things in general

I'm headed off tomorrow for my first ever General Synod. I'm told there will be long days--great worship--lots of meetings--and because this year the UCC is celebrating its 50th birthday--a day to celebrate that milestone. I'm really looking forward to this week and I'm also thinking about what it means to be the church in a national setting.

The United Church of Christ's governing structure is congregational--so this means that each church has its own constitution--develops its own governing structure (though there are a few "patterns" that most churches follow). What this also means is that the "wider church" cannot make decisions or proclamations that are binding on a local church. Those members can agree--and say to others "see the wider church holds the same opinion I do." They can also say "I disagree--and they don't speak for me." So as I ponder the resolutions that will come before us as a synod gathering, I will remember that we are making "a" witness but not "the" witness for the entire UCC.

What's your notion of congregational polity? Should there be a wider church body that can speak the official "UCC" denominational line? Do you like the autonomy of the local church? Could there be something in-between the two?

Pondering relationships

I've just started my year-long term as the President of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ. I'm excited about all that could mean for me--but I'm also a bit apprehensive because I'm coming into this term knowing that there are lots of presenting problems that will need to be addressed. Like many--probably most--institutions made up of human beings that talk about being "family"--our conference has the whole array of family issues--family opinions--family dysfunctions. Sounds a whole lot like all the local congregations I have had the privilege of serving in my 15 years of ministry.

All of this has gotten me thinking about what makes family work--and those things that make it not work so well. I've heard it said that home (and the family inside) is that place where they have to let you in when you knock on the door. I'm not so crazy about that saying--I think home should be that place where you get to come in with all your stuff and they make room for you. What makes family work--as well as it can--is that family listens to you even when you might not be making much sense at the time--and will love you enough to tell you the truth.

What's your definition of family and home? I'd love to have a conversation with you about that.