From the Pastor

This month, I’d like to talk about polls, poles and polarity and what wisdom a many thousands of years old blueprint might have to say to us. Some of you by virtue of your service on Session, Deacons or ministry committees have been part of conversations about the Mutual Ministry survey. Everyone is invited by the Session to do so on March 29th. It is called a “Mutual” ministry survey (and not a consumer satisfaction survey or poll) because of our recognition that every baptized person is called and equipped by the Holy Spirit for ministry – not just the staff and ordained leaders, deacons, elders and pastor. The survey is one way to wonder together, “How are we doing in answering God’s call?”

As I have been praying about, pondering and discussing the survey results, I have been struck by the image from Exodus 26 of God’s specifications for the building of the Tabernacle – the place that would assure the people of God’s presence during their wilderness time. Stay with me a minute – as I will agree it is a little hard to imagine what we are to learn from a blueprint purported to be provided by the Divine Hand to Moses thousands of years ago. The people are instructed to build a tent not with just one central tent post, or even two, but with 20 such posts on 2 sides, 8 more across the back, and an open front. The side posts are joined by 5 horizontal crossbars on each side—one of which goes from end to end, and two pair which meet in the middle.

So what? First, I am struck by the 48 posts. In a time of great political division in our country, some pastors speak about serving “purple” congregations – divided like the country into blue (Democrat) and red (Republican) members—two great poles holding up our tabernacles, one red and one blue. Further, in a time of great change in the church and culture, adaptive leaders are told we must learn to manage other “polarities” in our institutions – the simultaneous presence of conflicting, and indeed mutually exclusive, ideas across many topics about what God is calling us to do and be, and even who is welcome among us. I take great comfort from the tabernacle blueprints because God instructed not that there be only one pole, or even two, but 48! A one-pole tent is cozy, folks have to gather close, they all agree – there isn’t room for anyone who thinks differently about our Triune God and our calling as church. A two-pole tent makes a little more space – with room for disagreement. But a 48 pole tent? Well, that is as spacious as God’s grace – and as messy! There is room for a great variety of people, opinions, perspectives on God, and understandings of our calling in 2020 in Hightstown. Though I am convinced that we are called to unity in the Spirit, unity includes great diversity, and unity does not mean unanimity.

Two other parts of the blueprint give me great comfort. First, the tabernacle has an open front – no barrier, no bar. All are welcome in, you are welcome in. And along the other three sides where those 48 distinct poles are placed – there are unifying crossbeams, 3 of which go end-to-end and the others which meet in the middle. Where are the places where we are called to meet in the middle? What are the unifying crossbeams for our calling to mutual ministry? Some I might suggest: Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and Head of the Church. Christ calls and empowers us to love God and love neighbor. God’s grace calls out in us a response of gratitude and generosity. The greatest gift and highest calling is love. Those are my ideas for a start. I’m eager to hear yours!

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Lisa
 

 

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