Trust the Proces

This past Sunday I submitted my resignation as your Pastor to the session of the church. It was a very emotional time for me. My tears were met with understanding, support by the ruling elders on session. Likewise so many of you have since expressed your love and care through emails, phone calls, or face-to-face chats. I am so grateful to each one of you! As one of you said, “let’s meet this situation with as much grace as possible.” And you have!


As I have emphasized before, I am not leaving under duress or any hardship. Quite the opposite. I dearly love this congregation. You have been a blessing to me and to my family. I have nothing but appreciation to express to you. My strong bond with you only serves to make this transition harder. But I also must say that since my announcement, I have been filled with peace. And as I have preached before, if what we are doing brings peace, then we can be assured that we have been led by the Spirit (Phil 4:7).

So many of you have confirmed me in this choice, affirming my decision and need to do what is best for my family. Thank you for those words of support.

The session and I will work out an official end date soon. Right now we are eyeing mid-October. At the same time you will begin to see some of the workings of the “next steps” outlined below.

Sometimes the process will seem convoluted and slow. I would only offer my perspective, that any church—Presbyterian or otherwise—has intentional processes in place that are there for a reason. And I might offer some spiritual wisdom: how we get there determines where we end up. There are no shortcuts. Trust the process.

In the meantime we are moving ahead with our fall programs, Pastoral Resident Patricia is astonish-ingly competent and graceful, and our new Gathering Room is under construction. Worship, Deacon Prayer cards, Emmaus and small groups continue on. In all of this, even in transition, our faith is shaping us. God is for us. Jesus is with us. The Spirit is in us. Amen.   David

My Resignation

Yesterday I met with the church session and submitted my resignation as your Pastor. My end date is yet to be determined, but will most likely be the middle of October (8 weeks). I am in the process of relocating my family to my hometown Forney, Texas. Sam and Sarah are starting school on Monday, August 27. Laura and Sophia will most likely leave for Texas at the end of this month, as Laura is finalizing details for her new job.



Over the next several weeks I will focus on wrapping up my ministry here in Muscatine. I will also begin the process of selling our house and finding a ministry position near Forney. I ask your prayers for me and my family during this time of transition.


Please know that my ministry here has been wonderful. I have been deeply blessed by the many opportunities you have afforded me to try new things and plant seeds for future harvesting. You have been graceful with me in my shortcomings and have been generous and hospitable with Laura and our children. I have nothing but gratitude and appreciation for each one of you!


The session will begin working with the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry to take next steps. This of course will involve forming an Interim Search Team. The session will also make sure we continue to take care of our new Pastoral Resident Patricia Greene.


This transition will be difficult for me and will include grief and sadness. I am leaving a people and a place that I have truly come to love during our nearly 5 years together. Tears will flow and tears are good. But I also know that this relocation back to Texas comes at the right time for me personally and for my family. It is time for us to be closer to family. I pray that these next few weeks together will be a time to celebrate all the ways God has blessed our time together.


Since Sam and Sarah are leaving Thursday for Texas, my family will be at the church from 5:00pm to 6:30pm this Tuesday August 21. This will be an opportunity for you to say goodbye to the two of them before they leave town. This is a casual, "come and go" gathering, so please come as you are able.


Sincerely and in Christ's peace,

David

A Ministry of Service

Our new Pastoral Resident Patricia Greene began working with us on Wed. Aug 1st.  Just like doctors have a time of rresidency to complete their preparation to "practice" medicine, pastors can benefit greatly from such a time as well. 

Last night was the meeting of the Deacons.  In preparation for the meeting Patricia and I talked about the role of the deacons in the Presbyterian tradition.  I referenced a study that the PC(USA) conducted in the early 1990's.  The original study was entitled "A Proposal for Considering the Theology and Practice of Ordination in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1992).  In 1996 an abridged version suitable for study in congregations was released:  "A Ministry of Service:  A Guide to the Meaning of Ordination and Church Office in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A)."  Thanks to my friend Tom Green for telling me about it. 

One of the most exciting (yes, I get excited about theology and studies) aspects of the paper is that it is very empowering for the deacons.  It acknowledges that the role of the deacon has often been relegated to making coffee without any appreciation for the role of service in Christian faith.  This study goes a long way to challenge that view.  In fact it insists that if we do not understand the role of deacon, then we cannot understand the role of elder or minister.  And of course it is based on the notion that Jesus ministry was essentially a ministry of service:

"Calling people to a particular office does not imply that the church elevates these offices over the ministry to which the whole people of God are called.  To be called to leadership as a minister, elder or deacon is to be called to a ministry of service after the model of Jesus."

"Thus a spirit of diakonia permeates the church's understanding of leadership in ministry, transcending the traditional ways of thinking about power and authority.  The office of deacon, with its stress on service to and for God, is a paradigm for all offices.  It is not the "least" of the offices, but vividly represents the meaning of all ministry."  (Chapter 3, page 21)

This study has been influential to me and I hope empowering to the people in the church.  We are blessed in our congregation to have an outstanding board of deacons.  They know what they are called to do and to be.  They have fun with it--meetings are often filled with laughter.  It is a challenge and it is hard work.  They for me exhibit an ideal diaconate.  They are the hands and feet of Christ.