This morning I started one for here about giving and stewardship, however I accidently lost the post, but plan to re-craft it in near future. Also some reflection on what is church, with a primary focus I think upon the local expression is also in the works, and has been for a week or so. If it gets finished I am sure it shall appear at least in part here, as I see it a continuation of the “Building the peaceable community (Zion)” series. In fact it is currently titled “Building the Peaceable Community (Zion): pt4 Church.” I am also starting to work on a couple of sermons, (31 Jan and 21 March) both which are primarily in the “thought and early reflection stage” I doubt I will get further on either until after the webcast on Sunday by Prophet-Present Steve Veazey as he shares words of guidance and inspired council to the church. I am also working on a few things  things about liturgical theology, peace and justice…  Mixed in this as well are things that may come to form as I reflect upon the congregation and work with my fellow pastors in helping to serve with the Kirtland Community of Christ.

So yes there’s a lot on my plate writing wise. the struggle is less with the thoughts, but bringing them together. As often of late the ideas are running through my head, when I’m in the car, spending time with friends, working on 6 in pipes with a friend, watching a child or two run around and play, or in the shower…  where I can’t just write the thoughts down, and when I get to where I can the wonderful metaphors, explorations, and thoughts are not as full and refuse to take shape again. But I’m going to try and set aside time to write. As I try and arrange things I may also end up re-arranging my dwelling place, and perhaps that shall lead to a more productive environment… or is it just a new distraction?

Beyond all this I have also realized I haven’t been reading a lot lately, well not reading a lot of long pieces, you know long journal articles or books… So I’m going to start tackling that as well. I think I’ll start by reading through some of those books on the bookshelves’ that I never finished either as they were not assigned or I just ran out of time…. Or perhaps the one sitting on my bedside table, a book never assigned which I started a while back and then kinda forgot it was there till today when I saw it there along with a roll of electrical tape…. no I have no idea why the tape is there.

Time to reflect on other things,

Peace be with you,

I think perhaps my understanding was based on a misunderstanding of principles expressed in sacred texts that Community of Christ holds as scriptures. It was also not a fully embraced belief, for in many ways I applied it only to myself. That is receiving payment for ministerial services. I had no problem with the campus minister being paid, the denominational leaders…. But I struggled greatly with the $17.25 I received  for each week I served as Head Deacon at Graceland University in my last two years there. I struggled as I started to understand that part of my calling was to peruse graduate education in theology and ministry, and that ministry was my calling, and likely it would have to be paid, in order to provided the basics and be able to place all my energy and focus into serving with others in seeking the peaceable community.

Community of Christ has a strong history of self-sustaining, multi-vocational ordained ministers and an understanding even the un-ordained are called to ministry and service as well. At times we pushed away from anyone being paid for their official ministerial duties which sometimes led them to be paid for other jobs they had for the church in addition to those seen as their ministry (I would argue it all was part of their ministry) eventually over time we did develop a system and acceptance of a paid ministry, though primarily at the denominational and mid-level jurisdictions, very few at the congregational level.  In recent times however it also seems to be that many of the  ministers who have received formal theological training and employed by the church have ended up in heavily administrative ministry roles rather than missional ministry… in some places shifts are being done to move them back into the field of missional ministry and move the administrative duties and roles to self-sustaining ministers. In part leading to hopefully a better use of the resources, and a better alignment of persons gifts and callings and the roles they serve in.

Today as I was struggling with the sermon I am trying to write I read the lectionary passages, one of which was from II Nephi  (I thin 11:95-110 or close to that)  some of the verses (106-109) drew my mind to reflecting upon this issue of paid ministry. Those verses slightly adapted for readability and inclusivity are:

The Holy commands that there shall be no priestcrafts, for behold, priestcrafts are that people preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain, and the praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion. Adonai has forbidden this thing; where for the Holy One has given a commandment, that all should have charity, which charity is love. And Except they should have charity, they were nothing, wherefore if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish. But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish

As I read this my mind wonder back to those struggles and conversations I had as I was seeking things out. Pondries which I think I never turned to the written word for guidance or inspiration, but rather relied upon myself, prayer, and others to aide me through the journey. However here on this day as I struggle with a sermon, I found myself reading these words as I sat and watched people and ate, and found perhaps finally a path to understanding for me regarding this belief of mine that had been shifting for some time.  Here in these words I find today the Holy speaking out to me. it is not the “payment” that it at issue it is the reason.

If one is seeking to be a minister because they want the focus, attention…. that rightfully belongs to the Holy One, than one is doing it for the wrong reason pay or not. If one is laboring for Zion, but only for the pay rather than for the cause, then it is wrong. However if One is seeking to honor the Holy One, is laboring to share the Peace of Christ and building the peaceable community,and receives payment so that she or he may have food, shelter…. It is a different story, and in that case I find acceptance. 

Or in other words, I currently have a job to pay the bills, I do it for the money primarily so I can pay the bills, and also to encounter and interact with others, as I seek something in my field. If someone was to do ministry for the reason I do my paid work that would be wrong, however if they did it because they cared for people, felt called by God, and were seeking to build the peaceable community and accepted the payment because without it they could not give fully of themselves and their time to that which they are called to, the building of the peaceable community, then it is in those places I find acceptance. Most of the paid ministers I know personally, or who are seeking that route, those who i went to school with and others, fall in that category though their understanding of mission and goal may be different depending on the tradition they are part of.

I’ve got more to think about, more to reflect. I also know that in some ways I wish that when the day comes that I find someone to spend my life with, she will have a job or resources that could potentially lead me to be a full time self-sustaining minister, though I know the reality is I will probably have to receive some payment to ensure the bills are paid and food, shelter, healthcare, clothing are available as we seek to ensure and strive for the day the the same is true for all 6 billion plus people around the globe.

Peace,

Lyle II

In some ways I had been preparing for that calling even before I had an conscious awareness that I was being called to ordained ministry, in some ways I was already serving in that office as well. However I also know that in the time that would follow I would see skills and abilities needed for serve in that role grow and develop. A few days after I was ordained I would find myself on an airplane for a few days in Independence, MO and then a week at Graceland University in Lamoni, IA for my final year at Spectacular. It was a mixed time in my life however. Just a couple days before I had ended a week of  being a counselor at Junior camp, an amazing week, but also on the last day of camp just before the closing activities learning my cousin had taken his life. So it was a time of joy and sorrow, a time of growing in many ways. just prior to Junior camp I believe was the last time I had a haircut my hair until the Sunday before I graduated from Graceland in 2003, though not having any idea that would be the case then.

After my return from Spec, I packed and was home for a couple of weeks before I found myself once more on a plane and heading back to Graceland University. While there I would soon find myself become the Chaplain for Agape House, I would struggle as I watched my roommate make poor choices, and remembered the words his mother had said to me when she learned I was going to be his roommate, and in some ways feeling as I had let her and him down. I would serve with other deacons in campus ministries, and at the end of the year I would find myself accepting the job of head deacon, find myself being a religion major and on a path much different than I envisioned a year before when those hands were placed on my head.

Over the next two years I would minister to and with the deacons at Graceland. I would step beyond the job description and try to provide and do more. I would grow in my role, would learn others saw me as mentoring others in their ministry, saw me serving truly in that role of deacon, even when I felt like I was just going through the motions and not truly living up to that calling.

I graduated, and soon found myself in seminary. The first one was not a good fit for me, the second was, though I became ill and required time away. Then returned not back, but rather to a third school far away. During this time I served several congregations, sometimes more than one at a time, though rarely with official titles for what I did. Once almost stepping into the possibility of being the pastor of a congregation, just before I became aware of my illness.

I’ve served at Community of Christ Historic sites  five of the summers of the past nine years, along with another year and a half of volunteer service with them or so. Helping to develop some of the spiritual formation ministry of Community of Christ at the Kirtland Temple, sharing and listening to the life stories of many coming from a wide range of faiths and non. I shared and learned with those from many faiths in my schooling, being blessed by their insights as they have helped me see the wonders of my own. In times of struggle also found, once more the possibility of the role of congregational pastor, though once again things worked out otherwise.

Over the past four or so years I have found myself sensing my calling changing from that of deacon to that of another ministerial office. I struggle as I see myself drawn to particular ministry that falls outside of my present office, and also see myself ministering in ways that does fall within it. As I have shared with others and reflected I have come to greater understanding, and greater confusion. Some have shared with my their sense of other calling for me as well. As I seek to serve my calling, embrace the education I have taken upon myself for the past 9 years, education that 9 years ago today would never have crossed my mind, I find myself struggling. It’s a time when many in my field have lost their jobs due to the economy and resulting downsizing. The positions that are open which I feel drawn toward, often require someone holding an office other than that which I hold, sometimes one which I do feel though may be the office I am called to.

Thus I find myself struggling, having this sense and desire for service, having ideas but yet not full clarity. Felling yeas I am a Deacon but I’m also called to…. I’m feel called to this postion or that, and feel that I have the ability, gifts, talents for it, that one in the office of Deacon could serve in it, and yet they want another office… so I apply anyway in hopes they might see possibility, and to aid me in preparing.

I look forward to the next nine years of ordained ministry, as I serve with others to help share the Peace of Christ, restore broken relationships, uplift the the worth and dignity of all, and pursue the peaceable community that is, was, and will be that we in Community of Christ call Zion.

Peace be with you,

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they all met in one room. Suddenly they heard what sounded like a violent rushing wind from heaven; the noise filled the entire house in which they were sitting. Something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each one. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as she enabled them.

Now there were devout people living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled. But they were bewildered to hear their native languages being spoken. They were amazed and astonished: “Surely all of these people speaking are Galileans! How does it happen that each of us hears these words in our native tongue? We are Parthians, Medes and Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrgia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya around Cyrene, as well as visitors from Rome—all Jews, or converts to Judaism—Cretans and arabs, too; we hear them preaching, each in our own language, about the marvels of God!”

All were amazed and disturbed. They asked each other, “What does this mean?”

Peter and the eleven stood and address them saying, no they are not drunk, it is too early and this is what Joel had prophesied about, told about Christ, the people were shaken, asked what to do and were told by Peter “repent and be baptized” they accepted his arguments, repented and were baptized. “That very day about three thousand were added to the number of those converted” 2:41b.

An amazing day in the life of the church. A day to celebrate, but also a day to seek how the Holy is calling us to go forth and share the good news.How are we being empowered, called, moved, endowed by the Holy Spirit to go forth and transform this world?

For Community of Christ we understand, or at least we hear, our call to be one of seeking the peaceable community which from our tradition we fondly call Zion. Something that is, was, and is yet to be. For it is a way of being, a place, and all places. It is not an easy task, in fact in recent years we have been reminded that we have not been promised an easy path. It’s a path of struggle, a path of stumbling, but a path filled with great hope, possibility and desire, a humbling path with a great reward at the end…. a reward that one day all will know each others worth, celebrate that worth, one day our wonderful gift off diversity will be seen as such and unite rather than divide, one day everyone will be restored in relationship with self, other, and the Holy. One day the earth will no longer scream and groan but be cherished and cared for by those entrusted with its stewardship, us.

Sunday was a day to celebrate that empowering act, if we will be open to the Spirit allow her to breathe, to go forth and transform this world. Knowing we do it not alone, that the Spirit breathes upon us, granting us to do even that which is beyond our own means, and to do so in community as well. I can’t count the times when in sharing with patients, families, staff, and others in the hospital setting I provided need ministry beyond my ability, and received it as well. Or how I’ve learned that my stumbling, bumbling words in sermon form have aided someone on their journey of discipleship. By being open to the Holy I have found myself in both places at once. Going “Wow… But I’m just Lyle How?”, but it also at times leads me to say “But, I’m just Lyle! Are you sure? Why me?” and trying hard to trust, to know, to allow the Holy to breathe and to respond, to share, and know that as the Spirit breathe upon those disciples so long ago, allowing communication to no longer be a barrier, she breathes on me as well so that I may be made more whole by the blessings of others and they by the blessings of me, which I find hard to see.

This year and last year were very different encounters of Pentecost for me. Last year this day fell upon the same date as a US secular holiday of Mother’s Day.  That morning I went to two worship services. The first was a Catholic service, sitting in a space I had never sat before, encountering ritual, encountering some theology that was not my cup of tea, and some that was. Hearing a homily tying Pentecost and Mother’s day together. Then I went to the Community of Christ service. The secular won out. Only once in the entire service was Pentecost mentioned, that being a brief mention partway into the sermon by the guest minister. Well, I can’t say the secular “won” we also celebrated the sacrament of the blessing of a child if I’m remembering correctly, but holiday wise, the secular won.

It was amazing to me, for Pentecost / Endowment day while not only being important to the whole of Christianity should have significant important to Community of Christ. Just across the street from where we were gathered for worship stands the first house of education, worship, and church administration built by our tradition, a house where this congregation I was worshiping with had worshiped in until the late 1950s. A house that in the days leading up to and following its dedication people described personal and communal spiritual experiences, often quoting the Acts of the Apostles to try and describe what they couldn’t, referring to that time as a “Pentecostal season.”  As a birthing faith movement that like many others in the early 1800s was trying to “restore” Christianity to how they interpreted the early church to be. Like what was described in Acts Chapter two following the Pentecostal story:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ instructions and the communal life, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. A reverent fear overtook them all, for many wonders and signs were being performed by the apostles. Those who believed lived together, shared all things in common; they would sell their property and goods, sharing the proceeds with one another as each had need. They met in the Temple and they broke bread together in their homes every day. With joyful and sincere hearts they took their meals in common, praising God and wining approval of all the people. Day by Day, God added to their number those who were being saved

Acts 2:42-47 Inclusive Bible

So there in Kirtland in the 1830s, they gathered in community, they called that first place of education, worship and church administration a Temple, people sold their resources and gave to each other. They pooled their resources and lived in common. They kept experimenting and changing as in 1830s individualist society the communitarian experiments did not always go over well and caused problems and tensions, but it is out of trying to be faithful to that understanding of community our stewardship principles evolved and grew.  The understanding of the worth of all, and the need to uplift, restore, heal, all of creation in communal relationship was birth… anew based upon encounter with sacred text and story, and being open to the Holy, describing the presence of the Spirit in ways reminiscent of the New Testament writers, as translated into their language. Forming a movement that was called to be open to the Spirit, to allow the Spirit to breathe, and like many we over our history have tried to contain here, and not let her breathe. Resisted when she pushed us to the unknown, the different. But continually being reminded to embrace our call…

Again you are reminded that this community was divinely called into being. The spirit of the Restoration is not locked in one moment of time, but is instead the call to every generation to witness to essential truths in its own language and form. Let the Spirit Breathe

Do not be discouraged. You have not been promised an easy path, but you have been assured that the Spirit that calls you will also accompany you. That Spirit is even now touching alive the souls of those who feel the passion of discipleship burning deeply within…

Listen carefully to the many testimonies of those around the world who have been led into the fellowship of Community of Christ. The richness of cultures, the poetry of language, and the breadth of human experience permit the gospel to be seen with new eyes and grasped with freshness of spirit. That gift has been given to you. Do not fail to understand its power

Doctrine and Covenants 162:2e-4a (March 2004)

“Community of Christ,” tour name, given as a divine blessing, is your identity and calling. If you will discern and embrace its full meaning, you will not only discover your future, you will become a blessing to the whole creation. Do not be afraid to go where it beckons you to go.

Generously share the invitation, ministries, and sacraments through which people can encounter the Living Christ who heals and reconciles through redemptive relationships in sacred community. The restoring of persons to healthy or righteous relationships with God, others, themselves, and the earth is at the heart of the purpose of your journey as a people of faith.

You are called to create pathways in the world for peace in Christ to be relationally and culturally incarnate. The hope of Zion is realized when the vision of Christ is embodied in communities of generosity, justice, and peacefulness. Above all else, strive to be faithful to Christ’s vision of the peaceable Kingdom of God on Earth. Courageously challenge cultural, political, and religious trends that are contrary to the reconciling and restoring purposes of God. Pursue peace.

…. Let the Temple* continue to come to life as a sacred center of worship, education, community building, and discipleship preparation for all ages. As these ministries come to fuller expression, receptive congregations around the Temple and throughout the world will be revived and equipped for more effective ministry. Vital to this awakening is the understanding that the Temple calls the entire church to become a sanctuary of Christ’s peace, where people from all nations, ethnicities, and life circumstances can be gathered into a spiritual home without dividing walls, as a fulfillment of the vision for which Jesus Christ sacrificed his life.

God is calling for a prophetic community to emerge, drawn from the nations of the world, that is characterized by uncommon devotion to the compassion and peace of God revealed in Jesus Christ. Through divine grace and wisdom, this faith community has been given abundant gifts, resources, and opportunities to equip it to become such a people…

So perhaps I was a bit saddened by the lack of Pentecostal recognition, and the focus on a secular holiday that assumes a lot about relationship that may not be true for all gathered. So this year, at one point I thought again of going elsewhere first, but instead just went to the service. I was pleased to find reference and connections through the entire service to Pentecost, the Holy Spirit… Now I just hope the words I wrote at the start of that day can ring true, each and every day as we seek to embrace and live out our call. To allow the Spirit to Breathe. I hope all those of the large community of followers of Christ will embrace their call, along with those of other faiths and no faiths  who in their understanding of the Holy, also feel called toward that peaceful community we as Community of Christ call Zion. Oh those words I wrote were:

Let us be open to the Holy to be empowered and endowed to go forth and transform the world into the peaceable community where the worth of all in recognized, diversity is celebrated and unites, and peace and justice prevail…. and let us truly engage the hard work that is ahead for us and not just talk about it

Peace be with you and Let the Spirit Breathe,