Tagged

So my buddy Marybeth tagged me last week while at conference. She and I had some great times in seminary....oh, the times we had!
I've finally come up for air, so here goes:
Four Jobs I've Had
Worked for Godiva Chocolatier during undergrad. (yes, it was a sinful job! but after awhile, it is like selling shoes, I swear!)
I was a file clerk for a year and a half before seminary. (Really, I was more of a corporate chaplain looking out for the support staff who were regularly abused by the attorneys. Favorite part of the job-- got to use my walkman while I worked!)
I worked in Admissions in seminary--a favorite job for me-- I loved interacting with potential students and students transitioning into the seminary...allowed me to know everyone which my little extroverted heart loved!
Pastor. Starting my tenth year in my third appointment. I'd like to stay here for a long time.
Four Movies I Can Watch Over and Over
Star Wars (especially episodes 4-6)
Shaun of the Dead (this movie cracks me up!)
A League of Their Own
Sixteen Candles (I know there are many others...my brain is tired.)
Four Places I've Lived
Lancaster, CA
Huntington Beach, CA
Boston, MA
Lawndale, CA
Four Places I've Vacationed
Hawaii (Oahu, Hawaii, Maui...this year, Kauai)
Yellowstone and Grand Tetons (and we have gorgeous photos to prove it!)
Pacific-Northwest
East Coast (though I'm jonesin' for some Boston grub...and no sight of visiting there anytime soon.)
Four of my favorite dishes
Anything from the Green Temple in South Redondo
Enchiladas made with friends
Fish Sandwiches from Point Loma Seafoods
This Smoked Salmon pasta dish that Joel really loves and Scott's AMAZING Eggplant Parm (it melts in your mouth!)
Four Sites I Visit Daily
Email (this is my favorite way to communicate anymore)
itunes (so fun to listen to a lot of different things)
Favorite blogs (because I love to read what others are thinking)
Amazon.com (hey, if one of our District Superintendents can shop there while in plenary, why can't I?)
Four Places I Would Rather Be Right Now
at home with Joel (he's on summer break, the lucky guy)
with friends (was spoiled last week with my time with them at conference).
at a spa (I could really use a massage!)
walking at the beach (really it is a crime to live this close and not spend more time there!)
Four people I'm tagging:
Molly (holy trouble)
Karen (forever kc!)
David (walking paradox)
Mompriest (seeking authentic voice)
(Of course, I'd love Nicole to play and Katie L., too)

Eddie's SO funny....

We got to see Eddie Izzard live last night at this little club in Los Angeles... literally sold out in minutes because it is so small. He's working on new material for his next show...and we laughed for two solid hours. Good for the abs!
One of many favorite quotes from the night: "Religion should have two things: Common sense and a good sense of humor."

historic.

I'm just back from Redlands, California, and the most recent Annual Conference Sessions. A new day has come to Cal-Pac Annual Conference! This was the year of young leadership. First and foremost, God's Spirit moved in the most amazing and miraculous way-- we elected a 30 year old clergywoman as first clergy delegate (she'll lead the delegation!). Molly will be the youngest clergyperson in memory to hold that chair. She'll do an amazing job and has already received much support and care from persons of all ages. Can't help but think that it does help to put up a solid candidate and leader like Molly-- people will respond to that. Our Conference Leadership Team, led by a 35 year old clergywoman, was able to get its strategic initiatives passed. Young people were up and at microphones, leading worship, discussions, etc. We all definitely took charge and helped to bring about an exciting change! I'm exhausted, but in that good way!

The Weather

Tomorrow I journey to smoggy and hot Redlands, CA, for the Annual Conference meeting. For the past few weeks I've been keeping an eye on the weather in the IE (the Inland Empire) and hearing that it was below average or seasonal for this time of year. This morning I turned on KTLA to learn that they expect the temperatures to go up out there about ten degrees. Coincidence? I don't know...but think about it...1500 United Methodist clergy and lay leaders are gathering at the U of R together....seems like a lot of hot air in one place!
I ask for your prayers for all who will gather to do "holy conferencing" this week...that we might be open to the Spirit's movement among us...and that we might hear each other.
You can keep track of the warm proceedings at the conference's website, www.cal-pac.org.

School is almost out!

This is an edgy tribute to teachers....I give thanks for teachers like my husband, Joel! Here's to the summer countdown!

The Sopranos and Annual Conference

Okay, I've not been someone who has watched the Sopranos-- but I know enough about it to get a Hollywod picture of the mob today. There is always a mob boss-- in this case it is Tony Soprano who is the tough guy. He uses words and actions to make people do what he wants them to do. He's king of the world, center of the universe, the only voice that matters. What Tony says, goes. He's the kind of leader that, at least from my observation from the previews and commercials I've seen, uses people to get what he wants done. It's his way or the highway. Enough cliches to make the point?
Many have been to Annual Conference, others of us are bracing for it. I use the word "bracing" on purpose. It seems that our Annual Conference sessions have gone from "holy conferencing" to "mobster-style" conferencing. We've got "mob bosses" with strong ideas and people willing to follow them, making decisions based upon taste, certain agendas and/or downright stubbornness. Oh, and every time they interact with folks--whether by email or otherwise, they are either passive-aggressive and/or downright mean.
In the long run, this mafia ethos gets in the way of getting things accomplished-- looking forward with hope and vision. In case people forgot, we're a declining denomination trying to do the same stuff we did fifty years ago, and it is not working. The mob bosses don't like the changes the leadership is proposing in my conference because it would mean tough, tough, tough work for all of us. Last time I checked, spiritual leadership did not come with an easy button. But many of the mob bosses speak up because they don't want to change--they like things as they are. Holding people accountable, trying to re-tool pastors who may not have been tooled to begin with, getting laity to get a clue about the true state of the church and their place in making change, and so on, puts us in a difficult place-- one we're all going to have to work through together. It's clear we cannot stay the same or we'll die!
As I learned recently at the Lewis Leadership Cohort, you've got to inspire folks to share a vision with you. That's really tough to do when you've got the Sharks and Jets breaking up any possibility of doing anything positive or hopeful.
Now, this may sound rather fatalistic. In a sense, it is my feeling, much like our Old Testament prophets, wishing God would open up a can of diet "Smite" (oh, how I love that...coined by my lead musician, Jim!) and help us get out of ourselves and think about the future. Right now we've lost my generation, for the most part, from the Church. I'm fighting for my life, so to speak, not to lose the next.
I'm sure my desire to shut up the mob bosses in my Annual Conference to give other voices a chance is going to get me a new pair of shoes, if you know what I mean. But I am tired of seeing the same people who have led us into the trouble we're in getting the time and the resources to take the ship down fully. Sure, I'm using caricatures that I detest, but I want to make a point:
Hear O Annual Conferences! Listen to God not the "Tony Sopranos," both clergy and laity who don't represent God's will, but their agendas!

Lies, Lies, Lies, yeah....

That is the chorus of a Thompson Twins song from the 80's. More recently, though, it has been the only thing I hear out of the mouths of most youths I talk to. I am deeply troubled by what appears to be the okay practice of lying about anything and everything. I feel like my expectations are too high, but the lying is so blatantly wrong and consistent, it is hard to trust any of the young people I work with right now.
My favorite kind of lie is the lie that happens right after I've watched the liar do the questionable act right in front of me. As if I did not see it with my own eyes! The practice is so pervasive, they lie to try and protect each other, even when they don't know exactly what they are lying about-- they would rather lie to try and protect a friend than know the truth.
So it made me think a lot last night. I found out a youth lied to me because she knew that other responsible adults were going to share concerns with me about her behavior. She's pretty smart, so she figured a vague lie, a long face, and playing on my deep concern for her would get her the attention she wanted before the crap hit the fan. When I heard the other side of the story last night, I was livid! I know kids will lie, but again, all the time? Do they all live in a fantasy world where they get away with everything?
Now, I am not perfect and have learned a lot about lying and its consequences. But I also know and say to the youth that telling the truth is not going to get you out of dealing with the consequences, but is likely going to make them better than if you lie.
Are we allowing a generation of young people to grow up thinking it is okay to lie to get their way? I realize that adults have not modeled the kind of values around this issue I'd like them to. But I see a great danger looming if we are not working to stop this insane behavior.
And that's the truth.

Temporary Incompetence

I wanted to blog about the first meeting of the Lewis Fellows...but alas, my schedule is whacked! So finally, I have a minute to share with you all my favorite new phrase from that meeting...temporary incompetence! Lovett Weems (not Hello Kitty, as I apparently implied in a very early post--sorry, Lovett!) shared with us that this is the time period from when one graduates from seminary, enters full time ministry to the time that one finally reaches a sense of competency in one's vocation.
In other words, it is the time it takes to get the hang of things! Lovett went onto explain that everyone experiences this to some degree when they begin something new. What he hopes to do with the Lewis Center and with groups like the Lewis Fellows is help to make that time frame much smaller-- so that young clergy become more effective right away. He, his staff and the seminary are totally dedicated to this! How cool is that?!
Recently I had the chance to go to the "Bat Cave "(a.k.a. Conference Center--that sounds so boring, so I gave it my own cute nickname) to meet with the Bishop and extended cabinet to talk about all the work I've done around young clergy issues. It was a scary, yet exciting opportunity to speak my truth to people in power. And, of course, having some colorful handouts helped! (Praise God for color copiers!) Our discussion was frank and hopeful. They really wanted to know what I was up to, so that we could all move forward together. It was nice to get their insight and ideas about what we could all do to help new young clergy, create a culture of call, and work to make needed changes.
Perhaps my time of "temporary incompetence" is coming to close! Last week I had one of those experiences where I could reflect back and realize how much I've grown as a pastor. Certainly I have much still to learn, but it is nice to see the ways I've been shaped and molded by all the experiences and people in my ministry. Pretty cool....