HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-08-26, Page 11By Rev. Tom MurrayKnox United Church, BelgraveAlthough change-producingforces may be invisible to most
people within a church and
congregation, they are a crucial
feature in healthy, effective ministry,
and faith growth. Such forces often
operate beneath the surface of a
church’s day-to-day life.
One feature at work in the forces
at play is the question of a
congregation or church’s
distinctiveness. A difficult question,
because it’s at the centre of a
church’s life, it plays a huge role in
how congregational experience
plays out. That question is often hard
for a congregation to talk about
because people confuse the concept
of “congregation” with that of
“church.”
A “church” is a local gathering of
believers, a faith community where
members expect to achieve true
meaning and intimacy with each
other, while a “congregation,” on theother hand, is a local,institutionalized organization thatmay or may not be an authentic
expression of “church”.
Another hidden feature identified
in the life cycle of people in
congregational life is the predictable
pattern of the calling of pastors.
Based largely on the nature of
denominational practice and the
unique function of pastors in the
congregational system, the
ministerial lifecycle can be
anticipated and managed, if we
understand the seasons of ministry.
The first several years in ministry
with a congregation are spent
discovering its rhythms, habits and
practices and working on
administrative problems, while
pastors begin to form the vision of
their relationship in ministry. It
takes, in my experience, until the
third year of ministry with a
congregation for a pastor to feel
comfortable with his/her role and to
hit his/her stride.
By the fourth year, we pastors are
starting to get restless and think
about what else might be out there.
This year is typically one of low
energy, where problems in the
church go from being challenges to
being nuisances. As these nuisances
become irritants to some, the
following fifth and sixth years, either
surface people in the congregation
who support change or they bringchallenges from the subconsciousmemory of the church desirous ofthe status quo.
These are make-or-break years for
the ministry of any church.
The next three years in the
ministerial lifecycle are crucial as
pastors start to make a serious
emotional commitment to the
congregation. This is followed by a
vital year of timeout for pastors and
laity alike, for the pastor to recharge
one’s ministry and for the laity to
step back and come to understand
the relationship that has developed.
This leads to the eighth year where
the pastor either considers leaving or
understands the congregation as
one’s home and family. In the years
beyond, the congregation responds
accordingly and ministry becomes
more about relationships than
management.
However, and there is always one
of those, the most difficult of hidden
features that congregational leaders,
accountable and lay leaders alike,
then have to contend with surfaces,
the fable of unlimited skill! Leaders,
accountable or lay, should always
strive to do the best they can with
their gifts and work within systems
of accountability. Yet, it is still true,
as Albert Einstein once stated:
“Confusion of goals and perfection
of means seems, in my opinion, to
characterize our age.” Therefore, all
of us must learn to accept failure andnew learning in life as part of God’steaching in grace and humility.As much as we might wish
otherwise, pastors play a critical role
and neither congregations nor
churches can exist without them. But
many people, lay and pastoral
ministry alike, misunderstand the
role of congregational leadership.
This kind of leadership provides
vision, theological interpretation,
and institutional growth; and works
to form a true faith community.
Pastors should operate as the
resident theologian in congregations,
provide leadership in times of crises
and change, stay connected to
others, and practise leading through
influence.
Effective church and
congregational leaders are
journeying toward wholeness. They
have a clear sense of their own
identities and principles. They
understand themselves and the
relationships in which they
participate. By being aware of the
hidden forces at work in their ownlives and in the church andcongregation of which they are apart, leadership can tap into the
forces that inform appropriate,
healthy and authentic practices of
church and congregational life.
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2010. PAGE 11.
Bursaries
for local
students
Building upon its long-standing
commitment to youth, United
Communities Credit Union
distributed $34,000 to 34 local
students from 17 different high
schools to help them realize their
educational goals.
“We have a long history of
supporting youth in the communities
in which we do business,” says
United Communities President and
CEO Jim Lynn. “We’re very pleased
to be able to provide this type of
support.”
The United Communities Awards
recognize students who have
achieved academic success while
giving back to their community and
their school. “This award is a
reflection of who we are and how we
operate and we want to encourage
this among our local youth” states
Liz Arkinstall, Manager of
Community Relations.
Sarah Deslippe from St. Anne’s
High School had this to say about
her recent $1,000 award. “Words
cannot express my gratitude for your
generosity toward enhancing my
education. I will continue to
volunteer my time in the community
to show my appreciation.”
BBrruusssseellss MMeennnnoonniittee FFeelllloowwsshhiipp
will be worshipping at Martins’ Landing
(Howard & Alice Martin)
SSuunnddaayy,, AAuugguusstt 2299tthh aatt 1100::0000 aamm
(No
service at
the
church)
Noon
Potluck
Meal
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, August 29
Brussels Arena at 10:30 a.m.
and various homes at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 11 years of age (mornings only)
Childcare provided for infants and toddlers
Coffee & cookies after the morning service
For additional details please contact:
Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
Chris McMichael 519.482.1644
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Sandra Cable, Worship Leader
Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com
Sunday, August 29
Ethel United Church
Worship Service - 9:30 a.m.
Brussels United Church
Worship Service - 11:00 a.m.
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
SUNDAY, AUGUST 29
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-2664
10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
getlivingwater.org
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
Evangelical Missionary Church
of Canada
August 1 - August 29
Shared summer services
at Blyth Community
Church of God at 10:30 am.
Preaching in
August:
Pastor
Les Cook
YOU ARE WELCOME
9:45 a.m. Sunday School for all ages
10:30 a.m. - Sunday Morning Worship
Mid-week Bible Study
C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS
O
N
,
I
N
D
I
A
N
A
Timeless Truths
For Today
308 Blyth Rd. E., Blyth
Pastor Les Cook ~ 519-523-4590
Blyth Community Church of God
119 John’s Ave.,Auburn
519-526-1131
www.huronchapel.org
10:30 a.m.
Morning Worship Service
Guest Speaker:
Pastor Eugene Neudorf
No Sunday School
for summer months
(Watch
for more
details
to come
soon!)
STARTING IN
SEPTEMBER
One month special
on Prayer and Fasting
Please join us for worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00am
Evening Service 7:30pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth
Sunday, August 29 evening service is in Clinton CRC at 7:00 pm
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
Welcomes you to come
and worship with us
Trinity, Blyth
9:15 a.m.
519-523-9595
St. John's, Brussels
11:15 a.m.
519-887-6862
Sunday, August 29
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Blyth United Church
Office: 519-523-4224 Rev. Gary Clark
All Welcome
Sunday, August 29
Worship Service
at 11:00 a.m.
From the Minister’s StudyBig difference between church and congregation