Various Church Visits

Sorry it has been so long. Cabinet Season is busy! The following is a recap of various churches that I have visited lately and what all I became ever so more thankful for after my visit...

For passion to reach our urban ceneters...Fairview, Grace, McKinley, and South Park.
For trusting God to raise up annointed leaders...all the churches receiving new pastors this year.
For great preaching and leading...Aley and Community (Dayton).
For working toward new vision...Clayton, Phillipsburg, and Tipp City.
For patience and the faith to work through life's challenges...several.

Church Visit, "The Power of Story," Dixon UMC

Nothing beats celebrating African-American History month in an African-American Church. Unfortunately, some still in our culture do not acknowledge it, and others really do not do it that well. More than commemorating the accomplishments of the past we must step into the story of past, present, and future. Pictured on the bulletin are key leaders from times past and present with the slogan to the effect, "Parks sat, King walked, Obama ran, so that our Children may fly." It all means so much more there. More than just commemorating the accomplishments they remembered, rehearsed, and thereby relived the story. They stepped into the story to carry on the story. What story do we need to step into? Everyone has a story. To reach anyone for Christ, we must first step into that person's individual story in order to know how best to connect their story with a new chapter in God's ultimate narrative of redemption. In the retelling, however, we must leave ample room for God to write something new because we are not meant to relive everything. One day all tribes and tongues will be represented at the throne. Therefore, we must learn the stories of God's people today, because in the weaving of our togetherness we will find our salvation.

Church Visit, "Cross the Line," New Paris UMC

Went to visit one of our ministry candidate’s churches last Sunday and had to go to Indiana to do it! The GPS took me to the first exit off I-70 in Richmond, and then from there, tracked me back into Ohio. I called my wife right away to tell her. Thought it was funny. The Miami Valley District stretches far and wide, even in Indiana. Would their Conference even know if we tried to expand into their territory? Why not? Get to make a fireworks run next time I go. What lines do you need to cross to reach your mission field? Pam Weaver is doing a great job in that location. I thought her sermon ranked higher than someone with her formal level of experience. Her enthusiasm and love for her people above even that. She and her laity have connected to form a partnership for some pretty neat things. Around 90 in attendance, 30 of which are kids from the community that they are reaching. Formal education, age, experience level, geographic location, perceived leadership capability, perceived ministry potential etc., etc….what lines do you need to cross to take it to the next level for God? In your own mind and otherwise?

Appointment Making, Part III

Began our Cabinet Retreat today. After opening worship, devotions, and prayer, the following was the very next thing covered…

Values the Cabinet Seeks to Uphold For Pastors and Churches When Making Appointments:

v Pastors are called and have vowed to serve the missional needs of congregations.

v Consultation and shared or mutual discernment between district superintendents and pastors lead to better appointments.

v Longer tenure is generally good for pastors and congregations because it allows for the possibility of healthy transformation and growth.

v Itinerancy is a key building block of the Methodist movement. it is the mechanism that enables the best available pastor to be quickly and efficiently placed where there is the greatest missional or strategic need.

v Prayer communal discernment within the cabinet is the thread that gives the appointment process integrity, authority and creativity.

v The missional needs of the congregation must drive the appointive process.

v The personal and family concerns/needs of pastors are important because “happy” pastors have longer and more productive pastorates.

Values the Cabinet Seeks to Uphold In Its Own Discussion When Making Appointments:

v Truthfulness

v Collective Responsibility

v Strategic Appointments

v Maximize Effectiveness of Pastors

v Missional Needs of Local Church are Priority

v Prayerful Discerning Process

Why Do We Bless Our Food?

The following was taken from an article printed in the Jerusalem Post by Dr. Dwight Pryor, scheduled to be on the District at Fairview UMC, 2/16 from 1-4pm...

[JPCE APRIL 2008]

Why Do We Bless Our Food?

Dwight A. Pryor

The Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples was a Passover Seder. Though some contemporary New Testament scholars question this, the evidence of Matthew, Mark and Luke is compelling.

As an example, consider that all three synoptic gospels preserve an obscure Hebrew idiom found in ancient Rabbinic literature: “eat the Passover” (Mt 26:17; Mk 14:12; Lk 22:11), a shorthand way of referring to a Seder, including eating the Passover lamb. “And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat the Passover with you before I suffer’” (Lk 22:14).

At that memorable meal, Jesus spoke words that have become institutionalized in Christian settings:

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body’” (Mt 26:26 KJV, itals original).

Three important questions can be asked about this passage: 1] What was the biblical basis for Jesus reciting a blessing before eating? 2] Why is the word it italicized in the original King James translation? 3] How might this influence the Christian custom of “blessing the food”?

First, if we search Jesus’ Bible (the Hebrew scriptures) we find not a single command to give thanks before a meal. The closest parallel is found in Deuteronomy 8:10: “And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.” Notice however that the command stipulates a blessing after the meal, not before – a custom still honored today by observant Jews, in the Birkat Hamazon (Grace After Meals).

In fact, the basis of Jesus’ blessing before the meal is not biblical but extra-biblical. He honors a tradition started by the Sages and preserved by the Pharisees. Their thinking was: If we are commanded to give thanks afterwards, let us go beyond the letter of the Law and in our gratitude also give thanks before a meal.

Second, notice that the blessing commanded is directed toward God and not the meal itself. This God-focus is preserved in the blessing before the meal as well: Blessed art Thou O Lord our God, King of the Universe… who brings forth bread from the earth.

The seventeenth-century English translators were not privy to first-century Jewish traditions. Drawing instead upon the sacramental traditions of the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church before it, they assumed that Jesus took the bread and blessed it, and took the cup and blessed it.

The word it is italicized in Matthew 26:26 KJV because “it” is not in the original Greek but is an interpolation of the translators. Literally, “Jesus took bread and he blessed, he broke, and he distributed to the disciples.” The Greek text of this passage preserves the authentic Hebraic custom of our Lord – to bless or give thanks to the Lord for the food He has brought forth from the good earth.

We see this pattern paralleled in a number of NT passages. Acts 27:35 for instance: And when he had said this, [Paul] took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.

Finally, the Jewish perspective that informed the New Testament should guide us as well. When we say grace before a meal we are in fact following a Jewish tradition (even a Pharisaic one!) that was commended to us by Jesus of Nazareth. As in the best of Jewish traditions let us be God-minded and King-centered in all that we do. Indeed the Sages recommend finding at least one hundred occasions daily in which to bless God as Lord and King. This mindset is reflected in the Apostle Paul’s admonition: “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col 3:17).

In our customary blessings before meals therefore let the focus be not on the provision but upon the Source. Let’s not “bless the food” but “bless the Lord” who supplies all our needs. Thereby we consecrate the meal and bring even mundane actions under the gracious sovereignty of the “King of the Universe.”

Dr. Pryor is Founder and President of the

Center for Judaic-Christian Studies

www.jcstudies.com

Appointment Making, Part II

What do you do if an appointment doesn't work? Be a leader, work with your leaders, don't give up on the process, and refuse to be a victim.

Appointment Making, Part I

It’s that time of year. The Cabinet will be meeting in retreat to begin the major appointment making season, though appointments have been made all throughout the year in my short tenure here in Miami Valley. We have received 27 requests for changes in the Miami Valley District, either initiated by the church or pastor, but in most cases both. How does the process work? Well, as I have experienced thus far with much prayer and discernment, at all levels. Every person and church that I have encountered really does want God’s best. Every church and person really does want to make things better. The governing missional opportunity in every location will be considered. When a request for a move is received, I send the church and pastor a profile template, one specifically designed for each scenario, helping them discern and outline needs, wants, expectations, strengths, and God’s call, etc. Those are then collated for the entire Cabinet and inputted into a database. Then we spin the roulette wheel…just kidding! (Wanted to make sure you were paying attention). I will update you on the process as I learn it more fully my first go around too. Stay tuned.