Proposed Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation

Loved ones, I try to stay focused on Kingdom ministry at our church. However, several of you have been asking me about the state of the United Methodist Church. So, have we split? No.

What is the “Proposed Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation?” Ok, first, that is a long name. The Protocol is an agreed upon resolution to be proposed at the General Conference of the United Methodist Church in May; it was developed by a wide range of delegates. If passed, it would create two denominations from one (details in the document). Many of you have heard about this in the news or online; I have provided a link to the Protocol below.

Is the Protocol good? In my humble opinion, as a traditional pastor (marriage is only between a man and woman, for instance), it is sad, but also hopeful. We have irreconcilable differences concerning doctrine and discipline rooted in how we interpret and even regard Scripture. It manifests itself around ethics, like the practice of homosexuality, but it is much deeper. So basic is this to our covenant (ordination) as clergy, we cannot function or minister well; in fact, we fight. When this conflict is seen in public, it is a bad witness. If the Protocol passes, and we separate, it may allow each party to function more peacefully. We may even find some ways to serve together. I am hopeful.

What might this Protocol mean? If the Protocol passes, the progressive/liberal expression would remain under United Methodist and retain its structures. The United Methodist expression will move to remove restrictions on marrying and ordaining LGBTQ persons and other matters. The traditional pastors (like myself), conferences, and churches would be in a new traditional expression of Methodism under the Protocol. Although I am not involved, deep discussions and drafts of an infrastructure have taken place with leaders around the world.

I will have a better sense of the Protocol’s support by April and may have more information regarding the new traditional expression at that time. I will plan to meet with our Board and the entire congregation in April to discuss likely contingencies. I hope this synopsis helps.

Barry

Link to Protocol:

https://cdnsc.umc.org/-/media/umc-media/2020/01/03/15/48/Protocol-of-Reconciliation-and-Grace-through-Separation

Who Is It?

Her name was Ginger, and I loved her deeply. I know I was young and probably didn’t understand, but it was more than “puppy love.” I knew it, and she did too. I’d find a way to get away with her and share my hopes and dreams, my doubts and fears, and she was among one of the best listeners I’ve ever known. We would walk in the woods and sit by the creek almost every day. Any time I was down, she lifted my spirits. When I would cry, she licked my tears. When I needed a confidant, she was all ears. She loved me and was always there when I needed her. We all need someone with whom we can discuss the deeper things of life. Who is that someone with whom you can really be vulnerable and honest. THINK ABOUT IT!

Ginger has been gone for a long time and, today, her name is Patsy-Coe, a blessing from God to me. By the way, she doesn’t get tired when I tell Ginger stories; she loves Cocker Spaniels too.

Mike

You Can't "Out-Logic" God

I heard a talk this past weekend at our Confirmation Retreat, “Committing to God.” I’ve listened to this particular talk several times and always come away with a new perspective on what it means to be committed to God. This year the word commitment linked itself, in my brain, to the words trust and obey. Using the scripture referenced in the talk, Luke 8:19-25, Peter was asked to not only commit to follow Jesus but to trust both immediately and for the long haul.

Think about it; Peter was a professional fisherman. He knew all the intricacies of the fishing area. He knew where to cast those big nets, when to throw them, and what fish he’d likely catch. Peter understood how the weather could affect his haul. Peter also knew when to pull in the nets and go home. Surely, he had moments of questioning and doubting Jesus’ suggestion to throw the nets back out after a long night of no fish. But... Peter decided to trust and followed what he’d been told to do and was blessed with the results.

Sometimes in this life, perhaps often, Jesus asks us to do things we simply don’t understand and seem unreasonable. It might involve leaving a job or ministry, taking on responsibility, or maybe you’ve heard the call to serve in some capacity you don’t feel worthy. And yet, because we’ve committed to Him, because of the One who asks, tells us to….we know in our heart of hearts, it’s the right thing to do. Few of us have faced the level of commitment and trust that Abraham did when God asked him to sacrifice his son. Seriously, Abraham was at the altar with Isaac, ready to do as God asked! What about old Noah? Who among us has listened and obeyed the call of God to build something so outlandish as a boat the length of 1.5 football fields? Oh, and Joshua looking in the eyes of his brave soldiers, telling them rather than fight, we’re going to march around Jericho seven times and then yell really loudly and the walls will fall? Ultimately, they all obeyed, and God’s blessing was revealed.

So often, we rely on our human understanding and logic to face our days instead of the Lord’s magnificent, all-knowing, and powerful plan for our lives. As we acknowledge our commitment to God, I hope we continually seek to hear and discern His voice over our own. Ultimately, I pray we trust, obey, and commit to following where He sends and leads us.

Amen.

Tammy

A Not So Simple New Year Resolution

Well, Happy New Year to everyone. It’s time for me to come up with a resolution for the new year, as is the normal, traditional thing to do, or not. I have made resolutions year after year, followed through with some of them, kept some of them for several weeks and had some that failed before the sound of the words landed in a nearby ear. I resolve this year to… Resolve used in this manner, as a verb, means to “decide firmly on a course of action” so I had to assume I didn’t use it in the correct manner for all those years my resolution failed. So, I thought maybe this year I need to strengthen my resolve to… Resolve used in this manner, as a noun, means to have “firm determination to do something” Wait! What? Noun or verb this is basically saying the same thing, a course of action and a determination to do something, noun or verb it means to act and do something, make a difference, add value, settle or find a solution and so on and so forth.

I pondered this for a day or so then I began to review my long list of things I could use to create my new year resolution; either way no matter which one I decided on; the one thing for sure is it will require action not inaction for me to “endeavor to persevere” and a little self-discipline for me to follow through with my resolution. When I think about my past experiences with resolve, temptation comes to mind. Somewhere along the way some shiny object in the world tempted me to stray from the path to complete my task. As leaders, we must understand the first person to lead is ourselves and if we practice self-discipline we recognize that God will lead us through seasons of growth, not for our gratification but to gratify Him.

As leaders, when we cast vision or a resolution, in this case and make it our goal, people follow us because they see a life they believe they can trust and one they want to emulate. Our job, as leaders, is to welcome God’s discipline and respond with self-discipline. We need to fight the battles and overcome temptations to take shortcuts in our life. We need to learn discipline as an art of depending on God and let it break the desire for self-sufficiency and self-promotion. Through our resolve we gain perspective and solidify our sense of mission, as a leader of others. Our life becomes a lamp unto the feet of others as we set the example of self-discipline with our follow-through.

What? You mean to tell me a simple resolution I set for myself, a goal I set to improve myself in some form or fashion, or by deciding on a firm course of action for me, alone, is important to others? Absolutely; because it is what leaders do, they influence others with their actions and reactions to events in their life. This simple “lying awake at night thinking about it” event could change the life of someone who is lost in the world. It could give someone the strength to change their life for the better. It could make a difference and add value to an individual or an entire group of people on the edge of despair; who could take our message of hope, faith, love and joy to other circles of people we don’t even know, and so on and so forth.

A simple resolution to change something in our lives, follow through with little discipline on our part, and spread the results through our life’s walk can make a huge difference with us not even knowing it. Amazing, simply amazing. When we learn as leaders the first person to lead is ourselves, we earn the right to lead others when they see us lead well in our own lives. So, we need to first resolve not to act apart from God’s plan for our lives to meet our worldly needs, He will do that for us. Second, resolve to use our giftedness, our spiritual giftedness, to teach and help others to stretch and grow as we walk along side of them. Finally, resolve to work in our strength zone, our faith zone, our worship zone, and shy away from the temptations of the world that exaggerate our weaknesses.

I encourage each of us as leaders to understand a resolution is basically a change of attitude. We re-train ourselves to develop new habits, new attitudes toward life’s circumstances. We need to understand effective training, changing our resolve, always begins with attitude and perspective changing us from the inside out. It will make a difference and add value to us and to others. Luke 4:3-10

Have a wonderful day,

JD (James Dodwell, January 2018)

Existential Confusion

As you read this article, 2019 is complete, and we are now into the new year, 2020.  I feel so blessed to be your pastor.  The joy, we are experiencing, is primarily found in getting to know so many of you. We are blessed to have such wonderful families worshipping together in this great community.  In addition, we have a wonderful staff who, through their devotion and commitment to ”life-changing ministry,” is making a difference and adding value within this wonderful church family and the surrounding community. 

As we continue this month reflecting on why churches die? Several years ago, we took our family on a restaurant adventure. The restaurant was an underwater-themed eatery. It was fascinating; we sat watching the fish swim all around us as we waited on our meal. The uniqueness of the restaurant quickly disappeared when the food arrived. It was cold, greasy, and very pricey. I think the restaurant is gone now. What is the one thing restaurants must provide in order to exist?  That’s right! Good food and good service.  

In the previous communications, I have shared the symptoms of “church sickness.” Here are a few symptoms previously mentioned: 1. Making their past their hero. 2. Ignoring the spiritual needs of the community around them. 3. Budgeting consumed with an “internal-focused” staff and facilities maintenance (see Tom Rainer).

This month consider a deeper issue for dying congregations: Existential Confusion. In my story above, forgetting the “main thing” led to being out-of-business? Well, sick and dying churches view “The Great Commission” as “The Great Suggestion.” The loss of mission is huge because it creates a deadly internal confusion that leads to complacency. In fatally sick congregations, the ability to answer a simple question, why do we exist, is lost and a tenuous drift is underway.  Why do we exist? The Church exists as the Spirit-filled community (fellowship) of redeemed people (worship) sharing in the highest quality of life (discipleship) offered in Christ.  Moreover, we live to bring others to Christ and into this wonderful communion (mission).  Faithfull, healthy congregations, foster this life.  You see in them and those they serve, the abundant and eternal life promised by the Savior who indwells them. They passionately witness to this life knowing that all who embrace the gospel will forever wonderfully change.

So, it is imperative that we understand the importance of embracing our simple mission (the reason for existing) and make disciples. The most important goal of key spiritual leadership in the Church is to keep the focus on “keeping the main thing, the main thing.”  

Barry  

Special thanks to Tom Rainer, Gary McIntosh, James Dodwell, and the Barna group.

Lord Jesus, You gave Your very life to bring us Your salvation and benevolent rule within our hearts. Teach us Your true wisdom and the true ways of Your children. We desire to be Your redeemed children.  Help us to live being led by Your Holy Spirit in a wonderful fellowship with all who are claimed by Your grace.  Help us, Lord, as we tell others.

Prayers and Encouragement for the New Year

Well, it’s about time to lay 2019 away and begin our journey into 2020. As I look back, there were abundant blessings, significant challenges, dire concerns, and ample opportunities to respond as a faithful disciple and love others as God loves me. Looking forward, my experience has taught me that 2020 will be filled with much of the same and, the chances are pretty good that we will not resolve all the world’s problems in the in the next year and even beyond.

The Apostle Paul had a pretty good understanding of this when he penned the words, “One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me in Christ Jesus, my Lord.” This will forever be our resolution for the future as Christians.

So, my prayers and encouragement for the new year: 1. Cut yourself some slack. 2. Follow the lead of Jesus. 3. Get into a trusted small group. 3. Study “The Book.” 4. Have some fun. AND, become who you were created to be….. Happy New Year!!!!! 

Brother Mike

What Are You Expecting?

What Are You Expecting?

“Wow! It’s a great time of the year. It’s Advent. Jesus is coming, the Kingdom is unfolding, and we’re going to be with God forever!” My friend looked at me and said, “You must be crazy. Christmas is coming and my new pickup is supposed to be here. I can’t wait to go muddin’.” Sorta’ got me to wondering; What are we expecting in our Christian journey? Do we simply expect showers of worldly blessings or do we really expect to see “the goodness of God in the land of our living”?

Psalm 27 is a psalm of strong confidence and includes the words, “I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living (Ps 27:13).” This is one of my favorite verses in the scripture. It speaks of the reality of God’s goodness now. We don’t have to wait.

I consider myself blessed to have seen God’s goodness in the land of my living most of my life and, it’s been through many of you. You, the people of God committed to God’s church and giving to support, You, the people of God, standing in uncompromising support of friends in need, You, the people of God, praying for those who are sick, You, the people of God, rising from life’s disappointments and rallying to

the needs of others, You, the people of God, singing, working, laughing, talking, living as witnesses in the midst of distractions.

What am I expecting this Christmas and beyond? … I expect to see the goodness of God in the land of the living and I expect to see it in you.

Merry Christ – Mass, Mike.

Why?

Did the birth of Jesus meet expectations? Who’s? If the answer is the prophets, then the answer is, yes.  If, however, your answer is the average religious leaders in the temple, then the answer is, no. His birth did not include establishing the political throne of David in a new sovereign nation whose capital is Jerusalem. This expectation, grounded in the memory of a powerful past, was costly to the soul.

We know certain notions are lethal to us as a local church. Over the last two editions of Cornerstone I shared two.  First, we learned that when we make our past “glorious times” our focus, it is lethal.  Second, we learned that refusal to reflect on our community and be a part of our community is lethal.  

This month, we focus on a healthy motive: our “why?” If a church loses her “reason,” she will decline and spiral into fruitless meetings about preferences such as worship style or decorum.  In the confusion, leaders will pour money and precious resources, including time, into fruitless priorities like maintaining past notions of “great” or grabbing some temporary social/political issue (might even be a good cause, but not our eternal one. I wonder... did Judas think Jesus was a revolutionary of the type of Jehu? He wasn’t.)

Focus with me on the covenant idea of “love.” I speak of the Hebrew idea of “hesed.” A love inextricably tied to faithfulness/obedience.  A fidelity (staying heart true) to our relationship with Jesus as my Lord and Savior by rightly identifying Him and living His instructions.  His instructions lead me to true right living and the way to retain it through covenant relationship. A morality (holiness) based in the character of the blessed Trinity.  This is a love-life leading to full maturity as a child of God. It transforms me and my world.

His co-mission or “Why we exist”: to “Love” Him and raise up (evangelize) more students of true covenant love and relationship.  We must show them this eternal way of living. To know the triune God in love (hesed) relationship and enjoy Him forever.  Boom! Yes!  This equals healthy churches.  Healthy churches relentlessly practice this kind of living and evangelizing.  It requires the Sacred testimony of Scripture and faithful leaders.  

Brother Barry

And thanks to Thom Rainer, Barna Group and Gary McIntosh for their thoughts.

Humility: A Truly Spiritual Challenge

Humility: A Truly Spiritual Challenge

     I remember over thirty-five years ago meeting with Claude Whitehead as a spiritual mentor, listening to his teaching, praying, and seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus. We each had goals and we would share how well, or not, we were progressing toward our goals. As we met one Monday afternoon, Claude began to share how devastated he was with the result of his effort to “become humble.” Trying to be pastoral, I implored into the disappointment of his failure. Claude was quick to respond, “It’s worse than that. This morning, I found myself feeling proud of my humility and, I had a vision. I was climbing a ladder toward humility and I could see the top. As I reached, I said, ‘Got it.’ Then, I fell back down the ladder hitting my chin on every step of the ladder. When I looked up, at the bottom, I saw the name of the first step was “humility.”

     True humility has forever been a spiritual challenge for us humans and true humility can only come through authentic surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. It is a challenge for each of us and especially to us as Americans. We are a blessed people, free and independent, with rights, privileges, and blessings second to no other people on the face of the earth. However, with that, comes tremendous liability and responsibility.

     How do we become humble enough to yield our freedom to the Sovereign control of God? How do we become humble enough to serve Jesus as Lord? How do we become humble enough to surrender our lives to the Authority of all authorities? It’s a truly spiritual challenge.

     Beware this challenge! It must be an authentic search and it’s a goal that can never be claimed. Oswald Chambers called conscious humility, “The most satanic type of human pride.” Think and pray before you begin this journey, you just might get your chin bruised. 

Brother Mike Densmore

Why Do Churches Get Sick and Vanish?

Why Do Churches Get Sick and Vanish?

I remember being shocked to learn that Toys R Us was dead.  Experts diagnosed that stores went without maintenance for too long. Dust collected on the floors and rafters because cleaning services were cut back. Aisles were a chaotic mess.  Employees grappled with expanding work loads. Knowledgeable staff were let go. Key customer satisfaction metrics were fudged by leaders. Their market position in the past made little difference to new parents. In short, they became unattractive and in the “wooing parents” business, that is the kiss of death.  

We undertook the task last month of discussing “How churches die?”  We were reminded that it is an erosion that is slow and lethal.  As promised, I follow this up with some reflections on, “Why?”  What are the presenting issues that cause such terminal erosion in churches? Let’s consider two reasons this month.

First, they are enamored with a preferred past.  Please don’t misunderstand, this is not about historic doctrine or biblical morals, but the “good old days” memories. The temptation to reminisce past victories instead of the consideration of future faithfulness. This is a real danger. It results in the disease of complacency. The goal of God’s people is steadfast faithfulness to the Gospel, not being a museum of the past.  Cherish the past yes, but if you live there, you are not healthy.  The healthy church is always discussing a present opportunity and a preferred future.

Second, they are blind to the mission field.  The ministry formula of death is {Me + My priority=death}. This is another way of saying, if you have no interest in the community or the neighbors around you, only an interest in yourself, it is a huge issue.  The Gospel is a “going” enterprise.  It is not that we don’t gather and take care of each other, but we cannot live faithfully unless we are sharing the good news with others. The ministry formula of vibrancy is {Others + My Priority=Life}. 

So, what does this say to us? Churches vanish when they are worshiping the past and fail to see their mission field.  So, let us never lose focus of our reason for existing.  Let us remain faithful to our generation and the community we serve in His name.  We are about the business of making disciples who are full-fledged partakers of the salvation God in Christ Jesus. His is the one that transforms lives.  The highest quality of life is available and found only in Christ. 

May we Live On! 

Brother Barry

Special thanks to Thom Rainer, Gary McIntosh, the Barna Group.

Live Well and Strong

Loved Ones,

It is a joy to serve you! In the coming months I want to discuss church health. Our leadership chose this term because it is popular and relatable. It does not encapsulate all the nuances of understanding life in the Body of Christ, but Paul did use the human anatomy to describe church. The use of our bodies is a huge theme throughout Holy Scripture. As a source, I will use Tom Rainer primarily and sprinkle in Bishop Schnase, Pat Lincione, and Gary L. McIntosh along with others whose ideas rest in my subconscious and I do not remember their names.

Healthiness: The state of being in good health. Being physically fit without major issue; feeling good; looking good; living in a way where others want to be around me (definition by Rev. Barry C. Dunn). 

Pat Lincione clearly states that the health of any enterprise is directly related to clarity about its reason for existing. So, our reason for existing is directly related to our corporate relationship with Jesus Christ and understood in Sacred Scripture. This leads to His direction and our declaring His Gospel in word and holy living. You might say, we desire the highest quality of life for ourselves and others by showing them Christ and His holy way of life. There it is, our reason.

So, “why” do Churches die? They die for several reasons. I will defer to Tom Rainer. He identifies several causes which I will convey over the next few months, and all of them will be a loss of clarity. This month, let us examine “how” churches die.  

Churches die slowly. People usually die from health-related matters over a sustained period of time. So do churches. We, like frogs in a kettle, succumb to a slow cook. The erosion of health takes years. We easily see a building get old, but we rarely notice other things. A decline in vibrant worship. A decline in fervent prayer with expectation. A slow disconnection or relevance with our community and its soul. The loss of desire to witness to our neighbor or invite them to church.  An over concern for memories which leaves no room for hopes and dreams for a preferred future. A boredom within staff. A longing for once vibrant ministries but annoyance with current ones. There are others, but this slow erosion of heart leads us to becoming “beside ourselves.”  We embrace survival to maintain nostalgic memories and not Gospel engagement.  This is how churches die.  

So join me in a quest to live well and strong. We will study preventive health in the next few months because healthy is good. Let’s do it!

Brother Barry