Dear Caldwell,
We had a lively discussion at the staff meeting today about how we are all called to both care for others AND seek our calling in God’s service. We’d read a provocative article in Christian Century Magazine … and it did indeed provoke some great dialogue.
For example, in a section asking whether preachers should address issues related to race, the article quoted one minister who said he didn’t dare confront racism from the pulpit because, “I love and care about my people so much that I don’t want to risk adding to their woundedness.”
Uh, what? Can you hear that sound of a needle scratching across the record?
We gave thanks that you are a congregation that believes wholeheartedly that we love and care about each other by taking on the tough issues rather than avoiding them. We do so together for the very sake of the gospel, the same good news for which Christ gave his life.
Tomorrow, on your behalf, I’ve been asked to talk about that and other aspects of discipleship here at Caldwell. It’s hosted by the Vital Congregations office of our denomination and is part of a series it is conducting on Wednesdays. Our topic will be Awakening and Engaging the Church in Issues Facing Today’s Culture.
The premise of the panel topic is the reality that, not that long ago and still in some congregations today, pastors were advised to steer clear of discussing current issues from the pulpit or anywhere. To avoid controversy, the old advice went, “Stick to the Gospel.”
I’ve always wondered where the gospel ended and current issues begin. In fact, they are inextricably bound. We are, as Gail preached Sunday, flesh and blood and we walk through a broken and hurting world, scarred by racism, poverty, hate, fear, bigotry, homophobia, homelessness and so much more. But as important as worship and care are, and they are central to our life together, we don’t stay in the sanctuary when worship is over. We are “sent” as the body of Christ into that hurting world as agents of God’s love and justice, even, perhaps especially, where it gets messy.
Besides, if all we preached around here were the simplistic, bland pabulum of tired, old Biblical clichés, you would run Gail and me off and replace us. You are a congregation that strives always to be in the world but not of it. And that is what it means to be a disciple.
Specifically, the questions the panel will discuss are:
1. We initially defined Lifelong Discipleship as formed and strengthened in a community that is consistently seeking understanding, cultivating wisdom, and actively following Christ. Many of us grew up with a clear understanding of what it meant to “regularly worship Christ” (as in Sunday worship)…but what does it mean to you to “actively follow Christ”?
2. Lifelong Discipleship is further defined by being awakened and engaged in issues facing today’s culture, including but not limited to injustice, inequality, segregation, oppression, suffering, abuse of creation. How have you been able to move people from discipleship that once simply meant getting more people to church, to this deeper definition…especially in this present age of multiple pandemics?
3. If discipleship is about learning from Jesus and disciple-forming (or making) is about teaching the way of Jesus, what is the curriculum in your community? What should we be teaching more of?
If you have any thoughts about the work we strive to do to “engage in issues facing the culture,” whether from the pulpit, out protesting or march in the streets or ensuring our most vulnerable neighbors are cared for, housed and loved, I would welcome your thoughts before the panel (Wednesday at 2 p.m. on Facebook live here). https://www.facebook.com/PCUSAVitalCongregations You can email me or take the discussion over to our Caldwell Conversations Facebook page. I’ll be listening.
Remembering Richard
There is no better example of a disciple who worshipped with as much depth as he worked for social justice than our friend Richard Harrison. Today is his birthday. Surely he is singing with Wilma, Leroy, Johnny, Terri, Mrs. Gambrell and the other saints in the Caldwell section of the heavenly choir.
Earlier this summer, our friends at Myers Park United Methodist Church, with whom we shared Richard, created a beautiful music video tribute to him and Anne is delighted to share that today. You’ll see some familiar faces. Brace yourself. It’s moving. Watch it here.
Richard’s impact on our church and our city left so many legacies. One of those is here at Caldwell and relates to a very important announcement coming up in relation to our dream to fund, build and open Easter’s Home. I look forward to sharing this VERY BIG news as soon as I can.
In the meantime, walk in the joy and hope Gail preached about Sunday – that our Lord hears our lamentations as well as our cries of joy and calls is forward beyond whatever troubles we face to find and fulfill God’s purposes.
In Christ,
John