Lent 1 - Wednesday - Why People Give Money to Non-Profits But Not to the Church

I woke up this morning to the news that a prominent family in our community recently gave a donation of 50 million dollars to one of the local hospitals in our area for life-saving drug research. That is an awesome and wonderful gift that will assist in research to cure devastating disease and extend life. But it does raise interesting questions for those of us in the Church business that are competing like never before for an abundance of charitable dollars.

Lynn Schaller who has been helping congregations grow and thrive for decades wrote a book entitled The New Context for Ministry. In it, he speaks directly about the changing attitudes in charitable giving. He writes: “The new face of American philanthropy is distinguished by an unprecedented level of competition for the charitable dollar. For well over 90 percent of all Christian congregations this means that they will NOT be able to compete” (Nashville: Abingdon Press, page 161). Those are strong words from a guy who has been in the trenches of congregational ministry for a long time.

This change of attitude about giving began in the fifties when the Church was the predominant charity in most communities. The appeal was simple: “You should give.” And people opened up their check books and wrote the Church a check. But here is the key: sixty years later too many of our churches are still using the same appeal. Today, the response is very different. People are reacting to our request with a question – “Why should I give to you?”

Numbers tell the story. In the mid-eighties according to Giving USA religious institutions received 53% of all charitable contributions in America. During the 1990’s that number fell to 40%. By 2007, the number had decreased again to 32%. The institutional Church now competes with over 1.8 million non-profits each year for charitable funds. The statistics prove that religion is no longer the charity of choice. In fact, we are losing the battle!

The Church must be encouraged to get back onto the playing field and aggressively compete for these dollars. Most leaders in the Church are ill prepared for this battle for during their studies at seminary little or no education was provided for this important component of our ministry. While that fact may be very true, it can no longer be used as an excuse. The Rector of parish is in all actuality the person who sets the vision and head fundraiser of that vision for the congregation.

Clif Christopher in an insightful book entitled Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate writes: “Donors are saying to our churches today that you have to earn our gifts. No longer can you just preach a sermon on tithing and think that members will give 10 percent to the church. They will hear your message that tithing is what God wants them to do, and then they will go home and decide to give the church 2 percent, the youth center 2 percent, the homeless shelter 2 percent, and their college 4 percent. They will then look you right in the eye when you say that it should all go to the church, and they will ask you, ‘Do you not believe that Jesus is working in the youth center and the homeless shelter and with our college students?’ If you are not prepared to compete with over one million non-profits, you will lose” (Nashville: Abingdon Press, page 7).

Church leaders in the 21^st century will have to embrace the concept that competition is good for the whole. It should drive us out of our mediocrity and into the world making our churches and our communities a better place to be. Competition means raising the bar and demanding excellence in all that we do in the Church – exceptional worship – outstanding preaching – first-rate programming – extraordinary giving to justice ministries.

Can you hear the whiners already wailing: “We can’t do that because our church has no money!” Your group is already in Schaller’s ninety percent. You might as well throw in the towel because you have forgotten to live the promise that….

All things are possible with God!

Begin with exceptional worship that costs little or nothing: train your worship leaders, be consistent from week to week, and demand accountability. I am currently worshipping with a community whose liturgies are captivating and engaging. The members of the congregation know the “dance” because there is consistency from Sunday to Sunday. We gather with the expectation that something is going to happen that day – that the Spirit will be present in our midst. The worship is truly exceptional.

Outstanding preaching is free! The pastor has to simply do his/her homework. How much time does your priest/minister spend in preparing to share God’s Word? Do you know? Do you care? Encourage your pastor to spend more time in study and prayer for your community will reap the benefits each and every Sabbath day.

Do you have members in your faith community who have talents and amazing life-experience? If the answer is yes than you have the potential for first-rate programming. The best formation programs that I have experienced over the years are not when a talented or notable speaker comes into the community sharing information with a group of interested souls. The memorable programs have been local folks sharing their faith, speaking about their lives and how they have experienced God in those events, or communicating a profound truth in a Bible Study. What made the difference? They prepared themselves. They were accountable to the group. They confidently spoke about God and how God made a difference in their lives. The talent is right there in your congregation, it must be encouraged, mentored, and nurtured.

If you begin to do those things well and allow God to assist you in the process, I can assure you that over time things will begin to change in your congregation which will then lead to extraordinary giving. But there must be consistency, accountability, and real leadership.

Here are two questions to ask your leadership team and an idea to share:

• In what ways has our church experienced changes in the competitive environment for our church in our community?
• What are some of the ways our church has changed as the times have changed?
• Invite the executive director of one of your community’s first-rate non-profits to come and talk to your stewardship committee about how they do fund-raising and how they relate to their donors? (Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate, pages 8-9)

Clif Christopher believes that there are three reasons people give to an organization:

• A Belief in the Mission
• Regard for Staff Leadership
• Fiscal Responsibility of the Institution

He writes: “People want to make the world a better place to live. They want to believe that they can truly make a difference for the better. There is embedded in us, it seems, a desire to finish our work on this earth with a sense that we amounted to something. To sum it up, people want to be part of something that changes lives” (Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate, page 13).

That was the mission of Jesus – changed lives! That is the mission of the Church – changed lives! Churches are losing the battle because we have forgotten the mission. Churches and denominations have embroiled themselves in issues, controversies, scandals, and ministries that have nothing to do with the mission of Jesus – changed lives! “When a local church consistently shows its constituents how lives are being improved through its ministry, then that church gets supported” (Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate, page 15).

When I have been invited to speak at a Church program or with a leadership team of a local congregation, it is a fairly safe bet that somewhere in the conversation I will say: “It’s not about you. It’s not about me. It’s all about Jesus.” That is why the Church exists. We are to be about changing lives for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If your parish, congregation, denomination, or faith community is not about that mission, please clear out of the way and let others be the leaders. As Clif Christopher reminds his readers: “We are running out of time and losing our donor base by not doing our job” (Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate, page 17).

Christopher believes that the second reason people give to non-profits is the regard that the donor has for those who lead the organization. He writes: “People realized a long time ago that it was not the Mayflower that sailed across the ocean to America; it was the pilgrims who did the sailing. It was not the bat that hit the home run to win the game; it was the batter. It was not the hospital that performed the operation to save your life, but the surgeon. In the same manner, they have learned that the church building or program is not what is changing lives; it is the people leading the church and those programs that make the difference. When they have confidence in those persons to perform, gifts follow. When they do not, those gifts go to people in whom they have confidence.” (Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate, page 21).

Later on his chapter Reasons People Give, Christopher addresses the third reason: Fiscal Responsibility of the Institution. He writes: “People do not give to sinking ships. They give to ships that are sailing strong and give every indication of reaching their destination. When people invest in non-profits, they do not want to waste their investment….Charitable institutions today are being held to a different standard than even a few years ago. Donors feel the same way about the church. More than ever they are holding the church accountable for wise use of funds and looking for solid performance with the funds already given. We must be very careful in the message that we send out, to ensure that the do not convey that we are not fiscally sound, when often times we are.

“The Church is the only non-profit I know of that seems to believe that the more you cry that you are sinking, the more people will give to you. The exact opposite is true. No non-profit I know of would ever send out a donor letter stating that they are running a horrible deficit and they just want donors to help balance the budget. They know that such a letter actually discourages giving rather than motivates it. A non-profit board will deal with the budget matters in a board meeting but never publicize such to its donor base. The church goes out of its way to do just that.

“In the non-profit world…Harvard University leads all universities in endowment giving year after year. Do they send out a message that they are dying on the vine and must have one more contribution to stay afloat? No, they say, ‘We took your money last year and did great things with it. If you will give us more, we will do more great things.’ And people give and give to them. People want results and these intuitions give positive results” (Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate, page 28-29).

Clif Christopher’s book is filled with great wisdom and learning from his work in the church as a pastor and as the founder of Horizons Stewardship Company. I suggest that my readers purchase a copy of this book for your pastor/priest, the chair of your Finance and Stewardship committees. Let them in turn purchase copies for their ministry teams. It might be the best $11 you will ever spend. Click here for more information.

I believe with all of my heart that the Church has a better message than anything Harvard University can muster! Our message is about changed lives that our happening each and every day as people discover the transforming love of Jesus Christ. We need to share those stories with folks. Celebration and the articulation of the Good News is the reason for our being. Jesus is alive and lives are being changed. Do you have a story to tell?

On Friday I am going to paint a vision for the Church that I hope will inspire and motivate people who have 50 million dollars and people who have 500 dollars to embrace and join in a mission – the mission of Jesus – a mission of changed lives. I hope you will return and reflect with me.

Love One Another - Brian

Lent 1 - Tuesday - Now that this has happened, what are we going to do about it?

Chardon High School is about a forty minute drive from my home here in Hudson. It is a beautiful little community located up in the “snow belt” and away from the lights of the big city. Yesterday, the community of Chardon had their fifteen minutes of fame due to the actions of one young man who decided to make a poor choice.

I listened to the television stations and radio broadcasts for as long as I could stomach the sensationalism of the news. In a rush to be an “exclusive”, the media caused much angst by reporting at one point that there were two gunmen instead of one, that four students were injured instead of five. In this media crazed social network driven society in which we now live, I wonder if less news is actually more. What if all the facts are available before the sensationalizing begins to unfold? Is it impossible to imagine a time when news outlets might simply say, “There has been a shooting at Chardon High School. When we have all of the correct information, we will be back on air with a detailed summary.” Is that asking too much of the “mainstream” media?

Now that this has happened, what are we going to do about it?

I was living outside of Charlotte, North Carolina the day the Trade Towers and Pentagon were attacked. In the days following 9/11, the public television station in Charlotte replayed a lecture given by Rabbi Harold Kushner which he had delivered a few years earlier at one of the universities in Charlotte. He spoke about troubling events, horrifying experiences that happened in our world. Then the good Rabbi reminded his listeners that the Jewish people had a way of dealing with troubling events. They would simply ask: “Now that this has happened, what are we going to do about it?”

In this simple statement of faith, one could hear an acceptance of what was and a call to do something, to make things better, a call to attend to the wound. It was a poignant and compassionate reply to the act of terrorism and one of the few reflections following that eventful day that focused on a spiritual response to violence.

There has been a shooting at Chardon High School, what are we going to do about it?

There seems to me to be two choices the day after the tragic events in Chardon. The first is to bury our heads in the sand, hoping that this incident will go away, and get back to our regular daily routine. Tell that to the mother and father who lost their sons yesterday; who saw their boys leave out the front door of their home certain that they would return by supper. I cannot even begin to imagine their pain and suffering at this moment. I fervently pray that they will cast their grief on God and that God will shower them with grace and mercy.

The second choice we have is to roll up our sleeves, put down the remote, turn off Facebook, close the laptop, and get involved once again in our communities and with our families. Moments like this and the events at high schools in Colorado and Mississippi, on the campus of Virginia Tech and the shopping center in Tucson, Arizona should make each one of us pause and reflect about how the world in which we live is out of sync. When a young man believes it is okay to walk into school with a gun, sit down to breakfast with peers and then open fire at short range because he is angry with them, something is dreadfully wrong with our culture.

This second way is much more difficult because it demands that we take responsibility for our actions. It demands that as a community we enter into conversations about the root causes of violence in our society; about the responsibility of parenting; about the desensitization of our world to aggression, hostility and bloodshed; about the pressures that young people are experiencing in day to day life that are real and tangible; about how a person deals with their emotions, especially their anger; about the effects of social media; about young children playing video games that randomly kill hundreds of people with no concern about the effects those games have on the psyche; about guns and gun control; about recovering the belief that every life is sacred; and a host of other concerns as yet to be discerned.

Sure, nobody wants to take the time and engage in those difficult issues because there are no easy answers. To solve such matters will require all of us to accept some responsibility for the culture in which we live and be willing to make sacrifices for the good of the whole. In reality, very few persons want to make those sacrifices because we are living in a time of heightened self-interest and self promotion where “me” is the only thing that matters. Our culture has become narcissistic to the core.

Now that this has happened, what are we going to do about it?

Only the church, synagogue or mosque can be the place where such a conversation can take place with any integrity. The Church has yet again another opportunity to engage the culture and find ways to solve the difficult challenges facing our country. The spiritual lessons of Jesus can liberate our society from the excessive emphasis on self and lead us all to a greater truth about loving God first and loving neighbor as much as we love ourselves. This, I believe, is the only way to healing the world’s wounds.

Just before lunchtime yesterday, a man called the local radio station and poised a question that made me pause. While he was concerned for what had happened in Chardon, and offered prayers for those young students injured, he reminded the listening audience that in the inner city neighborhoods of Cleveland last week five persons were gunned downed in mostly random acts of violence, two of those killed were young teens. He asked why the media did not give 24/7 coverage to such news as they were giving to the events in Chardon. Good question.

Now that this has happened, what are we going to do about it?

Love One Another - Brian

Lent 1 - Monday - Seven Questions Every Church Should Ask Itself - #6

I have been trying over the past couple of weeks to answer the powerful questions raised by The Rev. Dr. Gary Nicolosi in a paper entitled Seven Questions Every Church Should Ask Itself. You can read his entire article by clicking here. Your response to my posts has been encouraging. So, I press ahead with Question #6 which reads: If money were not an issue, where would you like your church to be five years from now?

Nicolosi offers these additional insights: "Here is an invitation to envision a new kind of church for a new kind of world. Remember George Bernard Shaw’s observation famously quoted by Robert Kennedy: “Some people see things as they are and ask ‘Why?’ Others see things as they could be and ask, ‘Why not?’”  Peter Senge, author of The Fifth Discipline, says, “Vision is a set of guiding principles and practices and shared pictures of the future that provide energy that draws us into the future.” Any true vision will deal honestly with reality, no matter how brutal or unpleasant, but also give us hope that tomorrow can be better than today. Think of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, and you have a fine example of vision. In developing a vision for your church, it needs to inspire and motivate people to sacrifice, serve and give generously. The end result needs to be worth the present effort. Above all, people must sense the purpose and will of God for the future of the church."

If money were not an issue, where would you like your church to be five years from now?

My immediate reaction to Dr. Nicolosi’s questions is that first and foremost the Church needs to deal honestly with the "800 pound gorilla" in the room. Money in the Church IS the issue. Before any congregation can begin to fulfill the dream of God, the leaders of a congregation need to face up to the demanding challenge of leadership and have a frank exchange regarding how we manage our money.

I have been working in the Church for twenty-three years and have served in four different parishes. With the exception of Saint Patrick’s Mission in Mooresville, North Carolina, there was never an honest conversation about money and why members, especially the leaders of the parish, did not tithe.

The problem lies first at the feet of the spiritual leader. If the pastor is not tithing, he or she has no right to ask anyone else to tithe. Bill Easum writes in his book Go Big: “It’s been my experience that too many church leaders don’t tithe, including pastors. That’s some messed up stuff. Leaders need to tithe but give above a tithe.

“You may be saying to yourself, ‘I don’t have the money.’ And you never will until you begin to get honest with your money. But when you begin, God will give you the resources to tithe and beyond. He really will. Begin to tithe and you will be amazed at what God can do” (Go Big, page 110).

So friends, I make a confession. There was a point in my life when I was tithing. But I stopped doing it primarily for selfish reasons. Then the excuses came - house payment, credit cards, college tuition, car payments, taxes, church issues. Every one of those excuses is utter rubbish and nonsense. There is no excuse. I am robbing God!

Until I get back into the discipline of tithing, my life will not receive all of the blessings. This way of living means a change in priorities and spending. It means being about clarity instead of vagueness. And it is worth it for I have never met an uncheerful tither.

Meet an inspirational example of a tither:

In the same chapter of Go Big, Bill Easum goes further in his belief about a faithfulness to the tithe: “No matter how vocal a person is about their commitment to your church, if they are not giving a tithe, they aren’t committed. They can be as vocal as they want but they are not in the boat. Jesus told it like it is – ‘For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’ (Matthew 6:21 NIV). If one on your staff does not tithe, warn the person. If he or she doesn’t change, fire them. If one of your leaders isn’t tithing, ask them to step down until they are willing to tithe. Don’t be afraid to hold people accountable. Too much is at stake to do anything else" (Go Big, page 115).

Bill is correct in his belief about tithing. In the Episcopal tradition of which I currently serve, money is a taboo subject for too many persons, except during Stewardship season. Very few congregations that I know of (there may be an exception) are engaged in a sincere, candid and healthy discussion about money and how the Church with its invaluable spiritual teachings can guide members to more vibrant and financially balanced lives.

Let’s at least be honest with each other – the financial crisis currently facing our country is the fault of every one of us! Too many members of our congregations are in serious financial jeopardy: overspending, living way beyond means, double mortgages, and existing off the credit cards.

It is estimated today that the average credit card debt in America is $15,519 (Debt Article). Your credit card debt is devastating you when it is combined, in some instances, with an interest rate of 20 percent or above. Penalty fees from credit cards added up to about $20.5 billion in 2009, according to R. K. Hammer, a consultant to the credit card industry. (Source: New York Times, September 2009) From 1989 to 2004, the percentage of cardholders incurring fees due to late payments of 60 days or more increased from 4.8 percent to 8.0 percent. (Source: Demos.org, "Borrowing To Make Ends Meet," November 2007)

I have experienced this problem in my own life and have sought through the 12 Step program to have God help me overcome the addiction. But, I have heard too many stories in those meetings and in private one-on-one sessions in my office with people sinking into massive debt. And what does the institutional Church do about it? It stands silent as we watch our members drown.

I thought the Church was to be a Life-Saving Station?

The faith community of God must be willing to accept people where they are (in debt and in sin). The next step is to help folks overcome their struggles and become what God wants them to be. When I once again lead a parish, I can guarantee you that I will structure the Christian Formation ministry very differently.

First, I would choose a financial planning course that fit the needs of the congregation (that means that as the leader you have to listen and know where your folks are in life). Second, I would insist that every member of the core leadership and staff go through the program. Third, the course would be offered every quarter. Four, the classes would be a component of any new-member training. Five, I would invite a participant to give a testimony in a worship setting soon after their participation in the program.

Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). He was right. Until congregations get serious about these conversations and the leadership models with the example of the tithe, all of our pious talk about “if money were not an issue” is idle chatter and utter nonsense.

Some excellent sites and superb resources for you: Click on the link to see more.

Crown Financial Ministries

Master Your Money

Good Sense

Abundat Living Ministries

Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University

Debtors Anonymous

Tomorrow, I am going to put forward the three motives why people give to institutions but not to the Church and the faith community’s ignorance to such logic. Wednesday, I will answer Nicolosi’s question and paint a dream about the mission of the Church. I hope you will join me.

Love One Another - Brian

Lent 1 - The Sunday Musical Offering - Symphony No. 4 by Ludwig van Beethoven

Today is the Sabbath. Go and worship in your own congregation or a church of your choosing.

Since Sundays are feast days, even in Lent, I thought I would offer each Sabbath from now until Easter a portion of a symphony by either Beethoven or Brahms. I am currently working on and reading about the life and music of Johannes Brahms for some lectures I am to give next fall at Tri-C Community College. His Symphony No. 1 will be on tap for next week.

This Fourth Symphony of Beethoven has always been one of my favorites. I studied it for a summer at the American School at Fontainebleau, France many years ago with fellow musicians who became life-long friends. Narcis Bonnet, the director at the time, walked us through almost every chord and harmony of the first and second movements! Happy and fond memories of youthful musical days.

I could not find just the First Movement of this Fourth Symphony so you get the whole work! Lenny and the gang from Vienna make some glorious music here.

Back at it tomorrow with the Sixth of the Seven Questions of Gary Nicolosi.

Love One Another - Brian

Saturday following Ash Wednesday - An Experience in Cleveland, Ohio

My Lenten journey began this year with the plaintive sound of an oboe centering the couple hundred persons who had gathered in silence at The Community of Saint Peter's to the worship of God. Those assembled rose like a unified team on a mission and sang responsively with the choir a Litany asking for God’s presence and grace in a multitude of situations.

One petition called for God to “save us from the prison of addiction” to which the response came: “Hold us in your mercy.” My mind raced to the many men and women I have pastored to over the years who have struggled with an addiction of some sort – alcohol – drugs – overeating – debting. I recalled my own struggles with addiction and how grateful I am for family and friends who have supported me one day at a time.

Then something happened that I will never forget. At the conclusion of the Litany, the priest neared the altar where four small containers of ashes had been placed. He instructed the congregation that we were going to mark the sign of the cross on each other’s forehead. Taking a clay bowl, he moved to one of the four sections of the congregation, marking an individual’s forehead and they in turn began to mark the forehead of the person next to them. It was beautiful, moving, and it seemed to me as if time itself began to stand still. I felt an abiding presence flowing among those gathered. Through this symbolic action, the assembled were opening ourselves to a saced mystery that is beyond description and yet is real and tangible.  

I watched as friend turned to friend, stranger to stranger. Some persons used their thumb and smudged a small cross on the individual’s forehead. Others took three or four fingers and really smeared the person’s head.  An older man standing in the front row lovingly and tenderly anointed his wife’s head with the ashes. She received this sacramental action with an openness that made it clear that she understood not only the blessing of the moment but the certainty of a much more profound truth - that every Christian is on a journey that will eventually lead to our death and our resurrection.

Finally, the small bowl of ashes made it to our row. A young woman very gently made the sign of the cross on my forehead. She moved her lips, and while I could not make out what she had said, my response was that she was blessing me with these ashes. Receiving the bowl from her, I turned, placed my thumb in the ashes and marked Kathy’s head saying: “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.” It is a humbling act to make the sign of the cross on the forehead of the person you love most in this world remembering that this sacramental action of Ash Wednesday is tied to the moment of our baptism into the Christian Way and Life and the promise that each person is “marked as Christ’s own forever!”

The single lesson for the evening was taken from Paul’s letter to the Church in Ephesus. It was very well read by an older woman who had meticulously prepared and had made the text her own. This is the portion of the Scripture that she read:

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

The sermon, as always, was excellent. The listeners were encouraged to spend more time reflecting on our dirty fingers from the ashes rather than the cross on our forehead. We were challenged to get our hands dirty this Lent in the loving and compassionate mission of God. “Lent can be one of the most selfish times of the year. That is not what it was intended to be,” the preacher stated. We are called to be about the mission of Jesus working for justice and making a difference in our world.

What I truly enjoy most about this particular faith community is the way in which they pray. The intercessions that followed the Homily were offered by a lector with a choral response. Near the conclusion of the prayers, the congregation was invited to offer their own petitions. This group is not afraid of casting their cares on God. The concerns raised were heartfelt, passionate, intentional and authentic.

A Blessing.

The sharing of the Peace.

We were on our journey to Easter Day.

The words to the final hymn tied all the themes of the Lenten season together. 

Refrain:

Return to God with all your heart, the source of grace and mercy; come seek the tender faithfulness of God.

Verse

Now the time of grace has come, the day of salvation;

Come and learn now the way of our God.

Return to God with all your heart, the source of grace and mercy; come seek the tender faithfulness of God.

Verse

I will take your heart of stone and place a heart within you,

A heart of compassion and love.

Return to God with all your heart, the source of grace and mercy; come seek the tender faithfulness of God.

Verse

If you break the chains of oppression, if you set the prisoner free;

If you share your bread with the hungry, give protection to the lost;

Give shelter to the homeless; clothe the naked in your midst;

Then your light shall break froth like the dawn.

Return to God with all your heart, the source of grace and mercy; come seek the tender faithfulness of God.

Thank you to Father M. and the members of The Community of Saint Peter’s in Cleveland, Ohio for providing such a sure spiritual foundation in which to begin the forty day journey of Lent.

Love One Another - Brian

If you would like more information about this community of faith, click here.

Lent Madness - It's All About "The Golden Halo"

I came across a website yesterday that you must see to believe! It is entitled Lent Madness. It is a marvelous and engaging way to learn about the Saints that we celebrate in the Church. Plus, you can participate in the “Madness” and perhaps even be awarded the coveted “Golden Halo.” What follows is taken from the Lent Madness website. I hope you will join along in the fun and learn something about these great and inspiring men and women who followed the call of Christ.

About Lent Madness

Lent Madness began in 2010 as the brainchild of the Rev. Tim Schenck. In seeking a fun, engaging way for people to learn about the men and women comprising the Church’s Calendar of Saints, Tim came up with this unique Lenten devotion. Combining his love of sports with his passion for the lives of the saints, Lent Madness was born on his blog “Clergy Family Confidential.”

The format is straightforward: 32 saints are placed into a tournament-like single elimination bracket. Each pairing remains open for a set period of time and people vote for their favorite saint. 16 saints make it to the Round of the Saintly Sixteen; eight advance to the Round of the Elate Eight; four make it to the Final Four; two to the Championship; and the winner is awarded the coveted Golden Halo. The first round consists of basic biographical information about each of the 32 saints. Things get a bit more interesting in the subsequent rounds as we offer quotes and quirks, explore legends, and even move into the area of saintly kitsch.

We hope this will make Lent Madness 2012 even more lively, allow more voices to be heard, and broaden the audience of this Lenten discipline. What won’t change is the essence of Lent Madness: allowing people to get to know some amazing people who have come before us in the faith and reminding one another that there’s no reason for a dreary Lenten discipline. If this helps people connect with the risen Christ during this season of penitence and renewal, and have a bit of fun in the process, then it continues to be worthwhile.

We hope you’ll participate fully this Lent and vote with reckless abandon! (Once — this isn’t Chicago).

Check out the appealing website here: Lent Madness

I hope you will participate. I already have my Final Four Saints selected and ready to go. Who needs the NCAA Tournament?!!

Love One Another - Brian

Ash Wednesday 2012 - Lenten Disciplines

It is hard to believe that in forty days Christians shall gather to celebrate the great feast of Easter. Where does the time go? In order to arrive at that glorious Sunday, the Christian journey takes a period of introspection to be in “the desert” so to speak – experiencing the season of Lent.

The Book of Common Prayer sets the tone just right: “The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This is season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith” (BCP, page 264).

What is a Christian to do during these forty days of preparation?

Since I started blogging in late November, I take a few moments each day to look at other blogs to discover what people are writing, discussing and musing about. I came across an excellent and exceptional blog created by Rachel Held Evans. She is a marvelous young woman who is a Christian author and lectures across the country at university campuses. Her blog can be found here: Rachel Held Evans Blog

Rachel set forth a guide for Lent that included forty suggestions of questions, readings, disciplines and meditations. Using her outline, I am going to share some of her submissions and add a few of my own. I hope they will be of assistance to you on your journey this Lent. I encourage you to make any additional suggestions in the comment section of this blog for the benefit of other readers from across the globe.

The first ten suggestions (Questions) are Rachel’s – the questions are superb and should really help you to focus during the next forty days. She asks:

10 Questions to Ask Yourself:

1. When I wake up on Resurrection Sunday morning, how will I be different? 
2. Is there a habit or sin in my life that repeatedly gets in the way of loving God with my whole heart or loving my neighbor as myself? How do I address that habit over the next 40 days?
3. Is there anyone in my life from whom I need to ask forgiveness or pursue reconciliation? 
4. What practical steps can I take to carve out time for daily contemplation? 
5. What spiritual discipline do I need to improve upon or want to try? 
6. What are some things in my life that I tell myself I need but I don’t? Can I give one or two of them up for 40 days? 
7. Why am I giving this particular thing up? How does giving it up draw me closer to God and prepare me for Easter? 
8. What am I going to tell myself when self-denial gets hard? 
9. Is it necessary/helpful for me to share the nature my fast with others or should I keep it private?
10. What do the ashes mean to me this year? What does baptism mean to me this year? 

10 Book Recommendations: 

My Suggestions 

Click on the title for more information

1. Lent For Everyone, Mark, Year B, A Daily Devotional

2. Show Me The Way by Henri Nouwen

3. Small Surrenders by Emilie Griffin

4. With Open Hands by Henri Nouwen

5. Living Lent by Barbara Cawthorne Crafton

6. Lenten and Easter Wisdom by Thomas Merton

7. The Lenten Labyrinth by Edward Hays

8. Immortal Bird: A Family Memoir by Doron Weber

9. Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron

10. Forged by Bart Ehrman

 

10 Disciplines, Fasts or Rituals:

Shared Suggestions

Pray the office of Morning Prayer for 40 days. The Daily Office can be found here: The schedule of readings can be found here: The Lectionary

Institute an Easter Tree or The Light of the World  (via Ann Voskamp). I like what Ann says at her website: "Because Easter is more important than Christmas."
 

Don’t eat lunch out for the next six weeks. The money that you save can be used for two purposes – either pay down whatever debt you may be carrying and is a burden to your future OR give the money to a charity like Open M in Akron, Ohio or Malaria Nets for Africa. 

Take the 40 Days of Water Challenge to help bring clean water to Uganda. Give up all beverages except for water for the 40 days of Lent 2012 and donate the money you save to Blood: Water Mission. They have a great website through which you can track your progress and learn more. 

Traditionally, Christians abstained from eating meat during Lent, so consider joining millions of Christians around the world in this fast. It’s a great way to feel connected to the historical, worldwide church.
 

Set aside one morning during the weekend to be still, quiet and attentive to the Holy Spirit. You can do this for no one is that busy. It is simply a question of priorities and making the decision to do so.

Commit to memorizing a significant portion of Scripture, like the Sermon on the Mount, or Isaiah 58, or (one of Rachel's favorites) 1 John 4.
 

Choose a day in your week where there is no allegiance to Facebook, Twitter, the Internet or Television. Notice carefully your feelings and attitudes during this 24 hour period. You won’t miss it and the World can live without you for 24 hours!

Commit to 40 days of praying for your enemies. Rachel does not mean ruminating over all they have done wrong and praying that they will change, but praying that they will be blessed, that they will find health and peace and grace, that they will come to know Jesus or experience the love of Christ more fully. (Does anyone know of a good resources on how to do this well? If so, please leave a note in the comment section.)

Get outside! I walked for an hour yesterday. It was the first time in months and it was glorious. The trails in the Cuyahoga Valley will soon be full of transition from winter to spring. Enjoy the transformation that is taking place all around you in creation.

10 Meditations:

Shared Suggestions
Again, click on the citation for more information.

1. Psalm 51
2. Psalm 139
3. Psalm 84
4. The Beatitudes Matthew 5:1-12
5. The Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:9-13
6. Psalm 46
7. Litany of Humility
8. Prayer of Saint Francis
9. Penitential Prayer of St. Augustine 
10. This one, from Thomas Merton: 

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think that I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always,
though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Wellness includes body, mind and soul! Take advantage of this Lenten period to reflect, to listen, and to understand what God is seeking for your life.

Love One Another - Brian

Epiphany Last - Shrove Tuesday - Seven Question Every Church Should Ask Itself - Number 5B

Happy Shrove Tuesday!

On the eve before the annual forty-day journey of Lent, let’s reflect together on an issue in the Church that plagues many a parish and the institution. It is one of the great dangers in our churches today. The issue is that of mediocrity.

A reminder of Gary Nicolosi’s fifth question: What issues does our church need to face within the next year so that five years from now, we won’t have to say, “We wish we had…” If you would like to read his entire article, you may do so by clicking here: Seven Questions for the Church

In an article on the need for uniqueness between churches, Marshall Shelley has written: “If you look at the official statements of purpose for most churches in North America, you might conclude they are a franchise operation. A religious version of McDonald’s or K-Mart, with each establishment identical except for its function” (CoachingPastors.com).

Most churches that I have been associated with desire to be a “full-service” organization: that is, all things for all people. I have experienced many churches throughout North Carolina, where I served for seventeen years, and here in Northeast Ohio who try to be all things for all people with very limited resources. There is a church on almost every corner here in Hudson, Ohio and each is vainly trying to do the same thing. The end result is that these churches are often bland and mediocre.

So, how does a parish, a denomination, avoid the pitfall of mediocrity?

Thom Rainer is an author, church consultant, and leader in the Southern Baptist Church. I had the pleasure of working with Thom a number of years ago when he assisted the Diocese of North Carolina with a long-range plan for ministry. Thom believes there are three significant actions churches can take to avoid mediocrity.

First, Acts 6:4 – Called, Praying and in the World

Thom writes: “It would be naive to assume that every pulpit is filled with someone who feels called to the position. In my years of working with churches across the country, I have come across some leaders who view their role in the church as just a job. They see it no differently than someone who works a secular 9 to 5 job just to earn a paycheck. The first important key to moving beyond mediocrity is to have a sense of calling by God to be in a position of leadership in the church.

“The early church leaders were called by God to their ministries. We see in Acts 6:4 that their first priority was to “devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word.”  Breakout churches have leaders who spend a large portion of their time studying, preparing their sermons and praying. While this may seem like an obvious requirement for a great church leader, most church leaders spend less than five hours a week in sermon preparation and prayer.”

Second, Looking Beyond the Walls

Rainer believes that “a body of believers focused solely on the needs and preferences of those inside their building will be doomed to mediocrity. It is too easy to become caught up in the insignificant and forget the mission of the church. Mediocrity says, “It’s all about me.” 

“It is vital that leaders move the church to look beyond the walls of their buildings. A great ministry is one that seeks out the hurting and needy. A great ministry is one that becomes the hands and feet of Christ in the community. A great ministry proclaims the gospel in word and deed.”

Third, Bold and Passionate

Thom concludes: “I realize that many people think that “greatness” comes with a certain personality type. Those with a quick wit and a large congregation are the great leaders while more subdued and quiet leaders must settle for mediocre ministries. This stereotype could not be farther from the truth.

“A great leader is passionate about the things of God, but that does not mean that he/she will be on the front page of the local paper. A great leader is passionate about the people in his/her community, but that doesn’t mean he/she’s the life of the party. Passion is not about a certain personality type. Passion is an obvious love for Christ and His Church.

“Along with passion comes boldness. A great leader steps out of his/her comfort zone. His/her answer to God will always be “Yes.” He/she will put him/herself into positions where success is only possible if God Himself intervenes” (www.ThomRainer.com).  

If my local parish, or the Diocese in this area, is truly going to impact the culture, it will require the Church to take wild and crazy risks. It will require entrepreneurial innovation instead of the usual routine or casual approach. It is going to take leaders with fearless vision who care more about mission of Jesus than the maintenance and status quo of a religion. Albert Einstein said: “If an idea is not absurd it has no hope.” If we profess that we believe in a God of resurrection, then as disciples of Jesus committed to making a difference in the world, we must be willing to risk everything and journey along new avenues of ministry that we have never explored cfor the sake of the Gospel.

Terry York and David Bolin, professors at Baylor University recently wrote that “congregations must speak to and among the surrounding culture in a voice so unique, authentic, and unified that it turns heads: ‘What was that? It sounded like nothing I’ve ever heard before. I’ve never heard anything like that around here’” (www.kncsb.org).

Now a challenging response like that could lead someone to inquire more about a local church or it could be seen as ridiculing our efforts. Either way, what would be different, and refreshing, for us as representing the Body of Christ is that we would actually be influencing and engaging the culture instead of simply reflecting it.

In researching for this post, I came across a website created by Lance Martin, a church planter and blogger. On this issue of mediocrity, Martin wrote: “Great leaders hate mediocrity and know that when life is tough and situations are difficult God is in control. The promise of Jesus should always be the focus. When we begin to take our focus off of Jesus we become intoxicated with fear. Fear promotes hopelessness, desperation, apathy, and allows the negative people to have a voice! Each day we have a choice to do what is simply necessary or to rise above mediocrity. Rising above mediocrity requires courage, passion, and faith” (www.lancemartin.net).

The Christian Church must reject any sort of mediocrity found in the life of the parish or Diocese. I believe that the leaders in the 21^st century Church must reclaim the courage to risk everything for the Gospel of Jesus Christ facing whatever fear we might have and trusting that the Lord will lead us safely into new truths and opportunities for service.

How many churches stand vacant and empty across this great land these days in a horrifying legacy of mediocrity? These churches died because their witness was neither hot nor cold but in far too many instances it was because the faith community and its leaders settled for bland and mediocre.

Not on my watch!

Join me during this season of Lent in praying for ways in which to lead the Church that we love out of mediocrity into a courageous retelling of the faith by word and deed engaging a new generation to learn to sing the Lord’s song.

Love One Another - Brian

Epiphany Last - Monday - Seven Questions Every Church Chould Ask Itself - Number 5A

A new week leads us to the fifth of seven questions posed by The Rev. Dr. Gary Nicolosi in his article Seven Questions Every Church Should Ask Itself. If you would like to read his entire article, you may do so by clicking here: Seven Questions for Your Parish

The fifth question: What issues does our church need to face within the next year so that five years from now, we won’t have to say, “We wish we had…”

Nicolosi comments on his question: “This question creates a sense of urgency. It is no secret that demographic trends are not favorable to the church and that many of our parishes are living on borrowed time. And yet, we believe in a God of resurrection. What if we began to act as communities of resurrection–faithful and fearless, willing to risk and try some new things, putting our emphasis on ministry and not maintenance, and seriously engaging a new generation that does not sing the Lord’s song as we do? Could we reverse the decline?  I don’t know, but isn’t it worth a try?”

This is a challenging question for at first Nicolosi seems to be focusing on the individual parish but his comment, as I read it, seems to look at the larger structures of the Church (denominations, judicatories, etc.) So, I think I will try and offer my answer in two ways: first for the parish and second for a diocese in the Episcopal Church.

Stephen Covey, author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, often uses a quote that I am very fond of: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” Local parishes in their quest to be relevant often forget to stay focused on the "main thing": Making Disciples.

How is that accomplished?

I believe there are four main ingredients to keeping a parish focused on the “main thing.”

• Spiritually Uplifting Worship – it is at the center of all we do

• Engaging and Creative Christian Formation – disciples are made not born.

• A Comprehensive Stewardship Ministry – everything I do after I say I believe

• Prophetic Outreach – reaching out to those locally, nationally, and internationally

My experience is that any parish which is about the task of carrying out those four cornerstones with integrity and excellence will in fact grow and produce fruit worthy of the Kingdom of God. The key is remembering that this ministry is not about you. This ministry is not about me. This ministry is all about God!

There in lies the rub and the first issue that must be faced by every congregation: What do we do in the Church with Controllers or Troublemakers who have no interest in "the main thing"?

In the Church there is no place for Controllers. Period. Bill Easum in his wonderful book Sacred Cows Make Gourmet Burgers writes: “The life and spirit of established churches is being drained by mean-spirited people called Controllers. Controllers are those leaders who withhold permission or make it difficult for new ministries to start. Control and abuse of power and authority have no place in the Body of Christ. It is time for us to either convert or neutralize the Controllers” (Sacred Cows, page 31).

Can I hear the Congregation say, “AMEN”!

Later on in his chapter about Controllers, Bill reflects: “Every church I have worked with as a consultant has been filled with good people who care about each other. That is their strength; it is also their weakness. They are so good they will put up with people that no one else on earth will put up with. Because of their goodness, they attract a handful of neurotic, mean-spirited, self-centered people who will do everything in their power to control what happens in the church. When the church finally gets fed up with them and does something they do not like, over their heated protest, they get mad and leave the church. Almost every church that begins to grow after a long-term decline experiences someone storming out of the church during the transition” (Sacred Cows, page 32.)

In Bill’s mind there are all sorts of Controllers: those who suffer from the small church syndrome; the smoke screeners; people who confuse ministry with making decisions; confusing accountability with control; uniformity for unity; representative democracy with the Body of Christ; those who are so afraid of the unknown they resist any change until they become white-knuckled. But Easum is at his best when he writes:

“Some people must be in control of everything in order to be Somebody. These are the real Controllers. They enjoy being big fish in a little pond. Usually they are against anything that they do not think of first of that does not serve their personal needs…Their insatiable desire for control is a natural trait for their generation since they have been in control of almost everything in society and the church. These are good individuals, who for the most part not only built their churches, but also built much of the twentieth-century world. They are the generations that brought “entitlement” to our society. As long as they live, they will consider themselves entitled to run this country and “their” church. Fortunately, only a few Controllers exist in each church. Unfortunately, they speak loudly and carry a big stick” (Sacred Cows, page 35-36)

Anybody in your parish come to your mind when reading Bill’s words?

Over the past six months, I have had the time to critically reflect on this issue and I am once again amazed at all that the Bible has to say about how to deal with Controllers and Troublemakers. For example, Saint Paul when writing to his congregations throughout the Mediterranean world was constantly offering advice on how to deal with Controllers. In none of his writings, does this Jewish evangelist encourage the leaders to look the other way or to tolerate such behavior. In 1 Corinthians chapter 5, Paul even suggests that the Controllers actually be thrown out of the congregation! I wonder how that would go over in today’s congregations.

Jesus was perhaps a bit more pastoral than our brother Paul but none the less spoke with authority on this issue, “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector” (Matthew 18:15-17). Ouch!!

Local congregations have no time for dealing with Controllers for they take precious energy away from "the main thing”. The Controllers in your church and in mine must be confronted, encouraged to change from selfish ways, and if not - persuaded to find solace in some other community more suited to their personality and desires. If we leaders in the Church do not have the stomach for such ministry, we have the great potential of losing and running off the people who truly need to be in our worship, education offerings and ministries.

The choice is ours to make. With God’s help, the people of God will make the right choice in dealing with the Controllers of our parishes.

Love One Another - Brian