June 6, 2011

6-6-11 Monday, 5:43 am Springfield, 71 degrees, clear and humid

My morning journaling and devotions have been hampered by my schedule affected by five days of Annual Conference meeting here in Springfield. Yesterday we had a very good Sunday at Wesley, even as our youth are travelling in Tennessee, our choir was singing downtown at Annual Conference, and our hospitality team was hosting Annual Conference. I started a four-part series on Isaiah, and will be teaching the next four Wednesday nights on the prophet.

Yesterday I had a most interesting conversation over dinner with Joe Dongell. Toward the end we discussed the M. Div. degree and the increasing percentage of seminary students who are not interested in the pastorate (now 50% or higher), but rather in a specialized ministry. I have so many unfinished thoughts from this conversation that perhaps I should write an essay to help clarify. The topics would include: why is there a decline in pastor-bound students? What is there about the current state of the church that is failing to attract the best and brightest to the ministry? What is the best role for the seminary? How can called and gifted professors keep from pointing students toward academia, and point them toward the pastorate? How can I as a pastor and a scholar make a positive, unselfish contribution to this dilemma? How can we alumni support the work of academia and cultivate the call in young followers of Christ? How can healthy, vital congregations impact the call and cultivation of the next generation of pastoral leaders? What is the best use of 72 or 96 graduate hours of instruction in the formation of a pastor? What are the new opportunities for seminaries to instruct and train lay women and men for servant leadership in the church? Many things to think about!

I Kings 1-2

David, as an old man, hands the kingdom to his son Solomon, even as his son Adonijah was establishing himself as king, gaining the loyalty of Joab, the commander of the army, and Abiathar the priest. “But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoaiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.” (verse 8) It is Nathan who instigates the conversation with Bathsheba to approach the elderly king David concerning his previous promise to hand the throne to her son Solomon. She does so, David responds favorably, and Solomon is crowned king, even as Adonijah is hosting a feast in his own honor. Adonijah’s supporters scatter, and he realizes his life is in jeopardy.

Reading these two chapters, as we are in the middle of the annual conference election of delegates to General and Jurisdictional conference, makes relevant the issues of leadership and succession in the church. Selecting the next bishop(s) begins with the election of delegates to General Conference, as the first delegate elected is considered likely to be a candidate for bishop. During this coming year, potential candidates for bishop will emerge from the annual conferences, and at the Jurisdictional conferences around the country next summer there will be the elections which determine who the incoming bishops will be. Our nation is also in the early stages of preparing to elect the next president, whether it be a second term for Obama, or a first term for someone who challenges and defeats him in the national election in Nov, 2012.

Lord, I am not in the loop for being elected to significant leadership in the church. You have called me to be a pastor, and a faithful, servant of the church I desire to be. Guide me as I journey with you during this part of my life, seeking to live with my single loyalty being to You and Your purpose for my life. Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to thee. Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise!