Words of encouragement and support for those ministering "in the fields."

It seems like I’ve spent way too much time in airports this year. Just before last year’s Annual Meeting I began my term on the cabinet of the UCC Council of Conference Ministers, which has meant more meetings at the national offices in Cleveland as we have engaged with issues ranging from the future of the Insurance Boards to the reactions to General Synod resolutions.

There are those who might ask whether I don’t have enough here in Northern California and Nevada to keep me busy. And the assurance I would offer is that there’s more than enough.

But, there’s also this covenantal relationship that exists among all the settings of the United Church of Christ, and there’s this directive in my position description that I “speak to the many settings of the United Church of Christ about the concerns and hopes our Conference holds for our church and the world.”

So I have found myself racking up the Rapid Rewards points in 2005-2006.

Let me tell you a little about the position description which shapes my role as your Conference Minister. It begins with the simple statement that “The Conference Minister serves as spiritual leader and chief executive officer of the Northern California Nevada Conference.”

It goes on to line out 22 functions that go with this particular vocational territory. The first 13 elements are matched to either the “spiritual leader” or “chief executive officer” heading; the final 9 cluster under the caption, “in both aspects.”

It is “in both aspects” of my office—both pastoral and administrative—that I am called upon to:

• interpret the mission and vision of the United Church of Christ.
• represent the United Church of Christ throughout the Conference and in ecumenical and interfaith settings.
• as well as speak to the many settings of the United Church of Christ about the concerns and hopes our Conference holds for our church and the world.

Some of this goes on within NCNC, but, obviously, some of it takes me beyond “here” and beyond “us here” to “us there” and “them there.” Which is, of course, the nature of all ministry, not just Conference Ministry.

It’s kind of a ligament thing. Ligaments, as theologically cited in Ephesians 4: 16, are flexible; they attach our muscles to our bones, allow us to move, to grow, to pick up and carry, to go beyond where we now are, to pull us up and out when we are stuck. Ligaments make us strong, let us progress, and keep us connected. And I thank you for the joy of being called to attend to our UCC ligaments.

                                                                                                          ~ Mary Susan

Your comments are welcome
Send to msgast@ncncucc.org