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“Peace Of God Be With You.”

News Notes

I’ve been saving this clipping for many years.  It was written by Frank Baldwin, a clergy colleague in Central Pacific Conference many years ago, who moved to Northern California-Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ and wrote this letter to the editor of that Conference’s newsletter:

 

To the Editor:

 

   The clergy couple who serve the church of another denomination down the street are grinding their teeth again.  They have just learned that their predecessor has quietly agreed to officiate at another wedding in their church.

   For four years now they have been haunted by this man, who returns at the hint of an invitation to conduct weddings, funerals and baptisms in his former parish.  After a twelve year ministry in that congregation the former pastor feels no scruples about continuing indefinitely his sacramental ties with the people, seeking neither the welcome nor approval of his successors in doing so.

   The “new” clergy couple, hesitant to attack the ethics or motives of a once-beloved minister, have simply been praying that these un-authorized pastoral visits will eventually die out.  But the problem goes on,  clearly becoming a matter of deep personal humiliation to them, as well as an ongoing obstacle to their ministry in the parish.

   The problems caused by pastors surreptitiously continuing their sacramental ministries in former parishes are not unique to the church of another denomination down the street.  UCC folk are obviously vulnerable to the same misguided instincts which result in clergy sneaking around conducting pastoral business in someone else’s congregation.

   People offer many justifications for asking a former minister to come back and perform pastoral services:

• We are friends;  he/she will always be “my minister.”

• He/she promised to come back to baptize/marry/bury me (or my children/grandchildren).

• The new minister doesn’t love/understand me (or vice versa).

• He/she owes me a favor.

   And ministers similarly find many reasons for accepting pastoral invitations from former parishioners:

• We are friends;  no one will object since I have always been close to the family.

• I promised I’d do anything I could for them.

• The new minister can’t possibly love/understand them like I can.

• I owe them a favor.

   Unfortunately, acquiescence in this practice serves primarily to drive a wedge between the congregation and its new leadership.  Vital new pastoral relationships are thwarted in their formation at precisely those points where they may have the best chance to develop.  And the church’s role in Christian baptism, marriage and burial is demeaned by being linked to a personality cult rather than the pastoral office.

   The (guidelines for ministerial ethics of the national UCC and the Conference) call upon pastors to sever all ministerial relations with a former congregation and to perform pastoral services in the parish of another minister only at the express invitation of that minister.

   I greatly appreciate the theological insight and practical wisdom of these guidelines, and the broad respect which they enjoy among the churches and pastors of our Conference.  I also believe we may have reason from time to time to remind ourselves of these ethical standards.

                                                                                                                    The Rev. Frank Baldwin, Pastor

 

Fortunately, I have never had to deal with this issue directly, but there are horror stories out there-- some from situations near us.  I intend to stick with the ethical guidelines referred to in Franks’ letter, and share the letter because it is a good statement of why those guidelines are important.

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About July-- The Cascade Singers’ trip to the British Isles has been long in the planning.  When airline fares were going to take a sharp increase last January, we had to make a quick decision.  Jean and I decided to extend our stay and see some more of England as well as friends and relatives in Belgium and the Netherlands.  Had the end of summer retirement date been set, I would not have opted to be away so long the month before retiring.  Once again, I am using funds the church generously sets aside for my continuing education to help pay for what will undoubtedly be educational travel.  Thanks!    --Karl

 

                                 

WAIT ‘TIL YOU SEE THE ANIMAL chosen for this summer’s Heifer Inter-national project!  The “beast-of-the-year” will be introduced during the 9:30 a.m. service on June 1. Heifer Project funds are raised each summer via 1.) Your directed gifts (there will be an offering envelope in the June 1 bulletin), 2.) Garden Exchange (bring items, take some home, leave a gift in the offering plate), and 3.) Ice Cream Social (this year it will be held Tuesday, Aug. 14).

 

TEXTILE ART AT CONFERENCE ASSEMBLY was two striking anti-war flag/quilts by Mary Maxwell of Vancouver, WA.  We hope to secure the two pieces, “Collateral Damage” and “Warring Madness,” for a weekend display later in June, dates TBA.

 

LET’S TALK ABOUT RACISM-- Karl introduced the national UCC Pastoral Letter on Racism as the issue was being raised nation-wide on May 18.  He is looking for a few people to brainstorm how we might follow up on the conversations proposed in the Pastoral Letter.

 

LAST FRIDAY POTLUCK & FILM:  On Friday, May 30, after 5:30 potluck, RENEWAL will be the featured film.  It is the first feature-length documentary to capture the breadth and vitality of America's religious-environmental movement.  Throughout, RENEWAL attempts to paint an honest picture of how much work will be needed to stem the tide of environmental devastation. Its compelling characters and stories inspire the vision and commitment that addressing the challenge will require.  One of the eight stories in the film is about Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon’s Interfaith Power and Light. EMO is sending representatives to the May 30 showing.  The eight segments of the film include:  A Crime Against Creation - Evangelicals bear witness to mountaintop removal and the destruction of Appalachia;  Going Green - GreenFaith helps congregations take the first steps to environmental action;  Food for Faith - Muslim tradition and charity forge bonds between urban communities and sustainable farms;  Ancient Roots - The Teva Learning Center and Adamah bring environmental education together with Jewish tradition;   Compassion in Action - Green Sangha, a Buddhist community, leads a campaign to save trees;  Eco-Justice - The Holy Spirit inspires a battle against industrial contamination in small town Mississippi;  Sacred Celebration - Catholics and Native Americans embrace religious ritual in their struggle to protect land and water;  Oregon Interfaith Power and Light - Across America people of all faiths mount a religious response to global warming (our church is part of the last group, OIPL, an EMO affiliate, and has hosted OIPL’s workshops).

 

TORTURE:  A MORAL ISSUE-- Mid-Columbia Fellowship of Churches has voted to support the Statement of Conscience of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.  Local member churches are also considering endorsement, as have many national and regional religious organizations and leaders.  (Our congregation will decide on endorsement June 1.)  The statement came to FOC from Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, which is working with the national campaign in urging members of Congress to apply the interrogation standards of the U.S. Army Field Manual, which prohibit torture, to all U.S. government agencies, including the CIA.  Steve Schafroth is a local member of EMO's Public Policy Committee.  June 2008 has been targeted for a nation-wide effort to raise awareness that, in NRCAT's words, "Torture Is a Moral Issue."  Churches across the nation will display banners with this slogan.   The text of the Statement of Conscience is as follows: 

       "Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions, in their highest ideals, hold dear.  It degrades everyone involved -- policy-makers, perpetrators and victims.  It contradicts our nation's most cherished ideals.  Any policies that permit torture and inhumane treatment are shocking and morally intolerable.  Nothing less is at stake in the torture abuse crisis than the soul of our nation.  Let America abolish torture now -- without exceptions." 

Further information and a place for individuals to sign the Statement of Conscience are available at http://www.tortureisamoralissue.org .  

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Celebrate with Floyd -- by Floyd Emerson

 

It is a real tragedy to lose a loved one, but it would be a much greater tragedy to never have had a loved one to lose.  In the midst of sorrow, we can truly celebrate God’s gift of people and things to hold precious.

(. . . And since this is a two-month newsletter, this thought for July:)  To pray without ceasing  doesn’t mean to stop what you are doing in order to pray.  No, it means to incorporate prayer into what you are doing.  Keep on keeping on but do it with celebration and prayer.

 

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TRIVIA CORNER:   What is the difference between tradition and traditionalism?  (Answer below)

 

TRIVIA ANSWER:  Church historian Jaroslav Pelikan provided this discerning statement as to what is new, what is old, and what matters.  He wrote that “tradition is the living faith of those who have passed and traditionalism is the dead faith of those living.”  So here we have a guide for what to leave behind and what is worth holding onto:  Is our faith a dead formalism or a living faith, a blazing fire?

 

Bonus scraps from Karl’s Kollection of Klippings:  Are we giving LIP service or LIFE service?  That’s the theme of these imagined second lines of hymns that appeared in a church newsletter under the title Facing the Music??:

• “I Love Thy Church, O God, Her Walls Before Thee Stand.” -- But please excuse my absence, Lord, this bed is simply grand!

• “A Charge to Keep Have I, a God to Glorify.” -- But Lord, expect no cash from me, Thy glory comes too high!

• “Am I a Soldier of the Cross, a Follower of the Lamb?” -- Yes, though I seldom ever pray, I still insist I am!

• “Serve the Lord with Gladness” so the song lines read. -- But “Serve the Lord with Grumbling” might be more often said!

• “Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow;  Praise Him all Creatures Here Below.” -- Loud hymns of praise I always bring, Because it doesn’t cost to sing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© UCC The Dalles 2008