Are Clergy a Thing of the Past?

Do you think the last Dodo knew when the end was near or did it simply not wake up one morning? While I am certainly not the last clergy person, and will probably be long gone if such a day ever comes when clergy are extinct, the question may seem premature.  However, I have been wondering about the future of the office of Minister of Word and Sacrament.

In our tradition, clergy, having graduated from college and seminary (a three year master's degree), and having fulfilled a care process, which is a minimum of two years and includes multiple examinations, are called to the office of Minister of Word and Sacrament.  My personal preparation for ordination was a seven year process, after graduating from Monmouth College.

As you can see, our denomination, the candidates and their families make a significant investment through the process of ordination.  Is this an investment that can be sustained?

As Presbyterian congregations decrease in membership, fewer are able to benefit from installed clergy.  Currently, about half of the congregations in our presbytery are served, full time, by Ministers of the Word and Sacrament.  The remainder are served by clergy in temporary pastoral relations and commissioned lay pastors, some of whom are not even Presbyterian.  Some of these congregations are doing quite well with their pastoral leadership.  Others are not.

As someone responsible for helping congregations in our presbytery find pastoral leadership, I am grateful there are faithful and capable pastors who are not necessarily ordained to the office of Minister of Word and Sacrament.  However, I am also aware of the problems that arise when clergy and lay pastors do not understand their respective calls.

One Sunday morning, I heard a lay pastor tell a couple of stories, which I think she probably pulled from the internet and then offered a message she had borrowed from a colleague of mine, also from the internet.  All of this made for a lovely and inspirational presentation, which I think many who listened to her must have enjoyed.  However, it raises the question, did she preach the Word of God?

This is a hard question to answer.  For most Christians, the lines between witness, testimony, meditation, homily and sermon are hazy.  Not to mention, for many, the quality of the sermon is often equated more with the entertainment value than with the integrity of the exegesis.

Even among Presbyterian churches seeking pastoral leadership, the primary questions are not always related to the person's qualifications and the standards set by our Book of Order.  For many, the primary questions are "Who's available?" and "Does our congregation like him/her?"  Add to this, the fact that God can speak through even the worst preachers on their worst days, a blessing I have received as a preacher, on more days than I care to admit, and a difficult question is made almost untenable.

I am not sure what the future holds for the office of Minister of Word and Sacrament.  However, given our heritage, and the changing world in which we live, I do believe it is important for us to give some thought to this office and what it means to faithfully preach God's Word and administer the sacraments.

What does it mean to say someone has received God's call to ministry?  What does it mean to say this call has been affirmed, not only by the inner illumination of the candidate, but also by the local congregation and the presbytery, as well? What does it mean to say someone has the authority of ordination? What does it mean to preach God's Word and administer the Sacraments in a faithful manner?  What distinguishes the office of a minister of Word and Sacrament from other offices in the congregation? 

People of faith, while I have given much thought to questions such as these, I don't have all the answers.  Since this is a call we share, I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

See you in church!

Pastor Myers

revhaggis1@hotmail.com

"Defined by Our Decisions" 

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7                 Romans 5:12-19

Psalm 32                                     Matthew 4:1-11

Lay Assistant: 

Lorna Blackford

Communion Servers: 

Mary Distin, Linda Baker, Mary Lyle, Phylllis Wilson, Jane Kellogg, Betsy Akey, Carol Heflin, John Lyle, Ralph Whiteman, Tom Sargent, Buster Kellogg, Armond Akey

Beedle/Crucifer:

      Dalton Willett and Natalie Baber        

Ushers:

Mike & Korey Fisher, Bob Green George Nieman, Steve Johnson

Greeters: 

  Rose Trimble and Bob & Mona Buchholz      

Nursery: 

    Bonnie Heflin & Landen Crosier       

Children's Church: 

    Margie Myers     

  Coffee Hour:   

     Ted & Vicki Briscoe       

Sunday school for PreK - 6th meet up stairs and Jr. & Sr. Highs meet in the Youth Wing at 9:15 a.m.

Sunday Morning Bible Study Class - Led by Joyce Hagemann.  This class will meet in the brides room at 9:15.  They will begin the spring semester with the study of 1 Timothy. 

Faith & Life Class - March 13 - Documentary on the Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  We will meet in the library.

Your weekly Scripture readings are:

Sunday (3/13) - 1 Kings 2:1-4:172 Samuel 7:1-10:19   

Monday - 1 Kings 4:18-7:12   

Tuesday - 1 Kings 7:13-8:47   

Wednesday - 1 Kings 8:48-10:29    

Thursday - 1 Kings 11:1-13:18    

Friday - 1 Kings 13:19-15:34   

Saturday - 1 Kings 16:1-18:31    

Sunday (3/20) - 1 Kings 18:32-20:43

In January, we started to schedule a round of home communions for our "at home" members.  About the time we started, we had a couple of pastoral care emergencies, which took precedence; a bout of bad weather; some illness among our "at home" members; and, a dearth of elders available to assist.  Suffice to say, we were unable to finish our appointed rounds.

We haven't forgotten you.  When I return in a couple of weeks from continuing education, we will begin scheduling another round of home communions.  If you, or someone you know, would like to receive communion, please call the church office, 734-5129, so we may be sure to include you.

Pastor Myers

Fillman Fellowship will meet this evening at 5:00 p.m. 

Please visit the social hall and discover the 6 beautiful photographs of crosses in nature and those we find in our daily lives.  They are beautiful and amazing.  Thank you to the artists, Vicki Young Briscoe, Gene & Donna Larson, Mary Distin and Amy Glenn. 

The 36^th Annual Lenten Lay Breakfast series will begin Friday, March 11, 2011, and continue each Friday morning through Good Friday April 22, 2011.Strom Center will again be the host for the series.Breakfast begins at 6:30 a.m. with worship from 7:15-7:45 a.m. All are welcome.

The Ecumenical Lenten Lay Breakfasts, held on the first Fridays of Lent, are offered by churches participating in the Warren County Ministerial Association.Worship will be led by members of the following congregations.We look forward to seeing you as we begin this holy season.

March 11   Faith United Presbyterian

March 18   Fairview Center Methodist / Coldbrook Christian

March 25    Immaculate Conception

April 1       First United Methodist

April 8       Heritage Presbyterian

April 15     Immanuel Baptist / River Of Life

April 22     First Lutheran

Devotionals will be available in the Narthex or Under the Mirror at the Parking Lot door beginning March 9.  This years devotional is called "I have Heard the Cries of My People:  The Exodus for Lent."  While it is based on Old Testament scripture it is also still Christ centered. 

This is your chance to see local girls performing in the ballet, "Romeo and Juliet".

It will be held at "5 Points" in Washington, Illinois (a short distance from Peoria), this Saturday, March 12, at 7:30 p.m.

Local girls performing will be Samara Baker - daughter of Linda Baker and granddaughter of Mary Baker, Alyssa Golden - daughter of Ray and Shelly Golden, and Faith Martin - granddaughter of Jack and Ginger Martin.

Tickets are $20.00 for adults and $10.00 for students.  If you wish to arrange for a tickets ahead or check on the location, you may call Linda at 309-255-3165 or the Peoria Ballet at 309-690-7990.

The 5th & 6th graders of WNL are starting a new mission project for kids in our community.  They would like to make Birthday boxes for families who can't afford to give their children the kind of party other kids have.  We hope to include in a box:

Cake mix

Frosting

Cupcake cups

Candles

Themed plates

Cups

Napkins

Table cloth

Plastic utensils

Cake decorations

Simple games

Goodie bags

Small toys and candy to go in goodie bags

If you have leftovers from your party or want to buy new please bring them to the church and place them in the birthday box around the corner from the parking lot door.

Kids love themed parties:  Batman, Princess, Cars, Barbie...  but, anything is welcome.   

Thank you for your help, our kids will have fun making the boxes and knowing their helping to make a child's birthday a special one.

April 9, 2011

"Celebration of Giving" 

First Federated Church

3601 N. Sheridan Rd., Peoria, IL

9:30 a.m.

Are you interested in being part of the Monmouth Community Easter Egg Hunt?  Our sisters and brothers at River of Life could use some assistance.  Cash Donations, crowd control, stuffing Easter Eggs with candy, are just a few ways you are able to be involved. They normally have about 1500-2000 kids and normally stuff 20,000 eggs. This is a great way to show our community that we are working together for the Kingdom of God.  If you are interested or have questions, contact Pastor Robb Duffie.

River of Life International Church
P. O. Box 258
1803 80th Street
Monmouth, IL 61462
www.rlichurch.com
(309)734-9998

1     Genevieve Ball

3     Deena Fisher

4     David Distin

5     Mary Baker

       Joyce Hagemann

       Elizabeth James

7     Rhett Willett

8     Sally McVey

9     Matt Lewis

10   Jessica Wilson

11   Kristie Murdock

       Ruth Carwile

       Julie Armstrong 

...happy birthday to you!