Easter B5, May 6, 2012
Acts 8:26-40
Times of congregational leadership transition are full of turmoil as the familiar ways give way to the shifting sands of change. Luke creates vivid accounts of the turbulent movements of transition for the early followers of Jesus. That transition of post resurrection life in Acts 8 has a steady beat of already established spiritual practices that set the stage to hear God's call and the Spirit's promptings. The Ethiopian is already in the habit of reading scripture and Philip leverages that practice for revelation and teaching. Baptism was not an unfamiliar ritual and Philip quickly utilized that practice. One movement in preaching and worship leadership might be to emphasize the spiritual practices that nurture the life of the church. That same thrust could include time to become familiar anew with the rich teaching content of "rituals" such as baptism, the Lord's Supper, membership and ordination promises, etc. These practices and rituals are strong pillars that support the church as it adjusts emotionally and spiritually to the change in pastoral leaders.
John 15:1-8
Transitions are times to say good bye.
We say good bye to a pastor, a member who is moving away or even to the “way
things have always been”. This transitional dynamic or developmental task is
known as “coming to terms with
history”. Celebration of what has one
before is crucial. But, these words of
Jesus indicate that “pruning” is not irrelevant.
As a congregation prepares for a new
future of mission and ministry with a new pastoral leader, “pruning” or “coming
to terms of history” cultivates fruitfulness.
One powerful sermon strategy may be to focus on what in us is not
fruitful? What don’t we need
anymore? What belongs to the past and
not the future?
In my interim ministry leadership
“startup” retreat, one of the questions I pose to the leadership is, “what
baggage do I carry from the time of ministry with _____(name )?” A time of worship and prayer help us to begin
to let go of that which may hold us back.
At times, “letting go” is not as important as creating meaning out of
something that caused us to become stuck in the past. Conversations in the retreat can help to
create new meaning that helps one to be “unstuck” and step forward.
Those sitting in the pews are also
coping with various transitions – career, graduations, marriage, a move to a
new home, pending retirement, an illness, or any number of challenges. These questions can be asked of them. What was good? What do I need to leave behind that won’t
help me on the journey to the future?
Another theme in this text is
“abiding”. Exegesis will reveal the deep
relational nature of “abiding” as Jesus used it. The shifts of the transition time need the
spiritual resources of our faith. As a
transitional pastoral leader, the interim minister has the opportunity to help
the congregation draw on those resources (prayer, scripture, fellowship, etc.)
in ways that are appropriate to that setting.
Bob Anderson
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