Synod Assembly Day 2

Today was another productive day at Synod Assembly. The productive parts dealt with the continuing of the Bible Study on Luke 15 and the presentation by the Disney Institute on Hospitality/Customer Service. One of the things that is high on the Disney chart is knowing your audience/customer base and she did just that with actually knowing some things about not only the church, but the Lutheran Church in particular. Many of the insights and benchmarks that they use are directly applicable for the church. It will be great to sort out these ideas and work with leadership at GTLC to work on some of these ideas.

Then there is the frustrating part of the assembly. Of the over 450 people attending the assembly around 40 are under the age of 44, that’s right, 44. That is pastor’s, AIM’s, Diaconal Minister’s, and laity, the majority being laity. Now I realize that this is something that is going on across the ELCA, the aging of the church, but what is so frustrating is the lack of engaging in some of the social media tools that are at our disposal that young adults, youth, and yes older folks use. The Synod Facebook page has not been updated throughout the assembly and the twitter feed had one “tweet” with directing people to election results. We long and pine for younger people being involved, yet we don’t engage them where they hang out, on Social Media! I know we can’t be everything to everyone all the time, but this is such an easy way to get out our message, because the message we have to share is that we are doing great things in our state, country, and throughout the world.

I’m going to write a note to the Bishop asking that our synod take some steps to make better use of new media as just one small way in which we might live out our theme from this years assembly, “Radical Hospitality”

Be Blessed.

Day One at Synod Assembly

Although I often don’t look forward to sitting through many of the business and ministry reports that make up much of Synod Assemblies, I do enjoy seeing colleagues and catching up. Another enjoyable part of these gathering are the worship and keynote speakers who offer a new perspective and voice other than that of my own preaching and study.

Rev. Dr. Shauna Hannan is leading the Bible Study this weekend with the focus of radical hospitality using Luke 15 as the basis of the discussion and study. She mentioned a quote from a book entitled, Hospitable God: The Transformative Dream by  George Newlands and Allen Smith

“Far from being a comfortable option, hospitality invites an engagement which may seriously and comprehensively challenge much that has been taken for granted and which may produce unexpected and disturbing results”

Hospitality might just be the most important thing that we as the church practices moving forward. How we treat and interact with the first time guest and how we make them feel goes a long way into whether or not they will be back a second time. We also must show that same hospitality and welcome to people who have been a part of our communities for years.

I’m looking forward to the presentation by the Disney Institute tomorrow on how they do and view hospitality at all their parks and places that have the Disney name. The church learning from Disney, that just might be crazy enough to work and  a challenge the church needs to take on.

The Changing Church

“It’s not like it used to be” I catch myself and hear others sharing some form or version of this statement often. It can relate to many things in our society, but for my context it’s a statement about the church. Gone our the days of “church” nights, when local schools and clubs didn’t have activities or games going on. It was a night to gather for Confirmation or Committee meetings or worship, whatever it was, the time was reserved for those who were a part of religious institutions. That doesn’t apply anymore, in fact it’s often difficult to have church members resist the temptation of putting other things before church activities and commitments. What’s a Pastor to do?

Serving at a church in Southwest Florida brings other changes that can be difficult to deal with. We have many seasonal residents, whom we love seeing each fall and winter. Now that the weather is getting nicer in the north, they begin to head back for the summer. It’s hard saying goodbye not only because we value the ministry and partnership they bring, but it also makes for lower attendance in worship. With the coming summer months our year round members take vacations as well. You’re never quite sure what you’ll have on Sunday morning. Those kinds of changes are ones that you role with.

When you mention the word change within the larger context of the church you’d better be ready for raised eyebrows and questions. Change is something that the church as a whole has not always embraced. Yet, for the church to have a voice in our communities sometimes we need to change, not to become more like the world around us, but rather to change how it is that we share God’s love. Instead of adult Sunday school each week or a Bible study during the week, it just might be an informal visit in Starbucks or in someones home. The idea of a Pastor who sits in their office waiting for people to come and visit, the Pastor needs to be thinking of themselves as a “mobile” office that meets people where they are at, where they live, work, and play.

When you think of it, it’s really not a new model, but rather getting back to the old model of Pastor’s in the community. Not hidden away in the church office thinking of the next program or strategy, but rather seeking out relationships and opportunities to listen and learn. It’s a challenge for sure, but it’s a change that can lead to some very fruitful ministry.

Be Blessed,