Barbara's Retirement Dinner

Some of you might know one or two of the folks in this grainy picture ---that's right-- Barbara and Joaquin Garcia and their son Roy. Actually there were about 150 other people in the room too, give or take a few---the room was at First UMC Jackson Tennessee, and this was Barbara Garcia's retirement (!) party. Why was I there, you ask??? Because I was blessed with an unspeakably wonderful gift twenty three years ago, when Barbara hired me as her assistant for "Focus '85," the first of the children's workers conferences put on by the General Board of Discipleship. She was on staff in the worship section, and needed someone to help her organize and register folks for the event. I had returned to school after having received my mDiv and needed work. How was I to know what a formative relationship this would be; how my daughter would know these folks as her godparents; that my deep love for them would only grow and grow; that Barbara's gracious spirit, UMC know-how; and love for me has been one of the consistent forces for good in my life for the past 23 years. Her last 11 years before retirement at Annual Conference this year have been as administrative assistant to the bishop of the Tennessee and Memphis Conferences. She has assisted three bishops in her work. Three bishops were present tonight, including Bishops Morris and Wills, and Bishop Pennell who was pastor at Brentwood UMC when Barbara was on staff there. Bless you dear friend Barbara, and I can't tell you how much it meant to me to be present for this love-filled evening tonight. Grace under fire, indeed. When things get tough, and the going gets rough, imagining what Barbara would do (and attempting to do it) is good enough.

Claiming the Influence (at the risk of sounding as if she has too high of an opinion about herself...)

Is it de riguer to blog about a comment on your last blog entry? But then again, I never worry too much what is de riguer anyway.

Anyway, I was in cabinet today, during the two hour BAC experience (that is, the Business of the Annual Conference experience), going line by line through those fascinating questions for which we must have correct answers, which are printed and distributed at the clergy session. This was the time to correct spelling, get years right, figure out if we have part time local pastors (listed under 21 c, I think) with the right credentials (licensing school? M.Div work?). In some way I sort of got into this today.

And, like that prodigal who had wandered far, I came to myself today as I was sitting there looking at all of the names and years and questions and parts of questions. It was during a thought I was having regarding whether or not one of the certified candidates listed was certified in 2002 0r 2003 (could I really trust my memory at this point anyway?) when, looking at my laptop screen which was in front of me, an email came across that showed that Dogblogger (Amy) had put a new comment on my blog (see the comment from yesterday's entry)-She wrote that Tim Keel (who is at Mt. Sequoyah at the young adult thing) says he appreciates my influence? Me, the detail-oriented (at least for those moments immediately prior to receiving Dogblogger's comment) bureaucrat? So does Amy (appreciates my influence, that is)? And she hopes the entire UMC does? (okay, that last one might have been said with a smile, but somehow I think she might have meant it too). Gee whiz. And there I sat, eyes nearly glazing over after the detail and the data, having a bit of culture shock. It's that bi-lingual thing that is very disconcerting sometimes (United Method-ese/Emergent Conversation language) because I want so much these two languages to hear echos of each other and sense that by listening to each other, these two strains of Christian lingo might help the other come to itself.

I have put the reading and writing thing to the side since I sent off the info to Abingdon about the b-o-o-k. 'Tis time to get serious about the fact that I have a place and a passion, a charge to keep, a calling to fulfill. I am getting that feeling I have had so many years before in late May. Annual Conference marks a new beginning. 'Tis time to claim the influence I do have, to live it gratefully, to be a hopeful voice in the middle judicatory called superintendency, and realize that in many ways, I am a presiding elder, presiding over the present, asking persons to listen to our tradition's past, and asking persons to simply not be afraid to claim that from that past will come our future, and that maybe somehow mysteriously, we are also being asked to be willing to give up who we are, for who we might become.

Thanks, Amy. Tell 'em all "hi" for me.

A summit, a b-o-o-k, and a first rate gift

Sorry it's been a bit since the last entry---busy, busy, busy---graduation was wonderful and I am still making appointments. I think I am down to one part time, but until it is done, I will not fully rest...Reminds me of when I was at Kirkwood 20+ years ago as Minister of Education and I had to get about 60 teachers each year (with the help of the education work area) and I would never take vacation in the summer until I had them all...wish I had an "appointment work area"...oh, yes, there is the cabinet of course but everybody else is about at the same place I am.

Several items:

IF ANYONE IS AT SEQUOYAH AND READING THIS (Amy, Matt, etc.) please let me know how the young adult summit is going! Wish I was there instead of the Fairfield Inn in Columbia awaiting more cabinet meeting tomorrow.

SSSHHHHH--I understand the b-o-o-k idea is going to the editorial board at Abingdon week after next...ssshhh---pray.

The main thing I want to write about tonight:

Cana Ruth cut me a cd of songs for Mothers Day. Most of them we have heard together at some time over the last couple of years, and I said, when we listened to a particular song that I liked it---a couple of them she included, knowing that I would appeciate them. I am SO delighted with this! I asked her yesterday how she remembered I liked some of these, and she said, "Mom, you are so memorable when you like something!" I had her write out the playlist for me. This is the order they are on on the CD.

1) (They Tried to Make me Go to) Rehab---Amy Winehouse (I LOVE her!!!)

2) Chain of Fools---Aretha Franklin

3) (You Ain't Nothing But A) Hound Dog---Big Mama Thornton (my fave version)

4) Doesn't Remind Me of Anything---Audioslave (authentic guys, authentic)

5) Changes---David Bowie

6) Under Pressure---David Bowie and Queen (hmmm, now why would she put this on here, I wonder :-})

7) Sylvia's Mother---Doctor Hook and the Medicine Show

8) Cover of the Rolling Stone--- Doctor Hook again (I remember sitting in the Liberty parsonage garage listening to this with Cana, her hearing it for the first time and us laughing out loud--she has had a subscription to Rolling Stone for three yeas)

9) Ain't That A Shame---Fats Domino

10) Piece of My Heart---Janis Joplin

11) River of Babylon---The Melodians (my favorite version next to Don McLean's of course--I didn't know that Cana knew this, but she did)

12) Heroes--Queen/David Bowie

13) People Have the Power---Patti Smith

14) Wish List--Pearl Jam (one of Cana's favorite bands...she and I agree that they, along with 3 or 4 others, are above the crowd musically)

15) Family Affair---Sly and the Family Stone (whom I saw when I was in college live, and Cana has to suffer that story everytime we hear a Sly song)

16) Istanbul (not Constantinople)--They Might Be Giants (I probably own 5 versions of Istanbul on my Space Age Pop cds of which I have gobs; this version is the only one that not only makes me move, but makes me laugh!)

17) Jesus Gonna Be There--Tom Waits (enough said)

What a neat thing! Made even better, this music thing was, as Kendall used a Garbage song today in his cabinet devotion, a hard to hear, but important song See my Scars. And the fact that at the last cabinet, just after I heard Amy Winehouse for the first time on the radio, and the kids told me more about her, Kendall said "You have to listen to Amy Winehouse"---and I already had, just a couple days before.

I promise to blog more after AC!!! Really! PS I am doing really well!!!

Mothers' Day 07; Appointment Season '07; Graduation week '07; Waiting to hear from Abingdon '07

A very happy Mothers' Day from the Cox-Johnson household. This was taken today on Philip's balcony porch. Cana and I went to North Star and heard Brian Roots preach...LOVED the Alice Walker illustration...I have used it myself before. Brian proves that you don't have to be trite to be engaging...and proves it faithfully. The kids here look happy. By and large, they are. Caleb is struggling a bit to find himself (or is it a new girlfriend he is really looking to find?) Wanted: a 16 t0 18 year old beauty with an old soul, appreciation for a philosophical and very creative mind, a beard and a musician; a girl who likes indy bands, thin men, and has a car). Cabie wrote in his card to me that he was glad to be part of such an evolutionary family---he means a family that grows from its issues---but really he means more than that, but I have a hard time figuring out how to say it. Cana graduates THURSDAY!!! She has all her work in already! Her grandparents Johnson are coming as are her uncle and aunt Cox, who is my bro Sam and sis in law Su.
Busy, busy, busy time ds wise
---putting pastors in and out--and mostly very good...mostly(this business would be great if it weren't for the people)
---student pastors assigned (in my mind and theirs) but PPRs not yet contacted
---tired until the last two days...took naps in the afternoon (I heard today Stan Musial did it, so why not me???)
---Smith Chapel going full time!!! Yea!!!
---this week Monday and Tuesday at the 'Right Start" meeting, to help moving full time pastors get off on the right foot. I've had primary responsibility for the details, along with Nancye Dunlap...oh, I hope it goes well!
---Going to Braymer on Wednesday to give the UMW program---I think on developing ministries with public schools
---Finding out that I am helping to lead a workshop on this same thing at annual conf
---Kendall calling yesterday just to remind me how much better I am this year than last (depression...what depression??? ... knock on wood)It is so good to have good friends on the cabinet and in my life
---Hoping a certain retired pastor will take on a church as an interim. Please, please please.
---And, on the emerging front, having sent off the outline of chapters, general approach and thesis for the book to Abingdon on Wednesday, I await the news...Please, please, please. Cana says that no matter what I hear, I should go ahead and write it anyway. She, who finished an 80 page novella for her creative writing class this spring--about a UMC, a new Hispanic pastor and I'm not sure what all...I get to read it, I think.

Pinata God

I went to Good Shepherd for worship (see, when you make suggestions on my blog I sometimes follow them---see comment 2 on April 28) and heard David Israel preach on being a Christ follower, not a "Christian" (in quotes). He talked about a variety of types of Christians that feel pretty much un Christ-like. On of the Christians he spoke about was the "Pinata God" Christian. If you just get the right pole, and keep hitting God with it over and over again and with enough conviction, and in just the right place in God's consciousness,then, eventually God will spill out his candy on you. I thought that was pretty clever and pretty interesting. I also thought about how you really are supposed to wear a blindfold when hitting the pinata, which makes one feel a bit self-righteous when you really do hit it. Hmmm.

Yes, there is room for "she" in shepherd

I have no idea what this book is about. I found it googling "pastor shepherd," looking for an image to illustrate this entry. Today, as the mother sheep of the Heartland North District, I offered first-time appointments to two women---one under 30 in age, one over 60, both with wonderful gifts. The churches to which they will be appointed as part time, while they are in school at Saint Paul, are both quite small, both having had women pastors before, both with lots of love and patience to give. These appointments will be good ones "in both directions," and I am glad.

It is quite a privilege and responsibility, no matter how long a pastor has been pastoring, no matter how many pastors a church has had, to try to best match church with pastor. What a thrill it really is to be able to offer these fine churches, and several more over the next few days, to students at Saint Paul--most will be the first time appointments. Wow. A daunting and beautiful part of the work of the d.s. A good part.