October 2023 Newsletter
Hello! I went to an ecumenical leadership conference and observed a chipmunk. It wasn’t an assignment, none of the other 8 participants observed a chipmunk. But I did, twice. I was invited to take part in what is called a Shape Workshop led by the group called Leaderwise. Here is how the workshop is described.
SHAPE provides an opportunity for clergy to reflect on the multi- demands of ministry in the current season and develop their leadership for whatever lies ahead for the church. SHAPE is highly experiential and builds on relationships of trust and support among cohort participants.
Nothing about chipmunks, unless, perhaps it falls under “highly experiential.” We gathered at Mt. Morris Camps and Conference, ground that is sacred for many Moravians. Some of us were Moravian, but others were UCC, Presbyterian and Lutheran. We were given opportunities to reflect on our talents and our strengths and offered guidance on concepts such as “adaptive leadership.” We were given ample opportunity to get to know each other and this will continue over the year.
I am glad I attended and I look forward to the relationships that will develop. But back to the chipmunk. We were asked to spend some minutes alone focusing on the “WHY” of what we do as pastors. Why do we do all the different things we do (other than it is our job). I walked out the door of the Sandhill Center on a very warm October day and immediately noticed a chipmunk. I stayed very still and it did not run away. Instead, it let me watch it stand up with its little hand shaking a bit. It watched me to see if I was a threat. When I didn’t move, it stopped shaking, looked around, crouched back down and began to eat grass. This went on for some minutes. As I watched, my WHY became very clear.
We were invited as we came back to the group to draw a picture that would help to illustrate our WHY. I drew a chipmunk. The next day we were invited to take some more alone time to contemplate our WHY and then get into smaller groups and talk more deeply about how we understood our “purpose” for this chapter of our ministry.
Again, I went out the front door of the Sandhill Center on a second exceptionally warm October day and who greeted me? You know—the same chipmunk. This time carrying a worm in its mouth. I did not know they ate worms. The chipmunk proceeded to show me that they did, his little hands feeding it into his mouth. He dropped part of it and started to dart around looking for it, then plopped down to eat some grass.
When I got into my small group and it was my turn to explain my WHY, I showed them again my picture of the chipmunk. Above it I had written: Observe and Enjoy and below it I had written: Share and Translate. In this chapter of my ministry, I find myself relishing the call to observe and enjoy the work of the church, our congregation, our Western District, our Province and our Unity. I am surprised by what I didn’t know and intrigued by familiar. I can see God at work in the church, and as I carefully observe that work, I sense my calling to share and translate. By share and translate I mean cast the vision, for us as a congregation, for our district, for our province, even our Unity. What can we do together, what voice can we have?
Just as I delighted in watching the chipmunk go about its everyday activities, God delights in us. I delight in the privilege it is as a pastor to be part of each of you lives individually and collectively as a church—to observe and enjoy. There is much to see, much to share and translate for the good of the God’s world around us.