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Sermon: Called to Service

Posted on January 9, 2011 by Adam J. Copeland

First Presbyterian Church of Hallock, Minn.

Jan 9, 2011

Called to Service

Isaiah 42:1-9

Montreat Conference Center in the mountains of western North Carolina hosted their annual college conference last week. About a 1,000 youth from all over the nation came (mostly from the southeast), to hear speakers, read the Bible, enjoy performances, and focus on God. One of the speakers or preachers must have given a sermon on call, because a friend of mine put up a status on Facebook. This friend, who loves Montreat, asked, “Why don’t we ever hear sermons on call in our congregations, but at conferences ‘call’ and ‘vocation’ is really emphasized?” Well, there ended up being a little debate online as to whether my friend’s ascertain was correct, but at the time I was looking at the lectionary lessons for today and I thought, “How perfect! A sermon on call based on Isaiah 42 and Jesus’ baptism with the ordination and installation of elders and deacons in mind.” My friend Geoff, who I think was on the road back from Montreat to Arkansas at the time, had no idea his Facebook status would affect a sermon twenty miles from the Canadian border, but sometimes the Spirit works in mysterious ways–even through Facebook. … Continue Reading

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Playing politics with the Constitution

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Adam J. Copeland

A progressive pastor friend of mine recently argued that progressive Christianity has done itself a huge disservice by ceding the Bible to conservatives. This friend senses that instead of fighting back against Biblical literalism and out-of-context proof-texting by diving into the Bible, progressives give up too easily and often fail to read the Bible with much gusto.  While there are certainly many notable exceptions to my friend’s argument, I take his general point mostly to be, unfortunately, spot on. Are Democrats now doing the same with the Constitution?

As the new Republican leadership elects to read the entire U.S. Constitution today on the floor of the House of Representatives (and as Representatives run in and out for their photo op/sound byte/future election ad clips) I wonder if the tacit message by the underwhelming Democrat response is similar to the sad progressive Christian response to Biblical literalism.

In “Read It and Weep: How the Tea Party’s fetish for the Constitution as written may get it in trouble” on Slate.com this week, Dahlia Litwick argues,

This newfound attention to the relationship between Congress and the Constitution is thrilling and long overdue….This is an opportunity to engage in a reasoned discussion of what the Constitution does and does not do.

If only. “Reasoned discussion” is not the stuff of Washington these days. Litwick goes on to point out what she sees are the multiple contradictions of the Tea Party platform and a thorough reading of the Constitution. It’s a nice little article, but I’m still not expecting many minds to change after today’s reading.

But here’s what I’d hope to see today: Democrats loudly decrying the use of the Constitution as a political wedge rather than the common document that we all hold dear; Democratic legislators refusing to leave the House chamber for the entire reading of the Constitution; President Obama announcing a series of Constitution-related study events in early 2011; Democrats noting that all the legislators of all parties swore an oath, just yesterday, to uphold and defend the Constitution.

In any case, dear Democrats, please don’t make my friend argue, not unlike progressive Christians and their approach to the Bible, Democrats ceded the Constitution ground without a fight.

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Church Social Media Policies: An Academic Paper

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Adam J. Copeland

Here it is, the final paper for a Communication course last semester on technology and media.  Its title: When the Pastor’s Study Moves to Cyberspace: An Examination of Ecclesial Social Media Policies.

As I posted previously on this blog and at Christian Century blogs, there really aren’t many church social media policies out there as of the close of 2010.  I’m willing to bet this will change because, unsolicited, I keep discussing questions with colleagues like: Should pastors have two Facebook accounts (one personal, one churchy)? How can our church have a safe online presence with youth?  When a pastor leaves a congregation, should she “unfriend” members?

So here’s a paper that looks at some of those questions, both with my pastor lens and the lens of a communication scholar.  You can get a preview of the paper below or to download see the information in the “update” section below.  As of now, it’s not published elsewhere but I’m up for giving that a shot — feel free to send me comments or suggestions.

There’s no place for thanks in APA format, but I would like to thank blog commenters and others who have helped me think through such questions.  Especially, the writing of Bruce Reyes-Chow, Carol Howard Merrit, Justin Wise, danah boyd, and Landon Whitsitt.

Update: If the Box.net version below doesn’t work for you, click here for a pdf: When the Pastor’s Study Moves to Cyberspace, alternatively it’s also on Google Docs.

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Sermon: Christmas Too

Posted on January 2, 2011 by Adam J. Copeland

First Presbyterian Church of Hallock, Minn.

January 2, 2010

Christmas Too

Ephesians 1:3-14

The wrapping paper is on sale. If the Christmas tree is still up, chances are there aren’t any presents under it anymore. The poinsettias are wilting (or at least they are at our house). The television news has shifted from Christmas stories, to Brett Favre stories, to year-in-review stories, and, tomorrow, all will be back to normal. Christmas is in the rear view mirror and we can all just relax. Well, sort of. … Continue Reading

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“In the quite-likely event of an emergency, remain calm”

Posted on December 31, 2010 by Adam J. Copeland

Bailouts, breached levees, and pregnant chads, oh my!

I’m not much of a retrospective guy, but David Von Drehle’s “2000: A Nation Divided” in TIME a few weeks back has kept me in the mood for some time now. And reading Dave Eggers’ fantastic book Zeitoun this week only drove the nail home.

Here’s what I’m thinking: if my young adulthood really has been formed by the 2000 election debacle, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the housing crisis, Lehman Brothers’ and AIG collapse, climate change unchecked, senseless war in Iraq, endless war in Afghanistan, SARS, a devastating tsunami, killer earthquakes, and the collapse of the publishing industry then, well, I’ve had a pretty screwed up post-high school experience. By all rights, I should despise institutions, be suspect of all money-driven media, and keep a gun and cash under my pillow each night. But, well, I don’t; I’m not. Am I too-cool-a-cucumber? A crazy cat? If not, what’s up?

First, surely the 24/7 news cycle desensitizes since there must always be a big story. I wrote about this a little in “Consuming Media Justly,” but I still don’t really have an answer. They say “familiarity breeds contempt” but maybe in problematic news “familiarity breeds nonchalance.”

Second, all institutions are suspect, so life goes on. The last decade was not a good one for civil liberties in the US, and yet I’m not outraged. Even companies whose products I love, like Apple, fail to impress me beyond the beauty of their current product line. As much as I wish things were different, I expect their computers and iThingies to be made in China under questionable circumstances. I know Apple will one day be history, as well as Facebook and CNN, and that’s ok. Trust and respect have become a transient commodity. Just as Facebook becomes popular we ask, “When will it go bust? What will be next?”

Third, the prevalence of injustice is nearly overwhelming.  This isn’t totally a modern phenomenon, but these days we do seem inundated with the world’s problems. Each day, we know, thousands die of hunger and preventable diseases. Thousands more are tortured and imprisoned unjustly. In my own country, LGBTQ folks are still treated as second-class citizens and to call our immigration system “broken” could be the biggest understatement of the year.

Now, yes, certainly, many fantastically good things also mark the last decade or so, but they’re overshadowed by the troubling times. I don’t think that’s some media conspiracy, I just think we’ve had a bad run. But, even so, I’m somehow hopeful. I get annoyed at Facebook friends who only link to pessimistic and damning articles. Maybe it’s my Christian sensibilities, my trust in ultimate love beyond our weary world that helps me remain calm. Maybe it’s my American faith that hard work and steady minds will carry the day, that the American experiment is far from over, which keeps me optimistic. As Martin Luther King Jr. put it, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” Bend, oh 2011, bend.

image by Cancia Leirissa

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Twenty Eleven NOT Two Thousand…

Posted on December 27, 2010 by Adam J. Copeland

I posted on this a few years ago, but the whole world has not yet come to understand the brilliance of my position. So, I post again and will keep re-posting until the world transforms.  I am a patience man.  I will succeed.

In a nutshell: do not say “two thousand eleven” for the upcoming year, but “twenty eleven.” If you say it correctly, maybe the long-winded ridiculous “two thousand eleven” people who hear you and correct their unfortunate ways.  Then I can move my pet grievances to another oh-so crucial topic of personal pet peeve pettiness (yes, I have a list).

There is hope, however, as I first posted this two years ago when concise “twenty ten” speakers were rare.  Now about half time I hear the date spoken it’s said correctly.  My plot is succeeding.  They may win some small battles, but I will win the war!

Here’s a few reasons to say “twenty eleven” rather than “two thousand eleven.”

  • Do you say “nineteen hundred ____   ____” for the year you were born? No you say, “nineteen _______” 19! Stay consistent.
  • It takes longer to say “two thousand” than “twenty.” I appreciate economy; particularly economy of words.
  • My way of saying it will eventually catch on (and has, I’m told in reasonable English speaking countries other than the US), so you might as well be on the right side of the curve.
  • All the cool kids say “twenty ten” (I don’t actually know this to be true, as I don’t know any cool kids. But I figure it probably is, or enjoy living in my fairytale world in which it is so.)
  • And, finally, if you’re being consistent and say “two thousand eleven” you should really write 2,011 with a comma to be consistent. You don’t want to do that, so just say it the right way.

Join the movement! Keep it simple: twenty eleven, 20-11, 2011!

image by Billy Alexander

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Sermon: To You is Born this Day

Posted on December 24, 2010 by Adam J. Copeland

First Presbyterian Church of Hallock, Minn.

Christmas Eve 2010

To You is Born this Day

Luke 2:1-14 & Isaiah 9:2-7

The angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of a great joy for all the people; to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”

The angel of the Lord in Luke 2 was surely good at many things, I trust he did very well in Angel School to be given the responsibility of speaking to the shepherds after Jesus’ birth. But this angel, bless his heart, was clearly not an English major. If he were an English major (or an English teacher, or just a good English student) he would have known that the good news he brought to the shepherds was imprecise and confusing. … Continue Reading

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