Looking neither for wealthy nor wise ones
You only asked me to follow humbly
O Lord, with Your eyes You have searched me
And while smiling have spoken my name
Now my boat's left on the shoreline behind me
By Your side I will seek other seas
I knew this pastor. Good man. When he first arrived a church it was like catching lightning in a bottle. With his leadership, the congregation began to realize some of her potential, and she grew in every meaningful way she could grow.
Professions of faith. Acts of service. Attendance. Giving. Spiritual development. Fellowship.
But over time the spiritual energy that fueled that congregation's rise began to wane. It took years, but it happened. The world never stands still. It's always changing. And so soon enough, the congregation, while not struggling, got stuck.
Previously in his career, the pastor had gone through a terrible season at another church. Things had gone so badly that upon finally leaving a congregation who didn't want him, he vowed to find one that did, and never leave so he'd never have to go through that terrible experience again.
And so the pastor ignored all the signs of slow atrophy because the church loved him, and he her. And while he did eventually retire from that congregation, his long tenure created a lot of problems. It made people fearful of change and possibilities. It made it hard for a new pastor to bond with the congregation. It deceived people into thinking the best days of the church had already passed.
I resolved a long time ago that I would not become that pastor, which in my experience has been a number of pastors. Pastors who twisted themselves into knots, while not doing due diligence to the congregation they loved, out of a misplaced sense of duty and fear of what might come.
And so it is with both fear and trembling, but also hope, that I announce that Bishop Palmer of the West Ohio Conference has made a new appointment for me at Westwood United Methodist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio beginning July 1st.
I am excited about the possibilities at Westwood. I've never lived in that neighborhood, and know little about that part of Cincinnati, but the few things I've gathered excite me. It's a diverse community in every sense of the word. The church is part of the fabric of the neighborhoods, longing to be connective tissue that brings life and light to all live there and pass by. My hope is to be a catalyst to help that congregation continue to do that in an era where it's becoming increasingly difficult for churches to make those kinds of inroads. My prayer is that together, new creativity will unleash new possibilities.
And as for Shawnee, well this is the second time I've had to say goodbye to her. The first was in 1997, and it almost killed me. I was young, talented, clueless, and simply still unprepared for what ministry, and life, would bring. My return to her in 2004 in many ways scratched the itch that I had left too soon, and missed the full potential that could have been reached if somehow I had stayed seven years earlier.
But I was naive in that thinking. Nothing had remained the same, because nothing ever does. And while I had been in ministry many years as an associate, much about being a lead pastor I still had to learn. As with most things, I tend to learn to hard way. So while there were many inroads and gains made, there were also setbacks and a price to be paid.
Shawnee's best days of ministry in Christ's service are in front of her. No matter what those along the way have had to say about her "glory days" - whenever they thought those days were - this community still needs Jesus just as badly as she ever did. The realization of the Kingdom of Heaven in its totality is still yet to come to this part of Northwest Ohio.
It would be safe to stay. This congregation has been very protective of my family and I. I'm so appreciative of their love and patience. But in my heart I know the Bishop and Cabinet are right. A new voice is needed so this wonderful, unique community of faith may continue to fulfill the call of Romans 12, to overcome evil with good.
My last Sunday at Shawnee will be June 20th, and my first Sunday at Westwood will be June 27th. As I pray for these faith communities, the retiring pastor at Westwood (well done, Pastor Strawn.... go enjoy your time as a VIM Nomad), and the incoming pastor at Shawnee (which will be worked out with the Leadership Board by District Superintendent Barry Burns in the coming weeks), I ask that you please pray for my family, as we navigate the coming transition.
In closing, there are no guarantees. In this life things don't always turn out well, and there isn't always a happy ending. But no matter what we must continue to plant seeds yielding fruit we will never eat. And so may we all continue faithfully to scatter the life-giving message of Gospel of Jesus Christ so the fruit of the spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, thankfulness, and self-control - may be made manifest in our lives, families, communities, and the emerging Kingdom of Heaven.
Thank you Shawnee for you love and support. And to Westwood, see you soon.
