6 Questions for the UMC

Sometimes we get so busy talking that we do not listen carefully. We talk, critique, whine, and complain and none of that helps us at solving any problems.

As a young pastor in The United Methodist Church I have joined in a time of prayer for the church. We have called for God's presence upon us, we have asked for forgiveness for the ways in which we are a hindrance to the work of the spirit in our church, we have received forgiveness, direction, and strength.

Now we continue the journey by asking questions. These questions will help us discern our next step, and along the way will help us grow as a community. I will ask them with the spirit of my 5 year old who is always wondering, always curious, and always wanting to know more!

"Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?'"
(Matthew 16:13-15, NRSV)

Asking questions helps us refocus as we become agents of renewal, restoration, and reformation in the church, for the transformation of the world.

Join us in asking "6 Questions for the United Methodist Church"--or 6qUMC--today. You can find more information at http://www.umcyoungclergy.com/6qumc and we hope that you will help renew the church from the margins.

Let's journey together!

Peace, Juan+

Following Money or Following Jesus?

"We are more interested in making money than following Jesus" Chad Myers

We are constantly bombarded with our need for stuff. From the moment we wake up in the to the time we go to bed there is the constant buzz that tells us that we need, we need, we need! Cars, jewelry, gadgets, the latest this or that . . . we need these things to be human, to be successful, to be part of the "american dream."

Often in the church we are no different. We want stuff that will help us, make us comfortable, and will make us feel better. All of this wanting (turn to needing to make us feel better) causes us to loose focus and blinds us to the real needs in us and in our world.

Then comes the teaching of Jesus . . . the last shall be first, the poor will inherit the kingdom, the powerful will be brought down and the lowly will be lifted up, those who are in darkness will be given light, those who are proud will be humbled.

Jesus shows us (directs us towards) our real need! Our need for community, our need for connectedness, our need for something larger than ourselves.

Jesus turns us from a constant concern over ourselves, our needs, our wants, our desires, our consumption. To a concern over the needs of the world, their hurts, their illness, their need for new life.

Jesus transforms us from consumers to producers, from takers, to givers, from needy, to fulfilled, from broken to whole.

All of this means that this gospel is needed in the world. We need to support and work towards a sustainable economy, a just economy, an economy that is centered on the management of God given resources for the life and redemption of the world.

As we do this, as we become this, we become witnesses (agents, catalyst) of the ministry of Jesus in the world.

Peace, Juan+

P.S. Coming soon "Catholicity & Locality: The Church as Many Gifts but One Spirit"

Pour Upon . . . the Holy Spirit

"Words, stories, sacraments, images, gestures: pastors have really nothing else."

Gordon Lathrop in The Pastor A Spirituality

So it is my first year anniversary as an ordained elder in the church. It seems like a wonderful time to reflect on my last year of ministry and on my first year as an ordained person. Much conversation has been going on around me about the meaning, purpose, and need of/for the ordained life. I'll have to admit that after four years of ministry and one year of ministry as an ordained person I am more convinced than ever of the importance of ordained ministry in the church.

It might surprise you that my conclusion has little to do with job security (guaranteed appointment), position (are pastors that highly regarded anymore?), or titles (what you call me means little to me). It does have something to do with baptism, for it binds us and makes us one people: people who need to remember their identity and that in the most difficult times of their life need one who reminds, calls, and invokes . . . one who can stand in those liminal places (threshold places, transition places, difficult places, changing places) and represent the body of Christ.

And so I've spent the last year playing with words, stories, sacraments, images, and gestures. After these early years of ministry I wholeheartedly agree that I have nothing else. This is humbling and scary at the same time. I do not have fame, fortune, position, power, control . . . all I have is these things that have been given to me and that have been activated in me by the laying on of hands. I can't tell you how many times I have wanted to have more and then the Spirit has reminded me that I have what I need, that I have been given what I need.

So it seems like the Spirit that was invoked on me last year is still working at it, not yet finished, making sure that all of me is covered, all of me is saturated, all of me is drowning. Poured out, once more, poured out like at my baptism long ago, poured out so that I can let it drip from me, pour from me . . . for the life of the world.

Thanks be to God!

Peace, Juan+