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An open letter to those who aspire to become Vice-Moderator of the 219th General Assembly - part II

(cont.)

You will eventually be confronted by people who are disillusioned and/or angry about their perceived direction of the church as you interpret recent actions from the General Assembly. Some will write things that will be totally different from your experience although you were both at the same event. There will also be people who are praying and discerning whether to stay in this denomination. Remember when you are confronted by the hard questions and directed anger that it is not about you personally but what and who you represent as a leader in the denomination. Continue to be pastoral and show them the love and grace of God - even when this is difficult.

I would strongly encourage you to connect with people through social media/network means. We live in a technological and electronic age in which many people rely exclusively as a means to communicate with others. I cannot tell you the number of people who do not go to an established church but do follow the PCUSA virtually. Many of them are children of congregants whose parents will tell you "my son no longer goes to church but follows you on Facebook" or "my daughter reads your blog all the time." Some are pastors and church workers who want to form an alternative community for their voice to be heard. And some yet are either no longer in the church or agnostic/atheists who somehow want to be in conversation. And these are people you may or may not have known or heard of but they still strive to have some connection to a community of faith. Whether it is Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, a blog or an occasional email let people know what you are doing as you tell the story and be in conversation. 

Be thankful and show appreciation for those who work at the Presbyterian Center at 100 Witherspoon Street. They often find themselves in a difficult situation in changing times and unfortunately too many label the people who work there as "them." From Linda Valentine (GAMC) and Gradye Parsons (OGA) down to the Administrative Assistants and even those who maintain and clean the place, make sure you thank them and show appreciation for their work because they do a wonderful job and great service to keep everything together.

Last of all - spend time with the people. Wherever you go people will want to talk to you. They will want you to tell them your hopes for our church and they want to share their hopes and dreams about the denomination and local ministry setting. They will want to take you out to dinner after a long day of meetings, invite you into their homes after you preach or take you out on the town when you have a few free hours. You will hear opinions from those who are dyed-in-the-wool Presbyterians and those who have recently joined a Presbyterian Church. They will represent the diversity of our denomination. Spend time with them. Listen to them and their stories. Pray for them. Be a ministry of presence.

As you enter into this exciting time in preparation of the election of the Moderator on July 3, may God continue to lead and guide you. My prayer will be that God will use you to bring glory to God and be a witness to the ministry and mission of our denomination as the Vice Moderator of the 219th (2010) General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Peace,

Rev. Dr. Byron A. Wade, Vice-Moderator of the 218th (2008) General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

An open letter to those who aspire to become Vice-Moderator of the 219th General Assembly - part I

[Photo: Muffet]

May 16, 2010

My friends,

It is with great pleasure that I first begin this letter with a hearty congratulations and blessings! It is undoubtedly a privilege  to be chosen as a Presbytery Commissioner to the upcoming 219th General Assembly in Minneapolis and accepting the invitation from a Moderator candidate to be their Vice-Moderator candidate of choice. I am sure that you may have been surprised and/or taken aback by the invite of a person that you may or may not know. I assume you have prayed to God for direction, talked with family, church and friends and have by one way or another received confirmation that God is calling you to stand for this position. In preparation you have talked with your Moderator candidate about what could/will happen as you forge a relationship. You have talked with past or current Moderator/Vice-Moderators to get their insight. You have probably by now have allowed yourself to actually think about or visualize being in the position and the impact it may have on your ministry, work, church and families. This is a time when you get to dream how God will use you and the Moderator to do God's work representing the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for the next two years. However out of the five of you only one will have the honor and distinction on the night of July 3 of standing next to the newly elected Moderator on the platform. Only one will feel the honor, humility and responsibility of being confirmed as a leader in our church for the next two years. I remember it very well as it was one of the greatest moments in my life.

Over these last two years I have learned a lot about the church and myself in witnessing the vast ministry and mission of the Presbyterian Church both nationally and internationally. As my term is coming to an end I felt that it is my responsibility to pass on a few things that may serve to give you more wisdom and advice as you seek to fulfill this role. First of all I hope that you will develop a strong prayer life. You will be on the road quite a bit away from a regular church worship schedule, a family that supports but misses you at the same time, and other responsibilities that have to be delayed. Continue to pray for God's guidance for those you are leaving behind and for daily strength as you travel. Secondly, act like you are part of a team. Support the platform/views/dreams of the Moderator. Whether you like it or not people will associate you with him/her wherever you go. You don't necessarily have to believe the same things exactly but it is better that both of you are NOT polar opposites. 

There will be times when the Moderator will not be able to attend all invitations and s/he will ask you to go - and the inviter's don't want you because they wanted the Moderator. Be assured that it is not personal, it's just people want to hear from their elected leader (you are confirmed, not elected). Continue to be encouraged and prepare yourself for the next opportunity. Which leads to the next item - always be prepared. Whether you are preaching a sermon, doing a bible study, leading a workshop, etc. make sure you know what is being asked of you and do it well. If you are an extrovert (like me) this position is tailor-made for you. If you are an introvert you will have to do some adjusting because from the time you get to your destination until the time to depart you are continually "on." Do not be afraid of letting your inviter's know that you need some down time to relax and re-energize. . . 

Part II will be the next blogpost

The Democratic Republic of the Congo - Part IV

PCUSA/PW delegation - Bottom Row: Alice Wyatt, Me, Karolina Kosa, Kathy Reeves, Debbie Braaksma, Yvonne Hileman. Top Row; Jeffrey Boyd, Doug Welch.

After returning to Kinshasha from Mbuji Mayi in the evening we made our way back to MPH where dinner was served. We were a tired but happy bunch to be back in Kinshasha for our last few days in the DR Congo. 

The next morning we were excited to attend Palm Sunday services in another country! Our delegation attended worship at CPK Binza/Brikin pastored by Rev. Berthe Nzeba Kalombo, who is also the President of the Department of Women and Families for the ECC (Church of Christ in Congo). It was a small and lively congregation that had a guest evangelist who preached a great sermon! Afterward we were hosted to a great lunch full of my favorite foods including cooked caterpillar with squash seeds. Unfortunately I missed out only because I was too late in getting some ;-)

Roll your cursor over the pictures for further descriptions (NOTE: All pictures in this blogpost are courtesy of Yvonne Hileman of Presbyterian Women) 

After church our delegation along with the leadership of the CPK began the joint consultation to discuss issues pertinent to both parties. Included was our joint agreements, methods of training future mission workers and plans for the future. I had the wonderful opportunity to co-moderate the meeting with the Rev. Emmanuel Kande Tshiamala, Moderator of the CPK.  It was a long but fruitful 24-hour meeting. 

The next day was leaving day. We spent some time in downtown Kinshasha and delivered our bags to an Air France office before we boarded our plane for the 24-hour ride home. With our first stopover in Paris Yvonne, Kathy and Alice parted ways with Doug, Debbie and myself and on arrival in Cincinnati the three of us parted ways and I made it back to Raleigh safely. 

Undoubtedly I had a wonderful time on this 2-1/2 week trip to the Congo. I learned so much about the mission and ministry of both the CPK and the CPC. They are led by strong leaders and I have hope for the future that God will continue to bless their plans. I am also indebted to Doug Welch and Jeffrey Boyd who really gave us the "lay of the land." And of course I would be remiss if I did not recognize the work of Presbyterian Women. They are to be commended for their support of schools, projects and Women's work! I pray that it will not be my last time in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

The Democratic Republic of the Congo - Part III

[Photo: Pieter Baert]

(NOTE: All the following pictures in this post are courtesy of Yvonne Hileman from Presbyterian Women)

After a few days in Kananga we had a real exciting trip ahead of us to the city of Mbuji Mayi to visit the CPC in the East Kasai region. We were told about this trip all week so we had to get our minds and psychics in order. Basically we were going to be riding in a SUV for a 12-hour trip. How many miles is the distance between the two cities you may ask? About 110 - 120 miles. In essence it took roughly an hour to travel a mile. Keep in mind there are minimal (to put it lightly) paved roads and we traveled through village, water puddles, and stopped to visit as well. To give you a sense of the travel -

Top and Bottom: Pictures of our trip to Mbuji Mayi

On our way to Mbuji Mayi we stopped to visit three places: Lake Munkamba, a former home for missionaries where PCUSA Mission Workers John and Glenda Fletcher were vacationing with new mission workers Bob and Kristi Rice; the town of Tshia Tshia Tshia where we visited a CPC church and primary school; and a brief stop in Kabeya Kamuanga to visit Project of Development in East-Kasai (PRODEK), a development project which teaches people how to grow and cultivate Palm trees and extract palm oil from the palm nuts for sustenance. These projects were heavily funded by Presbyterian Women. Upon arrival in Mbuji Mayi we stayed at the Tarmac Hotel, a quaint one-story facility near the airport. 

The next few days we visited several places. I had accepted an invitation to preach at CPC Diulu where the Rev. Marcel Tshibemba Tshimpaka is the pastor. They had a worship service just for our group's presence and the church was packed out - on a Friday morning no less! I preached and it was translated into the Tshiluba language by Rev. Dr. Mulumbu Mukundi, the General Secretary of the CPC. Then our entire delegation was introduced to the congregation. We had a great time!

Congregation of CPC Diulu

Rev. Mulumbu Mukundi translating my sermon

Introduction of our delegation to the congregation

Over the next few days we visited a lot of missions - the CPC's Department of Women and Families facility headed by Mrs. Sabine Mukundi Kalonji; the Presbyterian Hospital of Mbuji Mayi and construction of new guest quarters and a homeless shelter for young children of the CPC Dibindi congregation. In addition we had the opportunity to attend a soccer game in which the best under-20 women's soccer player in the Congo is a member of the CPC Diulu congregation. She was on a girls' team that played a all-boys team and gave them a run for the money! We learned a lot about the treatment of women, witchcraft and the orphaned in this country. I would ask that you keep them in your prayers.

In our short time we has a wonderful time in Mbuji Mayi. We were fed each day by Rev.Tshibemba's wife who prepared delicious food. Thanks be to God for our brothers and sisters in the Congo for their great faith and hospitality!

Next post will be on our return trip to Kinshasha. Stay tuned!

A return visit and World Fair Trade Day

Hey all,

Hope you are doing well ;-) Wanted to let you know about my whereabouts as of late. I have been back home getting re-acclimated to my congregation and family life. But I did make a short return visit back to Covenant Presbyterian Church in Wendell, NC last evening. When I was there in September 2009 I was asked to come back and share experiences from my international visits to Latin American and the Congo. The previous meeting was held in their fellowship hall but yesterday the first Wednesday night gathering was held at Wendell Park - and it was a beautiful day for it! We had some good 'ol red hot dogs and great picnic food. Then I gave a report on the mission and ministry of our denomination in those countries as well as our work with partner denominations in Colombia, Venezuela and Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was good to be back with them and I hope to come back one more time after the Vice-Moderator term is over.

On another note, I hope that you will participate if not promote World Fair Trade Day on Saturday May 8. For those of you who are not familiar with Fair Trade it is a trading partnership that seeks greater equity in international trade. It helps in sustainable development by securing and protecting the rights of workers as well as forging better trading conditions (Information above provided by WFTO). Melanie Hardison, Associate of the Enough for Everyone in the Presbyterian Hunger Program posted a wonderful prayer in her blogpost -

Holy God, you create the world and call it good. On this World Fair Trade Day we turn our hearts to the millions of people around the world who make their living as creators - weavers and wood carvers, painters and potters, farmers and factory workers, harvesters and handcrafters. Inspire us to create a Fair Trade world, so that none go hungry or lack opportunity to develop their full potential. Forgive us the ways we consume thoughtlessly and forget you as Creator of All. 

Grant us the will each day to choose wisely the products we consume, keeping your precious people and planet in mind with each decision we make. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

I hope that you will take the opportunity read her blogpost and to find World Fair Trade Day events located near you. Have a great weekend!

Unless the LORD builds a house . . .

UPDATED - MAY 4, 2010

On Sunday afternoon I traveled to Kinston, NC for a very special occasion. I had the honor of being the guest preacher for the Service of Rededication of the Sanctuary for White Rock Presbyterian Church, a small African-American congregation in the Presbytery of New Hope. I have been greatly blessed by this congregation and its pastor Rev. Maurice Barnes over the years as we have done a few things and shared a few church members over the years. It is also a church that is very active in the presbytery with congregants who are very active at the Presbytery level. The joy of participating in this service was that they had the opportunity to share in this mission with First Presbyterian Church of Kinston. A few years ago the "Missions Team Handyman Workgroup" of First decided to stay close to home and do repairs after traveling abroad to places such as New Orleans and West Virginia. They heard that White Rock had undertaken a major renovation project to restore and preserve the historic building which was built in 1858 by First Baptist Church. In 1899 it became the home of the White Rock congregation. The Missions team from First Kinston offered to assist White Rock in the restoration and repairs of the church. Each day for a week the Missions team came to the church from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and a team of women from White Rock provided homemade food each day. I know the Kinston team ate good! Most of all it showed how God's people are moved by the Spirit to work together as these two congregations are totally different - White Rock being smaller and African-American and First Kinston larger and predominately White. Quite often the history of race and race relations in the South garners much attention but this is a testament as to what God can do to break down those barriers. To read more about this story click here.

The Rev. Maurice Barnes, pastor of White Rock Presbyterian Church, left, thanks Larry Landry, right, mission team leader of First Presbyterian Church, and team members, back from left, Meredith Swann and Bill Smith (Photo by Kinston.com)

Unfortunately I arrived a little late - it's a 90 minute drive from Raleigh to Kinston - but the congregation was patient and stayed for me. The White Rock choir sang two "old" spiritual songs, "To God be the Glory" and "God is a Good God.' I felt as if I were at a mini-revival and the songs served to give me some inspiration. There were remarks from our Executive Presbyter/Stated Clerk Barbara Campbell-Davis; Mr. Bill Smith from the Kinston Mission Team; Mr. Bob Worthington, the General Contractor, and some long-time members of the congregation. Did I mention quite a few of the Mission Team members and congregants from the Kinston church were in attendance? I preached on Nehemiah 2:17-20 focusing on the verse "Let us begin building!" (NRSV). Afterward we had a repast in the fellowship hall before getting back on the road home with one of my elders, Mr. John Penix.

I want to thank the White Rock congregation for the invitation and my prayer is that both congregations will continue to build on a great relationship!

The Way Ahead . . .

 [Photo: Incessant Flux]

 Well my friends, Bruce and I have only two more months as Moderator and Vice-Moderator of the 218th (2008) General Assembly. Trips are slowing down for me and Bruce is traveling on the road quite a bit as we head toward the219th General Assembly. Both of us can say that we have had a wonderful time witnessing the mission and ministry of the PCUSA the past two years. 

 As you may be aware there are three candidates standing for Moderator -Jin Kim, Cindy Bolbach and Maggie Lauterer with the possibility of a fourth candidate entering in the fray. In addition the Moderators and Vice-Moderators have been selected for the 18 General Assembly Committees. Presbytery Commissioners have been chosen and are just now receiving their individual committee assignments. Things are coming into place and I ask that you keep the Assembly and its business in your prayers.

My next Vice-Mod trip will be to the Presbytery of Philadelphia the fourth weekend of May to visit a Women's Empowerment Project that helps women with self-improvement projects. I am looking forward to this trip partly because I was scheduled to visit during Valentine's Day weekend but the accumulation of snow was just too much. I am glad they asked me back!

Over the next few weeks since I have some time on my hands I will do quite a bit of blogging. Be on the lookout for the following blogposts:

*my trip to Philadelphia

*Part III of "It's Not Where You're From but Where You're At"

*A post named "How Reformed are You?"

*A post named "What about the Middlers?"

*finish the posts on my experience in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

*A last invitation to you for a Skype meeting with yours truly.

 . . . and many others. So stayed tuned!

 

The boat is gone!

[Photo:***Bud***]

Hey all,

Didn't know if you had the opportunity to read this PCUSA News article about my keynote address at Clearwater 2010 in Minnesota recently. Thanks to my friend Duane Sweep for writing this.

Enjoy!

------------------------------------------

The boat is gone

Wade says this is ‘not your mother and father’s church anymore’

BY DUANE SWEEP
SPECIAL TO PRESBYTERIAN NEWS SERVICE

DEERWOOD, Minn. — The Rev. Byron Wade, vice moderator of the 218th (2008) General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), looked out on his audience at the Clearwater 2010 conference here, and asked for a show of hands from the “boomers.”

He told them, “You are the last generation that goes to church on a regular basis.”

In an April 17 address on change in church, Wade spoke about a church in a foreign land. The conference had the theme, “Finding Our Way in the Wilderness.”

“We’re going through something in the church,” Wade said. “Our current church is in a foreign culture. ... You can’t put the same old thing in a new culture and expect it to survive.”

Wade used the example of the cruise-ship captain who advises travelers to take their cameras with them when they leave the ship in port. Why? So they can look at the pictures and remember what it was like if they miss the boat when it leaves.

“This is not your mother and father’s church anymore. The boat is gone,” Wade said.

A minister’s Sunday sermon is now only one of many ways, enhanced by modern technology, that a pastor interacts with his or her congregation, Wade said. The library is being replaced by Google. He asked his audience to remember their years in college, a time of receiving letters in the mail and paying someone to type class papers.

“Those days are gone forever,” he said.

He contrasted the “modern era” characterized by single truth, central authority and standardized worship with the “post-modern era” of shifting world views, changing power bases and more expressive forms of worship.

“We’re going from control of chaos to people living with ambiguity,” Wade said. We are becoming a community that is “contextually responsive.”

Though the world continues to change, Wade — pastor of Davie Street Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, N.C. — used three biblical texts to inform his view of church transformation. He cited Romans 12:2, which calls on the church to be transformed; 1 Corinthians 12:27, pointing to the diversity within the body of Christ; and Matthew 28:16-20, where Christ commissions the church to make disciples.

“The wilderness is not a bad thing,” Wade said, pointing out that the church can transform “only through the help of God the Spirit.”

With that guidance, Wade said, church transformation requires vision, leadership and change.

Vision comes through discerning God’s calling for the church. It is developed around the question, Wade said, of “what is God calling us to do?” The vision is vital, he said, because “if you don’t know where you’re going, you won’t get there.”

Leadership, he said, is “the essence of how things run.” Leaders must encourage broad participation in the vision and change process because without participation there is dissension.

“You hear people say, ‘I would be more willing to change if you would include me in the change,’” Wade said.

Another important element in bringing about change is the recognition of loss — loss of culture, history and tradition. “The reason we cannot change is that we haven’t recognized that someone else is going to lose something,” Wade said.

The recognition of loss must take place and those who will suffer loss need to be included in the change process, Wade said.

“We live in a totally different world,” Wade said. “We are now in a foreign place,” and vision, leadership and change, led by God the Spirit, are required for survival.

“We don’t change for change’s sake,” Wade said. “Change is hard.”

The biennial conference at Presbyterian Clearwater Forest, a camp on the shore of the lake that bears the Clearwater name, is sponsored by the presbyteries of Minnesota Valleys, Northern Waters and Twin Cities Area, and the Synod of Lakes and Prairies.

In addition to Wade, other conference leaders were the Rev. Carol Howard Merritt, author of Tribal Church: Ministering to the Lost Generation; J. Andrew Dearman, longtime professor of the Old Testament at Austin (Texas) Presbyterian Theological Seminary and now director of Fuller Theological Seminary’s regional campus in Houston, Texas; and Diana Stephen, former associate for network support for rural and small church ministries of the PC(USA).

Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, Strawberry Point, Iowa, led conference worship.

A Kansas City weekend

(Photo: PieOMike)

Last night I returned from a Vice-Mod trip to Kansas City, MO/KS (KC) and Heartland Presbytery. I had not been to KC in twelve years since I was the Keynote speaker for the Synod of Mid-America's Senior High Retreat at Heartland Presbyterian Center. So I was glad to get back and visit once again.

I left home for Kansas City late Friday evening and was met at the airport by Rev. Kirk Perucca, the pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church and the current Moderator of Heartland Presbytery's Peacemaking Committee. Kirk and I actually met 10 years ago when we (along with Moderator Bruce) were on the 2000 Peacemaking Conference Planning Team that met at Chapman College (now University) in Orange, CA. He took me to my hotel, the Embassy Suites - Plaza. Very nice hotel! The next day Kirk picked me up and we drove to Village Presbyterian Church which is on the Kansas side of the city for the Presbytery's Annual Festival of Peacemaking. This year it was combined with the PW Spring Gathering of the Presbytery. I sat in on their meeting and I tell you what - it was the fastest and most organized meeting I have ever sat in! They did not take long, got down to business and it was over in a snap! After a small break, the Festival began with a time of worship and my keynote presentation on the theme "Christ's Call to Discipleship and Peacemaking." Later on I lead a workshop on "Upcoming General Assembly Issues' which was well attended. During the conference I met a lot of people that I have not seen in a long time and the conference went very well. Later on that evening, my friend and classmate from Presbyterian School of Christian Education, Carla Hilton, who is the Director of Christian Education and Youth Ministries at Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church took me out and we went to the Skies Restaurant at the top of the Hyatt Regency. As we hung out in the lounge area the restaurant rotates around so you can see the view of the entire city. That was cool!

The next day (Sunday) I went to Second Presbyterian Church and did a town hall meeting with the Adult Sunday School class. There were quite a few people there and we had a good discussion on the future of the church. Afterward I was whisked away so I could preach at Covenant Presbyterian Church for their 100th Anniversary celebration. Covenant is a multi-racial congregation that is rediscovering their mission and ministry and they are great people! Kirk was called as their new pastor the end of March and I am certain that God will continue to bless their ministry. I was really glad that my friend, Rev. Jarrett McLaughlin, Associate Pastor for Mission and Yong Adult Ministry at Village Presbyterian came to worship. I have know Jarrett and his wife Meg for some years now since he was on the New Hope Presbytery Youth Council and she was an undergraduate at UNC-Chapel Hill. Both Jarrett and Meg were part of a delegation to Haiti in which I was one of the leaders. For lunch Kirk, Jarrett and I went to Arthur Bryant's BBQ Restaurant and had some kickin' ribs! Trust me - it was all that and I hope the next time you are in KC you will put that on your calendar to eat ;-) Kirk also took me to the Negro Leagues Baseball and American Jazz museums and that was a lot of fun to see that history. There were some things I learned about the plight of African-Americans in baseball. Then it was back home to Raleigh.

Thanks once again to all of the great people of Heartland Presbytery and may God continue to bless all of you!

(Photo: kanigma)

Clearwater 2010 - ya you betcha!

Last night I returned home from the great state of Minnesota after a wonderful weekend at the Clearwater 2010 Conference (I filled in for Moderator Bruce who answered the call to travel to Haiti). This is an educational event that is sponsored by the Presbyteries of Minnesota Valleys, Northern Waters, Twin Cities and the Synod of Lakes and Prairies and occurs every other year at the Presbyterian Clearwater Forest Camp and Conference Center in Deerwood, MN. I have to say that this is a great facility located 120 miles north of Minneapolis in the beautiful countryside. The camp sits on 1,100 acres of land with a lake in the middle. The scenes were breathtaking!

This year's theme was "Finding Our Way in the Wilderness", speaking about the present state of today's church and where do we go from here. I was one of three Keynote speakers along with Andy Dearman of Fuller Theological Seminary and my friend Carol Howard Merritt of Washington, DC. Unfortunately I arrived later than expected on Friday evening due to flight delays, had to rent a car and drive the two hours up to camp. I arrived at the beginning of Andy's keynote on examining the scriptural witness of being in the wilderness. Saturday morning Carol began her keynote examining the nature of Youth and Young Adults who are living in the wilderness and how churches can include them in the community of faith. Following her, my keynote presentation was on how the church has changed examining the periods of modernity and post-modernity and what will be required for us to go into the future. I think all three of us had a good time with very interesting questions from the participants. That afternoon we three along with Diana Stephen who is currently working in the PCUSA's Office of Small Church and Community Ministry led two conversation workshops. My particular workshop dealt with how do we navigate the church through the various present changes and challenges as Presbyterians and Reformed people. Later on that evening I gave a "State of the Church" address with questions and answers from the participants.

   
Pictures of Carol Howard Merritt and I during morning keynote presentations (Photos courtesy of Dawn Linder)

The next morning Andy, Diana and I were part of a panel discussion in which the participants could ask us anything they wanted. Mostly they were questions about our presentations and/or workshops. That was really interesting as we fielded a variety of questions. One of the things I said in my keynote was the presence of the Islamic faith and how it is one of the fastest growing religions in the United States. That was a good and instructive discussion. We ended with a wonderful worship service with communion led by our Music/Worship director Richard Bruxvoort Colligan from Strawberry Point, IA. The worship we experienced was more low-key and contemplative with moments of silence and songs from various traditions which I received a lot out of that. Thanks to him and his God-given gift of leading worship. Then I made the trek back to the Minneapolis airport and home.

Other than the presentations, I had a wonderful time just hanging out and spending time with the participants. I met people from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and North and South Dakota. We also had a participant each from the United Methodist and Lutheran (ELCA) denominations. Each has a love for the church and its ministries and definitely thought Clearwater was a great place. I also learned to speak a few words of Minnesotan in which I hope to be fully fluent by General Assembly in July! Thanks again to all who made this trip great for me and God bless!