There are lots of ways to communicate. As a minister, communication of all kinds is core to my work. The most obvious way I do that is by preaching sermons on Sunday mornings. I also submit written reports to the board and various teams, as well as to the congregation as a whole, and I initiate and participate in lots of one on one or small group conversations and meetings.
I’m finding that there are some things that I want to communicate with y’all that aren’t fitting very well into those already established categories. Therefore, this text you are reading is part of an additional communication vehicle that we’ve created to meet that need. Think of it as the “minister’s musings” column in the old-school monthly printed church newsletter. Content will generally be presented in a shorter form than a sermon, and will range from short inspirational poems or reflections to information about the interim tasks and anything in between. You can generally expect at least two posts per month, but there may be more. New posts will be shared in Currents.
To start, I thought I’d remind you of some things I shared in my very first service here – some fun facts that are helpful to know about me and the way I approach my work as a minister.
- It is always my intention to listen, to reflect, to ask questions, and to collaborate. I approach most questions and problems from a posture of curiosity. There are a few things that I find non-negotiable, like integrity, safety, kindness, and justice, but for the most part, I’m willing to learn new things and see many points of view.
- I work hard. I will work hard for and with you. And, my family is always a priority. I will also take my days off, vacation, and study leave. It serves nobody (not me, not you) if I overwork. I am accessible in an emergency, and can always be reached multiple ways. But I never get my work emails on my phone, and Monday is my day off, and I keep it sacred – I don’t check emails at all.
- I learned a lot of useful skills in my ministry training. Omniscience was not one of them. If you want me to know something – if you’re sick and need support, or if you are upset about something I said, or if you hope I will do a certain thing, you must communicate directly with me.
- I have strong opinions and I’m not afraid to speak my mind – I AM a woman over 40, after all! That said, it is never my intent to be unkind or dismissive of others – if you are hearing something that I’ve said as antagonistic or challenging, let me know, and we’ll talk about it.
- And finally, (for now) a core value of my ministry is that as a person of faith, I am called to fight injustice and support equity & compassion wherever I can. What this means in practice is that I’m not only thinking about justice & equity when I’m at a protest or action. I do my best to apply those values to my Sunday service planning, to my interactions with staff & congregants, to everything that I do.
I have so enjoyed getting to know so many of you in the time since August – which seems both forever and like no time at all. If we haven’t had a chance to sit down and have a chat yet, don’t hesitate to reach out and schedule an appointment at your convenience.
Until next time,
Lisa