What About Us? What About Love?
It is amazing where and how these musings begin. In the Christian context, we might call this the direction of the Spirit. This week’s blog has two catalysts: Right to Die and Generational Tensions.
Canary Weaponised
For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. Mark 14.7
Generations
30 Go, say to them, “Return to your tents.” 31 But you, stand here by me, and I will tell you all the commandments, the statutes and the ordinances, that you shall teach them,
The Divide
Okay, I have a need to offer confession before proceeding! First of all, I am looking at that crazy calendar that is a life in Accountable Ministry and realise I have two similar Tasks that are pending. Both are sitting in my Outlook Calendar and require me to write something that is reflective and, hopefully, also useful and meaningful.
Lent|Opt-In or Out?
So there I was at a meeting of the one of the levels of the Court of the United Church of Canada (there are four fwiiw: Pastoral Charge, Presbytery; Conference; and General Council). These Courts are not intended to be hierarchal, in fact when they work well; it lives out a way of being – of governance – that operates from the bottom -> up.
Vulnerability #1
My personal experience in small groups, whether as a participant or someone in leadership, has been transformative. My background has moulded me to be resistant to trust, to engage with others. I suspect that this is connected with a sense of vulnerability and the need, in turn, to ensure that I remain in control. The need for control, however, is not so much connected with the need to direct others, as much as it is to ensure that I remain in the ‘driver’s seat.’
Bytes to Bits
I was recently at the Annual Gathering of the Conference of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. And, as is the wont of our collective gatherings, there was lots of theological reflection, Polity & Process! One very exciting item has been reconsidering the length of the Conference's name - we sure have a propensity for words ... okay, so I am digressing ...