Evangelical Methodist Church

What Did You Expect?

/ pastorlynnmalone / 3 Comments

I’m not one to say, “I told you so,” so I won’t tell you that what I expected to happen, happened. What happened? The United Methodist Church changed this week.

My phone notifications dinged numerous times over the past week from friends, colleagues and former colleagues alerting me to and asking about the “changes” that were happening at the General Conference of the United Methodist Church, which met April 23 – May 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

I don’t intend to use this venue to offer commentary on the events or decisions (though I could!) of the past two weeks as it relates to the United Methodist Church. Any of you reading this blog, and who know me any at all, should know my position of many of the issues that were before the Conference (there’s a reason I left the UMC in 2019).

As I wrote in last week’s blog, I’ve moved on. I’ve had neither the time, nor the desire to follow the General Conference closely. I will simply say that nothing happened that I didn’t expect to happen.

General Conference Action

Since many have asked about the events and decisions, I’ll post a summary written by Rev. Chris Ritter. He has followed the legislative process closely (God bless him!) and prepared the following summary (no point in me reinventing the wheel):

May 4, 2024, Version 1.5
The main governing body of the United Methodist Church, General Conference, met in
Charlotte, North Carolina from April 23-May 3, 2024. By anyone’s estimation, this long-
delayed meeting was a watershed event marking a new direction for the UMC as a
progressive denomination, especially in the United States. The denomination prepared a
summary of laudable legislative outcomes. What follows is a summary of notable actions
that run counter to traditional Methodism.
Marriage is Redefined in United Methodism
A revised set of social principles were approved that broaden the definition of marriage to
include two consenting adults. The new language is, “Within the church, we affirm
marriage as a sacred lifelong covenant that brings two people of faith, an adult man and
woman of consenting age, or two adult persons of consenting age into union with one
another.”
Restrictions on LGBTQ Clergy Are Removed
The following language was stricken from the Book of Discipline: “The practice of
homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing
homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to
serve in The United Methodist Church. ”
Language Forbidding Same-sex Weddings in UMC Sanctuaries Are Removed
Language barring same-sex weddings from being hosted in UM sanctuaries was removed.
Although the Judicial Council ruled during General Conference that local church boards of
trustees can set policies forbidding same-sex weddings, the ruling was vague on whether
clergy are required to honor such policies.
Non-binary Gender Categories Are Embraced
Even before General Conference, official statistics used in the UMC allowed for a non-
binary category of gender. At General Conference, all speakers were asked to state their
name, conference, clergy/lay status, and age category for statistical purposes. Delegates
who wished were invited to share their “preferred pronouns,” and many did.
Specific Language Related to Adultery Is Removed from Clergy Chargeable Offenses
General Conference edited the list of offenses for which a clergy could be charged by
removing: “(a) immorality including but not limited to, not being celibate in singleness or
not faithful in a heterosexual marriage; (b) practices declared by The United Methodist
Church to be incompatible with Christian teachings, including but not limited to: being a
self-avowed practicing homosexual; or conducting ceremonies which celebrate
homosexual unions; or performing same-sex wedding ceremonies.”
While “sexual misconduct” remains a chargeable offense, this definition of misconduct is
less defined and subject to the discretion of bishops. There are concerns this change could
open the door to permitting sex outside of marriage if consensual.
Abortion Stance Changed
General Conference approved a petition affirming a right to abortion and pledging
“solidarity with those who seek reproductive health care.” The petition, “upholds a person’s
right to an abortion after informed consideration with their family, medical practitioners,
pastor, and other pertinent counsel.” It also denounces abortion bans. The Revised Social
Principles are more nuanced on the topic of abortion, but the overall position of the UMC
on abortion is pro-choice. The following words were deleted, “we are equally bound to
respect the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother and the unborn child.”
Church Funds Can Be Used to Promote Homosexuality
Annual conference and general church monies are no longer prohibited from being used to
promote the acceptance of homosexuality. The General Commission on Archives and
History quickly announced the formation of a new “Center for LGBTQ+ United Methodist
Heritage” using apportionment dollars.
Sexual Orientation Now a Mandated Diversity Category on Church Boards
The category of “sexual orientation” was added as a required category for mandated
diversity on church commissions and agencies. Alongside race and gender diversity,
people of various sexual orientations are now to be included in governing bodies.
Protections Previously Developed for Traditional United Methodists Mostly Omitted
The 2019 One Church Plan produced by the Commission on a Way Forward provided a raft
of protections for traditionalists in the UMC that would accompany liberalization of the
human sexuality position. These protections were mostly omitted from the changes
approved at General Conference. While General Conference made clear that no clergy can
be coerced into conducting same-sex weddings, the following One Church Plan
protections were omitted: (1) Language to “affirm those who continue to maintain that the
Scriptural witness does not condone the practice of homosexuality. We believe that their
conscience should be protected in the church and throughout society under basic
principles of religious liberty.” (2) Language stating that marriage has been “traditionally
understood as a union of one man and one woman,” (3) Language stating that same-sex
weddings would only be allowed in churches that specifically voted to host them, (4)
Language allowing annual conferences to develop their own policies on human sexuality,
and (5) Allowances for bishops to decline to ordain practicing gay clergy (the jurisdiction
would have provided another bishop to ordain gay candidates in such an instance.)
Annual Conferences Required to Prepare Local Churches to Accept Gay Clergy
The definition of Open Itineracy was expanded to include accepting clergy regardless of
sexual orientation. The revised ¶ 425.1 directs annual conferences to train Pastor Parish
Relations Committees to receive pastors regardless of sexual orientation.
The UMC Divests from Israel
In the first such action by a major Christian denomination, the General Conference of The
United Methodist Church voted to divest from Israel bonds. Approved Petition 20554-CC-
R6111-G calls on the UMC to lobby the U.S. government to end military aid to Israel.
The General Board of Global Ministries Tasked with Furthering Intersectional Ideology
General Conference added a new ¶ 1302.16 requiring that the UMC mission board “provide
training, resources, and consultation for and with all levels of the global church to actively
resist intersecting structures of white supremacy, heterosexism, sexism, patriarchy,
transphobia, xenophobia, ableism, colonialism and classism.”
Constitutional Amendments Allowing Regionalization Were Approved
Sweeping changes to the UMC constitution were approved allowing U.S. jurisdictions to
organize as a U.S. Region and adopt their own rules. If ratified in the annual conferences,
these changes would prevent conservative global regions from affecting U.S.-based rules.
Why the Shift in Church Teaching was So Dramatic
In the fallout of a special General Conference in 2019 where the traditional understanding
of marriage and human sexuality was upheld, U.S. progressives organized opposition with
cooperation from certain U.S. bishops. Progressive slates of delegates were elected to
represent several U.S. conferences. Amid this fallout, a high-profile plan, the Separation
Protocol, was negotiated to divide the denomination. The General Conference set to
approve separation was delayed twice due to COVID-19 and without controversy. A third
delay until 2024 was viewed by traditionalists as unnecessary and shrewdly calculated.
The Global Methodist Church announced plans to form in May 2022 and traditionalists
began to disaffiliate under a provision approved at GC2019 (but only applied to US
churches). A quarter of the 30,000 UMC churches in the USA exited. Meanwhile, the UM
Commission on the General Conference styled the 2024 meeting a “delayed General
Conference 2020.” This allowed the US the same delegate as before the exodus. African
delegates, already disenfranchised from their new majority status, suffered further set-
backs when a quarter of their delegates were unable to attend due to travel visa issues. All
these factors created a ”boomerang effect” from the stated positions of the church in
2019.
No Exit Pathways Were Approved
The disaffiliation legislation had a sunset clause of December 31, 2023. It was not renewed
by General Conference. This means that churches that wish to exit the United Methodist
Church have no clear pathway out of the church. Some annual conferences, like South
Carolina and South Georgia, have temporary mechanisms in place for churches that wish
to depart. Other congregations will need to negotiate their way out if they wish to keep their
properties.

The Future is Now

Thanks to Rev. Ritter for his diligence in compiling the information. Find the original post here. You can also find a list of helpful links to additional articles by clicking here.

In the interest of fairness (and because I have many whom I still consider friends in the UMC) I’ll share the official summary provided by the United Methodist News Service. You can do the work of comparing the two yourself.

Conclusion

So, why am I sharing this information if “I’ve moved on?” One reason: There are many congregations that remained United Methodist who adopted a “wait and see” attitude. They chose to wait and see what the General Conference would do.

Well, the GC has acted, and those congregations might now choose to make a decision about their future. I share this information for those congregations, lest they miss it in their discernment process.

If you are a part of one of those congregations, and your congregation will be entering a discernment process to determine its future, I’d love to visit with you and your congregation about the Evangelical Methodist Church. The EMC is where I’ve found my home, and I would love to help you explore the advantages of being a part of our denomination. Simply reply in the comments section below, or email me your contact information. We’ll go from there.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Another Supply Shortage?

/ pastorlynnmalone / 1 Comment

Remember March 2020? I’m sure you do! It was the beginning of the Covid pandemic in the United States. Most of us remember where we were and what we were doing when the “lock-downs” started, and who among us will ever forget the great toilet paper shortage of 2020?

The Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 2020

Toilet paper became the brunt of all our jokes and countless social media memes due to its short supply during 2020. “Panic buying” was the most often quoted reason for its short supply, but the most likely reason had more to do with the way toilet paper is manufactured and supplied to stores, and they places we used it.

Think about it this way. People split their time between home and work, which meant they likely used as much toilet paper at work as at home. Suddenly, we were spending all our time at home, which meant toilet paper consumption at home mostly doubled (or more). We needed more toilet paper at home.

The toilet paper used in workplaces is usually different from the toilet paper we use at home, as is the packaging and distribution. Suppliers simply couldn’t shift packaging and distribution quickly enough to handle the transition, so store shelves were left empty until the transition could be made. It all eventually worked itself out and we were able to catch up on our toilet paper needs, and no one (that I know of) was relegated to ancient sources of clean-up as a result (crass, right?).

The Great Pastor Shortage of 2024

But, let’s not go on talking about toilet paper. I bring it up only because I’ve noticed another commodity that’s in very short supply these days–pastors. The pastoral supply shortage was taking place long before the pandemic, but the “epidemic” of departures/disaffiliations from the United Methodist Church seems to have exacerbated the problem.

I belong to a couple of Facebook groups that are dedicated to helping churches find pastors and pastors find churches. One is called Kingdom Leaders Association, and as of two days ago, it listed 17 congregations (all disaffiliated UMC’s) who were seeking pastoral leadership (and it’s a small Facebook group-199 members). The other group is called Pastor Search (over 20,000 members) and the churches that post there seeking a pastor is just too overwhelming to count (last time I counted it was over 200 from various denominations and independents).

I know the shortage was real before the pandemic because as a District Superintendent trying to staff congregations with pastors in my district of 84 churches, there were always those listed as TBS (to be supplied). There was an annual scramble to find retired clergy or lay persons who were willing the fill these slots, and yet many of them remained un-filled.

Why the Shortage?

There are a number of reasons for the shortage. One reason is pastoral burn-out. Pastors are tired. One study revealed that 42% of pastors have considered leaving the ministry in the past year. The stress of pastoral work and the toll it takes on a family has simply become too much for a pastor to be willing to continue, especially in a world where there are so many other options.

Another reason is a decline in seminary enrollment. Put another way, there aren’t enough new people entering the pipeline to ministry. There are now more pastors over the age of 65 than there are who are under the age of 40, and those numbers have flipped since 1992. Many young people are simply not answering the call to ministry in the same way they once did, and that is being reflected in congregations ability to locate “trained” clergy.

One reason some younger folks are not answering the call to pastoral ministry might have to do with the unrealistic expectations many congregations have of their leaders. In my experience, many congregations want a 42 year-old pastor with 20 years of experience, an earned doctorate, a family of four with a spouse who plays the piano, and the congregation wants to pay that person $35,000/year. The congregation’s mentality is, “Lord, you keep the pastor humble, and we’ll keep the pastor poor.”

They want their pastor to be available 24/7, cut short their vacation if a member dies, preach like Billy Graham and shepherd like Mother Teresa. I could go on, but you get the picture. Too many congregations want full-time ministry with only part-time pay. Those expectations are killing pastors and now they’re killing congregations.

I apologize if I drone on about the reasons for the supply shortage. I could unpack a dozen other reasons that add to the problem, but unpacking those reasons does nothing to solve the problem. So, I’ll shift my focus to some things that might be helpful to congregations that are searching for a pastor.

Recommendations

First, be encouraged that this is not the first generation to deal with a labor shortage when it comes to ministry leadership. Remember the words of Jesus to His first disciples:

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 9: 37-38 (NIV)

Jesus gives us the first key to identifying leadership–prayer! Pray for a pastor, and when I say pray, I mean set aside intentional times of congregational prayer to ask the Lord to send THE leader who will lead the congregation to faithfulness and fruitfulness. This doesn’t mean a passing reference during the prayer time in a worship service. Be intentional in praying for leadership.

Another helpful step? If you are an independent congregation, join a denomination. Joining a denomination may not be the end all and be all for finding pastoral leadership, but it certainly gives a congregation a head-start due to the simple fact that denomination’s have processes in place to assist congregations in finding clergy leadership. Keep in mind, though, that many denominations are dealing with their own clergy shortages. It is not a uniquely Methodist matter.

Let me also encourage congregations to look within. Your next pastor might be sitting in the pew next to you. Where do pastors come from? They come from congregations. If churches do not have enough pastors, it might be because the congregations (and their leaders) have not been intentional in identifying leaders within their own congregation.

No one knows a congregation better than members of the congregation. It’s time to start tapping people on the shoulder to say, “Hey, you have a gift for teaching. Ever thought about using it in the Kingdom?” A congregation’s next pastor could already be in the congregation. Pray about it. Identify them. Call them. Encourage them. Train them. And, then, most importantly, follow them. If necessary, ordain that person as a congregation. If John Wesley could do it, so can you!

Conclusion

This should probably be a much longer post, or at least a multi-part series, but the reality is that I’ve been away from vocational ministry too long to understand the issue as I should. I’ve just offered a few rambling reflections because the issue has been on my mind the last week or so, and because I’ll be serving as pulpit supply for a couple of churches on that list I mentioned earlier in the next few weeks.

I’m also a feeling a little guilty because I know I could be serving any of those churches, but I’m choosing not to do so right now. Yes, I’m praying about it, but I’m waiting on my next burning bush experience before I make a decision concerning future ministry opportunities (feeling a little guilty about that, too–and burning bushes are rare this day and time).

Forgive my comparison of toilet paper and pastors. They are only similar in that they both are accustomed to taking _______ off people. They are different in that it’s much easier to get toilet paper back on the shelf than it is to get pastors in pulpits. It’s easier to make toilet paper than it is to make pastors, and it takes less time, too.

Oh, well! I’m done now.

Until next time (if there is one after this blog), keep looking up…

A Look into Life…

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I’m always on the look out for a good book to read, and Rev. Max Edwards, the General Superintendent of the Evangelical Methodist Church recently made the recommendation of A Look into Life, the autobiography of Dr. J. H. Hamblen. For those of you who don’t know, Dr. Hamblen was the driving force behind the founding of the Evangelical Methodist Church. (Order your copy by clicking here).

Dr. Hamblen was a Methodist preacher. He was part of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and subsequently (after 1939) part of The Methodist Church (which would later become the United Methodist Church). Dr. Hamblen would say he was a Methodist preacher because he grew up with a shoutin’ Methodist mama.

I’m not going to give you an in-depth analysis or review of Dr. Hamblen’s autobiography in this blog. I’m simply going to recommend that you put it on your reading list for 2024, especially if you’re a Methodist or a history buff. You’ll be glad you did.

The book is an easy read (I read it in three sittings), yet it is filled with stories and reminisces of past appointments and experiences in each one. I could almost see him riding that old horse and buggy for the forty miles between appointments as he rode the “circuit.” Reading it is like listening to a wily veteran share stories from the war. If one is interested at all in hearing how the appointive process in The Methodist Church worked in the “old” days, this is a great chronicle.

What I found most interesting was the unfolding of events that eventually led Dr. Hamblen to form the Evangelical Methodist Church. “Modernism” had made its way into The Methodist Church in the early part of the 20th Century and it was his position against the “program” of the Methodists that led him in 1946 to call a prayer meeting in Memphis, Tennessee to address this issue. Out of that prayer meeting the seeds of the Evangelical Methodist Church were sown. Dr. Hamblen eventually paid the price by forfeiting both his pulpit and his pension in The Methodist Church. He never regretted the sacrifice.

I admit that I felt some kinship with Dr. Hamblen as I read. The issues he dealt with and the challenges he faced in the “modernist” controversy were not unlike the challenges and issues that led to many of the disafilliations in the current United Methodist Church. I felt like I was reading a contemporary biography, rather than one whose primary events happened in the 1940’s. I guess the old saying, “The more things change, the more they stay the same,” is true. King Solomon said it best:

What has been will be again,
    what has been done will be done again;
    there is nothing new under the sun.

Eccelesiastes 1:8 (NIV)

Dr. Hamblen included in the book two essays written by a friend, Dr. Robert Shuler (also known as “Fightin’ Bob”) who pastored Trinity Methodist Church in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Shuler is definitely a character you should research. Dr. Hamblen included the essays in the book because they encapsulated for him the essence of the philosophy underlying the EMC. I mention them here because (with the changing of a very few terms) reflect the current divide in the UMC. Here are a few quotes from Dr. Shuler’s essays:

“I am a Methodist. I am a Wesleyan. I am committed heart and soul to the Arminian position, up to the point where that positions veers off toward humanism. Moreover, I deplore the fact that thousand of Methodists, who feel that they can no longer conscientiously remain with the Methodist Church under present Unitarian and Socialistic leadership, find themselves adrift and are joining the Pentecostal movements and other religious groups that are not distinctly Methodist.

“It seems to me that the Evangelical Methodist Church is a God-sent organization, if for no other reason, in that it offers tens of thousands of loyal Methodists, who can not go with present Methodist leadership, a church home, in which the may continue to be loyal, active Methodists. But that is not the only reason for its existence. So far as I can discover, The Evangelical Methodist Church is in every particular what original Methodism purported to be. It is a Bible centered Methodist Church and a soul-saving centered Methodist Church. The distinctive doctrines of primitive Methodism are the doctrines that are accentuated by The Evangelical Methodist Church.”

Dr. Shuler would further write, “Christianity is today in a state of flux in her organic processes. There are two schools of thought that cannot and will not live at peace with each other. Methodism is split wide open at this very point. We have thousands of Methodists…who believe what the Wesleys believed and taught and we have thousands of other Methodists who have accepted Unitarianism, Universalism, Socialism and even Humanism and made them a part of the Methodism which they promote and direct. There is no blending these two varieties of Methodism.”

As I mentioned earlier, exchange a few terms and it is an accurate reflection of the current United Methodist Church.

I’m not writing to get anyone to consider the Evangelical Methodist Church as a landing place, although I do invite you to explore it as a possibility. I have found a home here. You might, too, especially if you are committed to a traditional interpretation of Wesleyan/Arminian theology. We remain a small denomination, but we are strongly committed to Jesus and to being a “soul-saving centered” church.

I am writing more as a means of processing some of my own anxiety over having left the United Methodist Church. Unlike Dr. Hamblen, I didn’t pay the price with my pension, though I did lose the “big” church pulpit. Like Dr. Hamblen, I did lose valued friendships and long-term, meaningful relationships. Also like Dr. Hamblen, I haven’t looked back. The Lord has blessed us through it all. For that, I give Him thanks.

Let me commend A Look into Life to you for reading. Maybe you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Random Ramblings and Rants…

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So, this has been a week where I’ve been challenged by so many thoughts in my mind that I think I need this venue to try to gain some clarity from them. Processing all these thought via this means may bring me some clarity, but it also might serve to confuse you in the process, so…be prepared!

Ramblings

First, I’ve been challenged by Eugene Peterson this week. Last week, I went to the bookstore (I haven’t been in ages!) and in my browsing I came across a recently released compilation of Peterson’s sermons entitled “Lights a Lovely Mile.” I incorporate reading other peoples sermons into my devotional routine on occasion, and having a fondness for Peterson, I thought the book would be good to further that endeavor.

I have been challenged by two particular thoughts this week. The first is this:

“Jesus became an event. He was a stopping place for sacred history. The birth of Jesus was like arriving at the top of a mountain peak after a long, difficult climb: You can look back and see the whole trip in perspective, see everything in true relationship. And you don’t have to climb anymore.”

Lights a Lovely Mile, Eugene Peterson

I have read that paragraph over and over this week. Peterson’s capacity to use the English language to craft a beautiful thought is unrivaled, but honestly, as I’ve read and re-read the passage this week, I’m still trying to grasp the essence of what Peterson is communicating.

Yes, Jesus is a stopping place for sacred history and the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. Only from the perspective of Jesus can one truly understand the Old Testament. But, that last phrase, “And you don’t have to climb anymore” confuses me. Why do I feel like I’m still climbing?

Perhaps I’m not climbing, but rather I’m running. I’m reminded of Paul’s counsel to the Corinthian church:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

1 Corinthians 9:24 (NIV)

Whether I’m climbing or running, I feel like there is so much further I have to go on the journey to be like Jesus, so I haven’t squared that circle with Peterson’s thought just yet. But, I’m working on it.

The second of Peterson’s thoughts I’ve pondered endlessly this week is this:

“The bottom step in a staircase is neither better or worse than the top step: It is good in its own right and a way of getting upstairs.”

Lights a Lovely Mile, Eugene Peterson

I like this imagery by Peterson. Most days I feel like I’m still closer to the bottom step than the top, but at least I’m on the staircase, and I’m still climbing. There are days I don’t feel like I’ve made any progress. I look back and the bottom seems so close. I look up and the top looks so far away. It’s good to be reminded that the bottom step is no better or worse than the top. It’s just a step. The question I’ve wrestled with all week is: Am I still on the staircase?

At least Peterson has me thinking…

Advent Rambling

The dawn of another Advent season has me thinking, as well. I suppose Peterson’s analogy of the staircase is appropriate for me this Advent season. Advent is a time to look back to the coming of Christ, but also to look forward to His coming again. It is a season of anticipation and preparation. An event over the past week has caused me to contemplate an integral part of preparing for Advent.

There is on my 40 mile route to work a place where the local constabulary likes to hang out to monitor traffic. Many times on my way to or from work, I’ll see an officer parked at this same location. I know he/she is likely to be there, and as I approach this location I always glance down to insure that my foot hasn’t gotten heavy on the accelerator of my truck. I think that’s called accountability.

So, last week I’m driving along and I pass this location, and sure enough, there sits the police officer. I glance down and yup, I’m only going 74 miles per hour. Should be fine, right? That’s what I thought until after I passed the officer. After my passing, the officer pulls out onto the interstate. So, I slow down to 70. Who wants to see blue lights in their rearview? Not me!

So, why not think of Advent like that police car? When there is the possibility of blue lights in the rearview, the speed you drive suddenly takes on a new importance. That blinker that you frequently fail to use when making a lane change or a turn suddenly matters. Oh yeah! That yellow light on the traffic signal no longer means “Hurry up and get through the light.” It now means, “Slow down, fool, there’s a police officer behind you!” What a difference blue lights in the rearview make.

Advent can serve as a reminder of the fact that just as accountability is a part of being a licensed driver, so too, it is a part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. What we do with our lives does matter. How we think, act, speak, these are a part of the fabric of our response to God’s grace, and we will someday face an accounting of our living.

Perhaps that’s why Jesus told his disciples to “Be ready!”

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming,he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Matthew 24: 42-44 (NIV)

A Couple of Rants

I’ve rambled, so now let me rant. My first rant has to do with the way we Christians treat one another. This article explains it better than I can, but suffice it to say when I read how the Louisiana Annual Conference and its leadership threatened its retired clergy with retributive action should they preach or worship in any congregation that had disaffiliated from the UMC, I was livid. How dare they! Is it even legal? So much for having an “amicable” separation.

I was livid, for sure, but it wasn’t long until the Holy Spirit gently reminded me that I didn’t have a dog in that hunt anymore. I wasn’t “retired.” I left! Still, I have many friends and former colleagues who were now faced with a decision that was imposed upon them in a totally unjust manner. I could have stayed and fought the fight with them. Would have probably been the appropriate thing to do.

Honestly, I just sensed (from one who had been on the “inside”) how ugly it was going to get, and selfishly, just didn’t want to subject myself to the treatment some of my former colleagues have since experienced. I should probably repent for leaving, but I still believe it was the right decision.

One final rant–and, it’s about politics. Did you see the big debate on Thursday? You know? The one between Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California. I’m not going to critique the debate, but I am going to rant about the debate on abortion. Actually, I’m going to say they were debating the entirely wrong point–at least from a Christian perspective. The debate was over when an abortion should be allowed–six weeks or fifteen weeks (or as some Democrats suggest, up until the moment of birth).

The question is not when should it be allowed. The debate should begin with this question: What is in the womb?

My answer? A person. At the moment of conception or the moment of birth what is in the womb is a person. How do we treat a person in our culture? We do not kill them. Period. Either at the beginning of life, at the end of life, or at any point in between. Any debate on the issue of abortion must begin with the answer to the question “What is in the womb?” Without agreement on the answer to that foundational question, no answer will be sufficient.

I’m ranting because both the Democrats and the Republicans have the answer wrong. Six weeks, fifteen weeks or 39 weeks, there is a life in the womb, and the only Pro-Life answer is to not support abortion under any circumstance. Yes, it’s an extreme position, but I hold it, and it’s out there now, so do with it what you will. Perhaps that’s another reason I’m no longer a Democrat or Republican.

We can talk about alternatives to abortion another time. That’s enough rambling and ranting for one day. Besides, I have to preach today. I have a lot of praying to do between now and 10:30 a.m., to get my heart and my mind right after the week I’ve had. All this rambling and ranting has distracted me.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Living the Dream…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is ith your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 

Romans 10: 9 – 17 (NIV)

This passage from Romans was part of my devotional reading on Thanksgiving day this past week. As I read this passage, I did so with mixed (?) feelings simply because this passage was so central in helping me discern God’s call to ministry over 32 years ago. Why were the feelings so mixed? My feelings were mixed because there are many days that I wonder if I am continuing to live out His call. To use the Apostle Paul’s imagery, I should state it this way: I’m not feeling like my feet are very beautiful these days.

Perhaps the feelings were also being fueled by a recent book I read entitled Goodbye Jesus: An Evangelical Preacher’s Journey Beyond Faith by Tim Sledge. Let me save you the pain of reading the book by offering a synopsis. Young man is called and begins preaching at age 16. Young man goes to college and seminary and graduates with multiple degrees. Young man marries. Young man serves numerous congregations until arriving as pastor of what becomes a “mega-church.” Young man starts vital ministries that impact congregations throughout the nation while leading the mega-church congregation. Pastor gets booted from mega-church congregation for no apparent reason. Pastor eventually gets divorced. Pastor gets re-married and divorced again. Pastor leaves ministry. Pastor loses faith in Jesus Christ and His Church.

While that is definitely the abridged version of the story, reading it did prompt me to reconsider what I believe about Jesus Christ and His Church, and why I believe it. As of today, I did not come down on the same side as the former Rev. Dr. Sledge.

Today, I am more committed to Christ and HIs Church than perhaps that day in October 1990 when I walked down the aisle at (what is now) Chatham Community Church and announced that I felt called to ministry.

May I say that I’ve been living the dream ever since!

Honestly, as a young man I never dreamed of being in ministry. It’s just nothing I ever considered. If you asked me as a teenager what my dream was, I would have told you to go into communications (I wanted to be Bob Barker, remember?).

Later, as a young man I would have told you I saw myself owning and running a business. Sure, I was working in law enforcement at the time, but I knew that would never be a career for me. I would be an entrepreneur, or hey, I might even go into politics (yup, tried that, too!), or why not do both? That was the dream in my early adult life. Let’s just say that God has a great sense of humor!

God’s sense of humor had me communicating on a weekly basis, engaging my entrepreneurial bent in growing congregations and managing the politics of leading a church. Yeah, funny right? God called me to ministry and gave me opportunity to do all the things I dreamed about as a kid and as a young man. It is called “living the dream,” just not in the way I thought.

There were days I thought the dream might become a nightmare. It’s on those days that I can understand how the former Rev. Dr. Sledge might reach the conclusion he did. Those sentiments came to a head for me in February 2019 as I watched events unfold at the special session of General Conference of the United Methodist Church. I’ve never seen the Church so ugly…or so ugly toward one another. Yes, I know the Church has a long history of ugly episodes, but I didn’t live through them. Experiencing the ugliness in real time takes a toll…or, at least it did on me.

I won’t say I lost my faith as a result of General Conference 2019, but I did lose a lot of faith in the institution and its leadership. If I didn’t lose my faith, I at least surely questioned it. I questioned His call to ministry. I questioned my commitment to Christ and His Church…and particularly the United Methodist Church. Could the Church be broken beyond repair? Could I make a difference anymore? Did I want to make a difference anymore? Was it worth the fight?

In 2019, my answer to the last three questions was “no.” I wouldn’t call it a crisis of faith, but I would call it a challenge to my faith, and I wasn’t sure I had the energy to withstand the challenge. The dream had become a nightmare and the nightmare led me to make the decision to leave ministry and the United Methodist Church. By far, the hardest decision I’ve ever made, but with it came a sense of relief…like a burden was lifted…like the way a person is supposed to feel when he/she comes to faith in Jesus Christ. It seemed to be working in reverse, though.

I can certainly understand how the former Rev. Dr. Sledge came to his conclusion. He sought healing and restoration through the church only to be rebuffed at every turn. Yes, there were moral lapses and ethical failures, but (for heaven’s sake!) the church is supposed to be a place of healing and restoration, isn’t it? We’re not supposed to shoot our own! He wasn’t booted from his pastoral position as a result of those moral lapses or ethical failures. They came after the fact. His living of the dream certainly turned into a nightmare. As the conclusion of the book reveals, the nightmare impacted his view of faith and the church. I sympathize with him, but I am eternally grateful I didn’t reach the same conclusion.

No, my time away from ministry brought me a new perspective. It gave me time to breathe, to think, to pray, to reflect and to reassess the call to ministry. When I made the decision in May 2019 to walk away, I thought surely I was done with ministry. Yes, I knew I would probably fill a pulpit for a vacationing pastor from time to time, but otherwise, enough was enough. It was time for a new dream, new plans and a new life.

Want to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans.

Initially, I didn’t receive many calls to fill in for clergy. I suppose I was damaged goods, or folks didn’t think I would be interested in pulpit supply (after all, I DID walk away). It’s probably a good thing. It gave me more time to miss the work of ministry, more time to reflect, more time to pray. Then, after seven months, the world changed–Covid-19!

The pandemic changed the way the church functioned. It was an absolute necessity. I watched with curiosity as pastors and lay leaders “pivoted” the way they did church. I felt a stirring in my bones that the challenges of adapting to the new reality would have been right up my alley. Perhaps the Lord knew the stress would kill me, so he delivered me from it, but that would certainly be a very narcissistic perspective (you mean it’s not all about me?). Covid actually made me miss the work of ministry. Covid caused me to reassess my call to ministry.

This blog is already too long, so I won’t go into all the ways the pandemic got my entrepreneurial juices flowing. Suffice it to say the pandemic (and watching pastors and churches adapt to it) reignited a vision within me for doing and being the church. It also wasn’t long before my phone started to ring to fill pulpits. I do find the timing interesting…just as my juices started flowing my phone started ringing. Coincidence? Probably not.

Let me make a long story short–today, I’m living the dream in a whole new way. Vanessa and I purchased a business in 2021, so I get to scratch my entrepreneurial itch every day, and now serving in my third congregation as an interim pastor, I have the opportunity to serve the Kingdom for His glory using the gifts and graces He supplies.

In this season of ministry, I’m content in helping congregations in transition. There are a lot of them that need the help (don’t even get me started on why!), so there is plenty of work to be done. I’ve also developed an even deeper appreciation for the work of bivocational clergy during this season of ministry.

The “dream” for now is knowing that the call is real because Christ is real and that I get to live it out every day. I am blessed in knowing that my disillusionment with the institution of the Church didn’t cause me to lose my faith in Jesus Christ, but that it opened doors to new ways of doing ministry…to new ways of living the dream…which I get to do every day. Praise God!

Okay, so my feet may not be that beautiful, but I have feet, and I’ll use them to share the Gospel. The Lord will transform that which was broken and make it beautiful. It’s what He does. Of that, I’m certain.

Oh, and one more thing of which I’m certain? If the world will know Christ, the world will know Christ because someone preached the Word. That’s where the Apostle Paul left it. Let me leave it right there, too!

Until next time, keep looking up…

Missing the Obvious…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

A friend shared a Wall Street Journal article with me this week that shared some alarming statistics if you’re concerned about the church at all. The point of the article is summed up in this paragraph (since it’s behind a pay wall–though you can set up a free account to read the article):

The percentage of people ages 39 to 57 who attended a worship service during the week, either in person or online, fell to 28% in 2023, down from 41% in 2020, according to a survey this year. This was the largest percentage-point drop of all age groups examined in the survey of 2,000 adults conducted by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University. 

Wall Street Journal, August 1, 2023

Yeah, I know. Just another study demonstrating what we already know–people are attending church less often. Yes, Covid-19 played a part, but it only accelerated what was already taking place. I wrestled with the phenomenon when I was serving as a full-time pastor, and I’ve followed the phenomenon since leaving vocational ministry.

The article points out some of the reasons that this particular age group is attending less often:

  • Raising kids
  • Caring for aging parents
  • Demanding jobs
  • Disillusionment

Those are the same reasons that existed pre-pandemic, so really nothing new is revealed in the article in that regard. I would add to the list more social opportunities and more expendable income make it easier to make other choices come Sunday morning. That, and the fact that it is no longer socially “advantageous” to belong to a church or faith community.

Yes, I know. Ultimately, it comes down to a matter of priorities. We make time for that which is important to us, but I think there is something deeper at work, and the responsibility lies at the doorstep of the church, not necessarily at the doorstep of the individuals who are making other choices. Let me see if I can explain.

I need to clarify what I mean by “the church.” I mean the institution and its leaders. I also mean denominations and non-denominational churches. I mean the organized body of Christ, and yes, I mean on the global and local level. The organized body of Christ, on every level, bears some responsibility in the overall decline in church attendance. How so?

A Matter of Trust

First, it is a trust issue. Let’s acknowledge that people in general have major trust issues with institutions these days. From government, to schools, to churches, people don’t have trust in the leaders of those institutions. Let’s not blame the people who aren’t coming to church for that loss of trust. Let’s blame the leadership of the institution (of which I’m one!). We failed the people. We failed our communities. We failed to live the values we’ve proclaimed. We’ve failed to live holy lives before the Lord and before others.

Now, settle down! I’m not calling out any one person or institution in particular. There have been (and currently are) many faithful leaders who show the love of Christ in meaningful ways, and who exhibit a depth of spiritual maturity we should all seek to emulate. I praise the Lord for those saints! All it takes is for one leader to fail, and that failure gets amplified and it erodes the trust of the people in the pews.

Here are some examples of what I mean: Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, and more recently, Mark Driscoll and Bill Hybels. Though these are high-profile examples, the same scenes are played out on an almost daily basis in congregations around the nation.

Perhaps it is good that I’m preaching from Romans 3 today. It reminds me (and encourages me) that “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:21 NIV). I need to be reminded of this fact. I am, after all, Not the Perfect Pastor! Still, our failures erode the trust of the people we lead. I have to remind myself of this often. The cure? Trust Christ and pursue holiness of heart and life.

Additionally, when the leadership in entire denominations begin living out values that do not reflect the values of the collective larger body, trust is eroded. Lack of integrity to the values the institution has codified erodes trust. When we erode trust, people figure, “What’s the point?” As examples, I point to the cover-up in the Roman Catholic Church during its sexual abuse scandal, and the United Methodist Church in failing to deal with gay bishops according to its own Discipline.

Individually and institutionally, trust is eroded. I’m not saying it’s all the fault of leadership, but it is our fault as much as it is the fault of those who are no longer showing up. Let’s just say there’s enough repentance to go around for everyone. Thank the Lord, there is enough forgiveness, too!

I also believe the sin of congregational and institutional leadership is exacerbated by our own unwillingness to hold each other accountable and to speak prophetically to the sin in our midst. I’m as guilty as the next. My guilt (or its acknowledgement) does not relieve me of my responsibility to lead with integrity in the body of Christ, and to “live a life worthy of the calling” (Ephesians 4:1) I have received. There is a cure, though. Trust Christ and pursue holiness of heart and life.

Sorry! I spent more time on that topic than I meant to as I began to write. Moving on, then…

A Matter of Belief

There is another point of failure among church leadership that I think needs noting here. A community is formed when a group of people hold values in common. It is the values and beliefs that hold the community together. May I posit this point? More and more as the culture changes and exerts more influence on the congregation rather than the congregation exerting influence on the culture, we have failed to state definitively what we believe. When we don’t state openly and definitively what we believe, we’re subject to believing any old thing.

Let me be a clear as I can be (since we don’t get subtle): Too many churches don’t say the creeds anymore. When I say creeds, I mean the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed. These two creeds connect us most closely to the early church and to the beliefs that formed the common community.

Recitation of the creeds on a weekly basis provides both a visual and auditory confirmation of the beliefs and values that form us and hold us together as a faith community. The church moved toward “seeker-sensitive” worship and contemporary worship that, in many cases, have forgone the creeds altogether. We, the leaders of congregations, led our people to embrace “buffet Christianity” to the detriment of the community of faith. That, my friends, is on us!

The community of faith needs a weekly reminder as it is gathered in a single place for a single purpose of the values and beliefs that define it. What it does not need is a weekly “make me feel good about myself” message so I can get through another week. The community of faith needs a message from God’s Word that confirms and affirms the values and beliefs that have defined it for centuries. Those beliefs are contained in the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed.

Yes, it is Jesus Christ that defines the Christian community of faith, but it is what we believe about Jesus that will hold us together as a community of faith. Otherwise, I can believe anything, and if I can believe anything, why do I need the church/Church? As church leaders, are we missing the obvious?

Until next time, keep looking up…

God in the Dead Spots…

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

1 Samuel 3:1 (NIV)

You know what a dead spot is, right? It’s like cell phone companies spend millions if not billions of dollars erecting towers all over the country, but when you really need your cell phone, you can’t get coverage. A dead spot is that place where the signal doesn’t reach. 

Life can sure make us believe we’re living in a dead spot when it comes to hearing God’s voice. We face one of the four D’s (death, divorce, disease, disaster) and God can seem so distant. Fortunately, we have the promise of Jesus Himself–“and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NIV).

Apparently, the nation of Israel was living in a “dead spot” during a very transitional period in its history. Verse one of 1 Samuel says, “the word of the Lord was rare in those days.” The transitional time the nation was living in was the period between the judges and the monarchy. Yes, the nation had been ruled by Judges. You may remember some of their names: Gideon, Samson and Deborah (yes! a woman!). Others you probably only know if you’ve recently studied the book of Judges in the Bible. There are twelve chronicled in the book of Judges, and the end of the book of Judges best sums up the state of the nation of Israel “in those days”: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit” (Judges 21:25 NIV).

Hope in the Dead Spots

Reading 1 Samuel 3 gives me encouragement and hope to know that though we may be in a “dead spot” God is still there and He is still calling. God is always present in the dead spots of life. The problem is not with God’s presence, but with our reception.

Let me shorten the story of Samuel for you. We read in 1 Samuel 1 & 2 that Samuel was born to his mother, Hannah, in answer to a prayer. Hannah was barren, so on one of her family’s annual pilgrimages to the Tabernacle, she offered a prayer for a child. The high priest, Eli, saw Hannah weeping at the door of the Tabernacle. She was crying because she had no child.

Eli joined Hannah in praying and God answered her prayer. In response to God’s faithfulness, Hannah dedicated Samuel to life-long service to God, and when he was old enough, she took him to the Tabernacle at Shiloh to serve with Eli, just as she promised she would do. Chapter 3 of 1 Samuel begins somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 years later.

2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

1 Samuel 3: 2 – 10 (NIV)

Reception Inhibitors

Samuel was having a hard time figuring out what this call was all about. He knew someone was calling him, but he couldn’t quite figure it out because they were in a dead spot. What might have been causing that dead spot?

The first thing may have been sin. Eli, the priest, was a devout and compassionate man, but he had problems at home. Actually, what he had was a couple of problem sons. His sons were in the family business—they were priests just like their father. Now, that’s not the problem.

Actually, Eli was of the priestly line of Aaron. Aaron was the first to wear the priestly mantle in the nation of Israel. That mantle had been handed down from generation to generation, so it was a natural progression for Hophni and Phineas to go into the family business. The problem was they soon discovered they could get rich off the offerings the people were making for sacrifices. They also enjoyed the companionship of the women who served in the Tabernacle. They were in the family business, but it was for all the wrong reasons.

Day in and day out, Samuel witnessed this leadership in the Tabernacle, and maybe Samuel didn’t expect God to speak in the middle of all that. Sin may have been creating a dead spot for Samuel as God came calling.

Another issue may have been weariness. Verses 2 & 3 say that the Lord spoke to Samuel before the Lamp of God had gone out. That simply means it was probably the wee hours of the morning when the Lord came calling.

You know how it is when you get suddenly awakened in the middle of the night. It takes a moment or two to get your wits about you. Perhaps Samuel couldn’t hear the Lord because he was just tired.

Perhaps anger or abandonment were creating a dead spot for Samuel. Think about this: Samuel had been left as a little boy by his mother…literally, right after he was weaned. She would only visit him once a year when it was time for the yearly sacrifices. How do you explain to a little boy year after year that he can’t go home with you after your yearly visit? It must have been confusing to Samuel, and confusion, as it often does can lead to anger. Maybe Samuel was just angry, and that anger was causing his inability to distinguish God’s voice.

Another issue we could explore is simple ignorance. Verse 7 seems to indicate there was a little ignorance involved. Samuel is young and he’s been around the Tabernacle for a long time, but he had never experienced God. He knew he could serve God, but he didn’t realize God wanted a personal relationship with him. He didn’t quite understand that God was a personal God who desired to use him in a special way.

Fortunately for Samuel, he was able to eventually discern God’s voice in the dead spot–and it changed the nation forever. Samuel would rise to become Israel’s last judge/prophet and would anoint its first two kings, including its most famous one, King David.

God is still calling out in the dead spots. God is calling people to the Kingdom…to salvation. He is calling people to healing and wholeness. He is calling people to reconciliation. How is our reception? A better question might be: What is blocking our reception?

Maybe it’s our own ignorance. Many of us have been around the church for a lot of years and have come to equate service to God with a relationship with God. We’ve heard lots of sermons, sung lots of hymns and even served in official capacities, but we never understood that God wants a personal relationship with us.

How do I know? Because that’s exactly how I was. I grew up in church…had a drug problem…drug from one church to another, but not until I was 27 years old did I realize that God wanted a personal relationship with me. I was ignorant!

Is anger keeping us from hearing the voice of God in our lives? Sickness or tragedy strikes us or those we love. We go through a bitter divorce. We lose our job and financial security. We’re left with questions and confusion. We get mad at others, and we get mad at God because, after all, God should have done something. Our anger may keep us from hearing and understanding the only thing that can bring healing and wholeness to our lives.

Perhaps we’re just too tired to hear God calling. We live in such a fast-paced world with families, jobs and social activities that we’re just worn out. Hey? We even get tired working for God. Why does God want me to do something else? It is possible to weary in well-doing, you know? In our weariness, we may miss the voice of God. Every day Jesus calls to us saying, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV).

Then, again, it might be a matter of sin that keeps us from discerning God’s voice. Sin surrounds us, friends. It might be our own sin, or it may be someone else’s, but sin casts a dark shadow obscuring the light of God’s love. Whatever sin you or I may be struggling with, we can know God has built a tower in our dead spot. That tower is Jesus!

The Greatest Cell Tower Ever

I love what the writer to the Hebrews says: “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe (Hebrews 1:1-2).

Jesus shed his blood to forgive our sins so that we might be reconciled to him and to each other. Friend, God is calling to us…calling us to salvation, calling us to wholeness, calling us to service.

Sometimes we need help hearing that call, though. Samuel would never have understood God’s call without Eli. That’s the reason the church is so important. The sacraments of baptism and holy communion make us aware of God’s presence, and the community (fellowship with other believers) is imperative to understanding and clarifying God’s call or His voice. God will use others to help us, and he will use us to help others so that we might all find our way out of the dead spots.

God is calling you, too. He is calling each of us to salvation and to service. But, He is not calling us for ourselves. He’s calling us for others, to help them hear His call in their lives. Are you living in a dead spot? It’s time to simply say, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” Hear God’s call in a new way.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Confirmation of My Imperfection…

/ pastorlynnmalone / 1 Comment

Yup! It’s been that kind of week. The kind of week you’d rather get a do-over. I won’t bore you with all the details (your week may have been worse than mine), but suffice it to say this week confirmed for my that the name of my personal website (nottheperfectpastor.com) is the correct one.

Here’s the first evidence that my imperfections reared their ugly head. People! The world would be a great place if it weren’t for the people. That’s a terrible thing for a pastor (well, soon to be pastor) to say. Not only for a pastor, but for a business owner, too. Without people there are no customers. No customers mean no money. No money means no business. Yup! We NEED people, but sometimes…

I try desperately to show respect to others. I also try to exercise common courtesy when engaging with others. I must be terribly old school, though, because I’m seeing very little in the way of respect for or courtesy toward others. Or, perhaps I’m just not looking for it (could be another of my imperfections).

Three separate events keep playing over and over in my mind, and every time I re-live one of them, my blood pressure goes up and I get a little red in the face. Every time, I have to say a little prayer of repentance and patience, and also remind myself that my consternation with the situations (and persistently reliving them) are both signs that I need as much grace as the people who have raised my ire. So, there’s that…

Uh, huh! I know I’ve got you wondering what happened. I said I wouldn’t bore you with details, so I won’t go into too deeply (sorry! I’m trying to think of something to write since it is Sunday and I want to keep the discipline of writing on Sunday lest not doing so becomes another sign of my imperfection) on the details, and doing so might compromise other people and I really don’t want to do that (oh! the imperfections). So, here goes nothing…

This literally happened! We replaced a couple of parts on a customer’s vehicle this week. Got the job done. Took care of the problem. Two days later the customer calls and asks to speak to me. “Sir, those parts you put on my car, one of them is chrome and the other is black. Why is that?” My answer is, “Because those were the only two parts the parts house had to fit your vehicle” (the parts are not visible unless you get under the vehicle). Long story short, the customer wanted us to replace one of the parts so they would match. Really!

I can’t tell you what I really thought, or what I really wanted to say (and might have under my breath). Just know that the end of that conversation prompted a moment of repentance, a prayer for patience and deep gratitude for grace.

So, let me ask you? If you were to quit a job, would you have the courtesy and consideration to say to your boss, “This isn’t working out for me. I’m leaving”? Or, “Hey, you’re a terrible boss. I’m outta’ here!”? Perhaps even, “I have a better opportunity, so I’m done”? Wouldn’t you at least say something on your way out the door?

No! Just don’t show up. Don’t call. No, “Kiss my foot” (yeah, I thought of the other word) or anything. No respect. No consideration. No courtesy. That happened not once this week, but twice. It is the nature of the quick lube industry (or so I’ve been told), but seriously, I’m beginning to develop a complex. I’m beginning to think not only am I not the perfect pastor, I’m not the perfect boss either, but still, how hard is it to show a little respect to others.

The Holy Spirit (as the Holy Spirit so often does) used those encounters to put me in my place. He heard my prayer for patience and soon turned my thoughts toward those who departed. What events in their lives might be happening to prompt such actions? Perhaps I had not earned their trust as a boss? Maybe I need to hone my hiring practices and skills? Maybe, just maybe, Lynn Malone, YOU are the problem. At the end of the day, there was a moment of repentance, a prayer for more patience and deep gratitude for grace.

And yesterday, let me tell you! It’s bad enough when you have a flat tire, but having a flat tire on your wife’s birthday when you’re taking her to dinner and movie, well I hope you can imagine. So, we’re stuck in a hot parking garage. I intentionally parked in a far away parking spot knowing that when we came out of the movie that I was going to be changing a flat tire.

This event really caused what one old preacher friend labeled “the unregenerate portion” of me to show itself. First, roadside assistance with State Farm is well, let’s just say that Jake is not my friend. Seriously! You mean to tell me in all of Shreveport/Bossier City on a Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m., you can’t find anyone to offer roadside assistance? I can’t believe you tried very hard. I should move on from this one since I have a daughter who works for a State Farm agent.

Now, get this when you think about being considerate of others. Here we are, really off to ourselves near the entrance of the parking garage and there a literally 600 other parking spaces nearby…and I mean literally 600 spaces. I’m in my spot with the tailgate raised and tires and spare tires lying around and my wife’s van on a jack. A car pulls into the garage and which spot does the driver choose? You guessed it! The one right next to mine…on the same side as the flat tire…that I’m attempting to change! 600 (literally 600) other spots and you pick this one? Can you see the redness of my face as my blood pressure rises?

Honestly, I thought some things a disciple of Jesus should never think. At least I didn’t say them, though when I’m reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words to the Philippian Church, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Phil. 4:8) I realize how woefully short I’ve fallen, whether I actually said anything or not. Let’s just say that there was another moment of repentance, a prayer for patience and deep gratitude for grace.

The before…

It really was all my fault anyway. Had I put the portable air pump back in my wife’s van the last time I used it, the flat tire would have been about a ten minute fix. But, I didn’t put the air pump back in her van. Imagine the irony of a guy who sells tires for a living not having the equipment to fix his own flat tire. Yeah! I was a bit mad at myself, too! Grace was found however in having a daughter who lives in Bossier City dutifully jump to the rescue by going to Auto Zone, buying a new portable air pump and delivering it to her stranded mom and dad (she even brought Nothing Bundt Cakes, too!).

The after…

The entire week has been an experiment in patience and a lesson on grace. I’m even going to confess that I considered not attending worship this morning, too, but I need another lesson in grace. I am grateful to have the opportunity to worship this morning with the body of Christ to be reminded that we have a Lord who loves us, gave Himself for us and pours Himself out continually for sinners like me (sinning is the only thing I seem to do rather perfectly). I need to be reminded that we are all in need of grace and that grace is exactly what He extends to every one of us. And, I will go to a Methodist church where hopefully I’ll be reminded that it is His grace that will draw us closer to Him and deeper into discipleship as He grows us toward holiness. Want you join me?

Until next time, keep looking up…

Deja Vu?

/ pastorlynnmalone / Leave a comment

In the words of the great Yogi Berra, “It’s like deja vu all over again!”

That’s the feeling I’ve experienced over the past couple of days as I scrolled my Facebook feed and saw posts from friends and former colleagues who are making transitions once again in ministry.

Yes, it’s that time of year when United Methodists, and now former United Methodists, are making changes in ministry appointments. This year has been decidedly different in that respect, however.

Many friends and former colleagues are making the transition away from the United Methodist Church as the disaffiliation process continues to play itself out. Some have chosen to transfer to other denominations and others have chosen to retire. Still others have chosen to remain United Methodist and are also on the move. I wish them all blessings and continued fruitfulness in ministry wherever the Lord leads them.

It’s deja vu for me, though, not only because I remember those days, but because I’m on the move, too. I really thought my moving days were over when I voluntarily disaffiliated from the UMC almost four years ago. I thought I’d enter secular employment, plant a house church, fill a few pulpits now and again, and life would be grand. That’s what I get for thinking! (Life is still grand, though).

As for the literal moving part, Vanessa and I have made two moves–from West Monroe to Ruston and from Ruston to Minden–in the nearly four years since leaving full-time vocational ministry. That really is more than the average Methodist minister! I’ve informed Vanessa and my children that I only plan to make one more move–either to the nursing home or the funeral home. I’m too old for this moving foolishness!

I’m on the move in ministry, as well. I began an interim ministry assignment with First Methodist Church in Minden on June 1st. Boy, that didn’t last long! That ministry assignment lasted an entire 30 days. That congregation chose to join the Global Methodist Church, and the congregation was quick to identify a pastor who was also joining that denomination who was available immediately, so my services were no longer needed. If I had a poor self-image, I would be tempted to think the congregation listened to me for a couple of weeks and said, “We gotta’ find a pastor, and quick!”

I know that’s not the reality, though. Plans were already in the works when I accepted the assignment and the timing worked out perfectly for the congregation and the new pastor. Besides, the congregation needed a full-time pastor and that is a role I’m unable to fill right now. The congregation also needs the stability of a full-time pastor.

The circumstances over the past four years for the congregation were such (partly precipitated by my own departure from full-time ministry) that I became the sixth pastor of the congregation in four years. That’s not healthy by any metric. I am praying earnestly for them and their new pastor that they will move forward in faith and confidence and will find the stability necessary to be effective in ministry to the Minden community.

Though that assignment has ended, I suppose the Lord isn’t done with me in ministry yet. I met with the leadership of Lakeview Methodist in Minden last Wednesday evening to explore the possibility of serving as their interim pastor. They, too, went through the disaffiliation process and their pastor chose to take a leave of absence so they have been without a pastor since May 31st of this year.

We met, and after an engaging conversation, agreed to a period of six months as interim pastor. It is a “going back” in ministry for us. We served this congregation from 2001 – 2003, so there are relationships already established in the congregation. That learning curve will not be quite as steep. There does remain the issue of whether one can “go back” in ministry after seasons away. Time will tell, but for me, there is a sense of going home. The reason for that is probably because my son and his family call this congregation home, but it may be deeper than that.

Lakeview Church-Minden, LA

Honestly, Vanessa and I have felt a little like a rudderless ship over the past several years. Don’t misunderstand, we’ve found a great home with the Evangelical Methodist Church as a denomination, but more locally, we’ve just sort of blown with the winds of the Spirit.

We thought the House Church Movement was going to be “our” place of ministry, but when you change houses in different communities, people don’t always follow…so, there’s that! I’m still rather convinced that house churches are the future of faithful discipleship, but the Lord hasn’t opened that door again. So, we wait…and blow.

Then, the Spirit blew us over to Beulah Church in Calhoun. What was supposed to be a three-week commitment turned into two and half years of ministry leading the congregation out of the UMC that was both laborious and stressful, not to mention oh, so revealing. We accomplished much in those two and a half years and served with faithful and committed disciples whom we learned to deeply love, but distance simply made continuing ministry untenable for us and for them.

We continued to receive calls from numerous congregations soliciting our services as pastor. They are all faithful and fruitful congregations but we never felt the nudge to say, “Yes” to any of them. That is not meant to be an offense to any of those congregations. I pray I was able to offer each of them a little guidance as they contemplate their future direction, but I personally never sensed the Spirit calling us in those directions.

Then, First Minden came calling. Vanessa and I had somewhat connected in worship with the congregation simply due to the fact that their interim pastor was Rev. David Dietzel. I have long told people that if I could choose my pastor, I’d choose David. When First Minden entered the discernment process toward disaffiliation, Vanessa and I felt comfortable sitting under David’s leadership as much as possible.

The congregation subsequently voted to disaffiliate, but Rev. Dietzel chose to retain his credentials in the UMC (a decision I both honor and respect), so the congregation was without a pastor once again. The leadership called and asked if I could help. After receiving the assurance that they could live with my availability to serve on a limited schedule, I felt the Spirit saying, “Go.” Little did I know the “go” would be so short-lived.

So, here we blow again! Over to Lakeview Church. I’ve agreed to be their Sunday preacher, handle emergencies and help lead the discussion on where their future affiliation will be. Those will be my primary tasks in the next six months. We’ll see where it leads, but it feels right. We pray the Spirit is in it. Will you pray with us?

So, it really does feel like deja vu all over again…in a lot of different ways.

Until next time, keep looking up…

Obstacle or Opportunity?

/ pastorlynnmalone / 1 Comment

Here are a couple of questions to ponder:

What obstacles are in your path today? What is keeping you from making the changes you know need to be made in your life?

I don’t believe there are any of us who doesn’t need to change something in our lives. At the very least, we should want to be a better example of a disciple of Jesus Christ, and that invariably necessitates change.

Others who are reading this may be exploring faith, investigating whether you’ll accept the claims of Christ, and place your trust in Him. You know something needs to change in your life, but you’re uncertain what it may be. Some others are thinking about priorities in your life, knowing there are changes that need to be made. Still others are struggling with job issues, or relationship issues that call for something to change.

The Difficulty of Change

Change is difficult, even under the best circumstances. I won’t belabor that point here. I’ve written about that the previous two weeks (click here or here), but change is made more difficult after, having prayed, made the decisions and taken the first steps of faith, we encounter obstacles that seem too big to overcome.

It happens to us individually. After we’ve come to faith in Christ, having been assured our lives will be better, we soon discover that life didn’t get much better at all. We actually discover there are more challenges after coming to faith than there were before we came to faith. 

Change is difficult for organizations, too. Having in recent years purchased an existing business and inheriting a staff, I’ve discovered how hard it is for organizations to adapt to new leaders (and new leaders to adapt to existing staff).

It’s also true of churches that make decisions to change directions, or to make transitions in worship or facilities or leadership. Weeks, months, or even years of planning go into getting ready for the changes, and as soon as that “cross-over” is made, the obstacles spring up, seemingly out of nowhere.

Life is filled with obstacles that keep us from being all God called us to be, either individually or corporately. How do we face the challenge of overcoming the obstacles life puts in our way? That’s the question I’m pondering this morning.

Israel’s First Obstacle

The Old Testament book of Joshua tells the story of the nation of Israel “crossing over” to possess the Promised Land. They have encountered changes both in leadership and in their culture. Their leadership changed from Moses to Joshua, from a shepherd/manager to a military general, and the change brought its own degree of uncertainty as the nation crossed over into the Promised Land.

Soon after crossing over, the people faced their first obstacle. I first learned the story in Sunday school from the African-American spiritual Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho. If we know the song we know the Israelites won the victory. What were the keys to victory, and what might we discover for overcoming the obstacles that keep us from making the changes we need to make in our lives?

6 Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
6 So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.”

Joshua 6: 1 – 6 (NIV)

The Intimidation Factor

One reason we struggle so greatly in overcoming the obstacles in our own lives is because we are intimidated by them. We feel like we can’t overcome them, we don’t have the strength or the courage. Obstacles take many forms, and for the nation of Israel the obstacle is a city called Jericho. Jericho is believed to be one of the oldest cities on earth. Jericho has actually existed on three different sites through the centuries, all in relative proximity, and all 15 – 17 miles northeast of Jerusalem.

I’m certain the nation of Israel felt intimidated facing Jericho. The walls of the city were anywhere from 30 to 60 feet high and from 12 to 45 feet thick, depending on which archaeologist is consulted. The city wall was wide enough that a chariot could be driven along the top, and we know Rahab had her house there. The city gates were reinforced with iron and were impenetrable. Jericho was an imposing obstacle. The people had followed Joshua, crossed over the Jordan, and once in the Promised Land encounter this overwhelming obstacle. Obstacles can loom as an imposing wall in all our lives that prevent us from moving forward. They can seem too big to overcome.

Not only were Jericho’s walls intimidating, but remember, this was a nation of men who had not known what it was to fight a battle. If we read Chapter 5, we’d discover that all the men old enough to bear arms when they left Egypt were dead. Israel’s army was untrained and unproven, with only Joshua and Caleb who had any experience at all.

The nation of Israel had to overcome the obstacle of Jericho for several reasons.

First, it was strategic from a military perspective. Why couldn’t the nation just go around the city and be done? Because the city was allied with the other cities and kings around Canaan. If the nation bypassed Jericho, they would literally leave their rear flank open to attack in the future.

Second, it was important spiritually. Jericho represented everything that was foreign to the culture of Israel. Jericho’s primary god was the “moon god,” and without overcoming this obstacle, the nation took a chance on adopting the spiritual culture of Canaan.

Finally, it was important from a morale perspective. This was Israel’s first challenge and if they lost, it would be disastrous.

We can’t be overwhelmed or intimidated by our obstacles. Perhaps one of the greatest obstacles any of us have to face is our attitude. We face an obstacle and think, “I can’t do this.” Or, “I don’t want to do this,” or, “Why would God ask me to do this.” We think we can “cross-over” to faith and life will be great.

Don’t think life in the Promised Land will be without challenges. There will always be challenges in life. Don’t necessarily believe the center of God’s will is the safest place to be. It’s the best place to be, even if it’s not the safest or most comfortable. Just ask Jesus. No one was ever more in the center of God’s will, and it carried him all the way to the cross.

Attitude is everything. Zig Ziglar said, “It’s your attitude, not your aptitude that determines your altitude.” Unfortunately, too many of us have negative attitudes, but I remind us that bad attitudes are like flat tires. If we don’t change them, we’ll never get anywhere. When we face obstacles, what do we see? Rather than obstacles, why not see opportunities? A positive attitude says there are no obstacles, only opportunities. Every obstacle is an opportunity to grow in faith and obedience.

The Opportunity of Faith

Every obstacle is an opportunity to grow in faith. Hebrews 11:30 says, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down…” Joshua and the Israelites didn’t have anything but faith on their side. We have to trust God to guide us through the obstacles of life. This is a bit cliché, but what God has brought us to, God will bring us through.

Recall this poem:

Doubt sees the obstacles; faith sees the way. 
Doubt sees the darkest night; faith sees the day. 
Doubt dreads to take a step; faith soars on high; 
Doubt questions, “Who believes?” Faith answers, “I.”

Anonymous

We’ve got a God who says all things are possible, and if we’ve got a God who says all things are possible, then all things are possible. That’s faith. Obstacles present us opportunities to grow in faith.

The Opportunity of Obedience

Every obstacle is also an opportunity to obey. God can ask us to do some of the silliest things. March around the city every day for six days, and then seven times on the seventh day, and then we’re supposed to shout? That’s silly. But, that was God’s plan.

Rarely do God’s plans make sense to us. What happens is we make our plans, ask God to bless them, and then scratch our head when He doesn’t. It doesn’t make sense to conquer a city just by walking around it. It doesn’t make sense to turn the other cheek when somebody is bullying us. It doesn’t make sense to humble ourselves so God can lift us up. It doesn’t make sense that if we try to save our life we’ll lose it, but if we give up our life for His sake we’ll find it. It doesn’t make sense that God would undergo torture and death, and it doesn’t make sense that God would turn around and trust frail, weak, half-hearted humans to share the message that brings redemption to God’s creation.

I had the opportunity to hear a colleague speak about the folly of the Gospel. That’s what he meant–God’s plan doesn’t always make sense. It’s folly to think God would use us. I guess that’s why Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” If we wait for God to make sense when we’re facing obstacles, we could be waiting a long time. If we wait until we figure out what God is doing before we move, we may never move.

  • “God, you’re telling me to quit my job and go the mission field. That doesn’t make sense, but I’ll do it.” 
  • “God, you’re calling me to speak to the person who hurt me so badly. That doesn’t make sense, but I’ll do it.”
  • “God, you’re calling me to volunteer to lead a small group or a bible study. That doesn’t make sense, but I’ll do it.”
  • “God, you’re calling me to give more money? That doesn’t make sense, but I’ll do it.”

Do we believe Jeremiah 29:11? “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Want to know God’s plan for our lives? Then start obeying the part we already know because God doesn’t show us more of his plan until we obey the parts we already know. Mark Twain said, “It’s not the part of the Bible I don’t understand that bother me. It’s the parts I do understand.”

We already know God’s plan includes trusting Him, forgiving others, turning from sin, and sharing the Gospel. Let’s start there. Maybe he’ll reveal the rest of His plan.     

There is an old story of a king who had a boulder placed on a roadway. The king hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it, many of them loudly blaming the king for not keeping the roads clear, but not one did anything about getting the big stone out of the way.

Then, a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. As he approached, the peasant laid down his load and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many others never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one’s condition.

Spiritual obstacles are in fact an opportunity to grow in faith and obedience. We overcome obstacles when we see them as opportunities to trust and obey.

Until next time, keep looking up…