How does one capture a holy moment?

Such a moment came during a check in at the Mission Immersion in Adrian, Michigan earlier this week.  It came in response to a question as to whether we were ready to move forward in the creating of commissions to address a strategy for fulfilling the ministry to which we are called as a presbytery.  These commissions would be focused on preparing and equipping, nurturing and supporting, and being Christ in the world.  Every one-all forty-five of us-checked in.

The day before Ron Walker had asked the question: "How do you like to do change?"  Note the distinction.  His question was not how do you like change, rather how do you like to DO change.  He asked this question in the context of teaching us about our preferences and the roles we play in leading change using an instrument called Change Style Indicator.   What was clear across the continuum from conserver to pragmatist to originator was that none of us were resistant to change.  While our preferences and needs for process differed, we all believed that God was doing a new thing in our midst.

Another profound moment came when Ben George made the connection between learnings from our work with George Bullard on congregational lifecycles and the Gallup Strengths Finder.  He (rightly, we believe) equated vision with the Strategy strengths, relationships with Relationship strengths (okay, that was pretty obvious), ministry and mission with the Influencing strengths, and structure with the Executing strengths.  It was an Aha moment and one we celebrated.  In particular, we celebrated that the greatest strength evidenced in the Executing quadrant was Belief!  We structure our ministries through who we are in Christ!

Our time in worship was rich shaped by the Ignatian rhythm of consolation and desolation.  Deep thanks to both Robin Craig and Bob Meyer for their leadership!  They helped us own that all change-even good change-is loss.  Yet, it is only in the letting go that we can take hold of the new that God is seeking to birth in us. 

It was a gift to have Craig Butler with us-both as living memory and reflective observer.  He reminded us that the seeds of our present work were planted during the Season of Sabbath.  He delighted in the reality that we were still wandering in fields of our Lord!  As we closed, Paula Lane challenged us to heed God's call through our individual and collective "Hedgehogs"-that is, through the intersection of our strengths and our passions with the needs of the community. 

The Foundations of our Book of Order call for "a new openness."  That openness was clearly evidenced by our interactions with one another.  We are thrilled by the deepened relationships born of our parishes.  We are convicted by the reality that there are certain mission efforts that we can do better together.  We are hungry to grow in Christ, so that we might be Christ in the world!

It was amazing that forty-five people could gather for the Mission Immersion!  We are excited to share the learning we had and will be doing so in a variety of ways.  Over the months of June and July there will be parish gatherings to share more fully of the experience.  Additionally, for those who have not had the chance to develop your leadership portrait and learn about yourself through the lens of MBTI, Gallup Strengths, and Change Style Indicator, join us on Wednesday, July 10 from 10a-3p at the Mission Center to more fully Discover Your Place in Ministry. 

Finally, we ask that you mark your calendars for a time to check in at the Mission Center followed by dinner at my home on Wednesday, August 14 from 4-8pm.  More details will follow.  As always, spouses and children are welcome.  In fact, we encourage spouses with kids to join Lifeguard Donnie poolside at 3:30p for a swim while their pastor spouses/parents check in.  Blessing for a pulled pork supper at 6:00pm!

Special thanks to Council for their leadership in this season-Dave de Vries (chair); Jon Carlisle (moderator); Karin Wright (Area I); Tom Houston (Area II); Suellen Skinner (Area III); Tim Pollock (Area IV; vice moderator); Andy Gerhart (Administration); Chris Stewart (COM); Cathy Piekarski (CPM); and Bob Meyer (Nominating).  Plus, ex officio: Paula Lane (transitional stated clerk); Jim Spain (treasurer); and Debbie Rundlett (general presbyter).

With deep love in Christ,