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Guilty when gone

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Adam J. Copeland

I’m Presbyterian. I do guilt well, maybe too well. So boy do I feel guilty when I’m out of town and away from my local pastoral responsibilities. I can be gone for different reasons — vacation, continuing education, larger church service, even a mission trip — but I always manage to feel uncomfortable and, well guilty, for being away.

This does not make much sense, I grant you, since being away actually makes me a better pastor. But, I’m willing to bet, I’m not the only pastor who feels torn when making arrangements to be away.

Next week, for instance, I’m gone for a mission trip. I’m taking two youth from our congregation to Philadelphia to meet up with some other youth at one of the absolute top mission experiences in my denomination. It’s awesome that youth from our congregation are getting to go, and I’m very happy to lead them. But, somehow, strangely, even though I’ll be working 24 hours-a-day for 7 days, I still think of all the pastor-type things I could be doing were I not going.

Maybe the guilt is helpful somehow, since it points to the fact that were I in town, there are relationships I’d foster, visits I’d complete, local ministry I’d accomplish. I definitely feel like there’s plenty for me to do when I’m around town.

I also wonder how the guilt might dissipate were I not in a solo pastor position, or even if there were other mainline pastors in town who could easily cover me while away. Certainly there are benefits to multiple pastors on staff, and sister churches nearby with pastor positions filled.

Sure, I remind myself of all that which I know to be true: I’d be a crappy pastor if I didn’t take breaks, broader service to the denomination is an essential part of my call, I’m totally replaceable, we always manage fine when I’m gone and it’s not about me in the first place. This helps a bit, but not completely.

As it is, I think realizing I have a problem is a helpful first step.  So l live into the tension of needing to be away because it’s what best for all parties and knowing that, when away, there’s just some things that don’t get done. I mean, I’m Presbyterian after all. Guilt is good, right?

image by rolve

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Sacred the Body

Posted on July 27, 2010 by Adam J. Copeland

I wrote this post for my good friend, Kate Giguere Morris, and her blog Thighs and Offerings, where she embraces questions relating to spirituality, the body, eating disorders, and culture.

Sacred the Body

Sacred the body God has created,
temple of Spirit that dwells deep inside.
Cherish each person; nurture creation.
Treat flesh as holy, that love may abide.

Bodies are varied, made in all sizes,
pale, full of color, both fragile and strong.
Holy the difference, gift of the Maker,
so let us honor each story and song.

Love respects person, bodies, and boundries.
Love does not batter, neglect or abuse.
Love touches gently, never coercing.
Love leaves the other with power to choose.

Holy of holies, God ever loving,
make us your temples; indwell all we do.
May we be careful, tender, and caring,
so may our bodies give honor to you.

-Ruth Duck

I love this hymn text, but it also troubles me. Then again, maybe the tension is why I love it.

First, my initial reaction to speaking of one’s body as a temple is the negative way I’ve seen the phrase used. Mostly, in my experience, it’s usually male pastors who use the phrase to coax female teens not to have sex. Somehow, the message doesn’t get communicated to the boys as clearly, and really, the “just say no to sex” message is a huge pigeon-holing of Paul’s letter (and bad sex ed, but that’s another matter). … Continue Reading

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Blethering anew

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Adam J. Copeland

Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re enjoying my new blog design from Press75.com.  This design would not have been possible without the help of my buddy, Adam Walker Cleaveland at Pomomusings.com, who rescued me from the muck and mire of a badly orchestrated switch from WordPress.com to WordPress.org.  Suffice it to say: I screwed things up pretty royally and Adam, in the manner of a superfast emailing web-designing Superman, saved my blog from oblivion.  So, a huge web thanks goes out to Adam Walker Cleaveland.  He’s a gem.
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A few things about the new A Wee Blether:

  • Note the super-cool new button up top for “Sermons”
  • Let me know what you think, but I’m leaning towards having only 5-6 of the most recent posts on the main page.  Featured popular posts will appear on the right sidebar.  Also, I’m planning on having fewer full post on the main page, and more “continue reading….” links halfway through articles.  If this bothers you, I’d be interested to know.
  • If you follow the blog in a RSS Reader, it’d be good to double-check the feed is correct.  It should be: http://adamjcopeland.com (or really, http://adamjcopeland.com/feed)
While I’m blethering about myself, I’ll let folks know a new piece of mine went up recently at ThePresbyterianLeader.com.  I wrote “Setting Priorities as a Leader” in the Leading Voices series of monthly essays from Presbyterian Leaders.  If you aren’t familiar with PresbyterianLeader.com, check it out.  If you’re lazy and just want my piece, click here and then check them out.
image by Raja R
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Sermon: Praying as Jesus Taught

Posted on July 25, 2010 by Adam J. Copeland

First Presbyterian Church, Hallock, Minn.
July 25, 2010
Praying as Jesus Taught
Luke 11:1-13

Last Sunday I mentioned a scene in Marilynne Robinson’s book, Home — the scene involving Robert Boughton, and old patriarch and a main character in the novel.  One day his children ruined a neighbor’s alfalfa field by playing baseball in it.  When Robert Boughton heard of the damage he immediately told his kids, “Of course you will have to apologize…well, you’d had better get it over with.”  And he sent them off to apologize.

The beautiful of thing about Robert Boughton’s character is that he’s really complex, not always so wise and winsome.  For instance, Robert has the annoying habit — he’s a retired minister, by the way — now in his old age, of asking other people to pray before meals at his house. … Continue Reading

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In Defense of Twitter

Posted on July 23, 2010 by Adam J. Copeland

Let’s call it “Twitterphobia.”  Several times a week, in my usual perusal of weekly magazines, op-ed pieces, and current event commentary I run into a well-respected and well-researched writer bemoaning Twitter. “Twitter is dumbing down our teenagers,” they say. “Twitter is besieging our English majors.” “Twitter is poisoning our minds and starving us of the few intellectual merits we still have.”

Nice try, but Twitter ain’t the issue folks. In fact, I think Twitter and its 140-character messages is causing a flippin’ amazing surge in creative thinking. Let me explain.

  1. Though some say 140 characters is a too short to say much of anything, I say the 140 character limit Twitter employs actually pushes us to write with precision, creativity, and pizzazz. Who knows, maybe its just the the fact that there’s a limit at all causes anyone with tenure to freak out over a perceived threat to intellectual freedom.  Mark Twain once apologized to an editor when sending in a new essay, “I’m sorry I didn’t have time to make this shorter.” Brevity is not the enemy.  Sometimes the attacks feel like a group of poets worrying long form poetry is at risk, but instead of writing good long form poetry they lash out against haikus.  I say simply: brevity is beautiful.
  2. Sure, Twitter isn’t a platform for drawn-out arguments laced with careful caveats, but it’s not trying to be. What Twitter can do – really well, in fact – is point people in the direction of just that sort of work. Every day, I click on Internet links recommended by those I follow on Twitter and arrive at fantastic articles, sometimes very long, which I often then recommend to my followers on Twitter as well. In fact, the New York Times and Slate recently reported that some of their most-read articles over the past few years have been their longest. Twitter isn’t killing long-form journalism, rather, it might be resuscitating it after all. … Continue Reading
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