Comments for Mission Field: Minnesota

Comment on A Crowd of Sorrows by Brian Manly

Brian Manly — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 23:33:15 +0000

Thank you Cindy for your candor. To be open and vulnerable about our suffering is not something often modeled in Christian leadership. I remember when a professor of pastoral care told me that people should not share openly about their suffering as it is unhealthy and that as pastors we need to tell our congregations we are an Easter people. I found this to be a little ironic as the One to whom we claim to be disciples of certainly modeled an openness and vulnerability to suffering. It has been my experience that I cannot be an Easter person without first going through my own journey to the cross. For me Holy week is a part of the journey of Christian faith.

Comment on A Crowd of Sorrows by Heather E. Klason

Heather E. Klason — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:44:36 +0000

In a worship resource fit, I found a poem, no author listed that I believe echoes what you have written:
“Hold on to the Hosannas”
Let us stay with the Hosannas for a while
Let us let them keep on ringing in our ears
Hosanna!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord

Instead of rushing on to hear the cries that came later in the week
Let us stay with the Hosannas
Maybe once we have heard those in a new way we will be ready to make the rest of the journey
A journey that was hastened and given new purpose by those Hosannas

For those Hosannas were not simply the innocent cries of palm branch waving children
Those Hosannas were the war cries of adults tired of the oppression of occupying forces
Those hosannas were the hopeful cries of a nation seeking liberation.
Those Hosannas were an investment of hope in one they thought would deliver.

Those Hosannas that we have sanitized over the years
rang out in clear insurrection sealing the fate of one who rode on a donkey.
so, let us stay with the Hosannas

Let us wrest them from the lips of children and allow them to ring in our ears
and spew from our mouths as a call to action a call to justice
a call to love.

Let us stay with the Hosannas
even as we journey with the Christ
who carried those Hosannas all the way to the cross
and ensured their fulfillment as the justice and love of God.
Let us stay with the Hosannas.

We try to move too quickly toward what makes us comfortable and joyful, and miss the rewarding journey of what it takes to be there

Heather E. Klason

Comment on Soul Leaders by Amy Jo Bur

Amy Jo Bur — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 15:37:17 +0000

Reflecting on finding Sabbath during busy times, I am remembering when I prayed the traditional midday prayer of thanksgiving over lunch with another pastor. “God of mercy, this midday moment of rest is your welcome gift. Bless the work we have begun, make good its defects, and let us finish it in a way that pleases you. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.” That was a tremendously renewing moment of Sabbath, grabbed on the run, during a very busy day. One of the things that made it renewing was intentionally thinking of the time as God’s “welcome gift.” Another of the things that made it renewing was the trust I had in my colleague that allowed me to set aside my “public persona” (as the reflection calls it) in exchange for an authentic chat about family and forgiveness. I have no idea what brought that old-fashioned prayer to my mind on that day, but I think I might have to dig it out more often– it worked.

Comment on A Future with Hope by Laurie

Laurie — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 16:40:55 +0000

I do believe, as these individuals do, that the word of God is and always has been….LOVE…and that people are more important than rules. I am reading your blog and so glad that I can still see you and your vision and hopes for a loving church community without borders. God is still at work and you are part of that proof for me

Comment on What Is the Will of God? by Heather E. Klason

Heather E. Klason — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:43:27 +0000

Sadly, we can justify much by saying it is the will of God. We can also use that to excuse ourselves from action. I am saddened that we will have to wait another four years for real change to happen, especially regarding our GLBT brothers and sisters

Comment on What Is the Will of God? by walkthegoodway

walkthegoodway — Sat, 05 May 2012 13:22:46 +0000

hey cindy…while i was watching online one in the twitter feed suggested we need a restructuring of general conference and how it does its business. maybe that is the start of a restructuring of the general ohurch. someone else commented how there were over 2000 people watching online at times, twice as many as the delegates present in tampa. i wonder how we could do an online conference? wouldnt that be something?

Comment on What Is the Will of God? by Dick Ellis

Dick Ellis — Sat, 05 May 2012 11:48:27 +0000

Cindy, you have spoken faithfully, and insightful this week. I am grateful for both. Whether structure, or less dramatic change, it seems apparent that the Methodist expression of faith is too comfortable to be potent as it once was. May God make us uncomfortable enough to be potent once again. Thank you for your blog contributions. Dick Ellis

Comment on Role of Bishop by cathytownley

cathytownley — Sat, 05 May 2012 08:48:11 +0000

Invitation has to permeate our church structures, or our churches will continue to decline. We know for a fact that unless pastors are invitational, neither will their parishioners be. The role of today’s leader in the church is not just to manage, but to be out in the mission field. So that’s what Bishops can do. Are THEY spending 30% of their regular workweek, hanging out in coffee shops, talking to baristas, praying for openings in every day conversation to talk about faith with their unchurched, unconnected bankers and dog-sitters and personal trainers and house painters et al? Are they inviting those persons into a relationship with Christ and with the church? Are they talking about their experiences in the mission field publicly, with their cabinets and in their sermons around their Conferences? This is what we’re asking pastors to do. Bishops can lead the way.

Comment on Is It Time For Robert to Leave the House by Jim Perry

Jim Perry — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:43:37 +0000

I’m a little behind. Just getting to this week’s blogs. Cindy has challenged us daily. I am also brought to comment on our arcane rules which we tried to amend in significant ways eight years ago in Pittsburgh that would prevent some of what Cindy is talking about above. Several of us on the Commission on General Conference worked with others to do this. In 40+ years of ministry this attempt to streamline how we conduct business provoked more hate email that I have ever received before. Generally they suggested I was trying to destroy the very fabric of the UMC by making it less democratic. All points of view need to be heard, but when has the church been a democracy? If every disciple had a vote the gospel would have had a very different message — if it had ever been written! I have a slanted view in my retired status. Sometimes debating and debating some issues keeps us from getting to the mission we all need to be involved in. Nuf said.

Comment on A Future with Hope by Judy Myers

Judy Myers — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:06:02 +0000

Cindy, I so appreciate reading your passionate and thoughtful daily blogs. They bring human faces to “General” Conference. Thank you.

Judy Myers