Reaching Young Adults in a TGIF world

Can you imagine doing ministry last 500 yrs. & saying "I don't do books"? Imagine ministry next 50 yrs saying, "I don't do social media"

 --Leonard Sweet, Tweeted May 11, 2012, 10:14am

One day last week, a friend dropped the kids home from school (my office currently is located in the church parsonage).  My wife had to run on an errand, and asked that I fix them a snack.  "What do you want them to have?" I asked.  "Do something easy today.  Get them a granola bar and let them eat it on the deck."  

I love specific instructions because it takes the guess work out of things, or so I thought.  I opened the pantry and looked in the place where we keep the granola bars; the shelf was empty!  I called my wife back and told her that we didn't have any.  She said, "Yes we do, they are on the shelf where they belong."  

I looked throughout the pantry thinking that maybe I misunderstood which shelf.  I knew that there were granola bars in the house, but for the life of me I could not find them.  I gave up looking and fixed another snack.  When my wife returned home, I told her that we were, in fact, out of granola bars (I love being right, even when I'm not). "James," she said,"don't you remember that we moved the granola bars to the pantry shelf in the laundry room?  They are not in this pantry anymore.  You can't find them if you are not looking in the right place."

For years, I have known just where to look for granola bars in the house, but things have changed.  If that's what I want, I now have to look where the bars are, not where I want them to be.  It struck me that the church and young adults have a lot in common with me and granola bars.

For years we have known where to find them.  Yes, they might have disappeared during their college years, but eventually young adults would want to get married.  Of course, they would want to get married in a church.  Our plan for young adults was to try and hook them as they planned for wedded bliss.  Unfortunately, this didn't always work; so, we had a back-up plan - Baptism! Obviously, when they have children shortly after getting married, they will want them to be baptized. Babies are baptized (or dedicated/christened) in CHURCH! All we had to do is wait once more for the young adults to come home, and we would be fine.

Except we are not.

After decades of being able to do the same thing over and over with predictable results, something has changed.  Young adults are getting married later in life.  It's not unusual to have couples wait until their 30s to get married.  Many of them are looking for alternate venues to get married, or they have no problem getting married in a church with which they have no connection. What about having their kids baptized soon after marriage?  Young adults are waiting longer after getting married to have children.  By the time they have children, they have moved beyond the age of 'young' adult, and the church has missed 15 years in their lives.

I think that it's because we are looking for the granola bars in the same place we always expected them to be, but they have moved.  We cannot find them if we are looking in the wrong place.  What we "long-timers" in the church have failed to recognize is the major shift that has taken place in the world; the young adults have moved into a world in which few of us are comfortable -- the TGIF world.

I cannot take credit for this insight, it belongs to Leonard Sweet from his book entitled Viral: How Social Networking Is Poised to Ignite Revival. Young adults are living in the world of 

Twitter

Google

iPhone

Facebook

The sooner we recognize this fact, the faster we can re-connect with them.  Young adults are actually quite engaged in their faith.  They are seeking to put it into action and to incorporate it into their relationships.  Yes, their relationships are real; however, they are unconventional for people who grew up loving a cup of coffee and a good paperback book.

I believe that the way to reach young adults is to simply go where they are.  In doing my part, I am wrestling with modern technology to incorporate it into my ministry.  I just married a couple in April where most of their premarital counseling sessions were done via Google+.  Why? because he lived in Alaska and she in Alabama.  As I transition from one appointment to the next in the United Methodist system, I have been able to connect the pastor who will follow me to 45 church members in 2 days on Facebook with just a few mouse clicks (more should follow). 

But I find myself barely on the threshold of the social networking in which many young adults are engaged. I don't do Tumblr or Pinterest.  I haven't explored LinkedIn or Flickr and have barely scratched the surface of Foursquare and Twitter.  I appreciate people like Leonard Sweet who are challenging me to look beyond my comfort zone into the place where young adults are extremely comfortable.  

I pray that we will all accept the challenge of holding fast to the Good News even as we share it in new and exciting ways.

Grace and Peace,

Believing When Things Are Not Seen

Here is the sermon I shared on Sunday, May 6th with my congregations.  May it help you as you discern God's voice in your own life...

Hebrews 11:1-8 (Common English Bible, 2011):  ¹ Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see. ² The elders in the past were approved because they showed faith.³ By faith we understand that the universe has been created by a word from God so that the visible came into existence from the invisible.⁴ By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice to God than Cain, which showed that he was righteous, since God gave approval to him for his gift. Though he died, he’s still speaking through faith.⁵ By faith Enoch was taken up so that he didn’t see death, and he wasn’t found because God took him up. ^g He was given approval for having pleased God before he was taken up. ⁶ It’s impossible to please God without faith because the one who draws near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards people who try to find him.⁷ By faith Noah responded with godly fear when he was warned about events he hadn’t seen yet. He built an ark to deliver his household. With his faith, he criticized the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes from faith.⁸ By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out without knowing where he was going.

            Some sermons are easy to preach.  Others are more difficult, especially when they touch our lives in specific and challenging ways.  This is where I find myself today as we talk about faith here in Hebrews 11:1-8.  Faith is difficult by definition – it is trusting in something that doesn’t have substance, in something that we can’t get our hands around.  Faith is when we claim a future hope and promise is real, even when it has not been realized.

            We show faith by acting when we hear God speak and following even though we are not sure where God might lead. Abel had faith by listening and following God’s desire for sacrifice.  Enoch was faithful because he drew near to God and followed where God led.  Noah showed his faith by telling the world of the warning God revealed to him and by building an ark (which was seen as ridiculous by his friends and acquaintances). Abraham’s faith was obvious as he obeyed by going where he was called – without a clue as to where God might lead. The story goes on through the years…by faith Sarah…by faith Moses…by faith Rahab.

            Again, faith, by definition, is difficult.  We must trust that God loves us, that God wants what is best for us, and that God will be our strength as we follow.  I say all of this because we have been drawn to a time which requires faith. 

            Some of you may have guessed, and others will not be surprised to hear what I will say next: After eight years of a blessed ministry with Antioch and Dacusville churches, I have been appointed to another church beginning June 27.  I am sharing this today with permission from the District Superintendent because word is beginning to spread in the community.  We will make a full announcement about who has been appointed to the North Easley charge next week. (Please do not quiz the PPRC as they have not met the new pastor yet.  The introductory visit is scheduled AFTER next Sunday).

            As difficult as this news is for me to share, I have come to understand over the past several months that this is God’s leading and God’s desire.  Ashley and I have known that our time with you is limited.  Pastors are only appointed for 1 year at a time, and are able to be moved any given year in the UMC.  Eight years is a long time for a pastor to stay in one place.  Not only that, but this year is a year with many moves throughout the conference.  My understanding is that there are over 3 dozen moves just in the Anderson and Greenville districts alone!  Because of our length of time here and the need for experienced pastors to serve churches where pastors are moving or retiring, it was highly unlikely that we would remain for a 9th year, but we still didn’t want to leave.

            January 1 God began speaking to me most clearly about our possible move.  After staying up to ring in the New Year, I went to bed unusually late on Saturday night – after 12:30am.  Even though I was exhausted, I awoke before 5am with an overwhelming sense of God’s Presence in the room with me and with a specific message on my heart.  That morning I was preaching on the Wise Men listening to the angel’s warning to travel “By a Different Road.”  I knew that this sermon was for me, and I knew that it was about where I serve as a pastor. I was to allow Christ to be in control, even if I didn’t know where God might lead – even if the road would be difficult.

            I was overwhelmed, unsure, and confused.  I prayed for some confirmation that this was, in fact, God speaking and guiding.  I turned on my phone and read the daily scripture reading for that morning; it was Matthew 7:13-14 CEB 

“Go in through the narrow gate. The gate that leads to destruction is broad and the road wide, so many people enter through it. But the gate that leads to life is narrow and the road difficult, so few people find it.”   

        Again, I felt this was pointing me to follow God in faith even through I did not know where this road would lead, even though it would be difficult.

            I have always told people that whenever I seek to confirm that God is speaking to me, I make sure of two things: first, it fits within the Biblical understanding of God’s will, and second, it is revealed to me three times from different sources. (I believe that God speaks multiple times; we just need to listen.)  Within a couple days of this experience, I received an email from another pastor sent through the district office.  I want to share some brief excerpts from this letter:

            ..Several nights ago I was abruptly awoken by the Lord around 3 a.m.  I am sure many of you have had a similar experience (where the Lord chooses such an “opportune” time to speak with you).  As soon as my eyes opened my immediate thought was, “Encourage your fellow United Methodist brother and sister pastors.”  It was such a strong emotion and inclination that I could not fall back asleep …Always view what the Lord is telling you through the lens of scripture, tradition, reason, and experience – but listen and trust!  …Proverbs 3:5-6 reads, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

…Perhaps many of you need this note of encouragement.  Perhaps one of you needs it…  Lead with strength and integrity.  Psalm 56:11 is the verse that has resounded in my mind over and over again, “In God I trust; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?”  If God is leading you, obey….Let’s move forward, giving it everything we have, and trusting God all the way.

           

            With all of this on my heart, I met with Dr. Johnson, our District Superintendent, telling him what I just shared with you.  I confessed that the only thing holding me back how much I loved the people in the churches and knowing that I would upset and hurt some of them if I left.  Two hours later, I met with someone who shared with me how God has richly blessed him.  He also told the story of a time when he knew that God was calling him to respond by going to the altar following the sermon.  The reason he didn’t was that he loved his wife and knew that she would be upset and hurt her if he did.  He told me that he regretted not following God’s leading and told me that if he knew that God was leading him to do something, this time he would follow regardless of how he thought anyone else might react.

            Still seeking confirmation of God’s will, Ashley and I fasted praying for God to lead me away from this decision if it was not God’s will.  During this time of discernment, I shared my journey with a trusted colleague.  She said that it was clear what God was saying to me – that “it isn’t a matter of interpretation, now it’s a matter of obedience.”

            I knew that it was very likely that we were going to move this year.  Since January 1st, God has told me in a number of ways that I needed to trust and follow in faith.  As a pastor, if I teach that we should listen and follow wherever God leads, do I have integrity if I refuse to listen and follow? For these reasons, I indicated on the advisory form in January that I was available for appointment to this or any charge, but that I felt God was leading me to move.

            Yes, this has been difficult and painful.  The road is still long, and the future is filled with many things that we do not see. But we are people of faith and people of hope.   By faith we understand that the universe has been created by a word from God. By faith we can trust that that same God will lead us into a bright and promising future that we can’t even imagine.

             Faith, by definition, is difficult.  We show faith by acting when we hear God speak and following even though we are not sure where God might lead. I pray that we trust that God loves us, that God wants what is best for us, and that God will be our strength as we believe, even when things are not seen.

On Being Too Comfortable in Ministry

This week marks the second week of the 2012 General Conference for the United Methodist Church. The General Conference meets every four years and is the only body of the UMC that can establish polity (make rules) for the church as a whole.  The GC consists of about 1000 delegates elected from local conferences, about 50/50 lay to clergy proportion from all over the world.

One of the issues they tackled this year was security of clergy appointments (a.k.a guaranteed appointments).  Until this GC, every ordained elder in good standing must be appointed by a bishop.  Some say that this balances the fact that UM clergy promise that they will go wherever they are sent while the church promises they will always have a place to serve.  Others point to the fact that this guarantees a place for women, minorities, and prophetic voices within pastoral leadership of the local church. The problem is that both effective and ineffective clergy alike must be appointed under the previous rules.

Yesterday, the security of clergy appointments was eliminated from our polity; no longer are ordained elders guaranteed an appointment.  (For a detailed discussion of the specifics, I refer you to this interview with Rev. Ken Nelson of the SC Conference ).  To borrow from the Facebook post of another colleague, Rev. Michael Hood placed the following caption and picture together...

I felt a great disturbance in the Force... as if thousands of United Methodist pastors suddenly cried out in terror

 I agree that United Methodist clergy can become complacent and too comfortable with mediocre ministry.  There does need to be a system of mutual accountability to ensure that the mission of Christ is being fulfilled through the life and ministry of each pastoral leader. There should be a process in place where we identify and transition clergy into opportunities to recapture God's passion, God's Spirit, and God's vision for ministry in the always changing culture of today. Now that some accountability has been put in place for clergy, this begs the question, "Are there any other people within the body of the United Methodist Church that have become too comfortable in their ministry?"

I believe that the answer is "yes." As the General Conference affirmed a bishop's ability to appoint ineffective ordained elders in less than full time, transitional appointments, the Conference affirmed that episcopal office is for life.  Should we not have the same process for bishops that we do for clergy?  If a bishop is deemed ineffective in ministry, should that person be assigned an Episcopal Area or be placed into a process of transition? There should be a process in place where we identify and transition bishops into opportunities to recapture God's passion, God's Spirit, and God's vision for ministry in the always changing culture of today.

But before you think that I am picking on bishops, I wonder if members in the local church can also become complacent and too comfortable with mediocre ministry.  Should there be a process in place where we identify and transition laity into opportunities to recapture God's passion, God's Spirit, and God's vision for ministry in the always changing culture of today?  What might the church look like if we were all held accountable to holy living?  What if every part of the Body of Christ that we call the United Methodist Church were to burn with the fire that raged through the Church on Pentecost?

I agree that United Methodist clergy should be subject to accountability for their ministry. I welcome the opportunity to engage in true reflection of the effectiveness of my leadership within the Church.  The process can be helpful and insightful.  Mutual accountability is one of the founding principles of the early Methodist movement.  However, accountability that is not mutual and that is not done in the spirit of love is simply judgmental.

Dare I suggest that the same accountability for clergy be extended to all parts of the Body of Christ from laity to episcopacy? What about if general boards and agencies were also held accountable for effectiveness especially in reaching today's younger generations?  Only as we begin to hold every United Methodist accountable to the high calling to which we have been called will the Church be transformed into the active, vital Body of Christ for the world.  As we are reminded in the letter to the Ephesians:

 Therefore, as a prisoner for the Lord, I encourage you to live as people worthy of the call you received from God.  Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love,  and make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together.                                  --Ephesians 4:1-3 (Common English Bible, 2011) 

 In the Name of the One who calls us,


James