Yes, it's been a long time...

Q104c1
Originally uploaded by scoxjohnson.

And there is so much to say, but I won't try to say it all...some emergent highlights of the last 4 months: Writing the article on Emergent and Broadway UMC that came out in this month's Circuit Rider mag--March April issue, theme "Emerging Leaders." I think you can access it through the following address:http://www.umpublishing.com/resources/publications/circuitrider.asp?act=displayissue&cr_issue_id=65




Anyway I'm excited. Another highlight: attending the Emergent Theological Conversation at Yale in February; another highlight---Helping Doug Powe and Hal Knight set up a two day event featuring Brian McLaren at Saint Paul School of Theology in May 2007. Another highlight: even just today, a small one, talking for two hours in cabinet with campus ministry leaders from our conference regarding the future of that ministry and realizing that our strong, consistant, brilliant Bishop is holding us accountable and is taking very seriously younger adult ministry. Yeah! (i don't have the style right on this entry, I know...sorry!)

Overpromised and undercommitted

Commitment
Originally uploaded by scoxjohnson.

That, I think, was the phrase I remember most from the younger clergy gathering I attended today, which Bishop hosted in Columbia. Thirteen of our clergy met to reflect on doing ministry now. I think this phrase, which I think Lucas from Schweitzer UMC in Springfield used to describe our churches when they are not at their best. Maybe more later, after my charge conference at St. Peter. The rock, don't you know.

Choosing the better part...

Christ in the House of Mary and Martha
Originally uploaded by scoxjohnson.

OKAY...original sin, exhaustian, unfocused, whatever you want to call it...I have been so mega involved with d.s.ing that I have put these things that I have dealt with over the past couple of months here on the back burner to such an extent that I am burning out with not "choosing the better part"...that is, not putting the passion I have for younger adults and all that involves, especially as it involves the emergent conversation, in any place of importance...I am certainly GOING ON to perfection, cause I sure ain't reached it yet! I worked this week, strained by fatigue and procrastination, on an article Dr. Weems asked me to do about emergent and Broadway. Though I don't feel very good about the articulation of it so far, it again got me in touch with what I feel the spirit is calling me to do and be...I did meet Brian McLaren this week at MNU which was good, good to hear him, and see so many folks interested in what he had to say...disheartening there were no more United Methodists there than were there. I am also looking forward to meeting with some of our conference's youngest clergy a week from next Thursday--I'm actually horning in on the bishop's meeting with them, but just can't help myself.

PAY ATTENTION
I seem to see it everywhere, like you do, as I read today, when you are eight months pregnant and you so all these other women who are too---or you've just ordered a Prius and they are everywhere on the roads all of a sudden.
Everybody, everything I read, every sermon I hear, as I did tonight here at Junaluska, seems to be saying "duh, Susan, FOCUS ... PAY ATTENTION." Bishop said in his sermon at the celebration of the Heartland districts superintendents a few weeks ago---CONCENTRATE...What I am reading and thinking about so much these days, is saying PAY ATTENTION---God is already in this new world and new day-----preveniently God is already where we have not yet been---and before we yet know it. God is already doing far more than we can ever ask or imagine. PAY ATTENTION, clergy...PAY ATTENTION churches--there are young adults everywhere who need a safe person with whom to ask the tough questions and a person who has something, and Someone, to offer. PAY ATTENTION--God is giving us opporunities wherever we are to offer Christ. There are those close to us whose life intersect daily with ours whom God may want us to pay attention to, so that we can become what God intends us to be...PAY ATTENTION---someone whom you already know and love may be saying something to you you have not yet heard, or may be asking you to become more human and real so that God can get through to you. (Everytime I have written "you" I of course mean "me" too) Tonight the host bishop here preached, and as illustration of being focused he asked us why we, who say we have open hearts, open minds, open doors, don't seem to really want to be open to the Holy Spirit sometimes. Interesting.

Legion, pomo and the UMC

legion
Originally uploaded by scoxjohnson.

That's pomo, as in postmodern. I'm still reading (slowly) Truth is Stranger Than it Used to Be. Today, instead of reading, which part of me wanted to do all day, I was at a meeting where we talked, and envisioned and listened to each other about what we would like for our annual conference to become. For some reason tonight, in relation to this, I thought of one of the descripters that is used by the authors of the book I mentioned earlier---that one of the characteristics of postmodernity is that many find themselves as living illustrations of the Biblical account in Mark 5---the demon-possessed man who says to Jesus that "my name is Legion"---the writers say this: "Controlled by many spirits, the man in the biblical story was tormented, homeless, and in need of healing. So, it seems to us, is the contemporary postmodern psyche." (p. 56) And so, perhaps, are many of us across the connexion perhaps, maybe especially pastors, who have many identities to which we feel loyalty, some of which feel in conflict with one another---we want to be relational, to take the time to listen to those we encounter, yet we feel pulled by the commitments we have previously made. We want to be open to learning from other faiths and the richness of pluralism, but we want to hold as true the uniqueness, and many of us would say the rightness of Christ as Savior. We want to be caring toward the older, faithful members of our congregations, yet we know that we cannot forever keep doing what we have always done. We are in need of healing, as a denomination, as a conference, and as those who seek to faithfully serve--a healing that will lead to greater integrity of ministry, and an integration of our many selves---and somehow, I know that wholeness toward which we yearn, will never be complete until we no longer see our selves dimly in a mirror, but when our selves our joined eternally with our God. Looking to Christ, the pioneer of our faith, we can grow in wholeness, though, I really believe. How do we keep centered when we feel so pulled? Means of grace, Susan, means of grace.
Sorry this is a bit stream of consciousness tonight...

Truth Is Stranger...

Truth
Originally uploaded by scoxjohnson.

Wow! Lots of things popping around all of the emergent conversation for me right now! I am currently reading this book, which has been out for a while, but which is an extremely good review of the postmodern quandry for those of us who are in the midst of churches that struggle with change. Steve and Cindy Breon and I went to Jacob's Well last night---so good to see Tim!!! I meet with Steve Cox, our conference director of connectional ministries tomorrow, and have bought books to share with Steve and Bruce Baxter, our church development director for the conference. I don't seem to be finding the time to keep reading and writing, because I'm spending a lot of time doing!!! I am very interested to see how our meeting at Lee's Summit on Friday goes in regard to perhaps doing some restructuring of our conference boards/committees. etc...this all seems to be integrating in wonderful ways!

Bad Religion

Bad Religion
Originally uploaded by scoxjohnson.

Yesterday I took my 14 year old son down to Camp Galilee--to a week of UMC camp with high schoolers--he will be in ninth grade. He was the only one there I think with a mohawk, a few pink locks of hair amongst almost natural other color, and probably the only one who had listened with his mother to punk (some old school--some techno--some a little emo) on the way down to Eldorado Springs. Caleb likes for me to hear things he thinks I will like and then just BEAMS when he is right--we listened to my favorite, Bad Religion, and Process of Belief--Greg Gaffin's lyrics are proof for me of prevenient grace---God has already shown up in a lot of his words even though Bad Religion has made an art form of dissing organized religion. I wanted to show Bad Religion videos and discuss them with younger adults on the perifery at Broadway and never got around to it. Caleb also shared a group called Postal Service and the always popular with moms "Backstreet Boys." It makes me feel a little weird that there is no way that I know of to explain how much I want the church to engage culture--this part of the culture I think. There is lots more to say about this. And...I have been in cabinet all day. Do I feel schizzee or what?