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STATE OF THE REGION ADDRESS What a time line...still find it hard to believe...almost 20 months ago I was asked to consider being a candidate...and, it was 13 months and 3 days ago, while I was running around FCC getting ready for a wedding, Charles Watkins appeared in my office and told me the Committee wanted to put my name forward as their nominee. It was a humbling and exciting moment! Bit first, I had to meet with the Regional Board, then a Special Assembly, and still two more months to finish one ministry and get ready and oriented to begin another. In all that time, I was grateful for everyone's prayer support, words of encouragement, all the serious questions asked, the affirmative vote of call, Pete's help in making a good transition, and the hard work of an excellent Search Committee. It was a long, but good process -- and once the decision was made, I was ready to begin. These last six months have been a whirlwind and a huge learning curve. This year's Regional Assembly theme is an appropriate one, for it describes well our relationship and our beginning time together ... "Stepping Out in Faith." MY FIRST PRIORITY has been to have a good start. There have been lots of blessings and numerous things for which to be thankful. I'd like to start off this "State of the Region" address and do as the Apostle Paul admonished the Thessalonians (I 5:16-18) to be doing as they discovered God's will in Christ for them -- to be rejoicing (always), to be praying (without ceasing), and to give thanks (in all circumstances). Let's pray....Amen. There truly is so much about which to be thankful and rejoice from these past six months and as a prelude for what is yet to come... First and foremost would be our Moderator Chalmer Moore -- an absolutely delightful and supportive person. And, he worries--just enough--so things always get done well. Plus, he also had some agenda items to get done before he left office -- probably not ones I would have chosen as "first things to do" like revising the Constitution and By-laws (thanks to Dee Ann Wood) and the Clergy Ethics document (thanks to David Leslie). But, he delegated them to good people to lead the way. And I'm really glad he charged ahead and that now, they're done! They were good and important things to have done. Just don't ever tell him I said that! Chalmer is truly a good friend and CCIW has been so fortunate these past four years to have this gifted, willing servant as its Moderator. Secondly, would be how blessed CCIW is with an excellent and diversely gifted group of committed Christian people as its clergy and support staff. It has been a joy to work with them. We've been working hard on team-building and getting to know one another. All of us, the five ministers and the six support staff, will be doing the Seven Habits seminar together this January. And, all of them are well-loved across CCIW and their gifts valued. One great example of this was during the Listening Conferences, when in Peoria one of the lay participants asked, "We really like 'our guy'!" Then she turned to a neighbor and said, "What's his name?" When some others heard this, they decided to get Scott a t-shirt which read "Our Guy." But then that wasn't fair, so they started having fun and said my T-shirt would read "The Guy," Dwight's "Chicago Guy", Burley's "Camp Guy"...and Norma's...well her's would read "Not a Guy!" Among the staff Dwight had a sabbatical last year, Scott starts one in three weeks and Burley is finishing his D.Min. next month. We did say "goodbye" to Pat Meyer who finally listened to God and is at CTS preparing for the ministry. We welcomed back Cindy Wagoner and added Joyce Leach. Third, I would have to say the LVCs were great! It was an insane schedule and an exhausting time in Sept, but was well worth it! Chalmer and I had 23 conferences and met with over 450 people (2/3 of the CCIW clergy and over half the congregations were represented by key lay leaders). And I didn't even gain 10#s from all that great food. Thanks again to all our hosts! Joyce has worked almost 200 hours computer inputting and collating all the data. She finished a week ago and now we begin the work of creating an executive summary. The findings will be foundational as we plan together our future mission and ministry. I could mention so many more things, but fourth and finally in this beginning portion would have to be the perpetual issue of finances. Among many others, Alban Institute's Loren Mead (in FINANCIAL MELTDOWN IN THE MAINLINE?, 1997) says, if we are to thrive, funding is THE ISSUE middle judicatories have to solve as we move into the 21st century. The old forms of funding, he says, will no longer work! I think he is right! On my third day in office I learned the Commission on Mission Funding was once again asking this Region to take a major cut (amputation?) in our allocations and certainly much more than any other comparable Regions. The Finance Committee and our Regional Board voted to appeal this biennium's allocation from COMF. I met with them yesterday. I was proud being there and able to know CCIW is currently, as of third quarter reports, THE region leading all of the other 34 in increased dollar giving to Basic Mission Finance versus the pervious year. We are up some $59,396(+7%). I believe a great deal of our future financial stability for mission and ministry will depend on two things -- » the success of a potential capital funds campaign. When I came into office two things were on my desk already -- (1) the Camp has some major needs (they'd like a million dollars for a swimming pool, a retreat center, and facility up-grades) and you and I both know one of the key issues about Camp is its great distance from the northern part of the Region. What about some facilities further North? (2) We have a least seven places in this Region that are crying for a new Disciples congregation and a presence of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) style of congregational life and theology. Plus, we have huge needs in youth ministry programming and staffing and with congregations who are "on the ropes" and could use some leaders with specialized skills in redevelopment (but they lack the funds to hire them). Those are just some of the kinds of mission and ministry that need "over and above" non-operational funding! » an enlarged vision of stewardship that will include how we handle our accumulated resources -- what we do with our estates through wills and bequests. Have you included your congregation in your will? Much less the Regional and General Church? I would love to see every member tithe their estates and then forever, be able to continue supporting the work and ministries of the Church they've loved and cherished. I could see 5% going to the local church and splitting the other 5% between the Region and the General Church ministries. As you can sense, this past six months has been busy, fun, and enlightening. I have learned a lot and met tons of wonderful people across this Illinois and Wisconsin region. I still have a great deal to learn about my role as RMP and what it means. One excellent illustration of our relationship in this unique office came from one of our pastors in a Cluster Assembly, who shared with us the difference between a bishop and a regional minister -- it spoke about authority issues for the office. It seems a bunch of bishops were together one time talking about their role and office. And the Catholic, Episcopalian, Lutheran and Methodist bishops all discovered they had a great deal in common and the CC/DoC RMP learned the key difference. I'll tell you what it is -- those bishops with authority, you see, can go into the local churches and tell the people they'd better start going to church more often and give more money to missions or else they're going to hell. A CC/DoC RMP, on the other hand, can also go to the local churches and tell the people they'd better attend worship more often and give more money to missions and... the people tell him to "go to hell." Clearly, our relationship is not one of top-down authority, but one much more grass-roots and pastoral. I wouldn't have it any other way! I have thought it was important to get out among you early on and give us a good chance to meet prior to my installation. It is a style I want to maintain, but obviously, if I kept up such a pace for too long, I wouldn't last my whole term. It will moderate as I learn the routines more and we have a clearer sense of direction. I've got 10 days vacation later this month and 10 days next month -- and believe me, I'm ready!! And finally, I also want to thank Duff for her understanding about my being "on the road" so much these last two months. Before I move to the final portion of this address today -- about future directions -- I do not want to leave you with the impression we are so busy -- that you can never feel free to invite me or the staff to come to your church or to come see us. Our first and foremost priority is to serve the local church in its needs and to build-up the whole church in its mission and ministry work. If we aren't able to do something, we'll tell you why. We are able to say "no" if we can't. But, please, don't ever feel like you can't call upon us for ministry. The staff recently had our annual meetings with the Personnel Committee. It is a very helpful time for dialogue and reporting on this past year and relationships, but also an important, proactive time to explore our work plans for 1999 and beyond. What goals we have individually and what we are planning on doing together. These are more short-term and strategic kinds of objectives. And, friends...the Region and our local congregations also need to be doing more of this, but we are not at a stage where we need much more than just some short-term, measurable goals -- the maintenance stuff and the intentional steps in personal and professional growth. We need some BHAGs! Why? Well, let me set the context and then talk about what BHAGs are! [I like this term which J. Collins and J. Porras use in their book BUILT TO LAST (HarperCollins, 1994] We could look at and study all kinds of things to set the context. That was one of the first things I did when I was considering being a candidate for RMP. I did a statistical study of what happened numerically to the churches in CCIW. And, it's not a pretty picture! On one hand that could be very discouraging -- especially if you were measuring success only by the numbers of members or dollars given. They are important, but they are not the whole picture. I could simply say we must be doing well -- look at how busy the staff is. That's important, but not the whole picture. We could do extensive bible study and seek to discern what it says about what the church should be doing -- how did Nehemiah succeed in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, or, how does the theological vision of Paul guide us in our thinking about church life and organization, or, what were Jesus' teaching principles and the methods He used in His training of the twelve. Again, it's great stuff, but it's not the whole picture. Part of what I was doing in the LVCs was a discovery and learning process -- trying to learn about: » the places where people perceived things were going well and where they were not; » what their attitudes wee about the future (eg. 75% of those we met with
think the "best years in and another issue (when asked
about the direction » what the strengths, the hopes, the hurts, the concerns they have for their congregations, communities and this Region; » and what the vital connections between them and the Region, and where that connection is experienced as most helpful, effective, and of highest quality; and » to hear their dreams about what they sense God is calling us to do and be. And believe me, those conferences were immensely helpful, but they are not the whole picture. We could do a cultural study -- looking at the sociological issues and implications. Princeton professor Robert Wuthnow right now is probably one of the most distinguished and helpful commentators on the contemporary religious world. The Lily Foundation just funded him to do a three-year study covering five decades of America's religious habits, attitudes, and practices. I was with him a year ago in a conference where he was sharing some initial findings and his book AFTER HEAVEN: SPIRITUALITY IN AMERICA SINCE THE 1950s (University of California Press, 1998) has just come off the press. I can hardly wait to read it and learn from it. Briefly, his most striking finding and insight has to do with a shift in our religious metaphors in America in the past 50 years. We have shifted. Wuthnow says, from having revered images of a domestic spirituality (what he calls "dwelling" "inhabiting sacred places" where people are patiently nurtured by ordinary habits of family life in specific places like the church and home) to now a more dynamic, eclectic and deeply personal metaphor of "seeking." This is helpful stuff, but it too is not the whole picture. Some of it involves us "getting outside the box." Thinking in new and creative ways. Bill Easum is an excellent example of the kind of person who will pull and stretch us. We are bringing him to this Region February 19-20. There is no reason I can think of why we should not have this many people or more from your church there. I'm hoping for all the clergy on Friday and then all the clergy plus a team of lay leaders on Saturday. Look in your registration materials or see Dwight. This will really be helpful stuff, but it too is not the whole picture. So how do we get a sense of the whole picture? How do we discern our future? What is God calling us to do and be in this place and this time? That's the task! In 1774 a leader named John Adams boldly declared "I see a union of thirteen states, a new nation, independent from the Parliament and King of England. Some day!" That was the first time that idea had ever been publicly expressed and just a few years later -- against all odds -- a new nation WAS born -- the United States of America. In the early 1800s on the American frontier, there were new movements of spirituality afire -- seeking to restore New Testament principles to the Church. Among them was a revivalist preacher in Cane Ridge, KY, named Barton W. Stone and in Brush Run, PA, were a father and son with the last name of Campbell, who with a handshake in 1835 in Lexington, KY, brought these two religious movements together and became the foundation blocks of why we are sitting in this room today. In the late 1800s, the Wright brothers said we believe some day people will fly like birds -- fly through the air! Ten years later, the Kitty Hawk lifted off the sandy beach in North Carolina. In 1907 a dynamic industrialist named Henry Ford stood before his employees and said, "We're going to make automobile transportation affordable for the average American family." Everybody laughed! But fifteen years later, millions of Ford Model-T automobiles were built and sold at a cost of $290. In the 1940s Billy Graham and a few college buddies gathered together and they dreamed of filling stadiums all around the world and presenting the gospel to people who were far from God. As of this year, 210 million people have heard the Gospel story live and over a billion have heard the Gospel via television and radio from that humble preacher. Whether or not you agree with everything about his theology, that is still impressive proclamation and ministry! In 1963 Martin Luther King, Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., and said "I have a _____? A Dream! I have a dream of a time when people will no longer be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." A very powerful and pivotal speech in the life of America. Now, some thirty-five years later racial barriers are beginning to fall. Clearly, they are not falling fast enough -- but we are making some progress. I could go on and on...and you may already think I am. And, you're possibly also thinking of some similar such key people and moments in history. Nearly 2000 years ago, an itinerant teacher sat down near the Sea of Galilee, spoke to a crowd of people sitting on the hillside, began to teach them by saying, "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who..." and he continued -- for more than 30 minutes, I guarantee you -- until the closing words, "Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock..." Matthew 5-7 essentially summarizes the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who pointed all humanity in the direction of the Kingdom of God. That "one solitary life"... you know how it goes! And we gather here in His name today! What did all these leaders have in common? They had a compelling vision that drove them, guided them into the future! And, with God's help and some significant personal efforts, they set about the work of making it become real in the world around them... Discerning God's will is not a quick and easy process -- it is an evolving, prayerful, risk-taking, shared, growth-oriented process (I like the words quest or journey) passionately aimed at quality and meaning. You settle for no less. It takes a lot of effort and work plus some serious BHAGs (there we are back at that word again!). So here's where I am right now, as I think about the State of the Region we call the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Illinois and Wisconsin, and about a vision that is compelling for me. I want to know if it resonates with you. Let me show you some pictures that start to illustrate it: RJ#1 - in his curious pose,
wondering what's going on That beautiful, little nine-month boy is our grandson... he is the first of our children's children. In an amazing way, he has awakened some new feelings in us and how we look at the world. On my sabbatical two years ago, as Duff and I were driving across the country, we talked a great deal about some material Duff had found [Bob Greene's book TO OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN: PRESERVING FAMILY HISTORIES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME (Doubleday, 1993)] which facilitated leaving your memories, dreams, and stories fro your "children's children." It was an awesome time of sharing and thinking about life! And, as I think about this Church Jesus Christ loved, and that I love, and so many before have loved, I wonder...what will be here for RJ...for our children's children. AND SO THE ESSENCE OF MY COMPELLING VISION RIGHT NOW IS -- TO CHERISH CHRIST'S CHURCH FOR to cherish its spiritual ministries of worship, love, justice...to cherish its mission of reaching out and making disciples. That's what I want to motivate my work -- to be what compels me as I work at my desk, as I drive in the Region's car across Illinois and Wisconsin, as I talk on the phone or counsel others face-to-face, as I preach in your pulpits, or meet with your search committees, or pray with you. It seems rather like the story of an old man who one day was sowing acorns. A neighbor came along, looked at the man in puzzlement and asked, "why are you planting those acorns? You will never live long enough to sit under the shade of the trees you are planting?" "True," the old man replied. "But then, neither did I plant the trees in whose shade I sit today. Someone else, long ago, planted the trees I enjoy. I am only doing the same for those who come after me." There is no better way to think about the Church than that. And so, with you, I want to develop ways for us to Cherish Christ's Church -- so that it is strong and vital for our children's children. So that as they "seek" or "dwell" they will know and appreciate this legacy of hope and promise WE have left for them because WE loved Christ and WE loved them. And what will that legacy be... This is where the BHAGs come in. A BHAG is what Collins calls, "Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals." Personally "Hairy's" not that big a deal to me! I could go with "Humongous" but Collins invented the terms, and he wins -- especially since it has more to do with risk-taking than size! How do you define a BHAG? Collins defines them as "something that engages people. It reaches out and grabs them in the gut. It is tangible, energizing, highly focused. It is clear and compelling -- people 'get it' right away. BHAGs take little or no explanation. It is the difference between "having a goal of 'walking somewhere every day' and 'becoming committed to a huge, daunting challenge like 'climbing Mount Everest.'" NASA's moon mission in 1960 is an excellent example of a BHAG -- it was a "big, hairy, audacious goal." I want to put three BHAGs before you, for your consideration. They are rooted in and grow out of my vision of "Cherishing Christ's Church for our Children's Children." 1. HAVING A PASSIONATE FAITHFULNESS That is to say, BECAUSE OF THE INTENTIONAL LEADERSHIP EFFORTS IN OUR LOCAL CHURCHES AND THE REGION'S RESOURCING AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, WHEN PEOPLE MEET MEMBERS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) IN ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN, THEY WILL HAVE THE PLEASURE OF MEETING AND BEING ATTRACTED TO SOME OF GOD'S MOST PASSIONATELY FAITHFUL PEOPLE ALIVE. WHY? BECAUSE THEY ARE BIBLICALLY LITERATE AND SPIRITUALLY DISCIPLINED. Let me tell you a wedding story here. There was an adorable, little four-year old boy, all dressed up in some beautiful shorts and knee high socks in the wedding party. As he walked up the aisle holding the ring pillow, he would take a few steps, stop and growl at the congregation. Then he would take a few more steps, stop and growl again. He did this very determined and serious routine all the way to the front of the sanctuary, stood there perfectly throughout the ceremony, and then in the recessional he repeated the same pattern of growling at the congregation. Well, naturally everyone laughed but his mother. She got up and ran out the side aisle...and, you know what she had in mind. When she approached him and he saw her, he smiled, saying, "How did I do Mom? Was I a good ring bear?" There is great truth in the formula our Perceptions yield our Behavior which shapes our Destiny. If we are not clear about what it means to be a disciple of Christ, how can we act like one and be one. And, we can't be passionate about our faith -- if we don't know what the Bible looks like or we rarely use it, if we aren't literate in God's Word -- AND -- if we aren't constantly practicing the spiritual disciplines, seeking to be in God's presence and learning from God. Friends, first and foremost, we need to "turn up" the fire on our spiritual life -- BIG time! Norma Roberts and a group of several other ministers in this Region are in the beginning stages of projects about Disciples spirituality and practicing our faith. It is a beginning, but we need much more, for this is truly a priority BHAG if we expect to have a faith worth passing on to our children and our children's children. We won't if we aren't working passionately on it. 2. CCIW IS ABSOLUTELY ANTI-RACIST! That is to say, CCIW WILL INTENTIONALLY WORK, STUDY, AND PRAY HARD ENOUGH THROUGH A DISCERNMENT AND TRAINING PROCESS, THAT WE'LL "SET THE PACE" AND BE WIDELY KNOWN THROUGHOUT ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN AND THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) AS THE MOST ANTI-RACIST AND INCLUSIVE OF ITS INSTITUTIONS. The General Minister and President has called the Christian Church to a discernment process on this huge moral and social issue that is tearing at the very fabric of society. Our Regional Board has already approved a recommendation by our Social Concerns Committee to enter into such a training process and the CC/DoC has named us to be one of six units to serve as pilot settings. That's nice, but that's not BHAG. I dream of us doing it so well that we knock their socks off about how well are not only did the process, but even more importantly, how transforming the process was in the lives of our churches, our members, our communities, and our regional structures. Dwight Bailey is right now standing at home plate with a bat on his shoulder waiting for a leadership team to show up and work with him. All I can say is "Look out Sammy!" and "Look out...whatever that other teams' guy's name is...Mark something!" "Look out, because CCIW is in town and the home run records will be history when we are done!' That's BHAG! 3. CCIW IS THE REGION THAT
HAS That is to say, CCIW SOLVED THE "FUNDING PROBLEM" BECAUSE ITS MEMBERS' SPIRITUAL GIFT OF STEWARDSHIP BLOSSOMED WHEN: A) THE REGION CONDUCTED THE
MOST B) ALL OF ITS MEMBERS
FULFILLED THE DREAM The dream I have been floating around and talking about is "way out of the box." I dream of a campaign where we split the funds 50/50 between the local church and the church beyond those doorsteps. I've envisioned a big, hairy, audacious goal of $9.2 million dollars -- half of which will empower local churches to up-grade facilities, endowments, and mission for its children's children AND half will be used by this Region for our children's children by starting 4 new churches; intentionally redevelop a minimum of 5 struggling congregations who need just a little help back from the edge; will build 2 Retreat centers in this Region for youth and adults; will establish some leadership development and emergency assistance funds; and will buy an Eldorado Bus/Van for youth and adult trip. Now, don't be moving your heads sideways! Move them up and down! This is so easy and so doable. All it means is every member needs to give an extra $2 dollars a week for three years -- one dollar for local things and one dollar for Regional and General Church needs to cherish Christ's church for our Children's children. Friends, you know it and I know it, $2 is nothing! I know "we've never done that before!" but do you know why? Because we lacked the courage and the challenge to try to do it. We can do it, friends, because it is a BHAG! This is the focus of Scott's sabbatical and when he gets back, hold on to your hats, because a holy wind is going to come a'blowing! I once read a great story with which I want to close -- a story about an Army veteran named John Crabtree. Much to his surprise, one day he got an "official notification from the government" that because of his death, the benefits he had been receiving were no longer going to be sent. Needless to say, this was quite a shock. So he wrote them. Several times he wrote them. He called them. Several times he called them. No matter what he tried, there was still no reinstatement of his benefits. And so, in desperation he contacted a local television station about doing a "human interest" story regarding this situation. During the interview, the reporter asked him "How do you feel about this whole ordeal?" To which Mr. Crabtree chuckled and said, "Well, I feel a little frustrated by it. After all, have you ever tried to prove that you are alive?" That is a great question! How do you prove that you are alive? What do we have to do as a church? I am firmly convinced it has to do with who you are -- the thinks you value, the future you envision, the BHAGs you have which call forth your commitments and propel you into the future with hope, the things about which you are passionate. We live in crazy times, my friends, and what people are seeking in such times are the foundational, life-enhancing, and transformative relationships with God and others which bring about wholeness and vitality. It is in our midst, it is called the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I want to make sure the mission and ministry of Christ's Church is Cherished so much so that it has such vitality for our children's children as well. I've enjoyed the first six months of our journey together and look forward to many more fruitful years ahead. And, I want to hear what you think as well. So, let's let the journey begin!
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