This year our Session is reading Sailboat Church, by Joan Gray. We have extra copies and it's easy to order online. It's about letting the wind of the Holy Spirit direct your church.
I was asked what my philosophy of Interim pastoring is: Shaking things up or just keeping the ship afloat. I don’t think Trinity needs either.
I'd prefer to say my aim is to follow Jesus. The story that I think of is calming the storm, Luke 8:22-24.
When a pastor leaves it can feel like the ship of church has become unmoored. We wonder, What now?
Jesus was often on the water, in a boat, and famously once out of one. His main disciples were pros at boating. So it's surprising they'd panic when a storm came. Jesus didn't panic. He took a nap. They had to wake him up. "Teacher, do you not care?"
Without a captain, the disciples freaked, feared the worst, forgot all their training. Jesus told the wind and rain, "Peace, be still." That's Christian Bible-ese. It was more like, "Shut up!"
So what did Jesus do and not do?
He did yell at the situation. But he didn't yell at the disciples. He didn't berate them for setting out with storms on the horizon. (Or for waking him up.)
He didn't seize the oars, muttering, "If you want something done right...."
He didn't command them to turn the boat around and go back to the safety of where they were in the good old days before their troubles.
And, he didn't jump ship.
He did: Maintain a calm composure. Awakened, he addressed the problem when asked. He reminded the disciples that even a little faith can save you. Weak faith is still faith. And, he stuck in there with them.
I don't want to shake things up for its own sake. I don't want to take over. I don't want to ignore your experience and skill at sailing the church.
I do: Want to watch how you work together. I want to see what works. I want to listen to your hopes, joys, and complaints. And then, only then, start fussing - creatively - at the world around us.
Trinity is an amazing church. Your previous pastors were expert captains. They steered but also encouraged your skills. And Jesus does that even now, every day, in this in-between time.
If I can be just a bit like Jesus, if WE can follow his example, Trinity will be ready and will be a gift to your next pastor.
Wake up. Hoist the sails. Let's go.
- James
(This article, sermons, and other writings can be read online at my blog: ButICouldBeWrong.faith)
