“All the Best”
Today marks my last day as Assistant Minister of Ayr: St. Columba Church of Scotland. It’s been a really valuable year in terms of pastoral development, ecclessiastical enlightenment, and general significant ministry experience.
I may put up pictures of my celebration lunch today later, but here’s a few snaps of several generous and beautiful parting gifts.
A gorgeous “traveling rug” or in American, “blanket” or “throw” from the Women’s Guild.
Fun engraved mini curling stone from the church curling club–made from local granite.
Pretty darn awesome stole by Juliet Hemingray (check out her website–quality stuff.) It’s an Iona Cross with Ayrshire countryside scene (or at least we can think that).
And Matthew, our fantastic organist, played a gorgeous postlude at the last service tonight. ”Stay With Us” an old St. Olaf favorite and meaningful text by Norwegian Egil Hovland.
I titled this post “all the best” because that’s what 99% of folks said as they shook my hand at the door today. It must be the appropriate Scottish farewell, and it was much appreciated. I will always remember the good folk at Ayr St. Columba, thankful to God for their kindness, patience, and willingness to teach me a bit about what ministry is about.
Sermon: Holy Hospitality, Matt 10, Deut 10
for audio, click above
Matthew 10:40-42
Deuteronomy 10:12-19
St. Columba Church
Evening Communion Service
Holy Hospitality
Adam J. Copeland
I haven’t really been counting, but I must have been welcomed into hundreds of homes this year, had thousands of conversations, and sipped millions of cups of tea.
In addition to homes and hospitals, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting our many members who stay in care homes throughout Ayr. I’ve only walked into a few wrong rooms, and I’ve now learned to strategically time my visits to particular care homes that serve afternoon sherry to residents (and visiting assistant ministers).
Perhaps because of these experiences, I was struck by a BBC story this week about the Martins Care home in Suffolk.
The story begins by quoting Jean Lavender, 88 years young, who last year could barely walk at all. This year, Jean goes on a walk most days, outside no less. Jean says she feels 20 years younger.
The article continues, many residents weigh in, testifying to their vastly improved health and energy level. The matron reports this year they’ve had–fever falls, fewer calls to the GP, cuts in required medications, better quality of sleep for residents, lower rates of agitation; just a generally more upbeat feel to the home’s atmosphere. … Continue Reading
Presbyterian Church Gay Ordination (for dummies edition)
So the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) just completed this morning in San Jose, California. By most accounts, the assembly in all its big meetingness, Robert’s Rules, and sub-sub committee fun went well enough in terms of practicalities. And there’s hundreds of fantastic and important steps the assembly took to forward Christ’s mission in the world. I hope, in the future, to blog more. But this post is simply to alert folks–in non churchy non Presbyterian language–of the PC(USA)’s move towards full inclusion of God’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and queer children.
Ok, so for as long as I can remember the PC(USA) has been fighting over whether or not glbtq folk in same sex relationships can be ordained as elders or ministers. So we’re not alone there. The Episcopal Church is having huge issues with itself at the moment over an American relationshiped gay bishop and what the means, and other mainline denominations as well. Interestingly, while some denominations tend to approach glbtq questions first with an eye towards whether or not ministers can conduct weddings or civil union services, the PC(USA) has tended to focus on the question of ordination first (which is sort of backwards, I think, but oh well). So while some US denoms, like the United Church of Christ are more open, the PC(USA) has been more conservative. We’ve said, basically: you can be gay, you just can’t live our your relationship with a committed partner of the same sex. (The constitution puts it, we require “fidelity within marriage or chastity within singleness” and since we don’t allow gay marriage, if you’re gay you either have to hide it from the church or not fully live out God’s intentions for you and your partner.)
So here’s what the 2008 assembly did….
Effective immediately:
- We changed the old case law that informs our courts so glbtq candidates can move forward
The PC(USA) has a church court system for dealing with church discipline, just like the state has a court system for enforcing state laws. Presbyterian courts rely on the Bible, sure, but also our constitution and case histories from previous similar cases. Well, cases regarding glbtq ordination used to be informed by an old ruling (1979, I think) which was has some pretty offensive language towards gays. Then there’s more recent history (like a few months ago, which I won’t go into but it’s there). One assembly can’t change the constitution, but it can change the “Authoritative Interpretation” of the constitution that courts use for guidance. This assembly did so, effective immediately. So a glbtq candidate for ordination may declare she’s cool with Jesus, Presbyterianism, and all that, but happens to be gay and living faithfully in a same-gender relationship and governing bodies, as of this new action, may allow candidates to be ordained. (The official language is that they “scruple” with one specific aspect of the constitution–has been done since way back). Whew.
Effective in one year, God willing:
- Passed first step towards the process of opening glbtq ordination
To change our presbyterian constitution you need (1) a majority vote of one national assembly, (2) a majority vote by the presbyteries (our regional governing bodies of which they’re 173) (3) another majority vote of the national assembly. [Andy has corrected this statement in the comments. My apologies. Clearly I've been away too long:) ] This assembly voted by 54% to start that two step process. You can read the Presbyterian Outlook article here.
Noteworthy: they did not vote to change the definition of marriage from “a man and a women” to “two people”
So that’s what happened. Conservatives are rather perturbed. Liberals are cautiously optimistic. We’re all a bit unsure about the future of the denomination, as some uber-conservative churches have or do threaten to leave. The trick moving forward will be to discuss the proposed changes in presbyteries kindly, faithfully, and humbly. Unity in the midst of our diversity is one of the denomination’s best qualities, but it ain’t easy.
May God stay with us as we discern Spirit’s future guidance.
image by Lioness65
CC Blogs
As my sidebar indicates, I’m a member of the blog network hosted by The Christian Century. Honestly, I was pretty fortunate to have been chosen as such a novice blogger a few months ago, but I’ve tried to keep up with the hot shots and really appreciated the fellowship of the network–especially reading others’ work.
The CC Blogs network, along with other sorts of religion-related blogs I read, has really broadened my perspective this year. It’s sort of strange, but while on yearlong internship in Scotland, I feel like my knowledge and understanding of the American church has been greatly strengthened due to my blog reading.
I read more evangelical blogs (with enormous subscription rates) like Cerulean Sanctum. I stay up with Shuck and Jive, who’s, well, more liberal. From pastors in Iowa to private support blogs of seminary students, blogging–or rather, reading blogs–has led me to better understand the diversity of the church, and how I fit in it.
Gorden Atkinson, aka Real Live Preacher, runs the CC Blog site, and just launched a vastly new and improved look. Click on the icon below to check it out.
For real?
BBC NEWS | Health | How care home keeps elderly healthy
I found this article really interestesting–it discusses how a nursing home started a “water club” and a few other measures to increase water consumption. A year later, the residents report huge improvements in quality of life, health, fragility, and general happiness.
A placebo effect? Perhaps. But I’m glad they seem happier and healthier.
Pastor as wireless hub
It may be common at many a seminary, but at Columbia we seem to talk a whole darn lot about pastoral identity and how we understand the role of pastor.
There’s the old arguments for and against pastor at CEO, or shepherd, or spiritual guide, or committee chair extraordinaire. I usually describe my (hopefully) future role as Minister of Word and Sacrament in terms of a “pastor theologian” model. Overall, I think each metaphor for pastor is partly helpful, but none is wholly right, especially considering the enormous variety of contexts in which pastors serve.
It’s my last week at St. Columba, so I’m working on my reflection papers for Columbia. Again, they’ve asked the silly pastor question. This time I played with a new metaphor. Again, flawed of course, but contemporary at least.
My pastoral role in this congregation moved me to emphasize another model of ministry, that of a communicator, described with the metaphor of a wireless hub. A wireless hub functions to connect different people, ideas, and movements to one another. Ideally, it does so carefully and consistently, without adding its own baggage. Without the hub, communities could not share information, discuss their perspectives, or hear those of others. A pastor as wireless hub worries more about open communication than her own perspective, more about listening to all and assuring all listen than speaking first. More about connecting one to another than dictating what the conversations are about.
Of course, a problem with this model is that the pastor can become just a connector and not a full participant in the conversation. But I’d say plenty of pastors could do a good deal more listening than speaking.
My exploration of the pastor as hub model reflects my year as Assistant Minister in which I emphasized the importance of communication. The fairly hierarchical way of church here led me to favor a pastoral model akin to the open-source, communcation-rich way of the internet.
So there ya go. Not exactly profound, but it’s an idea.
image by bigevil600
Sermon: Singing the Commandments, Exodus 20 & Romans 6
photo by chapstickaddict
click above for audio
Whew, definitely not sure about this one, but I got more positive comments than usual (which probably just means people are happy to see me go next week;) ) Several interesting homiletical issues in the sermon. First, it deals with two texts which I always find so tricky because it’s easy to shortchange each or have them talk to each other in ways either too simple or too fake. Second, it’s a teaching sermon rather than a “go do this” sermon. The topic makes it such, but so also the theological content with which I bet most are unfamiliar. Apparently the ten commandments are rarely discussed at St. C, if at all. Third, one must be careful when dealing with OT Law and NT Gospel and not pulling the age-old heresy of a split between the God of the OT and Christ of the NT. Finally, it’s a Lutheran sermon format with a Presbyterian third use of the law ending (ok, I’m a huge nerd). The form is: 1) Law, 2) Gospel, 3) Law revisited in light of Gospel to find that the Law really is Gospel to begin with–and that’d be Calvin’s third and and primary use of the law. Whew…and it has jokes too:) and somebody yelled out when I mentioned Bush, hilarious.
Ayr: St. Columba Church
11:15 am Worship Service
Adam J. Copeland
Singing the Commandments
Exodus 20:1-17, Romans 6:1-11
After going-on ten months in Scotland, it’s an interesting practice to reflect back on life in the US. As happens when living abroad, my perspective of my own country has significantly changed.
For example, I will never look at an American nicely written, clearly displayed street sign the same way again. After ten months of driving all over Ayr, passing street after street, turning around, and then again, trying to find a street sign that might be a foot off the ground on a wall, or thirty feet up on a house, or hiding behind an overgrown hedge, or just not there at all, I have gained a new appreciation for America’s street signs and simple street numbering system.
I’ll miss many Scottish things, of course, like fish and chips, constant cups of tea, Scottish cheese (which I think is completely under-appreciated), folks actually driving the speed limit (thanks to speed cameras, mind you), fantastic golf courses, having four seasons in a day–ok, I won’t miss that, but Scotland’s weather does instill a certain go-with-the-flow approach to Scottish culture which I will miss. … Continue Reading
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