Proper 5 (10)
Second Sunday after Pentecost
2
Corinthians 4:13-5:1
I
wonder what it would be like to approach this text using an “interim ministry
transition lens”. Most of us see change
and transition as something that may be good but it involves chaos and
difficulty. Paul’s response to the
Corinthian congregation’s questions about Apostleship and Paul’s authenticity
as an apostle is one that move the reader from old to new. Everything, even leadership change in the
congregation is to increase the glory of God (v.15). We don’t lose heart in the
midst of our difficulty because something new is already emerging 4:18-5:1).
It
might be interesting to point to the “new” that is emerging. In one interim congregation, they were
challenged by being all Caucasian in a mostly African American community. One of their future stories was to become
more multi-cultural. One Sunday, the
Vacation Bible School children and leaders presented a recap of the week for
the congregation. As I looked at the
ages, the various racial and ethnic backgrounds, I realized that the future was
already emerging. The emergence was not
the way they had planned, but it was real.
1 Samuel 8:4-11,
(12-15), 16-20, (11:14-15)
After a long
pastoral search process, I heard one of the congregation’s search group say, “choosing a pastor is like “casting
lots”. Interim transition congregations
have an abundance of protocols and handbooks full of wisdom for choosing a
pastor. However, even with all that guidance, pastoral selection is, in the
end, and act of faith. Samuel’s call to select Israel’s first monarch
gives us some interesting connections for preaching during the interim transition.
Samuel was the
last of the Judges and a huge change was underway in governance. The people were demanding a king “like the
other nations”. Samuel’s sons, the heirs
apparent to his role as Judge and spiritual leader in Israel’s theocratic form
of governance were not acceptable. Samuel was old and his sons did not “follow in
his ways”.
It was time for a “change
in leadership”. How often have we heard
that line? I can’t help but wonder at how
easy it is to leave God out of the process. The people wanted a human king like the other
nations. God as king was nice in theory but not in practice. Verse 7 records, “and the LORD said to
Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you;
for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over
them. “it is I whom they are rejecting…” Pastoral search is a
discernment process – sometimes it is a struggle to keep God in that process
also. Corporate processes, leadership inventories
and interviewing techniques can easily push prayer and silence to the second
chair.
Bob Anderson
Toledo, OH
Interim Ministry Specialist
Life Coach for Ministry Professionals
Bob Anderson
Toledo, OH
Interim Ministry Specialist
Life Coach for Ministry Professionals
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