“Breaking New Ground” Volume 1, Number 2

Welcome back or just a hearty welcome if this is your first time to my e-journal.  This is the second time I’m writing under the name “Breaking New Ground”.  Frankly this is sent to as many people as we have available on our email list which, this time, is larger than before because we added addresses of those who attended my Eastern District “blitz” in March.  The first time I wrote “Breaking New Ground” (“BNG”) was in January.  It is new e-journal and a new way to communicate with as many people as possible.  Its contents are intended to be shared and passed on and forwarded and even plagiarized if you like just so long as it gets lots of mileage.  It’s ok to do just that. 

“Breaking New Ground” is short for “Breaking New Ground for the Mission of Jesus Christ,” which happens to be my vision for the Eastern District, LC-MS.  This e-journal contains my observations and thoughts along my journey in and around the Eastern District and beyond.  It is my desire to get you to hear what I’m thinking and seeing and experiencing all for the sake of the mission of Jesus Christ and the know the headway we are making for sharing the wonderful ministry and mission of the Lord of the Church in our part of the world. 

By the way, “BNG” is written by me, Pastor Chris Wicher, President of the Eastern District, Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.  This e-journal is occasional.  It will come your way several times a year and no more than that.

Thank you for your time and interest and may our good Lord gracious bless the work we do for Him and in His name.

EASTER 2010

It came to my attention a few years ago that the Resurrected Jesus was always on the move.  He went from place to place showing Himself alive, even though He had died, and in control over matters life and death, offering hope and promise and forgiveness.  Remember what the Easter angel told those disciples at the tomb?  “Behold, He is going before you to Galilee!”  “He is going before you!” indeed.  Still, when I hear that phrase I  believe the disciples figured that if they wanted to see Jesus, and be with Him and near Him, they had to get “on the stick”.   “He goes before you” means not staying in one place.  They followed Jesus physically, locally, and maybe even emotionally from one place to another.  There they will find Him again and again and again.  Disciples still find the risen Jesus on the move.

People often ask me what it’s like being the new President for the Eastern District.  I find I don’t have a pat answer to that one.  In fact there are a few ways I do answer it and that depends, I suppose, on the person or situation I’m speaking to.  But mostly what I tell people is, it’s simply not the same as being in the Parish, no, not at all!  I never traveled as a Parish Pastor as I do now and that is a whole new reality.  Traveling, I’ve discovered, isn’t as easy as it seems, or thrilling either now that I’m doing it for the job.  Anything can and does happen along the way and you just have to be flexible about your situation wherever you find yourself. 

Since September I’ve driven tons of miles and flown numerous times.  No big deal but there is always a twist and turn in every journey and I come home with tall tales to tell.  Here are just a few aviation experiences I’ve had along the way: 

• I’ve sat in a plane on the Detroit tarmac for 2 hours for no apparent reason;
• Spent a night in the Newark airport;
• Missed a connection flight;
• Been ordered to open my computer and place it directly on the security belt in one place and ordered to keep my computer closed and place it in a bin and then put the bin on the security belt in another place;
• Been to a departure gate then directed to another far away gate because the airline changed its mind;
• Stood for 45 minutes at a shuttle pick up point that never came;
• Waited for my luggage at the designated carousel only to discover my luggage taking a ride for 30 minutes at the next carousel over but no one bothered to tell us;
• Had an entire glass of Pepsi end up in my lap;
• And concluded that the aisle seat is truly the preferred spot of three. 

All in all I’d say I truly have learned the meaning behind the saying “you just can’t rush travel.”  It’s true and that must be one of Murphy’s laws, I’m sure of it.  Or as they tell me in Pittsburgh, “you can’t get from one place to another without going to another place first.”  Pittsburgh, you win this traveler’s labyrinth trophy, hands down.

Speaking of travel, I’d like to think that the vision for the Eastern District carries a similar thought.  “Breaking New Ground” has a tone of movement, change, something new, a journey to a new place.  Well, that might very well be the case.  We want to move forward and break into new areas promoting Wellness, fostering Kingdom Growth, and enhancing Discipleship / Spirituality.  During the month of March I journeyed throughout the Eastern District taking with me that vision message for all to hear.  And many interested church leaders did come to those gatherings in Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Rochester, and Philadelphia.  They listened to what I had to say and gave me a few of their observations as well.  I heard concerns about: 

• IDENTITY.  We need to know ourselves, who we are in God’s name, the Priesthood of all believers;
• KINGDOM GROWTH.  We need to find out what new models for ministry work and why even as we discover anew our communities;
• DISCIPLESHIP/SPIRITUALITY.  We need to train and equip our people for works of ministry and grow in whole-life stewardship;
• PROCESS AND STRUCTURE OF VISION, SUGGESTIONS, WHAT’S NEXT.  We need to be informed about this vision’s progress, what are those ends and goals for our District and staying with our commitments; and finally
• DISTRICT IMAGE AND EXPECTATIONS.  We need to know we can turn to the District at times of need and be encouraged through better communication and visibility.

Well, I’m a traveler and this Vision process is a work in progress too.  It is my intention to share these comments with the District Board of Directors and develop with them the ends and goals for the Eastern District for the next three to five years.  The journey will continue and I invite you to come along. 

At our Circuit Counselors / Vice Presidents Conference held in Canandaigua in February Pastor Ray Malec gave these five pointers or characteristics of missional Pastors and Congregations.  Remembering that missional is the term used in the church as of late to describe those who have an earnest commitment to the mission of Jesus Christ, to tell all the world the good news of God’s love, it can be seen: 

• First, the Pastor and people are united in Christ.  Their unity exceeds but can be seen also in a common understanding of who they are by faith.  This unity goes beyond human ties and diversity.  For the sake of the Gospel and the goal of bringing more people to an eternal relationship with the Triune God by the working of the Holy Spirit, diversity is used as a tool and not a hindrance. 
• Second, the Pastor and people trust Christ’s promises.  The congregation is constantly challenged by the flesh, the world and the Devil, and only in Christ’s promises do we overcome these obstacles.  Christ is the victor.  The battle is already won for us and we Christians need to make bold and courageous decisions with wisdom and confidence in Him.
• Third, the Pastor and people trust and respect each other.  This seems so obvious and simple but it also is overlooked.  If someone has been entrusted with a task we do not need to redo or remake their decisions.  Respect means giving people space to carry out ministry tasks without overpowering them with one’s own will or desires.
• Fourth, there is leadership that can think outside of the box.  We’ve all heard the phrase “insanity is doing the same things over and over while expecting different results.”  Well, it takes a new thought or a new approach to bring about a different result.  Don’t assume that the way it’s always been done is still the best way to do it.  Try something new.  Move from place to place.
• Fifth, there is vision with flexibility.  We set out on a journey looking far down the road that might change.  Flexibility will be able to shift with factors that shift uninvited.  The only failure that is truly failure is failure to try.  But in Christ our successes and failures are counted as progress when we learn along the way.

I try to encourage individuals and congregations thinking to revitalize their ministry and to stir-up a wholesome sense of authenticity and care in their lives, to consider talking with others.  Find out what they are doing.  Have a few meetings together.  Talk among yourselves and ask things like:  What is different in our communities and our world today compared to 10 or 30 years ago; What are the strengths of our congregation; What are the threats; What opportunities for ministry are there within the congregation and the immediate community.  Pick one or two ideas and run with them for a while.  See what happens.  Take notes and then share your ideas.  Don’t try to do everything.  That will only lead to frustration and exhaustion.  Or if you want to try another approach, try bringing in someone in from the outside.  That person might be, as they say, “a fresh set of eyes” in order to see things you don’t.  That might be a very good and helpful thing.  Don’t know where to turn?  Then try the District Office.  Sometimes we can be helpful and, if we can’t, we might be able to direct you to someone who can help.  This is all part of the District’s “linking” people to people and congregations to congregations talked about in our Mission Statement. 

If you have never heard of it or seen it there’s a book called Who Moved My Cheese by Dr. Spencer Johnson that I would recommend reading and sharing with your congregation.  It is written so a fifth grader can read it but it has a great message that is hard to miss.  This book definitely is both ridiculously simple and profoundly insightful but that’s where it reaches everyone.  It’s a parable about three mice who live in a labyrinth.  One day they find their cheese – or call it their delight or joy – is gone.  The three react differently but, in the end, only that one who got up, moved, and searched, found more cheese.  Pretty simple but don’t  judge a book by its title, or cover in this case.    

It is now the Season of Easter, the time of the year when the whole Christian Church proclaims the news of Christ’s victory over death.  We believe that this message has the potent power to change lives, and it does.  It brings hope amid defeat and stirs joy even where hearts are disconcerted.  And it’s not the message that does it or the messenger but rather the One who Authored the story come to life in Jesus.  As long as the church keeps moving from place to place, from age to age, and from generation to generation it will find already there the glorious face of the Risen One who goes before us renewed and restored. 

Alleluia!  Christ is risen!  He is risen, indeed!

For your information I write a daily devotional that is sent via email.  Well, I do most days, but with the demands and travel requirements of this new job, everyday has been reduced to many days.  Anyway, if you are interested in being included on my mailing list, let me know by emailing me with that request.  I in turn will “Invite” you through my YahooGroup.  When the “Invite” comes your way a simple “click” at the designated place on the screen on your part will make it happen.  I’m not a novice at this.  To date I have written some 1,500 daily devotions for this ThoughtForANewDay Group.

 In closing let me quote from St. Paul:  “Now to God who is able to do incredibly more than all we can ask or conceive by the Holy Spirit at work among us.  To Him be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus forevermore.  Amen.”

God’s peace, my friend. 

Pastor Chris Wicher