What happens when all our assumptions about the present and the future turn out to be little more than a myth? What is it that causes us to continue pressing on in the face of such stark differences between what we thought and what truly is? Author and speaker, Tod Bolsinger, says it will be our “Core Ideology” that takes us forward. Bolsinger – one of the clinicians at Annual Conference this year – calls today’s church to ask itself such questions as Why do we exist as a congregation? and What principles must we protect as central to our identity? Notice he didn’t say, ‘What programs must we protect?’

I have known an enormously compassionate individual who became Chief Operating Officer of a multi-million dollar manufacturing company; and I have known a compassion-challenged person who seemed to take pride in holding church budgets and schedules hostage in lieu of mission studies. The one eventually became the CEO of a multi-million dollar outreach ministry; the other continued scheduling mission studies while missing the reality that two generations of immigrants were leaving the church to start their own ministries. Programs do not necessarily make the person.

July marks the beginning of my third year as Pastor of St. Andrew’s UMC. Some of our ministries really hit the mark in being true to our community; others have not fared so well. Are there new realities we must consider? Are there myths we need to recognize as myths rather than preferences? Most of all, who is God calling us to be, and how will that inform about ministries that connect with our community?  

I look forward to the continued process of turning our Core Ideology into ministries that make a difference in the lives of those needing God’s transforming power. Here’s to a great Year Three. Blessings.