"NEXT STEPS"
Donna Giver Johnston
April 27, 2007
Joshua 6
Let Us Pray: God, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts, be found acceptable to you, O Lord, our Rock and Our Redeemer. Amen.
The Senior Pastor’s office is empty. There is no tapestry hanging on the wall, no laptop open on the desk, no books on the shelves, no robe (alb) hanging on the back of the door.
We have come to a time of change at FPC of Findlay, Ohio– a time of transition. You all didn’t choose this time (neither did I), but it has come. All pastors have "closings" in their ministries as well as "beginnings." Closings are often sad times – and they can be difficult -- but closings always come.
And being the Presbyterians we are, we trust that all of this is within God’s providential oversight – part of God’s own PLAN.
The scripture for today’s sermon comes from Old Testament; it is a story about when the people of Israel – God’s people – were in a transition time.
This story offers us an opportunity to talk about …
PLANS FOR GOD’S PEOPLE IN TIMES OF TRANSITION
AND
WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM GOD’S PEOPLE
DURING TIMES OF TRANSITION
In this story from the Book of Joshua, the people of God were sitting on the edge of Canaan, the Promised Land, and the TRANSITION was to be
From their 40 years of life wandering in the wilderness… to a life within a land of their very own.
Of course I’m NOT saying that you have been wandering in the wilderness nor that you are about to be led into the Promised Land.
What I AM saying is that we can learn from Israel’s transition, how we can best use this transition time…
The first & most important lesson is: #9; WITH GOD, THERE IS NO IMPOSSIBLE OBJECTIVE!
If Jericho were the only illustration of that truth, it would be illustration enough, but Jericho is only ONE among many examples where this is true. There is no impossible objective for God!
Think of the Red Sea. The people of God were coming out of Egypt and found themselves trapped between the enemy and the waters. To get away from the enemy was impossible. To get across the sea was not even thinkable. But God, by a miracle, accomplished it!
Now was the time to go into the Promised Land. But the city and forces of Jericho stood in the way. And God, by divine power, did more than the people could ask or imagine. God broke down the walls and laid bare the enemy.
So, whatever is our situation, problem, or time of transition…God is BIGGER than ANY situation or problem or time. And God will enable us to handle our situation and our transition.
Jesus said, "…with God all things are possible." (Mt 19:26)
SO NEXT, WE NEED TO ASK: WHAT IS EXPECTED OF US, GOD’S PEOPLE, DURING A TRANSITION TIME?
This story offers some important principles that apply to us.
WHEN THERE IS A TASK, WE NEED A PLAN!
In this story we see the importance of a detailed plan. All were to march around the city once a day, for six days. There would be seven priests – and seven ram’s horns. The blowing of the horns would be continuous. The Ark of the Covenant would be in the procession. And no one was to speak during the marching.
On the seventh day they would march around the city seven times. There would be a long trumpet blast. All the people would shout. And the people would charge the city. And there were detailed instructions regarding what would be done with the people and possessions of that city.
Well, in the Jericho tradition, the Presbyterian Church (USA) and Maumee Valley Presbytery have a PLAN for times such as this.
First an Interim Pastor is hired by the Session. I am meeting with the Session-appointed search committee after worship to begin this step in the process. And then, led by the Session, the congregation undertakes a self-study, a congregational mission study.
MVP’s Policy on Self-Study begins with these words: "Few moments in the life of the local church are as important as those during which pastoral change occurs. These are moments for the congregation to pause, evaluate, and redirect itself, its life and its ministry. What happens in the period between the exit of one minister and the entrance of another, determines, in large part, the degree of stability, happiness, and progress of a congregation for many years to come."
The congregation needs this interim time…
To grieve the personal loss of a pastor
To re-evaluate the church’s ministry and mission, which is the purpose of the self-study
To search for new pastoral leadership
The Presbytery, through my office and the Committee on Ministry, stand ready to help you.
After the self-study is completed, the next step is to search for the next called and installed pastor. In this step:
The congregation elects a PASTOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE which is representative of the whole congregation.
The Pastor Nominating Committee is a committee of the congregation. It is responsible to YOU. It should make informational reports to the Session, but its official reporting and responsibility is to the congregation.
The PNC will have resources available to it along with a representative from the Committee on Ministry to work with. Sometimes the question is asked: Why is the Presbytery involved in a search for a pastor for a local congregation? The answer is simple. Pastors are not members of a local church; they are members of the Presbytery. Since the pastor will be your pastor, you are primarily involved through your Pastor Nominating Committee. And since he or she will be a member of the Presbytery, the Presbytery is involved, through the Committee on Ministry.
There is a plan for your PNC to get names of candidates. You as individuals may suggest names. Through its placement system, the denomination will suggest names. And individuals contact the PNC or the Presbytery and ask to be considered for the position.
The plan includes an opportunity for you to meet the person your PNC would like to call. AND, the congregation must vote to call the new pastor, usually after hearing him or her preach.
Most Important Step in the plan REQUIRES YOUR REGULAR PRAYERS. I CANNOT STESS ENOUGH THE IMPORTANCE FOR EACH OF YOU TO PRAY FOR GOD TO GUIDE THE PNC AND PRESBYTERY TO THE PERSON GOD HAS CHOSEN TO BE YOUR NEXT PASTOR! I have been in 3 searches – PNC in Athens, GA; EPSC for NE GA Presbytery; my own search, and involved with many churches in transition during the past 6 years as the GP. I assure you the most important, critical & vital next step is your prayer life.
44 steps from back of sanctuary to chancel & 12 steps from lectern to pulpit: each one was a prayer for you!
Remember in the Jericho story, it was so important for all details of the plan to be followed; and I believe that if one person did not take seriously all the steps, there could have been confusion for the whole group. That lets you know how important each one of you is in this process!
DISCIPLINE GOES HAND IN HAND ALONG THE WAY!
EVEN IF there seems to be no particular way in which a certain discipline moves you towards your goal.
For example, the people of Israel were told to march in complete silence. Discipline was required. Some could have said, "What’s the use of all this?" "I don’t see how this is going to do any good." "This is a waste of time." "Is there a shortcut?" Logically, they could have been correct. Yet discipline played a part in their victory.
At times like this, people will question the discipline of regular participation in worship, or Sunday school, or regular devotions and prayer, or the giving of time and talents to the mission and ministry of this church.
And there will be questions about what needs to happen or about the many seemingly innocuous details of the work of the Presbytery and the PNC.
THOUGH SOMETHING MAY NOT SEEM TO MOVE YOU TOWARD YOUR OBJECTIVE, IT MAY BE AS NECESSARY AS THAT QUIET MARCHING AROUND JERICHO.
There’s another phrase in the Jericho story which is applicable in this time. The phrase tells us that there are some things which must be…"Devoted to the Lord for Destruction" 6:17. In one of the translations I read, the explanatory note for the Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord… surrendering to God
This was the case with the city of Jericho. It was to be "devoted to the Lord for destruction." The onward move of God’s people was not to be diverted by the gleaming possessions of the city of Jericho.
In our personal lives this principle applies as well. Anything which diverts us from a straightforward move toward God’s will -- must be surrendered. Such things may be personal weaknesses (fears & insecurities) – or even personal strengths – or possessions… anything that forms a barrier to our following God’s will must be surrendered to the Lord.
The self-study is a good time to look at who you are and what you do: traditions, programs, customs, habits, norms. ASK for each…
IS THIS STILL GOOD - OR NECESSARY?
SHOULD WE CONTINUE WITH THIS OR THAT ACTIVITY?
SHOULD WE START SOMETHING NEW?
IS "WE’VE ALWAYS DONE IT THAT WAY" A GOOD REASON TO CONTINUE DOING IT THE SAME WAY?
And you may need to say, "Lord, here are some things which have served us well and we are grateful for the experiences they have provided, but we surrender them to you now as we move on!"
ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHICH MUST BE SURRENDERD IS ANY ONGOING PASTORAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JOHN WURSTER. GOD LED YOU TO JOHN. HE SERVED YOU WELL, AND YOU WILL MISS HIM. I WILL TOO. YOU’LL HAVE THE URGE TO CALL HIM, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME OF CRISIS. BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT CLINGING TO A FORMER PASTOR WILL PREVENT YOUR ESTABLISHIG A SIMILAR OR EVEN BETTER RELATIONSHIP OF LOVE AND TRUST WITH YOUR NEW PASTOR.
THERE IS EXPECTATION OF US: WE MUST BE TRUSTWORTHY
The illustration of this principle in our Jericho story comes from the spies’ promise to Rahab, that they would save her and her family – and their FULFILLMENT of that promise.
It would have been so easy for Israel to forget about Rahab. It must have taken some careful and determined plans to insure her safety. BUT, the spies had given their word. And they WERE TRUSTWORTHY IN KEEPING THAT WORD.
Not only must the members of the PNC be trustworthy in their commitment to the task before them, but each member of the congregation must be trustworthy to the vows we took when we became members here – trustworthy in the support of the whole process of searching and calling a new pastor and trustworthy in supporting the continuing ministry of this church.
FINALLY, THERE MUST BE RESPONSIBLE ACTION ON THE PART OF EVERY MEMBER OF THIS CONGREGATION
This truth comes from the statement describing the final attack on Jericho. The Scripture says that every person charged straight ahead. Every person played an important part in the accomplishment of the objective!
What a different picture from what we see today …
When half the members attend worship
When even fewer give financial support for the ministry
And even fewer to be counted on to see the ministry of the church truly is accomplished.
Some people tend to drop away waiting for the next pastor to arrive.
FROM OUR STORY WE LEARN THAT PARTICIPATION BY EACH OF US IS IMPORTANT!
This is a call for EVERY PERSON to PRAY, to be RESPONSIBLE, TRUSTWORTHY, and DISCIPLINED.
WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!
SO HOW CAN WE RESPOND IN A MANNER LESS THAN WHAT GOD EXPECTS?
GOD BLESS YOU EVERYONE DURING THIS TRANSITION.
AMEN.