Recently the Reverend Bruce Reyes-Chow, Moderator of 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), posted an invitation to interview him. We took him up on the invitation!
Moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow has served at all levels of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) over the past 20 years. In June 2008, Bruce was elected to service as Moderator of the 2.3 million member Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) denomination. This is the highest elected office in the denomination, and he will serve until July 2010. An ordained minister since 1995, Bruce Reyes-Chow is a 40-something-year-old Northern California native and the founding pastor of Mission Bay Community Church, a new church development of San Francisco Presbytery. Bruce says he’s a third generation Filipino/Chinese American, Oakland A's fanatic and motorcycle enthusiast. He describes himself as an “Apple Macintosh guy, mediocre guitarist and drummer and not nearly as cool or hip as he wants to be or thinks he is. He also may be single-handedly supporting the coffee industry of the SF Bay Area. Most are certain that he has never met a Social Networking Web site that he didn't like or a Social Media discussion he won't jump into.”
Here are our questions and Bruce’s answers:
Q1. Can you give an example of a time when information (data, statistical facts, etc.) about your congregation or about the community around your congregation helped you be more effective as a pastor? What information did you use and how was it helpful?
A: I have always felt that demographic data helps us to understand some bigger picture realities of a geographic community, ethnic group, age ranges, etc. At the same time, I have also found that the best way to integrate the use of demographic data about the community or church is to hold the information given with great care. If we treat these number too lightly we run the risk of turning any data into stereotypes and labeling, but if we treat these number with the care they deserve, we are given a nuanced lens through which we experience the world.
As an example is how we operate as a Session. The average age of our nine-person session is 27 years old with none having been a member of our congregation for more than three years. Knowing the general time realities of this demographic informs how and when we hold meetings: short, late evening and many sub-groups over Skype. We also understand than most may not be able to fulfill a full 3-year term so we have built a session structure that is highly adaptable and can shift on an annual basis regardless of who holds office. We build for 1-3 year cycles because we understand that our community is and will continue to be transient. The information that is extrapolated from our demographic data gives us great insights and glimpses, but is only truly effective as we experience the realties that bump up against or affirm the information.
Q2. Can you give an example of a time when information (data, statistical facts, etc.) about the PC(USA) helped you be more effective as moderator? What information did you use and how was it helpful? What information do you wish you had?
Bruce’s responses to other virtual interviews are linked here: http://www.mod.reyes-chow.com/2009/12/care-to-interview-the-moderator.html
Bruce’s Moderator blog is here: http://www.mod.reyes-chow.com/
Bruce’s personal blog is here: http://www.reyes-chow.com/
Comments