What if we did it in a different way?
Believe me, I know.
I get it.
Among other appointments, I served a 3 point charge,
which means charge conference meetings, charge conference planning,
and charge conference reports…times 3.
I get it.
I understand the tedium. I understand the desire to just get it done already.
To check those boxes, to go for the good feeling of seeing that red X become a green check.
I do understand.
But what if we did it differently?
What if, instead of approaching charge conference reporting as
“Let’s just get through this” we came with the goal of
“Let’s bring God to this”?
What if we approached this work as holy?
What if we and our leadership prayed about and listened for a scripture to be our guide
in this process?
For every committee, for every meeting, for every answer that we’re seeking
when discussing plans and budgets and leadership,
what if it was God’s word setting our intention, guiding us, reminding us that this is
not just busy work, it really is holy work?
What if we began in prayer asking God to choose in our spirits and in our hearts a north star
scripture to guide us in and through this process?
What if instead of getting through this, we bring God to this?
Then, our reporting and planning might become not only a look at what has been on paper,
but also a celebration of what God has done in reality. The big and small ways God has been
with and blessed our communal life… as well as the many moments of God’s faithful sustaining
through challenge and loss.
If instead of getting through this we bring God to this,
maybe leaps of faith or even a next necessary step of faith will be boldly taken
in our planning and our budgeting. Seeking the holy in this process, we may even catch a clearer vision of God’s dream for us and the churches we serve.
What if we did it differently?
What if, instead of getting through this, we bring God to this?
I am with you in this process through my prayers for you and the holy work of this season.
I pray for you individually, for your families, and for the churches you serve.
May God bless you on this charge conference journey:
with an overwhelming sense of God’s presence,
with needed wisdom and spirit discernment,
with the peace of clarity to bring order out of chaos,
and in the midst of it all…may God surprise you with joy.
Always thankful for you and the holy work we are blessed to share,
Dena
If you would like to view past editions of Grace for the Journey, follow this link: https://fairwaydistrictnc.org/category/from-the-ds/