jQuery Slider

You are here

INTERIM MINISTRY, INTERIM HOPE - by Chip Nix

INTERIM HOPE

By Chip Nix

Two things have prompted me to write this article in the context of what we in ECUSA are experiencing. The first thing is from my training and experience of being an Interim Rector. I am presently on my third Interim and this follows 26 years of being a settled rector in various congregations in various parts of the USA. The second thing was an insight that came to me after a recent clergy gathering in the Diocese of Maryland where there was an open microphone a la the 1960's to discuss the Windsor Report. Both of these, I hope, will lead us to strengthen Interim Hope.

INTERIM MINISTRY:

Taking the long view, all ministry is Interim Ministry, but the importance of the Interim time between rectors in a church's life (or as we experience today in our Denomination's life) cannot be overstated. We all feel the anxiety and the high stakes.

I have found that this Interim/Transition time is simply THE essential time to make changes that will be helpful to the future. Change should be done with sensitivity to communication and time for adjustment on peoples part to the shifting dynamics, but there seems to be a willingness to try something new when there is Interim leadership. In 'settled' times, proprietary rights, little urgency and forever consequences don't make a good platform for important changes.

I have learned much from those who have studied Interim Ministry and they have distilled for us FIVE INTERIM TASKS. I have found these time tested tasks interesting in our present ECUSA situation and offer them to you for your reflection:

1) COMING TO TERMS WITH OUR HISTORY: Think of the people (their energy, hopes, pain, struggles, love) that have lived in our Anglican Communion, our Episcopal Church over the years. So many snapshots of history, so many tests negotiated, the joys celebrated, the lives changed, the services rendered - these all make up our collective memory. It will be out of that history that the new chapter before us will be penned by the Holy Spirit. We need to own the good and the bad here - celebrate AND repent.
2) DISCOVERING A RENEWED IDENTITY AND MISSION: The New Year Festival of the Hebrew people includes singing Psalm 96: "Sing to the Lord a new song...Tell of His Salvation from day to day. Declare His Glory among the nations." We have all lost something in ECUSA's recent decisions. The way forward is to renew our sense of our calling, who we are and to stoke the fires of Mission and Evangelism.
3) ALLOWING AND EMPOWERING NEW LEADERS: The old leadership of ECUSA in an Interim Time begins to shift. Some people who were under heavy stress will move out of their roles. Some leave. Others will find this an opportunity to get involved with leadership. My hope is that younger clergy will step up here. This is your day in the sun. Still others will take on an "emergency squad" role of temporary action for the greater good. Others put themselves in a neutral mode waiting to see what happens, not emotionally investing until perhaps later. This is the time to understand the shifting structures and new relationships of how people cause things to happen in the church. It is a time to allow new life, new leadership and fresh vision to emerge.
4) RENEW LINKS WITH THE GREATER CHURCH: For many local congregations in looking for a new rector a new world of the Diocese comes to light. Networks need to be built and assistance is need to seek that new rector. It is so interesting during these post Robinson times that we have discovered the ANGLICAN COMMUNION in a way we never have before. "Look to the rock from which you were hewn," Isaiah wrote, "and to the quarry from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father and Sarah who bore you."(51:1-2) Teaching and introductions need to be done here so we can understand our heritage and make links with the Communion and the world around us.
5) COMMITMENT TO NEW LEADERSHIP AND A NEW FUTURE: The work done above prepares a community (ECUSA?) for this new future. There will be a right time for this new call to be extended. It will be a joyful time long anticipated and this too will make it even sweeter. Part of the readiness to say "HELLO" to this new chapter and commit to a future leadership partnership depends on saying "GOOD-BYE" with appreciation to what has passed. That is why God gives us Interim (Desert) times. What do we do now? Try these five tasks.

INTERIM HOPE:

HOPE is the second part of the phrase Interim Hope. "For in this hope we are saved; But hope that is seen is no hope at all."(Rom 8:24) The insight I saw as I sat among some 80 mostly liberal leaning clergy responding to the Windsor Report in the Cathedral of the Diocese of Maryland was that both sides of this struggle for the heart and future of ECUSA have faith in a hope before each of us. It was just that these hopes are so different.

What came to me was remembering as a Christian attending a Communist meeting in Bristol, UK during seminary at Trinity College and trying to talk to some attending about Christian HOPE. The certainty of the "proletariat revolution" was palpable to them. By the same token, eschatological (future) certainty is a great doctrine/hope in Christianity. And this seemed to me to be the one-sided duel in the Cathedral chancel that afternoon, only one perspective (revisionist) was given. Those I heard there were just sold-out sure that the Communion and the world will in the end embrace Same Sex Marriage in the church and Homoerotic Pastors/Bishops. Urban legend /pluriform myth or destiny? We have seen where communist manifest destiny has slipped away. We have yet to see what the future will hold for hope in ECUSA.

We who hold to the truth of an orthodox Anglican form of Christianity have our sure and certain hopes, too. These hopes are rooted in scripture and in history. From history we have seen the church in the past enticed by innovation and heresy that for a time has lead many away; but we have confidence that "Apostolic teaching and practice" will prevail and continue to enjoy the Holy Spirit's empowerment. We also know that the people of God's household are "build on the foundation of apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." (Eph 2:20) Our foundation is the scripture. In our post Christendom confusion, we return to these sure moorings for hope for the future.

The standoff we experience in this Interim time in ECUSA is standoff of Hope. Like Elijah on Mt. Carmel, who will light the fire of the future? Which hope will God bless? The overpowering numbers of the established prophets of Baal were mocked by lone Elijah. Is your God sleeping, gone on vacation? Elijah, like each of us, had his many down moments but The Lord was faithful, prevailed and answered Elijah's prayer. And it is in this God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that we put our Interim Hope.

The Rev Dr Robert D. Nix, Jr. is the Interim rector of St. John's Church
in Glyndon, MD
ChipNix@aol.com

Subscribe
Get a bi-weekly summary of Anglican news from around the world.
comments powered by Disqus
Trinity School for Ministry
Go To Top