Over the last few weeks we have been doing some education on the structural changes for the united church that are expected to be implemented as of January 1, 2019. Remits are the ways that we find out the will of the church, after the last general council there were 6 remits for congregational governing bodies to study and deal with. Today we are going to talk about Remit 3 and the office of vocation. The creation of an office of vocation with the responsibility for:
-establishing standards for training and accreditation of ministry personnel according to denominational policies
-establishing expectations and standards for continuing education, formation and professional development of ministry personnel according to denominational policies
-determining a person’s fitness and readiness for accreditation to ministry
-maintaining a registry of accredited ministry personnel
-disciplining of ministry personnel including formal hearings and complaints
-supporting and responding to requests for assistance from regional councils
-administering the discontinued service list (disciplinary and voluntary)
-maintaining a list of trained conflict resolution facilitators
-maintaining a list of recognized interim- ministers and those trained for the ministry of supervision
and establishing and implementing standards for admitting ministers from other denominations and re-admitting ministers.
Currently these responsibilities are carried out by the presbytery, conference and national level of the church. With overlapping committees that support this work at all three levels. Part of the idea for this is that this would eliminate the overlap in committees and processes, creating a streamlined process.
The structure of the office of vocation would be overseen by an elected body honouring and living into intercultural mission and ministry, as described in Vision for Becoming an Intercultural Church consisting of a balance of ordained, diaconal, or designated lay ministers and lay people, with a variety of active experience. Which in short means a balance of people representing the diversity of our church from across the country with skills and gifts in this area of ministry. For the latest update on the office of vocation you can view the progress report video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6nUMeG5z2o
Turning back to St. Paul’s this Sunday is Father’s day, we will be acknowledging Fathers and those who are Father figures for us, and I believe celebrating with cake. But between now and then the Youth Group will be meeting tonight at 6:30 in the church hall, for a night of great escape. This will be the last regular Friday night meeting until September. However youth fun is not over, there will be a camping trip July 10-12 and Rev. Michelle will be arranging a year wrap up event.
Monday, St Paul’s plays host to Fredericton Christian Campus Ministry Committee, which provides funds and oversight for UNB Chaplaincy. It the AGM, Rev. Michelle was elected chair and St Paul’s is a supporter of this work. The meeting will happen in the Lady’s parlour at 7pm-8:30pm for brainstorming of how we can continue to engage our connections with students and raise the community profile of our Chaplain.
Do you have young ones? Our Sunday School is closed but special joint summer class is in effect for June and the Nursery will be open all summer. In summer we join forces with Wilmot united church to form Downtown United….so we will be worshiping together at Wilmot in July and here at St. Paul’s in August and our joint summer Sunday school class will be up and running again until regular classes start.
Flat Jesus is on the move…we have already had several pictures of adventures he has been on. If you have not got your flat Jesus yet, come and pick him up on Sunday or at the church office. Remember to get yours and take him with you wherever you go.
In This Sunday’s reading (Acts 16:16-34) has a moment when a jailer who thinks that he has failed at his job, bringing dishonour to himself and his family prepares to commit suicide. While he is stopped in his tracks by words from Paul, we were reminded last week that not everyone who come to suicide as the answer to their pain and suffering survive. The deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdrain thrust mental health back into the light, at least for a moment, reminding us that nobody is immune to depression, hopelessness, despair and suffering that often lead people to consider such a radical and permanent solution.
Andrew Solomon of The New Yorker wrote “The gap between outward triumph and private despair is treacherous, with the outer shell obscuring the real person even to those whom he or she has professed intimacy.” Did you know that suicide rates tend to be lower for people involved actively with a church? People also tend to score lower in depression and feelings of loneliness. I believe that, at least in part, this is because God calls us to relationship with Godself and each other. Even early in Genesis we are told “it is not good for man to be alone.” At its best the church is a place where we can have authentic community, where we can drop the shell and allow ourselves to be our truest self, this involves vulnerability.
One of the most condemning and convicting cartoons on life in the church is by David Hayward. This cartoon shows a church with a lineup in front of it of people waiting to get in, on the way in people are picking up a yellow happy face masks before entering, hiding the reality of who they are to put on an acceptable face. The reality is that this does happen in churches, but that isn’t what God intends. God created a full range of emotions, they are part of God’s good creation, they are meant to help us negotiate the world, but sometimes they become more then we can handle alone. At its best the church is a place where people find a listening ear, connection, encouragement for the wide range of human emotions gifted to us by God. Church at its best is a place where the broken hearted, the ill and troubled, the struggler and the one who has it all together (if that person does exist) can sit side by side. At its best the church is a place where we receive support for the journey of life with all its ups and downs and connect people with God through presence and prayer, it is a place to receive strength in the Spirit. At its best the church is a place of comfort in the troubled times, where others will lift the joyful song for you when you cannot, where people will hold you in prayer when low, where we live the part of our creed that says we are not alone. At its best the church is working for changes in the systems that cause depression, anxiety and hopelessness so that everyone can experience abundant life. When it speaks the truth the church says we are one part of the solution to mental health challenges – prayer is part of the solution which often also involves psychologists or other mental health workers and medication.
Now we are not saying we are not doing these things, but asking can we keep working to make sure we become more of a reflection of the kingdom of heaven. So that the grieving widow is surrounded by friends when she comes back to church so that she doesn’t have to be alone, can we purge all gossip from our walls so people always feel comfortable seeking support and being themselves as they are without fear that someone will tell their story without permission. Can we be a place where someone calls out for help in their despair and is offered hope and support, not just when we know them but when they are the stranger in our midst too?
In the USA the stat’s show suicide rates have increased dramatically in the last 10 years and suicide in Canada is the second largest reason for death of teenagers behind accidents according to Canadian Mental Health Association. In a climate where all we seem to hear is bad news, our churches become a place where we live differently, and can share Good news so many are desperate to hear. If you are someone who is desperate for Good news, know you have a safe place in the ministry office where we will hold you in prayer and support you in taking the steps you need, without judgement. If you are thinking about suicide as an answer to your pain and suffering we encourage you to reach out, there is another way. Please note this will not be this theme we follow from the scripture on Sunday morning but it is also something we cannot ignore, the consequences are too great.
God in our world that can seem so far from the Good creation you dreamed,
remind us again that you have blessed us with an image of how to live in this world.
The intimacy and interconnectedness of nature, the beauty and diversity,
lead us to a place where we can celebrate the diversity among us,
from the night comes the day, reminding us of the gift of life
and the grace that allows each day to be a new beginning.
Be with us as we enter into the uncertainty of the current world.
Be with us in the pain and joy of living
and remind us again that we are not alone.
Guide us to your great love through Christ we pray. Amen.
Yours in Christ
Rev. Michelle and Rev. Richard
The bulletin for this coming Sunday can be downloaded from here.