President's welcomeDecember 2003/January 2004: As a boy I'd watch my dad prepare for work, a big production. It included unfolding a crisp white shirt and Masonic cuff links. It wasn't finished until he took a Dobbs hat from it's box and placed it just so. Like a lot of kids I looked forward to doing the very same thing someday. There was a beauty, dignity and civility about the whole business and I can easily whine about our becoming a Casual Dress Culture. It inspires Casual Everything. Years later a dear gentleman traveled to New York to see his son. On my account he made an excursion to that bastion of civilized haberdashery, Brooks Brothers. Mr. Nolan wore bow ties, and thought I should to. He brought one home, came to the church, gave me the tie and a fifteen minute lesson. I've liked the ever since. They compliment the wearer, and never get dragged through Oodles of Noodles at a church pot luck. In a Casual Dress Culture," they're spiffy. I recently had an extended layover in a large airport. If you haven't been in one recently you should know they've been mallated. This one hadn't just the usual book stores and leather goods, but clothing stores, including a Brooks Brothers. Bow ties? I checked. Only a handful on display, and nothing too inspiring. I asked the casually dressed clerk if there might be any others. Maybe he thought I meant, "Do you have any of the pre-and-permanently-tied variety?" I wouldn't want such a thing but he didn't know that. What he said was, "No and if you need me to show you how to tie one I can't. I never learned how. My father taught me to never trust a man who wore a bow tie." OK then. He didn't know me well enough to volunteer that nugget. I could have been a secret shopper. I might have wanted to buy every tie. He might have discovered all bow tie wearers aren't entirely untrustworthy. He might have made a commission. Now all he knows is I'm not likely to come back. Like any parable this has more to say than the story itself. Obviously, while the clerk's father was instilling a useless prejudice he forgot to teach a lesson about working with the public. Clerks, like politicians, country club managers and preachers need to enjoy the serenity found in having some opinions left unexpressed. In a similar vein, we don't have to tell everything we know. Here's the thing, it is not a good practice for any of us to question the integrity of any of us but when we do it is often on the basis of too little information. Of course, we all have to preach to ourselves and as I do that I'm reminded again that forgiveness is hard and bow ties are hard to find. Besides, that was my only encounter with the man in the mallated Brooks Brothers and he might be one swell fellow. So ... I better get over it. People who wear bow ties require tougher hides. This parable surely has other things to teach but now is a good time to start keeping a few things to myself. October/November 2003: We often hear, "The church isn't what it used to be." It isn't. North American Christians no longer enjoy the luxury of a culture that accommodates itself to church life and values. Some folks exercise their freedom of religion as freedom from religion. As Walter Cronkite used to put it, "And that's the way it is." There are other reasons our church is different than it was and the fault lies with us. Church membership, attendance, and financial support, are down. Fewer young persons enter ministry. That this is true for most denominations should be as comforting as not being the only one left standing on the Titanic. On any Sunday a Disciple might go to church, look around and say, "It sure used to be different, and better," and be right. I believe things can be better again. They can be better in our whole church and in every congregation. They can be transformed. Unless God made us to live at the tail-end of a great adventure in religious liberty we have the wherewithal to work with God and make things better. What kind of work? Just our part. Once upon a time we were special. We were no more Christian than our neighbors but we were special. We could agree on some very basic things and agree to disagree agreeably on everything else. We were bound in mutual love and respect, not mutuality of beliefs and opinions. That's still a precious commodity and we begin our transformation by valuing what we have here. Disciples read their Bibles and were serious about it. Growing congregations still do and if yours doesn't it can. You can take initiative. Resources abound. One quick suggestion is to use the Uniform Sunday School Lesson. Or, you might us the Common Lectionary and encourage your pastor to preach from it. That will make for a more interesting Sunday morning. Sunday morning ... When we were a growing church, Disciples valued coming together on Sunday to celebrate the resurrection day of our Lord. We certainly can do that. Regular attendance in worship is something God deserves, and blesses. It's basic to the Christian life. Our attendance energizes the worship leaders, and encourages newcomers and new believers. There are many excuses to miss and most are just that. As we're regularly attending, we'll be asked to assume responsibilities. We must accept them, do them and do them well. If important jobs were only done by people for whom it's convenient nothing important will ever be done. God gives us talents to use. We have to give. Since our baptisms we've known tithing is giving to God what belongs to God. Acting ignorant isn't becoming. Forty years of declining giving has done the most to get us where we are. Alexander Campbell said to talk for something, pray for it, but not support it with our means is pointless and blasphemous. Poor stewardship represents proportional faithlessness and has created stresses no fund drive, mission funding formula or rich person can fix. Until we become a tithing people it isn't a question of whether we'll survive, but if we should. It isn't commendable to be a part of one congregation all by itself. Disciples began in associations and we still need them. We need district, regional, and general assemblies, conventions, retreats, convocations and training events. We grow in knowledge, faith and wisdom in the company of others and we build up the body. We need the accountability, and fellowship. Finally, we must pray for our leaders. If we pray for them we'll support them and we won't focus on their limitations. As we pray for them, they'll rise to God's expectations, and maybe even ours! As we do so new generations will hear us and they'll hear God calling them to give their lives to Christ. In the absence of prayer there'll be gossip, backbiting, second guessing, fault finding and judgementalism. Could you hear any call to Christ with all that racket going on? God has great plans for us and I believe that can include every congregation. We can be transformed. God gave us life at this time for reasons and they include making this church we love the best it can be. If you agree with me let me know, and join me in this ministry of transformation! Glad to be with you in mission,
Arnold C. Nelson Jr. August/September 2003: (This month's column is written by Disciples General Minister and President Richard Hamm.) How’re We Doing… Really?
Dear Disciples, I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to communicate with you through this new vehicle from Disciples Home Missions (DHM)! I am also very grateful for the way Arnold Nelson and all DHM's leadership and staff are seeking to understand the challenges facing the church today and are "reinventing" this general ministry, determined to help realize the Vision before us. Most people these days are in a state of anxiety. North American Disciples are no exception. Not only are we confronted with a world much less predictable, but we see a lot of disconcerting change occurring in our church. We usually like our church to stay pretty constant.....a comfort to us in a rapidly changing world. Church consultant George Bullard says members sometimes feel that if their church changes to the point it is unrecognizable, they may not go to Heaven! That is the way change in the church feels to us sometimes. And yet, we know the church does and must change. The only church not changing is a dead church. Still, resignations, retirements, financial shortfalls, and the rest, make us nervous. So, when I am out and around in the church, people press me about two things:
I want to say a word about these questions here. First, I am just fine. My letter of resignation (http://www.disciples.org/transition/) can be taken at face value. I feel I have mostly completed what I was called to do and the next steps in our journey as a church will require more than the 21 months left to finish my term. I admit my 10 years in this role have left me a bit weary, but I am not disillusioned, depressed or discouraged. On the contrary, I am quite hopeful for Disciples and look forward to contributing to our future in new ways. God is working in us powerfully. Which brings me to the second question, "How is the church, really?" We have stresses and strains, of course. But we have discerned a Vision I believe is leading us into God's future for this church. The Vision is "to be a faithful, growing church demonstrating true community, deep Christian spirituality, and a passion for justice." In responding to this Vision, we have set some important goals before ourselves: by the year 2020, we intend to start 1000 new congregations, revitalize 1000 of our existing congregations, develop the leadership necessary to make this possible, and become an anti-racist/pro- reconciling church. We have some victories to celebrate. After many years in which we started just a few congregations each year, in the first two years of these "2020" goals we started 116 new congregations! In fact, if we count these congregations now, before most have been formally chartered, then 2002 was the first year since the 1960's we had more Disciples congregations at the end of the year than we had at the beginning! This is a significant turning point. Revitalizing existing congregations is one of the more difficult challenges before us because congregations in decline seldom understand, or truly desire to make, the changes necessary to return to vitality. The single most fundamental issue is a commitment to mission (rather than mere maintenance) and a desire to serve the people who actually live in the geographic area the congregation is called to serve. Change is nearly always threatening and difficult. Nevertheless, a number of our congregations have faithfully and successfully become revitalized. Leadership development is crucial to a "faithful, growing church." We need both lay and minister leaders. Many events designed to recruit and train leaders are now being offered. More are needed. Becoming an "anti-racist/pro-reconciling" church is essential both because God desires justice (what the Bible describes as right relationship with God and one another) and because by 2030 there will be no single racial/ethnic group in the United States that comprises as much as 50 percent of the population! Our anti-racism initiative is moving along well with teams trained in most of our general units and regions. The congregational phase is beginning soon. We simply cannot reach all the people in our home mission field with the Good News of Jesus Christ without being a church embracing racial and ethnic diversity! I am grateful Disciples Home Missions is involved in helping realize every one of these four goals! As you read this newspaper, the Home Mission Advocate, over the years ahead, I challenge you to look for the many specific ways in which DHM is helping us be faithful to the Vision to which God has called us as a church! Get involved and help the other members of your congregation get involved. Pray for the staff and leadership of DHM and of this whole church, including your own congregation, as together we seek to move into God's future for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). How are things, really? I'm fine, thanks. As for the church, we have our challenges, but God is showing us the way forward and God is faithful. After October, I look forward to working alongside you in new ways. I hope to see you in Charlotte!The Rev. Dr. Richard L. Hamm, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada, is a native of Crawfordsville, Ind., and is a member of Geist Christian Church, Indianapolis, Ind. The Rev. Richard Hamm was the Disciples general minister and president. June/July 2003: Not long ago I met someone who said, “Now that I’m a Disciple, tell me what I believe so I can tell my friends.” It was said tongue in cheek, but, believe it or not, there are some folk who like to be told what to believe and think. They may find a church that conforms with their existing beliefs and drop away in the face of a new idea. Others will swap belief systems as they move from neighborhood to neighborhood. That may be hard for some of us to understand because if there is a Disciple ethos, not being told what to think or believe is part and parcel of it. Let me know if you disagree. We can change our minds. I have several times. Some time ago Chris Hobgood was regional minister of Arkansas. He proposed to the regional board that The Arkansas Christian cease taking subscriptions and offer people opportunities to make donations. It was a good idea, but I didn’t think so — not at first. It took persuasion and debate. Finally, it took giving the idea a chance, and seeing it work. It’s no challenge of my respect for Chris that I didn’t take his word for it. I started thinking about all this the other day in a public rest room in southern Illinois. Someone had left some religious tracts with their idea of how to get right with God, or else; graphic stuff. You’ve probably seen them. My first reaction was that a public rest room may be the one place on the planet where evangelistic opportunities shouldn’t be sought, but that’s just my opinion. The second thought was that I didn’t agree with their notion of salvation, but to each his/her own. My third response was that even most of the Disciples I know who might agree with this tract’s theology and this means of evangelism would probably back away from this my-way-or-the-highway means of expression. It simply runs counter to our way of living in the world and being church. In days to come, I hope you’ll notice a difference in how Disciples Home Missions does business. We are trying mightily to keep some of our opinions to ourselves. As you already know, it is not our job to tell you what to think or how to do business. Trying to do that only gets in the way of our service to you and your congregations. If there is an issue that demands the attention of baptized people, and it seems our position to take note of it, then we will do our best to raise the issue and offer places to find information — without prescribing solutions. A program we do with the Division of Overseas Ministries, Rapid Response, is an excellent example. It’s our contention that if baptized people know the issues and have means for considering them, they will come to their own conclusions and do as they feel God calling them. It simply seems more suitable for who we are, or do you disagree? Glad to be with you in mission,
Arnold C. Nelson Jr. P.S. Any reference to the financial support of the former Arkansas Christian and an invitation to support the Home Mission Advocate is possibly coincidental. Arnold C. Nelson Jr.
You may wonder what it is and why you are receiving it. Keep reading. I will address that and a few other issues. The Home Mission Advocate is a new publication of Disciples Home Missions. It is to provide news of the ministries of DHM. It is for people recognized as leaders in our church's life especially in congregations. That you have received it indicates we think you are a leader. It certainly means you have been getting one or more of our different program newsletters. We combined these different mailing lists for several reasons. One is better use of stewardship resources. Another is the conviction that a person who cares about one area of our church life cares about others. Consequently, you will have opportunity to be better informed and we will have a better chance to tell our story. DHM is in transformation. A church-wide visioning process in 2002 led us to reimagine how we might better serve our church. Many things came from that. One was straight from the vision document. Our commitment is to "connect people to the life changing love of God." We will accomplish this by organizing our work around three issues: Leadership Development, Congregational Life and Vitality, and Christian Vocations. We will still do much of the work we have in the past, but it will be with the intention of realizing success in these issues. We will accomplish these goals by partnering with other organizations in our church's life. DHM has partnerships with various agencies of our church, and we are open to more. We are especially committed to partnering with regions. Richard Hamm, General Minister and President, says North America is our new mission field. We agree. For many years we have been known as Disciples Home Missions. To reflect our mission to connect people to the life changing love of God, we have adopted a name to address that purpose. We are Disciples in mission right here at home in North America. We are Disciples Home Missions. All of us called to serve at DHM are home missionaries. You are a home missionary. In the Home Mission Advocate, we hope you will find resources to help you in your ministry wherever you call home. Let us know what you find helpful, and please share ideas we can pass along. We are all about "Equipping Disciples for Christ!" Glad to be with you in mission! |
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Home Mission Advocate published by Disciples
Home Missions |
