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Notes to Clergy
August/September: General
Assembly "One Church - One Vision" is fast approaching
and Disciples Home Missions (DHM) is preparing for our time together.
I am looking forward to introducing our staff to all of you. It
is our intent to share with you of our vision pastoral care, inform
you of our administrative support and respond to questions, concerns,
needs and recommendations you may have for us. The directors of
Search and Call, Womens' Ministry, Black Ministry, Licensed Ministry
and possibly others will be identified at that time.
Group Meetings are scheduled to extend our support to you in your
ministry. The Disciple Clergy Womens' Meeting is on October 18 at
9:15 p.m. in the Convention Center in Room 208A. This meeting is
designed to support clergy women in all vocational ministries. Areas
of focus will be supporting the licensed minister when a networking
group is not available, discussing issues from the last General
Assembly Clergy Meeting which were not resolved, responding to issues
that have been identified to the Office of Christian Vocation and
responding to recommendations for clergy support.
There will be an All Clergy Meeting October 20, at 9:15 p.m. in
the Convention Center in Room 207 A&B. The President of DHM,
Arnold Nelson Jr., will address the clergy and convey his Vision
and Support to Disciple Clergy Care. This meeting is intended to
be a positive period of exchange of ways to support you in your
service to God, in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
If you would like to offer suggestions for these meetings, contact
me at dthompso@dhm.disciples.org. The information will be compiled
and used for the purpose of discussion and support at the meeting.
My prayer remains the same. Almighty God our Creator, through
Jesus Christ our Lord, I give thanks to you for allowing us to serve
our Clergy of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). May you,
dear Lord, know we are blessed to extend our hand of care and love
to those who serve you so faithfully. May your sweet spirit rest
and abide within their hearts and may your light surround, enfold
and protect them. May your presence be with them always. Amen. Danny
R. Thompson Vice President, Office of Christian Vocations
The Rev. Danny R. Thompson, vice
president for Christian Vocations, is a native of Radford, Va.,
and a member of Geist Christian Church, Indianapolis. Ind.
The
Family Matters
August/September: Recently
I heard a report that a young minister left local church ministry
because her family was "so messed up." This caused me
to feel both sadness and anger for a number of reasons, not the
least of which is that I know this family and know this is not the
whole story.
Like all human families, ministers' families have problems. Unlike
most families, ministers' families live in the public eye. Tremendous
expectations are placed upon them. They are too often expected to
be perfect and to raise model children. At the same time, job pressures
often mean ministers have difficulty finding time to spend with
their own families. Hear me when I say, troubling times come to
ALL families- Christian or not, children or no children, married
or single.
Life is filled with challenges. It is not the presence of problems
that makes a mess of family life. It is being unable to handle problems
effectively. Sometimes families just don't know what to do. However,
they do know that even greater suffering can come from judgementalism
and isolation if their problems become known. Unfortunately, this
can be especially true for those who live out their lives as leaders
of faith communities. At times families need the intervention of
trained professor objective friends. Fear keeps many from seeking
the help they need. Efforts go into maintaining a good front rather
than solving problems. Denial and secrecy about problems in families,
especially ministers' families, can come at a high price.
Canadian Disciples will celebrate Christian Family Week beginning
on Thanksgiving, October 13. I challenge all of us between now and
October 13 to pray only for our minister's families and to make
very conscious and specific efforts to support them in the living
of their family lives.
As congregational leaders, do not place unfair expectations on
your minister's families, especially the children. See that your
minister have adequate time to spend with them.
Be slow to judge them; offer compassion and acceptance, during
the good times and the bad. Like many denominations today, we are
experiencing a shortage of clergy. There can be no doubt that a
faith community whose life and relationships reflect a valuing of
families, including the minister's family, will encourage more people
to answer the call of (and remain in) pastoral ministry.
Back to that family mentioned in the beginning. It is true this
minister accepted a call outside of local church ministry. This
came about soon after her family experienced difficult times. Perhaps
the pain some individuals caused her family did influence her decision.
I don't know. What I do know is, in spite of life's messiness, this
family continues to address problems with the unconditional love
known through Jesus the Christ. I pray we as individuals, families
and faith communities always strive to do the same.
The Rev. Kaye Edwards,
director of Family and Children's Ministries, is a native
of Paris, Ky., and a member of Greenfield Christian Church, Greenfield,
Ind.
Daily
Bread for All
August/September: The International
Christian Women's Fellowship Executive Committee and Mother-to-Mother
Ministry have endorsed Bread for the World's 2004 Offering of Letters
to Congress. This is on behalf of hungry people around the world.
It is in support of the ICWF four-year social action emphasis, Daily
Bread for All.
Hunger is one of all the big problems in the world we can actually
solve. Feeding hungry people is a great start. Convincing our national
leaders to invest in education, tools, and other resources so those
trapped by chronic hunger can free themselves is another form of
action.
Letters this year are to advocate the Millennium Challenge Account
(MCA), a way to add poverty-focused development assistance to help
hungry and poor people become self-reliant. MCA has the potential
to improve nutrition, health care, education, and drinking water
for millions of people in developing countries.
There are many ways we can work on hunger issues. In the May issue
of the Advocate, an article appeared about donating food through
visiting the Hunger Site, www.thehungersite.com. Advocacy is another
form of action we can take. The word "advocate" means
"one who pleads another's cause." We can testify in places
of power to bring good news to the poor, let the oppressed go free,
and assure daily bread for all.
The CWF executive committee encourages you to ask your members
of Congress to approve the legislation and funding for the MCA.
For more information and to learn the names and addresses of your
representatives, check the web site of Bread for the World, www.bread.org,
or phone BFW at (800) 82-BREAD.
Light a Candle for Children
August/September: Light a
Candle for Children is a prayer and advocacy project that begins
Sunday, September 7, 2003. The vigil lasts for 40 days and leads
up to the observance of the National Children's Sabbaths. Children's
Sabbath celebrations are sponsored by the Children's Defense Fund
and are held the third weekend of October. To receive a packet of
information on the prayer vigil and the Children's Sabbath celebrations,
contact Connie Metts,
(888)346-2631 ext. 2641.
Daily Bread for All:Introducing the Social Action Emphasis LOGO
for Disciples Women/CWF
June/July: Eight tips on using
the LOGO for discussion on World Hunger, by Carol Q. Cosby. Available
on the Disciples Disciples
Women Web site or by mail. Call (888) 346-2631.
Heifer International's "Read to Feed" program
June/July: The “Read to
Feed” program contains Heifer-related learning games and fun
for kids of all ages! Here are crossword puzzles, Print-and-Do coloring
pages, e-postcards, the "Food Pyramid Game" and more.
Use as conversation starters for programs on Hunger, Christian Education
events, "Table Talk" place mats, Children's worship pack
activities, Bulletin Board visuals. Includes notes for teachers,
leaders and parents. Visit the Heifer
International Web site.
First Impressions: How Does Your Congregation Measure Up?
June/July: First impressions
are very important! How does your congregation measure up? Use the
following questions to rate what first time visitors or folks in
the community may see and experience as a first impression of your
congregation.
- Is the community aware of your congregation's ministry through
publicity efforts?
- Are invitational and informative ads in the Yellow Pages and
local papers?
- Are periodic special efforts made to inform the community of
special events and worship opportunities (flyers delivered to
homes, posters for public places, radio ads, banners or signs
on the church property when weather permits)?
- Is your church sign visible, easy to read, informative and
inviting? Does it stand perpendicular to the road and is it well
lit?
- Is its information (times of services, etc) up-to-date?
- Do the movable letters in the sign allow you to add eye-catching
messages regularly?
- Are directional signs maintained and well-placed in key community
locations?
- Are your church building and grounds attractive and well maintained?
- Do the landscaping, parking lot, signage, and the building's
appearance communicate that your church is vital and caring?
- Do clean, bright rooms, bulletin boards, art work, furniture
and fixtures help your guests and members feel welcome and enthusiastic
about your ministry together?
- Is your parking lot well-marked with directional signs and
parking spaces for visitors close to the main entrance?
- Do you reserve from two to six spaces (depending on the size
of your congregation) for visitors and those with physical challenges?
- Do you help visitors feel welcome as soon as they enter the
parking lot?
- Do parking lot attendants direct visitors to designated guest
parking and welcome all worshippers to your congregation?
- During inclement weather, do attendants assist worshippers
with a hand, and an umbrella?
"Feed My Sheep" 2003-04 Study Theme
June/July: The 2003-04 Disciples
Women/ICWF study material offers a compelling look at Jesus' call
to Peter (John 21:15-18). When you pick up the New Day magazine,
you'll see images of God's creation—the abundant, generous
bounty that God has
provided. Yet, you will be reminded that not all share in this bounty.
As you face the reality of hunger in our world, you will be challenged
to share in ministries of filling empty stomachs and spirits. God's
will is that everyone be fed.
"Feed My Sheep," edited by Marti Hunter, offers a reflective
blending of hunger issues, biblical reflections and insights about
India, this year's mission emphasis. Through this study, you may
gain new understandings of our Christian response to the world's
needs. New Day will give you much "food for thought" through
its Musings, Mission Matters, Points to Ponder, intercessory prayer
ideas, worship resources, and Spirit Quest.
The New Day magazine format can be used with an organized women's
group with Leader's Guide and the General Program Book, or for individual
reflection and action. For a complete review of the New Day "Feed
My Sheep" issue and a summary of each of the 9 lessons, see
Guideposts for Leaders, on the Disciples Women’s Web site.
To order, contact Christian Board
of Publication at (800) 366-3383.
For tips on using New Day magazine for individual study, see the
article by Kathy Hedrick, Women's Ministries Coordinator for the
Kansas Region, on the Disciples Women’s Web
site.
Resources for ministry available online
April/May: "What an exciting
and spiritually uplifting time,” said The Rev. Danny R. Thompson,
vice president of Christian Vocations at Disciples Home Missions.
He went on to note the important "dreams and visions"
being articulated as the Office of Christian Vocations reaches out
this year to begin their major focus of clergy care.
With Search and Call being an integral part of the larger ministry
of Christian Vocations, there is an increasing level of energy being
directed toward this critical work as we seek to facilitate the
availability of qualified clergy candidates for congregations seeking
new pastoral leadership. In this mission, the Search and Call office
especially understands the importance of caring for clergy seeking
new positions of ministry. So also is it important to provide empowering
resources for every congregation working to ensure a healthy and
productive relationship with their pastor, now and in the future.
To this end, the Search and Call office is providing more of their
standard resources online in Web page format and as downloadable
.PDF documents. Currently, these same documents are also in the
process of being translated into Spanish; completed translations
will be made available online and by mail. Discussions have begun
about how to make these same documents available in other languages
common to a number of our Disciples congregations.
At present, Ministry Resources which clergy and congregations will
find online include:
- Sabbatical Leave suggested guidelines;
- Ministerial Code of Ethics;
- Policies and Criteria for the Order of Ministry;
- Guidelines and Service Suggestions for Ordination.
We also plan to provide the following additional resources as
soon as some recently approved revisions to these documents are
completed:
- Congregational Profile form;
- Ethical Guidelines for Congregational Conduct;
- Closing A Pastoral Ministry: Ethical Considerations and Support
Resources.
Anyone who wishes to download these documents can go to the Search
and Call Web site.
Then, simply click on the menu link to Ministry guidelines to find
the page listing the available resource you need. Once there, you
may follow each link to read specific Web page versions of the documents
and/or download any available .PDF versions. The DHM Search and
Call staff continue to work on providing additional materials for
congregations and clergy that will be helpful in the Christian Church's
Search and Call process.
The Rev. Warren P. Lynn,
director of the Office of Search and Call in Christian Vocations,
DHM, is a native of Salem, Ore., and a member of Allisonville Christian
Church, Indianapolis, Ind.
For Young Disciples: Conscientious Objector packet can help
April/May: The war in Iraq
raises important issues for Disciples. Many are serving in the military.
Many would gladly join. Should a military draft be restored most
would serve if called. Still others would find participation in
military service irreconcilable to their understanding of Christian
living. This diversity is consistent with our history. Disciples
Home Missions is the unit of church-wide life responsible for serving
all persons regardless of their choice.
A Conscientious Objectors packet for helping persons learn their
options, including conscientious objection, and the ramification
of their choices, is available through the Office of Christian Vocations.
Please contact us for information. Call (888) 346-2631 or visit
this Web site: www.homelandministries.org/SOCIALJUSTICE/CO.htm.
Christian Parenting Program
as endorsed by General Minister and President
April/May: ARK (Adults Relating
to Kids) is a groundbreaking parenting program that was developed
in one of our congregations, Cypress Creek Christian Church in Spring,
Texas. It is a program that provides a new paradigm for creating
high self-esteem in our kids and enabling them to discover their
worth as valued children of God. By participating in ARK groups
parents and other caring adults become vessels through whom the
unconditional love of God revealed through Jesus Christ is poured
into the lives of our children. Dr. Hamm says, "My hope and
prayer is that our churches can become known as specializing in
ministry to children and their families. ARK can be a powerful tool
in accomplishing that mission."You can read about ARK here.
Contact DHM at (888) 346-2631 for a free brochure and to find out
how to schedule an ARK for Parents and ARK for Teens facilitator
training event in your area.
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