Annual Conference 2011 - Future note to self

Every year the UMC has what is called "Annual Conference."  In my experience of AC, it is a business meeting in which we hand out awards and pass a budget thank those retiring hear from the bishop's spouse (who know's why?) and the bishop. Oh yes, and at AC is where the UMC ordains people.

This AC, is by far the most memorable.  Not only was I ordained (see June 7th post) but I developed this paper.  I am not sure if it will get any larger for anyone to read it (in fact if I cannot get it to remain small and illegible, then I may just take the picture down), but it is a list of names that was suggested to me as young adult clergy who would were willing and able to serve as delegates to another conference (General and Jurisdictional if you really want to know.)

This little slip of paper has become for me everything that I do not want to do and be in the UMC.  Not that I would not mind serving as a delegate to future conferences, but that I do not ever want to be caught up in a swirl of running around the floor of AC trying to organize and get the word out about what young clergy to vote for.  

I am posting this as a reminder to myself that we are to be the change we wish to see in the world and by doing what I did was not being a positive change agent.  Systems are a powerful thing and can wrap us up in a heartbeat if we are not vigilant to what is happening.  I am forever thankful to Nancy Allen and Jim Conner for talking me off the ledge of insanity   

On a more positive note, one of the delegates to AC from Arlington Heights, Robyn, snapped a photo of me in some swank 3D glasses.  I have decided that I want glasses.  

Thirdly, for future reference, we need to post the twitter feed live next year.  There are some really great lines in this year's feed such as: 

steveheyduck Steve Heyduck 

Churches should need land like Israel needed a king. #ctc11

Aly_Donaldson Alyssa Donaldson 

I feel like all the #ctc11 tweeters are creating the biggest database of inside jokes and inside understandings ever.

steveheyduck Steve Heyduck 

What would it look like if lay elected clergy & vice versa? Should that make a difference? #ctc11

marianne_brown Marianne Brown 

I don't know how I feel about the frequency I'm hearing "the cluster groups will help that." #ctc11

gravleyp Paul Gravley 

We need to do a better job of teaching the whys in what we do in worship, but do it actually in worship! #ctc11

marianne_brown Marianne Brown 

"Honey, it's Holy wine, there's no backwash." -Adam Hamilton #ctc11

gravleyp Paul Gravley 

There is something theologically fantastic about the idea of holy backwash! #ctc11

steveheyduck Steve Heyduck 

Best clergy candidates: effective clergy who are not interested. #ctc11

minimar7 Mary Spradlin 

I want to be an effective pastor. That's not the only reason I brushed my teeth this morning! #ctc11

Paradox of the call

A story was shared at Annual Conference last night about a farmer who felt a call from God to be ordained in the UMC. It was reported that this farmer turned minister felt a that a burden had been lifted from his shoulders upon ordination.  

I heard that story and began to get chills.  Not because of the ordained part, but because I can connect (and I am sure you can as well) to the idea than when we are able to "do" that which gives us purpose we become liberated.  When we are able to live out our call, whatever it may be, we become free from the anxiety of "what do I want to be when I grow up" and the pressure to "live a meaningful life".  When we are able to do what we are called to do, we have a burden lifted from us.  If you find you are chronically unhappy with your work, I wonder if your work is what your call is?  

I have the privilege of being one of the people in the world who gets to do what I feel I am called to do.  I get to do work that gives meaning a purpose to my life and I get to help those around me do the same.  Upon ordination, I anticipation a burden to be lifted from my shoulders as I am liberated to do work that connects me to a greater whole.  

At the same time...

Ordination is a very humbling and heavy mantel.  

By being ordained I am joining in a long tradition of which I get the honor of carrying for a period of time.  I am given the permission by the laity to help lead a congregation of which people before me helped create and nurture.  I feel I am being handed the keys to a beloved Gran Torino and asked to be careful with it.  

I feel a heavy burden of being an ordained elder in the UMC being placed upon me today.  

This is the paradox of the call on our lives.  We are liberated and set free to do and be that which we are called to be, yet at the same time we become keenly aware of the responsibilities that come with the privilege of being able to be one who is able to do work that feeds the deepest part of oneself and helps neighbors.  

If you love what you do and do what you love, count your lucky stars you are able to do it.  Few have that chance to live our the call on their lives.  You are able to live into a call on your life that gives you meaning and purpose and direction.  At the same time may you come to know the great responsibility that comes with this gift of living our our call.  

So today, the paradox of the call begins for me.

What is our mole

My wife and I have radically different tastes in movies.  Most of the time we end up watching a period piece about the Tutor family in England, because that is what she likes, and I do not really care.  Every now and again, Estee will select a couple of movies she thinks that I will like and then she allows me to pick one.  It really is a great gesture and I am thankful.  The other day we use this process to "decide" to watch Robin Hood: Men in Tights.  Well, we both watch half of it and then remember how much funnier it was when we were younger.

Here is one of the scenes in the movie which I just love, and while the quality is bad, you get the point.




If you do not know, the king's mole moves around his face each scene.  It is classic.

It got me thinking about what is the mole on the church that is obvious to everyone else, but we do not have a clue about?

From a clergy position, I can give answers which I think are spot on, but I am sure that I am not even close to correct answers.  I say things like - poor theology or ineffective leaders.  But I just am not sure that is what others see as the mole in our churches.

So I ask, what is the mole of the UMC?  What do others see about the church that we do not know about?