my Annual Conference puts out with all the information they find important to print. I usually glance at the letters to the editor, because like the homegrown newspaper here in the South Bay of Los Angeles, they are usually entertaining. This issue's letters began with a letter from a Boomer pastor who was bemoaning the fact that for many years he's read books, gone to seminars, done all this crap to try and attract young people to worship. Now, he's decided because he's gone to yet another seminar (likely led by another boomer) that small groups are what young adults need.
Not once in his his little note did he say that he spent TIME with young adults developing relationships with them. This might mean getting his butt out of his chair and into unfamiliar territory. I know for a fact that when I was in college, one of my UM student movement friends (a young adult), went to this guy's church. If starting a sermon with a joke, (that according to her never related to the message of the day), is the ideal of what "good worship," is, uh....need I say more.
Like my bright yellow, thick leadership book says, "leadership is about relationships." Again, need I say more?!
At the end of his letter he suggests that we all should leave our pulpits and pull up a chair and sit with people. Rather than making worship vital and relevant, that he should have discussion groups. We live in a "both/and" world, dude. Get it that you need to have BOTH to build trust and relationships that will then be worthy of a young person's commitment. Telling me a joke every time you get into the pulpit (oh, yeah, leave that, too) is not gonna do it for me. I'm pretty sure that's true for other young adults, too.
A little disclaimer-- I know all Boomers are not guilty of being like this guy. But the vocal ones make the rest look bad. The letter is a "poor me" and makes the issue about the Boomer, not evangelism.
I'd love to see how the conversation would play out between Jesus and his Boomer disciples....
Boomer Thomas: "Jesus, we went into the town, pulled out our acoustic guitars, starting playing great 60's style music, read from the Torah, and nobody seemed interested in hearing the good news. I tried, man."
Jesus: "Did you talk to people, share the good news, care for the poor, heal the sick?"
BT: "Well, no... we disciples thought that if we hung out together at Starbucks they'd come to us. But no one seemed to want to talk to us. We're your disciples-- they should just know to come to us, right?"
Jesus, "Uh, discipleship and ministry is not about YOU. It's about relationships with others. Have you not been paying attention to what I've been teaching you?"
BT: "Oh, that stuff...well, it stretches us a little too far. We're not sure we can totally follow all that stuff you want us to do. We'd rather see the Sabbath as a spa day. That taking up the cross thing...we tried it in the late 60s, and we'd rather make money now..."
Jesus: "God, they know not what they do..."
You get the idea...and can probably write a better script!
Evangelism to young people is not about "posing" or copying. It's about being real. It's about committing to getting out and being with people. It's about BEING the church in the world.
Not once in his his little note did he say that he spent TIME with young adults developing relationships with them. This might mean getting his butt out of his chair and into unfamiliar territory. I know for a fact that when I was in college, one of my UM student movement friends (a young adult), went to this guy's church. If starting a sermon with a joke, (that according to her never related to the message of the day), is the ideal of what "good worship," is, uh....need I say more.
Like my bright yellow, thick leadership book says, "leadership is about relationships." Again, need I say more?!
At the end of his letter he suggests that we all should leave our pulpits and pull up a chair and sit with people. Rather than making worship vital and relevant, that he should have discussion groups. We live in a "both/and" world, dude. Get it that you need to have BOTH to build trust and relationships that will then be worthy of a young person's commitment. Telling me a joke every time you get into the pulpit (oh, yeah, leave that, too) is not gonna do it for me. I'm pretty sure that's true for other young adults, too.
A little disclaimer-- I know all Boomers are not guilty of being like this guy. But the vocal ones make the rest look bad. The letter is a "poor me" and makes the issue about the Boomer, not evangelism.
I'd love to see how the conversation would play out between Jesus and his Boomer disciples....
Boomer Thomas: "Jesus, we went into the town, pulled out our acoustic guitars, starting playing great 60's style music, read from the Torah, and nobody seemed interested in hearing the good news. I tried, man."
Jesus: "Did you talk to people, share the good news, care for the poor, heal the sick?"
BT: "Well, no... we disciples thought that if we hung out together at Starbucks they'd come to us. But no one seemed to want to talk to us. We're your disciples-- they should just know to come to us, right?"
Jesus, "Uh, discipleship and ministry is not about YOU. It's about relationships with others. Have you not been paying attention to what I've been teaching you?"
BT: "Oh, that stuff...well, it stretches us a little too far. We're not sure we can totally follow all that stuff you want us to do. We'd rather see the Sabbath as a spa day. That taking up the cross thing...we tried it in the late 60s, and we'd rather make money now..."
Jesus: "God, they know not what they do..."
You get the idea...and can probably write a better script!
Evangelism to young people is not about "posing" or copying. It's about being real. It's about committing to getting out and being with people. It's about BEING the church in the world.
Monday, April 02, 2007
UNREMARKABLE!
That's what my results said about my internal organs.
One of the few times in my life I can safely say I'm happy to be called unremarkable. Still not sure what caused me to be so ill, but I'll take it.
Thank you so much for your prayers!
One of the few times in my life I can safely say I'm happy to be called unremarkable. Still not sure what caused me to be so ill, but I'll take it.
Thank you so much for your prayers!
It's SPRING!
Thanks for the prayers...no results yet...I'll let you know!
On a more enjoyable front, BASEBALL SEASON HAS BEGUN! I know, they get paid way too much. They use drugs to make them super-human. But I love the game. Could this be our year?
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