The sabbatical months gave me lots of time to ponder life and ministry. Traveling exposed me to lots of new people and cultures that jostled my mind and spirit in various ways. I'm not sure I came away with any earth-shattering revelations, but I certainly had plenty to think about as we traveled from country to country. Now, while on vacation at the tail end of the sabbatical, I'd like to reflect a bit as a way of capturing those impressions in writing.
The first reflections sounds a bit like a cliche, but here it is: "People are pretty much the same everywhere you go!" Not in a "there's nothing new or interesting about anyone" sort of way, but more like "people are fascinating and pretty amazing everywhere." I'm not sure why I kept expecting folks in other parts of the world to be essentially "different" in some way. For example, we spent considerable time with Bedouins in Egypt and Jordan. Without realizing it, I pictured some sort of primitive tribe before we arrived. I was suprised with the Bedouins just turned out to be rather ordinary (though extraordinarily hospitable) folks like us. Even the traditional long, white robes worn by our hosts when they picked us up in their Chevy were exchanged for jeans and pullovers the next day. Elsewhere, the teenagers we saw in the Jordanian desert and the Golen Heights and the Greek Islands all had cell phones attached to their hands for the purpose of rapid texting. Those are outward things, of course. More importantly, we saw people act and react and feel and express themselves in ways that seemed very familiar. Parents cared about their kids just like we do in the U.S. They disciplined them or didn't. They lost their patience. They hugged their children and knelt beside them as they gave parental advice or wiped their tears.
One of the obvious differences between people in the regions we visited is religious affiliation. In Egypt and Jordan, and Turkey, we met and interacted with Muslims. In Israel, there was a mix of Jews and Muslims (as well as Palestinian Christians, though we are not aware of meeting any.) Greeks are mostly Eastern Orthodox Christians; Italians are mostly Roman Catholic. Apart from a general awareness of the likely religous affiliation of folks we met, based mostly on geography, there was very little to distinguish people on the basis of religion. Some people were exceedingly kind. Others were rude. Most were quite gracous when we asked for some sort of help or directions to the next town. We almost never felt uncomfortable or unsafe while we traveled, and when we did it had nothing to do with religisous differences.
It's sad to me that people continue to judge others or assume they know something about their "goodness" or "badness" based on their nationality or religion. I'm aware that I had nothing to do with where I was born, and if I'm super-honest, I acknowledge that I'm a Christian primarily because I was born into a Christian family. Others were born in different places and know nothing other than their own religious tradition. That's just how things are, and there is mostly goodness to be found when meeting people who seem different. Certainly, what we all have in common is more important than our differences. The months spent far from home reminded me of that!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
End of Synod and Return Home
Life has moved at warp speed since my last post, and I am now with Leroy at a cottage on Seneca Lake in central New York State. The final day of General Synod was packed with final business sessions, last meals with friends from the New York delegation, and a concluding worship service featuring Rev. Jo Hudson as preacher. After a final debriefing on the hotel terrace, we fell alseep bed exhausted and ready for an early departure for the final leg of our trip back home.
By eight a.m. on Wednesday, July third, we lifted off for our cross-continent flight from Los Angeles to Boston. In Boston, we settled in for a two and a half hour layover. Unfortunately, I read the departures board incorrectly and we sat in the wrong gate while waiting for our flight to board. At seven minutes berore departure time, I looked up at the clock and wondered why we weren't boarding yet. A quick check of the departures board showed that we should have been seated on the other side of the terminal. We dashed up the stairs and down the long corridor to join the last few folks boarding our flight. Three minutes after we were seated, the door closed and we were taxiing down the runway! Judy Toone, our Christian education and visitation director at St. Stephens-Bethlehem, picked us up at the Buffalo airport and returned us to my car which was parked in her driveway for the past three months.
We were glad to see that our house had been well cared-for by our renters. The grass was tall, though, and required two mowings to sufficiently tame it. With my father's ninetieth birthday celebration looming on the horizon and the arrival of family members the morning after our arrival (Dad and Dorothy and my sister Karen and her husband Jerry), we did some urgent grocery shopping and organizing. Leroy cooked his famous southern fried chicken, and we concluded the Fourth of July holiday on the patio with fireworks visible in the distance.
On Friday evening, I was privileged to officiate at the marriage of our friends Rob and Christian at the Red Cross building, a beautiful gothic-styled stone mansion in Buffalo. Rob graduated from Houghton College and has a degree in youth ministry from Asbury Seminary, so we have quite a bit in common. We danced for a bit after dinner, but left pretty early - exhausted!
At mid-day on Saturday, we gathered with family and friends at Milo's Restuarant in Williamsville for my dad's birthday party. It was great to see and give big hugs to Erik and Olivia after so many months apart! Mari McNeil, my friend since middle school on Grand Island, sang songs from the era when Dad and Dorothy were young. For many years, Mari sang folk music and accompanied herself on guitar, but she has recently re-invented herself as a very successful (and talented) jazz singer. At the conclusion of lunch, we cut the cake and sang Happy Birthday to my dad.
Immediately after the birthday party, Leroy and I headed to the Finger Lakes, with Olivia following in her car. The next day, Dad, Dorothy, Karen, and Jerry came down to spend the afternoon at the lake. We swam and ate and visited a neighboring vineyard for a wine tasting. Olivia stayed on for another night. We visited Ithaca yesterday and had lunch at the famed Moosewood vegetarian restaurant. Leroy and I are enjoying these days of relaxation berore returning to our usual life (and fo me, my work) back home. I do not plan to blog about each day of vacation, but do hope to reflect here on some learnings from the months of sabbatical. So... hopefully tomorrow I'll have something else to write!
By eight a.m. on Wednesday, July third, we lifted off for our cross-continent flight from Los Angeles to Boston. In Boston, we settled in for a two and a half hour layover. Unfortunately, I read the departures board incorrectly and we sat in the wrong gate while waiting for our flight to board. At seven minutes berore departure time, I looked up at the clock and wondered why we weren't boarding yet. A quick check of the departures board showed that we should have been seated on the other side of the terminal. We dashed up the stairs and down the long corridor to join the last few folks boarding our flight. Three minutes after we were seated, the door closed and we were taxiing down the runway! Judy Toone, our Christian education and visitation director at St. Stephens-Bethlehem, picked us up at the Buffalo airport and returned us to my car which was parked in her driveway for the past three months.
We were glad to see that our house had been well cared-for by our renters. The grass was tall, though, and required two mowings to sufficiently tame it. With my father's ninetieth birthday celebration looming on the horizon and the arrival of family members the morning after our arrival (Dad and Dorothy and my sister Karen and her husband Jerry), we did some urgent grocery shopping and organizing. Leroy cooked his famous southern fried chicken, and we concluded the Fourth of July holiday on the patio with fireworks visible in the distance. 
On Friday evening, I was privileged to officiate at the marriage of our friends Rob and Christian at the Red Cross building, a beautiful gothic-styled stone mansion in Buffalo. Rob graduated from Houghton College and has a degree in youth ministry from Asbury Seminary, so we have quite a bit in common. We danced for a bit after dinner, but left pretty early - exhausted!
At mid-day on Saturday, we gathered with family and friends at Milo's Restuarant in Williamsville for my dad's birthday party. It was great to see and give big hugs to Erik and Olivia after so many months apart! Mari McNeil, my friend since middle school on Grand Island, sang songs from the era when Dad and Dorothy were young. For many years, Mari sang folk music and accompanied herself on guitar, but she has recently re-invented herself as a very successful (and talented) jazz singer. At the conclusion of lunch, we cut the cake and sang Happy Birthday to my dad.
Immediately after the birthday party, Leroy and I headed to the Finger Lakes, with Olivia following in her car. The next day, Dad, Dorothy, Karen, and Jerry came down to spend the afternoon at the lake. We swam and ate and visited a neighboring vineyard for a wine tasting. Olivia stayed on for another night. We visited Ithaca yesterday and had lunch at the famed Moosewood vegetarian restaurant. Leroy and I are enjoying these days of relaxation berore returning to our usual life (and fo me, my work) back home. I do not plan to blog about each day of vacation, but do hope to reflect here on some learnings from the months of sabbatical. So... hopefully tomorrow I'll have something else to write!
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
GS 2013 Continues
Sunday was the third day of General Synod in Long Beach. In the morning, we attended committee meetings focused on the fourteen resolutions coming to the floor of Synod. Committees of a hundred or so met to discuss and wordsmith the documents. Decisions were made on each resolution, and today (Monday) we are starting the long process of acting on each one during our plenary sessions. Most of the resolutions fall under the category of "Witness" and are ways to respond faithfully to issues like the environment, immigration and the care of returning veterans. 
Sunday worship was held in the convention hall with about four thousand present. The creative, impassioned service included a jazz ensemble, praise band, and booming organ. A procession and call to worship by members of a Samoan congregation in traditional dress started the service. A mass choir sang, many languages were spoken, and Rev. Martin Copenhaver preached. Following Communion, we were sent on our way singing "We Are Marching in the Light of God." 
Immediately following worship, many folks gathered on a wide upper balcony with others watching from below. Rev. Dave Sigmund, pastor of Seaside UCC in Torrence, California and his partner Jay Greeves exchanged marriage vows in celebration of their ten-year relationship and last week's re-instatement of marriage equality in California. When Rev. Mel White (founder of Soulforce and author of Stranger at the Gate, read the UCC marriage liturgy and asked those gathered if they would support the couple in their marriage, the response "We do!" was deafening.Last evening, most of the members of our delegation had dinner together at a nearby seafood restaurant. We were relieved to have a free evening and returned to the hotel for conversation and refreshments on the terrace.
Today, delegates are arranged around long tables in the convention hall as we work through resolutions. Following the morning plenary session, I attended a rally in support of compassionate and comprehensive immigration reform held on the front steps. UCC leaders, delegates, and visitors were joined by local immigrant advocates and a large group of Long Beach youth. We sang and heard from UCC and local leaders before the group moved on to pray and make a public witness in front of several local government buildings. Now back to work for the afternoon!
Saturday, June 29, 2013
General Synod
It is great to be in Long Beach at General Synod! Synod really is a sort of family reunion. There are folks here I love and get to see only rarely. Between the business sessions, workshops, and worship services there's a whole lot of hugging and catching up to do. Leroy is doing a marvelous job of fitting in and making new friends. It's sort of like my thirtieth college reunion; by the time it was over, he knew more people from my graduating class than I did!
The first day of Synod was mostly about getting oriented. We practiced the electronic voting system which worked a whole lot better than when it was introduced two years ago. The worship band kicked off our plenary sessions, and the preacher for opening worship last night was Neicelle Guidry Jones, associate pastor at Trinity UCC in Chicago. In the afternoon, there was a marriage equality rally held on the steps of the convention center celebrating the return of same-sex marriage to California just one hour earlier. Following the rally was the annual ONA banquet. The 250 people present contributed over $40,000 during the meal toward a new staff person to resource churches in process toward becoming Open and Affirming.
Leroy and I are fortunate to have friends with a car here, allowing us to avoid the shuttle system that has had more than a few kinks. Last night as we finished our end-of-the-first-day wine debriefing on the hotel terrace, the last bus from the convention cetner pulled in at nearly midnight. Days start early here; tomorrow N.Y. delegates are up and out of the hotel shortly after six a.m.
Today we heard various presentations, including an inspiring message by NPR's Maria Hinojosa. Stories and perpectives n from her tireless work reporting on the lives of undocumented residents held the audience captive for forty-five minutes. Our General Minister and President, Rev. Geoffrey Black (formerly the NY Conference Minister) is up for re-election and spoke to the body. I was privileged to be part of a procession celebrating the new churches that have been started or have joined the UCC since last Synod. I held up a sign recognizing East Aurora (NY) Christian Church's recent dual affiliation
In the evening, we enjoyed a great concert by Bernice Johnson Reagan, founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock, and her daughter, Toshi Reagan. Bernice is a member of Peoples Congregational UCC in Washinton, DC. The acousitc guitar-accompanied and acapella harmonies were stellar, along with the powerfully sung, biblically rooted message on social and environmental justice.
A great day at General Synod, with more to follow!
The first day of Synod was mostly about getting oriented. We practiced the electronic voting system which worked a whole lot better than when it was introduced two years ago. The worship band kicked off our plenary sessions, and the preacher for opening worship last night was Neicelle Guidry Jones, associate pastor at Trinity UCC in Chicago. In the afternoon, there was a marriage equality rally held on the steps of the convention center celebrating the return of same-sex marriage to California just one hour earlier. Following the rally was the annual ONA banquet. The 250 people present contributed over $40,000 during the meal toward a new staff person to resource churches in process toward becoming Open and Affirming.Leroy and I are fortunate to have friends with a car here, allowing us to avoid the shuttle system that has had more than a few kinks. Last night as we finished our end-of-the-first-day wine debriefing on the hotel terrace, the last bus from the convention cetner pulled in at nearly midnight. Days start early here; tomorrow N.Y. delegates are up and out of the hotel shortly after six a.m.
Today we heard various presentations, including an inspiring message by NPR's Maria Hinojosa. Stories and perpectives n from her tireless work reporting on the lives of undocumented residents held the audience captive for forty-five minutes. Our General Minister and President, Rev. Geoffrey Black (formerly the NY Conference Minister) is up for re-election and spoke to the body. I was privileged to be part of a procession celebrating the new churches that have been started or have joined the UCC since last Synod. I held up a sign recognizing East Aurora (NY) Christian Church's recent dual affiliation
A great day at General Synod, with more to follow!
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