Credo ↔ Oratio

Of the many things a minister does with his or her time, the one we are most often judged on is our presence in the pulpit and/or time spent leading worship. That makes sense, of course, since most of what we do is either in small groups or with individuals, and worship services are one of the few things that even the least-involved and least-connected people in a congregation still occasionally attend.

There are a variety of ways ministers and congregations tend to imagine a pastor’s job description…

There is a sense of truth to each of these views (and several others). Lately, however, I’ve been struck with the image of “conductor” or “facilitator” – particularly within the context of worship. Why? Because the biggest failure each of the above-mentioned positions tends to promote (with the possible exception of the fourth) is that, at a very basic level, they tend to imagine the minister as the primary do-er of ministry in the congregation. Something that, as far as I can see, has absolutely no biblically backing whatsoever.

If the minister is the primary do-er, then the minister’s role is to be the primary worship-er… the primary pray-er… the primary engage-r of the scriptures. If, on the other hand, the pastor’s role is that of “conductor” or “facilitator,” the s/he is charged with helping those on the other side of the pulpit and communion table to worship… and pray… and engage the scriptures.

That doesn’t mean that a minister isn’t worshiping and praying and engaging the scriptures as an individual (and as part of the body). Indeed, in a very real sense, s/he ought to have a certain expertise, experience, and training in exactly those things (as the Reformed tradition has consistently, albeit decreasingly, demanded). However, conducting a choir is a very different thing than singing in one (although most conductors can and have sung under the leadership of other conductors). A facilitator’s role, rather than trying to get a group to come to a particular conclusion, is to help the group discern a particular direction (often even something very different than the facilitator would have individually concocted.)

Pull the image over into ministry and all sorts of light bulbs begin going off in the thought-bubbles over our heads. A minister’s role is to bring together the body of God’s people and help them unite together in worship and prayer… to help bring them to the point where they are individually and communally engaging the scriptures.

What use is it if a minister gets in front of a congregation on Sunday morning to worship on their behalf… and pray on their behalf… and engage the scriptures on their behalf?

My answer: None!

I can do all of those things in the privacy of my own office or living room without the bother and distraction of a congregation watching me. If, on the other hand, a congregation gathers together each week (or even, dare I suggest it, more often!) and joins together to do each of these things as a gathered body, then something far greater is taking place. A minister, in this sense, is charged with making sure the congregation joins (metaphorically, if not literally) in on the same song… the same verse… the same words; a pastor is to help pull together the dozens of diverse and sometimes divergent souls and help weave them – even if for a short time – into a single tapestry of worship, prayer and word.

The problem? This view of ministry doesn’t give the pastor great power and prestige (which, in my experience, many ministers want and are hesitant to give up) and it doesn’t give congregations the ability to sit back and simply let it happen around them (which, in my experience, many congregations have become quite used to and are hesitant to change).

Those two problems alone (not counting the fact that minister-as-primary-do-er is an entirely unbiblical concept) are enough to ensure that minister-as-conductor or pastor-as-facilitator aren’t frequently-embraced images – from either side of the pulpit!

I wonder what it would take to change that?!

Grace and Peace,
`tim

Yes, I’m a slow bike rider. Slow enough, in fact, that those I’ve ridden Ragbrai with over the past two years have occasionally referred to my biking style as “tortoise pace.” It’s true, actually and I don’t mind at all. Indeed, last year I decided I would ride SLOWER than the year before, and this year it looks quite likely that I will ride even slower yet. Any real biker would be ashamed of that. Not me. Ragbrai isn’t a race; it’s more like a family reunion or a county fair. So this year I decided to embrace my pace and celebrate it.

How? You might ask… I ordered bracelets. Blue… glow in the dark… silicone with a trendy little tortoise and my new motto: …the slower the better!

They just arrived, and I know, you’re jealous. I ordered enough to share though; all you have to do is ride a little tortoise pace and I might even give you one!

1 week….

Grace and Peace,
`tim

PS. Interested in ordering your own bracelets for something? The company I went through was great: http://www.wristbandsnow.com/

As I began thinking about what I would do if given the opportunity to vote on the Belhar, I spent a lot of time thinking about what a “confession” is. Of course, there are a lot of ways to define a confession, and I wasn’t a delegate at Synod, so however I would have voted is entirely irrelevant. However, the question I kept coming back to was the question of context.

It sounds awful, but bear with me. One of the beautiful things about the scriptures is that they can be used outside of their original context. That doesn’t mean that all out of context interpretations are appropriate, but it does suggest that some out of context interpretations are. I don’t think that’s even remotely controversial. Obviously we live in a completely different context than those the scriptures were written in. If we are to believe that they still speak to us and make God’s will known to us, we have to believe that it’s possible to apply them, in some way, outside of their original context.

The standards are obviously not scripture; they do not hold the authority of scripture; they are not inspired in the same way as the scriptures. That said, one of the beauties of the standards is that they too, in some ways, can be interpreted and applied outside of their original context. Ministers in the RCA affirm that they are “historic” and “faithful” expressions of God’s will. “Historic” means that they have an original context different from our own; “faithful” suggests that they, to some degree can be interpreted outside of that original context.

As I’ve thought about the Belhar, then, I’ve found myself wondering which of two, very different, categories it fits in: (1) is it a powerful document bound to it’s original time and context (and thus not suitable as a confession), or (2) is it a powerful document able to speak in some way outside it’s original time and context (and thus appropriate for adoption as a confession).

In the end, I believe it’s the latter. Which means, of course, that I believe the Synod made a wise and discerning decision in approving it, and celebrate that the years of study have led us to this place.

Certainly some applications outside of South African apartheid are appropriate, certainly others aren’t. The flurry of activity on the Church Herald Blogs, over the past week, has seen a myriad of posts referencing the Belhar (in my opinion) under both categories. The question, then, becomes how it can appropriately be applied outside of its original context.

One of the problems we have, in answering this question, is that as important as it is, we haven’t done a very good job at answering it with our other three standards. Nor, even, have we done an acceptable job answering it in the case of the scriptures. Again, it’s worth noting that the scriptures and the standards are unquestionably on different levels – yet the question is similarly important.

I can’t provide a full hermeneutic on the standards, but let me at least suggest the following:

(1) In order to understand how the standards (and therefore, the Belhar) can be applied outside of their original context, we need to know as much about their original context as possible and what the differences are between their original context and a contemporary one.

(2) The first step in interpreting the standards, is to figure out what they meant to their original audience in their original context.

(3) The second step in interpreting the standards, is to ensure that the “contemporary” (i.e. out of context) interpretation is consistent with the scriptures. (As a standard, I already believe the original interpretation is consistent with the scriptures).

(4) The third step in interpreting the standards, is to ensure that the contemporary interpretation is consistent with original interpretation (i.e. it’s inappropriate to try to get the standards to say something inconsistent with what they were intended to say, even though it is appropriate to carefully apply them to different contexts than originally intended.)

OK, it isn’t a fully functional hermeneutic… but maybe it’s a start.

Thoughts?

Grace and Peace,

`tim

Every year, as Synod approaches, I talk to the congregation I pastor about what’s on the docket and what kinds of things the delegates are going to be talking about, celebrating, learning, etc. Some congregations roll their eyes at the idea of General Synod, but over the past nine years, I think Dunningville has come to understand that Synod plays an important role in the local church as well as the denomination.

Yesterday, shortly before our morning service when I gathered with our Elders to pray, we were talking about Synod and how it can be both extremely fun and extremely frustrating. It’s true. If you’ve never been to a Synod, there are few gatherings of the church that are more fun. Hundreds of people from across the US (and a handful of overseas missionaries flown in to spice things up) are gathered in a single place to pray, worship, deliberate, etc. Good conversations happen over coffee times, meal-times, and – in some cases – late into the night. Good discernment and work is done during advisory committee meetings, plenary sessions and other formal gatherings. All of this can be exceedingly fun.. yes… fun.

Synod, however, can also be frustrating – intensely frustrating! Sometimes it boggles my mind to watch people talk past each other and to see people stand up to speak on things that really have nothing to do with the topic at hand. Sometimes people are so busy crafting their arguments that they don’t even notice that the conversation has moved on, or even more humorously, that someone has already made their point (sometimes even more effectively than they did). The other frustrating thing about Synod is that although you are almost always guaranteed to go home after it’s all done and be very happy with some of the decisions, you are also – regardless of your theological, doctrinal or social positions – often equally as unhappy with others.

That’s where the conversation before church yesterday really caught my attention. Just before we bowed our heads, one of our elders turned to me and said something to the effect of: Synod is good because it reminds people that they don’t always get their way.

Bingo!

Of all the wonderful things that happen at Synod, perhaps the most important is that people are given a bigger view of the church – that their invited (forced?) to recognize that their preferences, their way of doing things, their experience of the faith, and their likes and dislikes aren’t what it’s all about. Synod reminds people that we’re about something bigger than merely remaking the Church (denominational and even universal) in our own image.

Just one more reason that, in the nine years I’ve been at Dunningville, I can honestly say every Consistory I’ve worked with has been a blessing. I hope others of you are as fortunate!

Grace and peace,
`tim

This morning, in church, we did a “check in” on the “Three Pillars.” Essentially, the Three Pillars are arenas within which we expect each member of our congregation to have some kind of growth and development going on at any given time. What may vary from individual to individual. The point isn’t that everyone be working on the same thing or that we all be in the same spot, but rather that each individual be attentive to each of these three areas.

If you’re interested in checking them out. Feel free to download the explanatory handout:

Grace and peace,
`tim

Consider me floored.

Last week I got a call from a member of Zeeland Classis’ nominations committee asking if I’d be willing to accept a nomination to the position of Classis Vice President. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Reformed Church, a Classis is a regional body (made up of elder and minister delegates from local congregations) that has the rights and responsibilities similar to a Roman Catholic bishop. I am a reasonably active, but often disagreed-with member of our Classis and since the call came so close to the meeting, I assumed they were simply looking for enough people to fill out the nominations spots on the ballot. In short, I had absolutely no expectation that I would ever be elected – literally.

Well. . . you know what they say about assuming. Turns out, I was the only one willing to accept the nomination. That means, the vote ended up being a mere formality. I have now been elected Vice President of Zeeland Classis. That means that barring anything strange, I will be the only one on the ballot for next year’s presidency.

Let me repeat: consider me floored.

As the saying goes, the Lord works in mysterious ways.

This should be interesting! I would appreciate your thoughts and prayers in the months to come.

Grace and Peace,
`tim

I just put up a new post on my portion of the Church Herald blog site regarding the ordination of commissioned pastors.

If you have any interest in such things, I’d appreciate your comments…

Grace and Peace,
`tim

Please?!

I have a thesis deadline coming up in a few days and am still awaiting news from my adviser and second reader – making the deadline doesn’t mean I’m done, but it will mean that I’m dramatically closer to being done. The fortunate thing is that, although the whole process has been dramatically slowed done since my adviser is no longer working at the seminary where I’m studying, he’s brilliant and knows the process really well. I also, apparently, was assigned an awesome second reader. I don’t know him but the rumor is good.

On a completely different note. Those of you who know me know that I have never been accused of being athletic. Although I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Ragbrai the past couple of years, it’s mostly because Ragbrai is only tangentially about being athletic. It’s really more about the people and fun. Despite that, I’ve allowed myself to be talked into running a 5k. Crazy! For the record, Matt Reimink is the guilty party. It’s all his fault. In any case, I’ve now embarked on a 9-week plan called “Couch Potato to 5k” that’s supposed to be able to get anyone – even the likes of me – to the point of being able to make it through the experience. Apparently I’m just a sucker for trying something new. I’ll keep you posted.

On a more theological note, we’re working our way back through the Heidelberg Catechism in our Adult Sunday School class. I am increasingly convinced that one of the fundamental problems in the Church today is a mis-balance of emphasis on Word without Sacrament (in the Protestant Church… just the opposite in most Catholic churches). Add to that the fact that we have so separated the table from the experience of eating and drinking with one another that it’s hard to even pretend that the sacramental table is a “meal.” More will eventually show up on this blog to this effect. I’m just to emotionally and intellectually strung out to type it up for now (see first paragraph of this post…).

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers…

Grace and Peace,
`tim

I haven’t blogged in nearly-forever. Sorry. (Yeah, I’m sure you’re live has been at a near stand-still waiting for me to post something….)

Anyhow, thought I’d check in… (Of course, not in any particular order…)

Church (Dunningville):
Things are going well at church. Dunningville has been patient with me over the past months as I’ve been working on my thesis; hopefully they will have enough patience to make it through the next month or so, even though some things haven’t gotten the attention I would have liked to give them.

Joyfully, we celebrated the sacrament of baptism on Sunday. Equally as joyfully, I have Sunday off and don’t have to lead/preach/etc.

Our Adult Sunday school class is working our way through the Heidelberg Catechism (for the second time) and currently in the middle of my favorite part (the part on the sacraments). The evening service has finished a study of Galatians (which was perhaps the most transformative series I’ve ever preached – for me, at least, I can’t speak for anyone else!) and we’ve just started a study of the first 9 chapters of Judges — wow… that’s going to be fun.

Church (RCA’s Worship Commission):
The Worship Commission met last week – what a great group of people! We polished up a liturgy we’re hoping to submit to synod this summer for approval as our first official “occasional use” sacramental liturgy.

Church (RCA/CRC Hymnal):
We had our most recent editorial committee meeting for the joint hymnal about a week ago – another great group! I have high hopes for this project; theoretically we are putting together a hymnal that will inform the worship of a generation in some congregations.

Thesis:
Currently, I’m in the middle of my yearly week of “education” time working on my D.Min. thesis. As you may know, I’m drastically behind on it but am still hoping to get it done on a time line that will allow me to graduate this spring. Everything has conspired against it including medial tests for our daughter, surgery for my wife, and my adviser quitting and moving back into the parish – all of which are potentially good things but not particularly helpful when it comes to my thesis. As it sits, the rough draft is done; my adviser has constructively criticized it (truly, he was constructive); I’m rewriting and reworking it this week and hoping to have a “final” draft done to be submitted by the middle of March.

Knitting
I’m currently in the middle of another Baby Surprise Jacket (which is looking more boy-ish than expected) and have purchased the yarn for a girl-ish sweater. One of them will go to some college friends of mine who are expected a new baby just around the corner, the other of which doesn’t have an intended home yet.

I’ve also scheduled a class on Brooklyntweed‘s Habitat which I’ll be teaching at Lizzie Ann’s (my local, and absolutely favorite, yarn shop) and a two-part tatting class for later in March — fun!

If you’re wondering about the Kimono I’ve started for JJ, it hasn’t gotten anywhere. I need absolute attention to keep my count on the chart and haven’t been able to give it that recently.

Beer:
No new beer brewed recently. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks – I’d like a fresh batch ready for the beginning of summer.

Coffee:
Have I told you how much I love coffee? Really?! Currently I’m drinking our favorite (Sweet Maria’s Monkey Blend which we use for just about everything – espresso, drip, mokka, etc). I’m also working on getting the hang of using a Chemex, which I bought using a gift certificate my MiL gave me for my birthday. I’d highly recommend it: smooth brew, low acid. It seems like the filters are overly hefty though.

Ragbrai:
I’m signed up… hoping to make it again this year! Druck your Daumen for me!

Latest gripe?
I recently received an Adeo from Motion Lingo. I’m certain I’ll love it but the blasted thing doesn’t work on Vista. Oh Vista, how I detest thee. Oh, and we’ve done a number of tests trying to figure out what’s going on with Sophia – nothing yet, and I’m exceedingly disappointed in DeVos Children’s Hospital. Don’t get me started! (But, thank you for those who’ve asked about her, we deeply appreciate it!)

Well, that’s pretty much it right now. Hope you’re well; we are.

Grace and peace,
`tim

I promise not to cross-post everything I put up on my Church Herald Blog, but I managed my first post last night and thought I’d let you know I’m up and running over there.  You can check it out at:

This Link

Grace and peace,

`tim