June 2008
This month
STORIES
· God and a graduate's family
· Supporting young adults working for social justice
· Ethical accounting
· "How I've found the holy in my work place."
· Is your mission statement on a bookmark?
· "Building inspector" George
RESOURCES
· "Putting Your Money Where Your Heart Is"
· Member Mission Leadership Institute
· Help Wanted
FOR MEDITATION
· Christians and the political order
STORIES
God and a graduate’s family
As she stood in line to enter the auditorium, MMNews asked the mother of a high school senior about to get his diploma, “How has God been at work in your family this past month?”
Without hesitation, she replied happily, “We’re here!”
Supporting young adults working for social justice
Seven young adults, age 20-33, told of their work in politics and community organizing to make life better for people with low incomes. The setting was a panel convened by the Coalition for Ministry in Daily Life meeting in Chicago, May 29 - June 1. Impressed by their effectiveness and commitment, a member of the audience asked, "What can your churches do to support you?" Their most widely-shared answer: "For pastors to call for social justice in their preaching."
Ethical accounting
Carl sold his accounting business and retired last Spring. MMNews asked: "What did you do when ethical issues arose in your business?" "It was easy. I just did not take on that client." MMNews: "What did you do when you found a client had been dishonest?" "I cancelled the contract and gave back the money." MMNews: "Did you ever get in trouble with the IRS?" "I lost only one case. We knew it was questionable but I thought we had a good case for it. The client and I knew that when we started. And he continued as my client." MMNews: "What do you think about regulatory people in the field?" "There are not enough of them. It's up to the individual firm to choose to abide by the law."
Anonymous
"How I've found the holy in my work place."
Here are the answers of some of the members of Trinity Church in Toledo, OH shared on Sundays.
A Special Ed teacher for 30 years: "It is challenging. Yet every day I knew that this was what I was created to do. I was always patient beyond the normal levels but I was not patient with parents. This told me something special was happening."
Some non-practicing attorneys: when asked to meet together to tell their stories, they all agreed it was hard to leave partly because their family and friends admired their role. Yet , they were not finding the holy in their legal work. They did find the courage to listen for another call! One is now an honors English teacher at a university. One has developed a parochial school. One is the executive director of Leadership Toledo. One is a department head of the Toledo Museum of Art. All report they are very happy in their work.
Is your mission statement on a bookmark?
The North Ridge Lutheran Church, ELCA, in Kalispell, MT gives out a bookmark that reads: "The mission of this congregation is to become a fellowship of Christian believers who touch people's lives as Christ does." MMNews asked this test question: "What are some of the things the members do on their own out from under the church banner?" The answer: "We listed the community boards of all kinds that our members belonged to. We were amazed at how many there were."
“Building inspector” George
When it was time to restore the Victorian rectory built in 1907, George was the only committee member able to oversee the work daily. The “Wet Paint” sign says it’s still a work in progress.
What do you hear / see God calling you to do?
“To be available to oversee the job to make the rectory a beautiful home for our new pastor’ family so that the beauty of it enriches their lives.”
What are some of the ways you see God helping you to do it?
“Everything has been falling into place. Our contractor has diverse skills as a carpenter, a plumber, and an electrician and he has been able to find the help he needs. Last weekend, I needed help to clean up the litter that had accumulated in preparation for the visit of a prospective clergy candidate and his wife. I called 23 people and 19 came – on only one day’s notice!”
RESOURCES
“Putting Your Money Where Your Heart Is” – Sojourners, May 2008 advises on: investing in local community-based banks, credit unions, and microcredit funds to create social change in this uncertain economy; faith-based mutual funds; teaching kids about money; shareholder activism; and a biblical framework for it all. Click on the title you want at http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.contents&issue=soj0805
Member Mission Leadership Institute offers practice in following the basic steps to implement member mission in a congregation; practice in the basic interpersonal, group process, system, and feedback skills needed to implement it; and ongoing consultation for three years. To apply, go to www.membermission.org and click on Training.
Help Wanted – a grant writer and a web site developer at a reasonable rate – and we’d jump on a pro bono offer! Write membermission@aol.com.
FOR MEDITATION – Christians and the political order
Christians have long struggled over defining the proper relationship between their faith commitments and the political order. The struggle is ongoing, because Christians believe in the incarnation and believe that God loves this world and cares about how life is lived. Therefore issues of war, health care, immigration, torture and energy and the environment are not just political issues; they are moral and theological issues as well.
In his new book, The Christian World: A Global History, Martin Marty describes the first Christians' fluctuating relationship with Rome: "For Christians to accept civil authority was one thing, but it was another when they rejected the gods and rites of Rome. Other sects . . . could accept civil authority as the final word in ordering of life, but Christians could never do so."
[John Buchanan, Christian Century, May 20, 2008, p.3]
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God is most interested in how we live from Monday to Saturday.
Sunday – all of church life – helps us to do it better.
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