A Church for Starving Artists

The only Zelda I knew as a child was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s wife. Although I’m not really into video games, I understand many people love The Legend of Zelda (not Fitzgerald.)

In the third grade we moved to a neighborhood that – from the sky – would have looked like a boxy number 8. There were two loops each with four sides with a forest in the middle of each loop. This means that everyone’s backyard had a couple acres of woods behind their house.

One day while wandering in the woods behind our home I discovered an abandoned log cabin. I had discovered it. (The Doctrine of Discovery was already deeply embedded in my Western Christian psyche.) I was going to be an explorer because – obviously – I had a knack for discovering things.

Subsequently, my third grade birthday party had an Explorers’ Theme and – with my friends and homemade treasure maps – we “discovered” the cabin again and sat out there and made up stories about who built it and where we might put a sofa.

We still need explorers and discoverers, but not the kind who claim cabins and lands that actually belong to other people. We need storytellers who spark our imagination. We need curious people, artists, and dreamers.

Although Jesus didn’t say it, I believe that the kingdom of God is like a treasure hunt full of wonder and surprises and beauty. I imagine Jesus weeping over the dearth of wonder among his followers. I imagine Jesus slapping palm to face over those of us who are satisfied with the plain, the lifeless and the irrelevant. The Architect of all creation who designed The Victor Hugo Rose and peacock feathers and electric blue coral and the human vena cava and the beautiful brain of Shigeru Miyamoto must wonder why we squander our own God-given creativity.

If one more person suggests we try a bake sale fundraiser, I think I might lose it. We can do better.

God created us to grapple with ideas and try out new paths and be curious. But we have become People Who Settle for less. We elect political and religious leaders who are not passionate about How The World God Made Can Be Different. Instead we choose People With Pulses or People with Money. Instead of finding questions to be thrilling opportunities to get to know God better, we fear failure.

I thank God today for Shigeru Miyamoto – the 70 year old creator of The Legend of Zelda and other games that our children and grandchildren have grown up on. He has been named – officially – “A Creative Fellow” (2015) and A Person of Cultural Merit (2019). I have no idea what his spiritual life is like. But I have no doubt that God rejoices in how Mr. Miyamoto has used his gifts.

This is a lovely article about The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. We need more “curiosity-rewarding” and less rote. Or as the articles writer offers – as a hope for his own child:

May we “remember this — the feeling of a world that feels lifted, not collapsed; conquerable, not corrupted; joyful, not terrifying.”

There is a kingdom, a kindom, a reign of God that is beyond our wildest imagination. And it’s very good. Alleluia.

(Note: there are no spoilers in this post.)

Rebecca Welton is my favorite.

Billionaire Owner of AFC Richmond, ex-wife of The Devil, imperfect godmother of Nora, perfect daughter of Deborah, and BFF of Sassy and Keeley. Love her.

It occurs to me – as we who love Ted Lasso have observed – that Rebecca has finally come into her blessed bad-@$$ery and we in the Church have plenty to learn from her. Conflict avoidance is one of our most destructive sins. Niceness is our most destructive tyrannies. We need to be more like Rebecca.

Examples from Rebecca’s life:

When she needs a moment to discern what’s really happening, Rebecca says, “I Need To Reapply My Lip Liner. Men Don’t Know What That Means And Women Understand It Requires Time And Focus.”

When choosing a team: “A Bit Of Advice For Being A Boss. Hire Your Best Friend.”

When she sits in a room full of greedy rich old men hearing a pitch to make more money while ruining the lives of everybody else, “Are You #%*! Joking?”

Here’s what channeling Rebecca might look like in Church World:

When the elders are afraid to fire a beloved organist who comes to worship drunk every Sunday morning: “Sorry but we can’t have you on staff no matter how perfectly you can play Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in E minor as long as you smell like you’ve been beaten by a bung flogger.”

When a church bully is caught spreading false information about the pastor: “You can either support the leaders or you can try to destroy them. You can’t do both. Which will it be?”

When a long time church member can’t let go of the fact that the new carpet color is not her favorite: “Jesus didn’t die for this bloody carpet. Let it go. Here’s the sign-up sheet for volunteering at the shelter.”

We are doing our congregations no favors by refusing to taking a literal or figurative Power Pose in the name of Jesus to stand up to destructive forces in our congregations. It’s okay – and holy – to speak faithful words in the presence of evil. It’s our calling to shed light on darkness. It’s life-giving to stand up for those who are persecuted for wanting to address dysfunction.

I love Rebecca. We can learn from her.

Image of the actor Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca Welton teaching Nate and Keeley a Power Pose.

“My job doesn’t give me a sabbatical. Why should you get one?”

Yes, it’s an enormous privilege to receive time when you can step away from the everyday rigors of one’s vocation and do a deep dive into spiritual reflection and rejuvenation. Sabbath is a commandment – not a suggestion – for many people of faith and a sabbatical is a Biblical principle meant to give even the fields a rest.

Especially in professional ministry, sabbath time is not guaranteed (you wouldn’t believe how many people die on the pastors’ “day off”) and working 46 weekends a year plus five-day work weeks can chisel down one’s soul.

I wish everyone got a sabbatical.

If a professional minister is effective, they are serving in daily tasks (unending administration, random duties, shepherding God’s people in random ways), occasional tasks (weddings/funerals/special services) and global tasks (the big picture/the Vision/the Lens through which do Everything in the name of God.) The burdensome privilege of being a spiritual servant to a congregation and community is a lot. There are few vocations like it, if you ask me.

On June 1 I begin my sabbatical. I am trying to do sabbatical better than I’ve done it before.

First sabbatical in 2008 – Had cancer surgery and spent 12 weeks in recovery. (Not really a sabbatical, so my congregation generously offered another one a year later)

Second sabbatical in 2009 – Got a Lilly Grant and did some meaningful things, but was also still a spouse and mom, so much of that time was spent including them in travel, making sure they were having fun, etc. (This was the topic of subsequent therapy conversations regarding why I tend to ignore my own needs for the sake of others. #Women)

Third sabbatical in 2023 – Taking June 1-August 31 away, and by “away” I mean I’m shutting down my cell phone, social media, and email. Can I do it? We’ll see, but it’s my plan and I have a burner phone (thank you PBP.) I might be spending time on the Amalfi Coast thanks be to God. I plan to talk with God, stare into space, read novels, drink coffee with people who don’t do church, and write a little.

A couple things:

• If you have a pastor, please encourage them to take a sabbatical at least every seven years for at least 3 months. Make it possible by helping to find funding, being a cheerleader to naysayers, and realizing that you can live without that person for a period of time.
• If you are a pastor “who can’t take a sabbatical” you are in denial, even if you have little kids, caregive a loved one, and are irreplaceable on your staff. Talk to your colleagues. We can help you.
• If you are a pastor near retirement age and you’ve never taken a sabbatical in your 30-50 years of ministry, do not tack “a sabbatical” onto the end of your years as pastor, expecting to be paid for those months you never took every seven years. That was your choice 99% of the time. I have multiple examples of churches in serious financial trouble because they paid their retiring pastor 3-12 months after they retired while also paying their replacement. Frankly, some congregations were willing to do this (pay off the pastor) just to get them to retire. Retiring colleagues: please don’t do this if you love your church.

And if you happen to serve as a teacher, plumber, farmer, counselor, sanitation worker, administrative assistant, financial advisor, social worker, artist, journalist, or any other profession and you are exhausted by your work to the point that you forgot why you love it, please take a break – even for a small chunk of time. Ask for help in making it happen. And help make it happen for someone else.

Thank you Presbytery of Charlotte for making it happen for this pastor.

Imagine of the Amalfi Coast which I hear is a lovely place to stare into space.

I hope Mothers’ Day was okay for you. Okay depends on several factors and while I didn’t love all the Mothers’ Day articles, I loved this one: Want to Make Your Mom Happy? Tell Her She Was Right by Jancee Dunn. It inspired me to ask my own kids what I advised that turned out to be true now that they are all in their 30s.

Here’s what they told me:

• Don’t trust a woman with no woman friends. I shared this with my sons when they started dating, but it also works for daughters, and it’s the only advice my siblings and I can remember that our own mother shared, except for “Sit up straight.” I have no opinion about men with no man friends but feel free to share if you do. And yes, this is very binary.
• The three most important life choices you will make are: Who or what will you worship? What will be your life’s work? Who will you spend your life with? All our kids mentioned this as Truth.
• You’re allowed to marry anybody you want as long as that person loves you as least as much as we (your parents) love you. This was first advised by my husband’s parents. It’s still an excellent word.
• Don’t wear pants that say “Juicy” on the butt. Care more about your personality and brain than your appearance.

The Dunn article mentioned motherly advice like “take first aid training” and “always be running toward something, not away from something.”

What advice did your mother offer that’s proven to be absolutely right? If possible, let your Mom know.

Image of my Mom. I wish I’d had more time to ask her for advice.

Many things matter more than numbers – especially in Church. And yet in order to be the Church God created it to be we need to pay attention to a few numbers:

• Numbers in terms of financial income and outgo (Are we spending beyond our means?)
• Numbers in terms of people participating (How many human connections are being made?)
• Numbers in terms of space capacity (How many people can fit into the sanctuary?)
• Numbers in terms of hours it takes to do something. (Are there enough hours for one person to do all expected pastoral duties?)

I previously wrote a post about the problems of magical thinking for congregations and in these post-covid days, magical thinking about numbers is also killing us.

• Too many of our congregations are unaware or in denial about their financial numbers believing that since they could afford a multi-staff team ten years ago, they can afford a multi-staff team today – when actually several positions need to be eliminated.
• Too many of our members believe they belong to a larger congregation than reality is revealing. “How big is your church?” is a common question among church people. The answer to that question is likely exaggerated.
• Too many of our sanctuaries look empty because they are. And yet church leaders don’t dare consider reconfiguring pews or removing them altogether in order to rethink how to use those spaces.
• Too many pastors are telling me that what they “signed up for” is not what they are actually doing in ministry. They imagined spiritually shepherding God’s people both inside and outside the walls of the church, but instead they are printing church bulletins, vacuuming the floors, and untangling church dysfunctions.

These are the things that happen when churches are living in survival mode and this article offers a clear explanation of what happens when we lead by fear and not faith.

Creating numbers to make us look good is a spiritual problem. And we are really good as making ourselves look good. We point out that ___ new people came to a Bible study or somebody died and left the church $____. But let’s look at the bigger picture.

How is our congregation making an impact in our communities, especially to those who are not already in our flock?

What do strangers see about how we treat each other?

Are we clinging to our history to the detriment of our future?

It all boils down to our congregation’s culture. Do we have a culture of spiritual growth, service, forgiveness, and grace? Or do we have a culture of fear, exclusiveness and survival?

As I prepare for Sabbatical this June 1- August 31, my prayer is that I can create an accessible tool for guiding congregations who want to be The Church God created us to be. (Please pray with and for me about this if you would.)

Our culture in post-COVID 2023 is totally different from our culture in the 1970s which is so different from our culture in the 1950s which is so different from our culture in the 1860s which is so different from our culture in the 1700s which is so different from our culture in the 1500s which is so different from our culture in the 1100s which is so different from our culture in the 300s which is so different from our culture in the 30s after the death and resurrection of Jesus. But we are clinging to so many things that Jesus never died and rose for.

By God’s grace, our numbers can swell again, but only if we are willing to see numbers in a new way. Stay tuned.

P.S. This article from The Washington Post might be of interest to those who say that Mainline denominations have lost members because of becoming too liberal.

Feelings. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Feelings

Note: God is present and loves us whether we feel it or not.

When asked how I feel about The Church in general and a single church in particular, I often give thought answers, not feeling answers:

I think they are going to close in the next year.

I believe they are doing amazing things.

I know they have some interesting plans in the works.

How does The Church or a church make me feel? Hopeful? Tired? Sad? Joyful? Excited?

How are you feeling about your church? Does your congregation make you angry? Weary? Energized? Inspired? Filled with the Spirit? Loved?

Again, God is with us whether we feel it or not. God has called us to be The Church whether we feel it or not.

To feel abused, infuriated, beaten down, betrayed, lonely, or excluded is never okay – especially in church. And yet I’m concerned that we who lead churches are falling away from those practices and events that make people feel safe, connected, and joyful. We sometimes choose efficiency and cost-cutting at the expense of those things that make us feel like The Church.

Examples:

My denomination used to meet in a different city’s convention center every two years with people coming from all over the country and world to gather for General Assembly. There were meet-ups. There was an Exhibition Hall where we could learn what our military chaplains and camps and missionaries and activists were doing. Connections were made. There was random swag. But for the sake of cost-cutting, there are no more Exhibition Halls, no more global reunions. What made us feel like family feels lost.

Congregations have eliminated retreats, scholarships for kids to go to camp, and even mission projects because they cost money that we no longer have. And yet we continue to put on annual fundraisers that we’ve done “forever” or perpetuate other traditional events that no longer have a a missional impact. It’s hard to get volunteers for them and they might even lose money.

I’m wondering about looking at our calendars and ongoing activities in terms of considering how they make us feel. Do we feel dread? Irritation? Or do we feel utter joy and energy?

Jesus wept. And laughed and hurt and felt compassion and anger. Too many of us are going through the motions without much emotion. What does that say about our spiritual lives?

Things that made me feel something recently:

• I felt deep joy to hear about one church whose children’s choir learned some old hymns and then visited several retirement homes to sing to residents. Some of the elders who had not spoken in years sang along.
• I felt tearful gratitude when my preaching group prayed for me while laying hands on my shoulders last week.
• I felt light-hearted when about 30 colleagues met for a coffee house Happy Hour in April with no agenda except to hang out.
• I felt deeply moved when participating in the ordination of a new pastor yesterday whose various calls have included Italian Translator, 5th Grade Teacher and Lactation Specialist. And now, she is so clearly called to serve a little congregation in our Presbytery.

My friends, this is Church. Can you feel it?

Image of singer Morris Albert who sang the ever-popular Feelings.

I’m grateful for a week of study leave. Take gentle care of yourselves, my friends, and I’ll be writing again next week.

In these days when life feels hard/soul-sucking in Church World and beyond, here are some simple things that will make life easier/life-giving.

In no particular order:

1. Pastors: on the day you baptize someone, write them a letter to open on their 10th birthday (for infants/young children) or in ten years (for older people) about what happened that day. Who was present. What happened. What you hope for them by the time they read it. Who will have your contact information if they want to catch up some day. The pastor who baptized my siblings over sixty years ago did this and I did it as a parish pastor and it’s truly special to have them reach out years later.
2. Pastors: we have peculiar lives and often deal with individuals/congregations who make our lives harder. Do not overshare on social media about what frustrating things your congregation is/not doing. Don’t name names in media interviews. Don’t believe that your church/presbytery/colleagues will not read the post where you trashed them. Yes, vent. But vent to friends over coffee or in a private text thread. (Note: people have told me that they have shown up on my blog and – please believe me – I make up stories/change them liberally to protect both the innocent and the guilty.)
3. Pastors and Other Faith Leaders: when someone asks you to pray for them (and even if they don’t) ask if you can pray together here and now. And then do that. Don’t wait until you have quiet time at the end of the day. Pray right then. Leave a prayer on their voicemail. Send a prayer via text. This is not about performing. It’s about authentic bonding.
4. Don’t ever accept a call that you are not indeed called to. Don’t serve in a church just because it’s in a city where you want to live if you aren’t called there. Don’t serve in a church that will be impressive to your parents/friends if you aren’t called there. Don’t avoid the church in a place you never imagined living or the church of quirky people who resemble The Island of Misfit Toys if God is screaming in your ear that you are indeed called to be with those interesting humans.
5. Get out more. Don’t do the same continuing education every year. Read a book in a genre you usually don’t read. Talk with a person with whom you totally disagree. Try a cuisine you’ve never tried. Sit on a bench and watch people (but not in a creepy way.) Walk somebody else’s dog. Go to a 24/hour diner at 4 in the morning and notice who else is up late.
6. Support a B Corporation.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

My Sabbatical begins in 35 days and I am profoundly grateful that . . .

• I get a Sabbatical.
• I love my work even though it necessitates a Sabbatical.

The whole world needs a Sabbatical right now to refresh ourselves and stare into space and spend time delighting in all that fills us with joy. It’s moments like these when I covet the European vacation culture. Combined with mandated vacation days, workers in Europe can get as many as 38 days paid time off. And that holiday time contributes to making these nations the happiest countries in the world.

We are in deeply anxious times regardless of our politics, family situations, and financial standing. I don’t need to spell those out details for you.

Yesterday our Presbytery hosted an informal Happy Hour at a local coffee shop and it felt good. It felt good to talk about things like funny things our kids are doing or the upcoming Chelsea-Wrexham “friendly” happening in Chapel Hill in July or whether or not these were the best empanadas we’ve ever had. It refreshed my toastedness, even for just a short bit.

Friends, take in a deep breath and remember what freshly baked bread smelled like. Life can smell like that but it takes intention. What are we doing to create Happy Hours in our lives (and I’m not talking about bar scenes)?

What if we took an hour a day for Happy Time. This is a privilege for those of us without young children or caregiver responsibilities, but honestly, most of us can find a Happy Hour. And thanks be to God for Happy Sabbaticals.

Taking deep breaths over here trying to remember what freshly baked sourdough smells like.