A Little Teaser & A Game

You may have heard of the soon-to-be released publication of Fidelia's Sisters. I've already blogged about it. Perhaps you're already bored with the news. But, I'm a wee bit excited.

There will be all kinds of great columns and insights written and created by, for and in support of young women clergy. I'm writing one these articles on this Sunday night in my sweats before I go pick up a friend from the airport. It's a serial novel. Each month, there will be a new segment in the adventures of someone like us -- a young lady preacher. Her name is Lexi. She's divorced and lives somewhere in rural America. I imagine her to be something like the Simpsons. Only when her movie is released (yes, I dream that a movie will be released that actually debunks the myth of what we do) will we discover what state she actually lives in. Maybe that too will be decided by a game.

But for now, the game is simply to figure out the name of this quaint little town. I automatically go to Biblical names because I'm a big ol' Bible nerd. I lean toward Corinth because it was a racy kinda place. Oh, and it's a town in upstate NY. But, perhaps she does live in Springfield. Or perhaps she lives in Moline or Corpus Christi or... well, you decide. Where should Lexi live? Submit all entries below.

Good News in New York

A good friend in New York (and a former colleague when he was my boss at Common Ground) just sent me this New York Times article claiming that there is "only one first time for getting your name in the paper." Don't you love that? I love that he dreams so big -- not only in his personal life, but knowing that the work he does will change the world if not New York.

If you don't believe there is good news in the world today, read this for some gospel truth. My preaching professor in seminary told us to look for images of the resurrection in our everyday world. And this is surely going in my file.

Bad News

While I was on vacation, an opporunity for women in ministry became available. With the events that I attended this summer, I thought that maybe women in ministry were making some exciting changes. I thought that things were getting better. This news does not prove this point. It makes me sad. OK. It actually makes me furious. But, leave it to the boys at Southwestern Theological Seminary.

Southwestern’s Homemaking Concentration provides “practical experiences for skill development for the most important job a woman may have: the nurture and care of the family.”

The Web site describes further the intentional design of the Homemaking Concentration stating that, “It is unique in that we recognize the need to challenge women both intellectually and practically. It is our mission to equip a woman to impact women and families for Christ.”

I would love to hear thoughts on this new program. In fact, I would really like to read something published in Fidelia's Sisters. Have you heard about this upcoming publication? It's a new publication created by the board of the Young Clergy Women's Project to address issues, concerns and the abundant creativity of young women in ministry. It will be an online publication which you can watch for here. And I'm hyping it without the consent of my fellow board members (did I say I was on the board?), but I'm really excited about it the good news that is coming. The release date is October 1st. Get ready!

Letter to the Editor

Alex has inspired me to actually articulate my thoughts rather than only sharing them with colleagues and friends. Below is a Letter to the Editor responding to two different articles, entitled True Church and A Mormon president?: The LDS difference.

Musician Dan Bern sings, "And if you must put me in a box, make sure it's a big box." Upon reading the recent articles, A Mormon president?: The LDS difference and True Church, I feel that our boxes are much too small. It would be dishonest to say that the Pope's statement did not sting as much as it would be unfair to say that I have not questioned Mitt Romney's presidency. And yet, I don't feel that we are listening. We are not asking Mitt Romney fair questions. We are not asking the LDS community or even the Pope to join us at table. Instead, we are gossiping around our own dinner tables about things that we have seen and heard. We are talking about our own hurts and distrust without finding ways to engage in authentic conversation with those that we are making the other. The questions posed by the Editor begin to break down these boxes. Certainly, no one is "left off the hook." I only hope that we can find ways to rejoice with the other that we are so determined to put into a box.

Amen.

Isn't it great to hang up the phone and feel peace? I feel like it rarely happens in ministry (except when you get a new volunteer). I just hung up the phone with an old friend from seminary and I feel so relaxed.

A few months ago, I asked this friend if she would like to be Prayer Partners. She was curious and we agreed that it would be something we would try -- though we have no idea how to do it. But, today, we did it.

And it was wonderful. Isn't that amazing?

Amen.

Movements of the Spirit

The audience for this reflection is not my typical blog readers, but members of my cnurch. However, I'm thinking about many of you as I write this so I'm posting it here.

It is so important to surround yourself with people that "get" you. It is rare to find these special people who understand things about you without you having to find words to express it. And though these people are rare, you know that you have found one when it seems like you have known this person for your entire life -- when actually, you have only known them a few weeks.

Moving to a new place far from these rare people that "get" me has been tough. I would be lying if I said it was easy. So, I won't lie. It has been hard. But, the Spirit is always working. The Spirit doesn't want to hear me complain or whine. Instead, She moves me to new places to do new things.

She moved me to Hartford in the beginning of the summer where I found myself among other clergy like me. We are rare in the UCC. Currently, only 4% of ordained clergy in the UCC are under the age of 40. There are only 7 of us in Maine. I have been active in this small group of clergy since I arrived in Maine. We get together to have lunch. We email and share in the journey together. Going to Hartford, I found myself surrounded by others just like the 7 of us from Maine -- members of the 2030 Clergy Network made up of clergy under the age of 40 in the UCC. These are people that "get" me. I didn't have to say a word. They understood.

But, the Spirit wasn't done with me. For my week of continuing education, I had made plans to attend a conference entitled Preaching as Testimony: A Conference for Women Preachers under 40 at the College of Preachers in Washington DC. I was not prepared for what the Spirit presented in DC. I had come to this conference through a connection I had made through the internet (it amazes me how many connections I have on the internet). Before I had even arrived, I had agreed to be part of the board of this newly formed organization, The Young Clergy Women Project. I was uncertain that the Spirit was in this decision. But, I know that we all need those people that "get" us. So, I went to DC to see what might happen.

And the Spirit was already at work. I just didn't know it yet. I discovered other woemn like me. We were all there for the same reason. Of course, we wanted to be better preachers but the real reason that we were called to DC was for fellowship. None of us knew that this was a call until we sat down to dinner on that first night. I didn't have to say a word. They got me. And I got them. These movements of the Spirit are hard to explain. But, if it has ever happened to you that everything seems just a little too perfect, then you know what it feels like to be blessed by the Spirit. I continue to be fed by this community of women that I encountered in DC. I am inspired by the conviction of their faith. And more than anything, I'm so hopeful about the church. Who knew that this is what the Spirit wanted me to learn this summer? What did She teach you?

Marking Myself a Christian

A very good friend of mine is getting married this afternoon. I'm officiating with two other ministers that I adore. So, I'm worrying about what to wear. Obviously. What else should I be doing?

It's a luau. God bless her. There will be a pig roast and we were encouraged to dress festive. I took this seriously and bought an $8 dress that I do not especially love. But, it captures that Hawaiian fun (and isn't terribly unattractive in doing so). But, I also have the black strapless dress that would be cute and simple. And that might win with the fun shoes. Obviously.

But, all of this has me thinking about how I mark myself as a Christian. I've been thinking about this for a while now. While I understand and value the symbolism of the cross and I wear one, it's not a simple that offers me freedom. At certain times, it does work for me. But, it's not the image of liberation that really fits with who I am as a Christian. I'm really more of an Incarnational Christian than the death and ressurection stuff. I'm Passionate, but... well we can talk theology later.

So, I'm thinking about what kind of image I would like to wear upon my chest. Mostly, I have been thinking about the symbol for the Trinity which is called the Triquetra. The triquetra has three equal arcs that emphasize equality among the three Persons of the Trinity. These arcs are interwoven without a beginning or
end, like God the Alpha and Omega. No part is better. No part is primary. All parts -- Creator, Christ and Spirit -- are all one. I like that. But, I can only find charms that are just ho hum. Like this one:

So, I'm not sure I really want to wear that and I can't fin anything better. Which makes me wonder what James Avery has. No Trinity. Sniff sniff. Do you know James Avery? I love his stuff. James Avery creates some beautiful crafts -- though there are lots and lots of crosses. And as you might be guessing, I'm looking for something else. But, I did find a pretty Script Ichthus that actually looks something like an AIDS ribbon. (I kinda like that.) I admit that my seminary studies is failing me on remembering why we are all about the fish. But, James Avery explains:

The Ichthus represents an ancient symbol for Jesus. In Greek, the first letters of the words, "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior" spell ichthus, the greek word for fish. The fish symbol is one of the earliest signs for Jesus Christ and was used by early Christians as an "underground" method of identification. The ichthus also suggests the theme "fishers of men", which is what Jesus promised to make Andrew, Peter, James, and John, all fishermen by trade; if they followed Him. They were His first disciples.

I like the "underground" symbolism. Even though I don't like fish. I don't eat it. Maybe that makes it even more appropriate. I don't know...