The Three Greatest

I'm often critical of lists that claim someone or something is the "best" or the "worst" in the whole wide world. Just as I am uneasy when someone uses the words "always" and "never." How can you say Joe Montana, Peyton Manning, and John Elway are the three greatest pro quarterbacks of all time? Look at the people you've left off the list!

So "the best" of all time lists or "Top Ten" lists or the "Top Three of All Time" lists often miss the mark. And still... lists can help us glimpse a bit of reality. 

Monday evening more than 50 leaders of our church met together as Church Council and VIM (Vision-Inspiration-Mission) leaders. Led by Catherine Elliott and Tom Bunger, people broke up multiple groups and did their best to identify:

• What are the three greatest strengths of our church? 
• What are the three greatest weaknesses of our church?
• What are the three greatest opportunities of our church?
• What are the three greatest threats facing our chuch?

There were all sorts of responses. Strengths mentioned included lay leadership, outreach, music, staff and preaching, location, and the former post office property. 

The weaknesses list included a tendency to be a collection of siloed groups rather than a congregation focused around a common vision/mission, a building in need of repair and a facility that isn't as functional as it might be, a lack of unity, and inadequate stewardship. 

Opportunities included location, the student population, serving ministries to the neighborhood, and many more. 

Threats included the facilities, financial limitations, the position of the UMC (denomination) on homosexuality, lack of a common vision, a culture that is increasingly hostile towards faith and the church, other non-denominational churches, and the pastoral appointment system. 

After times of prayer and much conversation, everyone in the group voted and we identified: 

Our three greatest strengths are:

• Music
• Lay leaders' talent
• Downtown Location (including ownership of the former post office property)

Our three greatest weaknesses are: 

• Lack of a shared vision
• Age and layout of the building
• Budget constraints (limited funding which means we struggle to respond to opportunities to serve and grow)

That if they could make three changes in our church, they would:

• like our church to obtain a shared vision of who we are, what we have, and what we do. Most critically we would put our shared vision into action. We would like a shared vision that is actionable.
• like our church to have an intentional education plan for helping people learn faithful/joyful giving to God. 
• like our church to utilize our location and our space better in order to serve our diverse population.

What would you have said? How would you have answered those questions about strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and possible changes?

The shared conclusions from Monday night will be forwarded to the FCJ Consultation Team for their consideration, along with the nearly 30-page Self Study document that has been pulled together by lay leaders and staff. 

Sometimes "top three" lists miss the mark. When it comes to quarterbacks, what about Jim Kelly, Bart Starr, Dan Marino, Sid Luckman, Y.A. Title, and Drew Brees?

Sometimes "top three" lists are right. "And now," Paul writes in 1st Corinthians 13, "faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love."

What are the top three changes you believe God wants made here in this mission outpost we call First United Methodist Church/The Open Door?

In Christ and for Christ,

Mark Fenstermacher

Once upon a time...

There was a Sunday that special music was on the schedule. Bach, two services.

The sanctuary was packed. He found a seat in a pew well to the back of the church - with a fine view of the choir, the orchestra, the back of the conductor, and Jesus, represented in stained glass above on the south window wall.

We all bring baggage to church. His included a recent music degree, a drinking problem, a new business just down the street, a new baby girl, and a long-time love affair with the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.

He'd been to FUMC some with his spouse during the decade it took to gain his diploma. He was familiar with this church that would do Bach on a Sunday. This event was not to be missed, even if it took sneaking away from the store for an hour.

The reward was spectacular. Musical genius, devoted to God and shared, almost 400 years on, with us.

Even the weather cooperated. Wind-blown clouds seemed to obey the conductor's baton, showing us the stained glass above suddenly sunlit, then shaded, the robes and the face of Christ that glowed, then faded, up there on the south window.

That day, reverence felt for Bach's music was extended to the place he now privately thought of as Bach's church. It's what got him here.

* * *

So: If I wrote a history of the last 50 years of FUMC, it would be about the music. It's not only what got me here, but also what sustained me. While on the road, I compared the music at every church I visited to ours.

Now, we've endured, and enjoyed, many moments of enlightenment during this Fruitful Congregations learning experience. I learned to pray daily, which is a pretty big change. It's truly been a year full.

Then an especially dazzling "a-ha" moment nailed me just last week.

As we contemplated a 50-year history of this congregation - one being prepared by folks who are more than musicians, and far more active in the life of our congregation than I - the sudden awareness came to me:

Most of us don't share this deep interest in the music of the church, whether that of Bach or any composer. Music is just one part of what we do here. And the realization that follows: Our congregation isn't the church I thought I loved. Our congregation is far more than I thought it was. It isn't here so I can enjoy Bach. The vast array of faith, talent, energy, and resources that our congregation hosts comes together for more important, more profound reasons.

Reasons that are described by Jesus.

We know that most of the folks who will write the next 50-year history of the congregation of FUMC aren't here yet. Just as we do, these believers on the way will bring their own needs, tastes, styles - in music, as well as everything else. We live with the uncomfortable realization that the changes we're seeing in our church echo those we see outside our walls in our society, and are unending.

I believe that being a Fruitful congregation is making ourselves ready to host change.

It's using our talents and dedication to Christ to answer Jesus' call:

That call which often means looking outside our walls, outside ourselves, beyond our own interests, our preferences, our group.

That call to be an externally-focused servant community.

- Chuck Macklin

What's Next for Christians?

The title of Newsweek's April 13, 2009 cover story by Jon Meacham says it all: "The End of Christian America."  Jon Meacham, the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer made it clear that he was not saying the Christian God is dead, rather, that Christians are exerting less force in America than ever before. "While we remain a nation decisively shaped by religious faith," writes Meacham, "our politics and our culture are, in the main, less influenced by movement and argument of an explicitly Christian character than they were five years ago."  Even if we only partially agree with Meacham's observation, two questions must bubble up in the minds of Christians today:

1. What does the Christian mission look like in 21st century America?
2. How does the Gospel go forward in a pluralistic, postmodern, post-Christian society?  

In his book The Next Christians, Gabe Lyons promotes "restoration thinking."  "Restorers seek to mend earth's brokenness.  [The healing process] begins now as we partner with God. Throwing seeds of restoration, they believe others will see Christ through us and the Christian faith will reap a much larger harvest" (47). The Next Christians, the Restorers, engage rather than condemn, offer grace rather than judgment, chose courage over comfort, and honor faithfulness over reputation.

Are you intrigued yet?  Here are two links with more information regarding the book The Next Christians.

• Here's a brief promotional video about the book:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ftuj0Xr_uXk. 
• Here's the "Next Christians" website, which includes a few more videos, information about the author, and an excerpt from the book:  http://nextchristians.com/

Are interested in being one of these "next" Christians? Are you interested in changing the negative perception of Christianity by living a life that is faithful to the Gospel, yet credible and coherent to your friends and neighbors? Or perhaps you disagree with all these ideas but still wonder what it means for you to be a Christian in the 21st century? If any of the above is true, then join a small group! 

• Sign up online  www.fumcb.org or fill out a form available at FUMC and The Open Door.
• A limited number of small group discussion books, The Next Christians, are available in the Church Office (during the week) and in the Atrium at FUMC (on Sunday mornings).
• Small Groups begin the week of August 24th. 

If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Stacee at sgehring@fumcb.org or 332.6396.  

Peace and Love!

Rev. Stacee  aka Reverend Awesome

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?

The couple was getting honest. The husband confided that he really didn't like Brussels sprouts. His wife said, "I made them soon after we were married and you raved about them!"

He smiled and said, "I love you. I wanted you to feel good."

She looked unsettled. "For seventeen years I've made sure to cook Brussels sprouts every week because I thought they were your favorite food," she said.

"I was eating them because I didn't want you to feel bad," he responded.

"Why didn't you tell me instead of being quiet all these years?" the woman asked. "I've hated cooking them and you've endured eating them!"

Sometimes we see things, we experience things, we have questions, we value people or programs or missions, we dream dreams, and if we would share what we're thinking with others in a gracious, honest way it could make a big difference.

A key part of our congregation's Fruitful Congregations' Journey (FCJ) self-study and assessment is an on-line survey. The Church Development team in Indianapolis wants to hear from all of us: new members and recent arrivals, young and old and in-between, conservative and liberal and in-between, The Open Door and Sanctuary, small groups and big groups, men and women, leaders and followers, paid staff and volunteers.

This survey of 30 questions is designed to help the Church Development team as they look at us, assess where we are, and see where God may be calling us. Your voice, your perspective, your dreams, your concerns, and your hopes need to be shared. We are approaching a key moment in our life as a congregation, and what we say (or do not say) at this point can shape our church life for the next 5 to 25 years. This is NOT the time to be quiet about our affection (or lack thereof) for Brussels sprouts! : )

What you will say will be confidential.

We hope you'll be thoughtful, prayerful, and honest.

Each question must be answered, and some of the questions will require extra thought. (Please plan on the survey taking between 15-32 minutes to complete.) If you're not sure about your answer please choose "neutral" for fill in the blank questions or "none" for text answer questions.

What will you be asked? Among other questions you'll be asked:

• What are the 5 strengths of the congregation?

• What are the 5 areas of concern you have for our congregation?

• What percent of the congregation is involved in mission in the community (based on your observations)?

• What percent of the congregation would you say attends worship 50% of the time?

• What percent of the congregation would you say is involved in small groups?

• What are 3 victories our church has had in the last 10 years?

• What are 2-3 new ministries started in the last 10 years?

• What are the 3 ministries that best help our church connect and serve the community?

• What are the 3 pastors you consider to have most effectively led our church (and give 1 reason for their success)?

• What are the 3 most important events in the history of the church that helped move our mission of disciple-making forward?

• What are the 3 most disruptive events in the history of our church that hindered our disciple-making ministry?

• How are decisions made in our church?

To take the survey, please go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/FCJStep2Fall13.

If you do not have a personal computer we will have several computer terminals set up in the church building for you to use on Sunday, August 17, 24, and 31. (Watch for an announcement about where those will be located.)

If you do not have access to the internet, we will have some paper copies of the survey for you to use if that is the only way you can participate. (You will be able to pick up a paper form at the Welcome Desk in the Atrium or the Church Office. Please complete the form and return it immediately so our office team can input the data on-line.)

The deadline for completion of the on-line survey is Friday, September 19th. Completed surveys after that date will not be included in the study since the Church Development team will be working hard to prepare for their weekend with us on October 24th-26th.

Pilots tell us that their instruments must be accurate. Everything depends on good information. What you have to say can help us see more clearly where we are, and that can help us see where God is calling us to go.

Wisdom is a precious thing, Proverbs points out again and again. "Turn your ear and hear the words of the wise," 22:17 says. "By wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established," we're told in 24:3. "Words spoken at the right time are like gold apples in a silver setting," 25:11 observes. And in 24:26 this expert on wisdom says, "Those who speak honestly are like those who kiss on the lips."

Enter the conversation. Share the truth as you see it in as prayerful and thoughtful and honest a way as possible. Take time today or tomorrow and complete the survey you'll find at www.surveymonkey.com/s/FCJStep2Fall13.

Our voices, together, at this point can shape our future for years to come.

In Christ and for Christ,

Mark Fenstermacher

YOUR INVITATION TO JOIN A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS & LEADERS

Talk to most leaders in education, health care, sports, government, business, or the church about what they do, and it won't take long for them to talk about developing leaders. The future of any community, movement, or organization tomorrow depends on developing leaders today.

Many of us associate Jesus with healing and teaching. Both were certainly key elements in his life and ministry, but if you review his life and work you begin to see that much of his time was spent developing leaders. When Jesus invites ordinary men and women to follow him, he is inviting them into a community of learners and leaders.

Several weeks ago I asked our Fruitful Congregations Journey (FCJ) team if we should invite more members and friends of our faith community to participate in the Shared Learning Experience (SLE) they have just completed this past Spring. The answer was immediate: "Yes!"

Our group of 13-15 laity attended seven Saturday morning learning sessions. They read seven books about congregational life and health and faith, and joined people from other UM churches for those Saturday learning sessions lead by a leader, and they prayed together. Their faith was deepened, they asked questions some had never asked before, and they began to see things they had never seen before. Once a month our lay group would meet with the FUMCB pastors for conversation, prayer, and the sharing of questions/new insights.

Would you be interested in being a part of our next SLE group? We are looking for people who love God, who care deeply about the church's ministry, who are passionate about a faithful future, who have the courage to learn, who are willing to participate as fully as possible in the life of the SLE group, and who will share with others in our church what they learn about God, the church, and bearing fruit.

The SLE group will meet with the pastors for a brief orientation. Members will either buy or borrow seven books, and read one book a month (they are basic and we don't expect everyone to agree with everything they read!). Seven Saturday's between September and March the group will attend a Learning Session to be held at Martinsville UMC from 9 am-1 pm. (this last year's group traveled together in the church van). Then, approximately seven times during the school year on a Sunday early afternoon, the SLE group and pastors will meet together here at FUMCB.

Dates for the SLE learning sessions are: September 6, October 11, November 1, December 6, January 3, February 7, and March 7.

If you are interested, please contact one of the pastors immediately. Feel free to speak with current FCJ leaders like Tom Kinzer, Sarah Green, Jonathan Purvis, Rita George, Nicole Griffin, Chuck and Nancy Macklin, James McLary, Fran Klinger or other members of the team. (Some of you have been "targeted" as potential members of this learning and leading team, and will be receiving letters and/or phone calls.)

People who participate in the SLE experience will discover their faith being deepened. They will build relationships with a new group of people, they will begin to understand principles of health and organizational life, they will see what may be ahead for our church, and they can become leaders who will help our congregation step into an exciting, new chapter.

This is your invitation to join an adventure. I pray those who are being nudged by God to say "Yes" will take that "Yes" seriously! Let us know...this week!

In Christ and for Christ,

Mark Fenstermacher