Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Leading Ideas: Preaching Truth in the Age of Alternative Facts & 8 Things Your Christian Educator Wants You to Know for Wednesday, 10 October 2018 from The Leading Ideas of the Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., United States

Leading Ideas: Preaching Truth in the Age of Alternative Facts & 8 Things Your Christian Educator Wants You to Know for Wednesday, 10 October 2018 from The Leading Ideas of the Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., United States
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
 
New Testament professor Bill Brosend says that preaching in the age of fake news and alternative facts can be like walking a tightrope. But it's when the stakes are highest that it's most important to be disciplined, humble, and aware that actions speak more eloquently than words.
How are we to proclaim good news in the era of fake news? How are we to persuade others of the truth of the gospel when we live in a post-truth age? This is a challenge for which few preachers are prepared, and the strain is showing.
It feels like a tightrope. The pulpit is like a tightrope, stretched between red and blue, Republican and Democrat, conservatives and liberals. And there is not a net.
Everything I say is being interpreted and analyzed for things I never even thought about. Joshua and the battle of Jericho has become a commentary on whether or not we should build a wall on the border.
Pins and needles. Or eggshells. Preaching is like walking on pins and needles on top of eggshells. I used to love to preach. Now I look at the readings for Sunday with my fingers crossed and hope there is nothing that somebody will think is too political.
Shortly after the 2016 election I gave a talk on the topic of preaching truth in this era in which I laid out six claims made upon the preacher. Collectively, they focus on homiletical and pastoral humility and the need to remember that actions do speak eloquently if not louder than words, and they also remind us that it becomes all the more important to be disciplined and ask the homiletical question when the stakes are highest.Do not make the mistake of thinking that caring passionately about an issue will automatically translate into preaching convincingly about it. 
We have to persuade, and that means making the case, not hoping that our passion will do it for us.
1. You may be angry, but that doesn’t make you a prophet.
The last thing in the world I want to take away from a preacher is passion, but when that passion flashes out in a burst of anger or slides into snarky disparagement of difference, it is a problem. Remember that the prophets were not sent simply to denounce the people but to bring them home to God.
2. Do you want to listen as much as you want to be heard?
In my seminary, the students go to chapel and listen to sermons for three semesters before they take their turn in the pulpit. The week before they present their first sermon, the students receive a message that says, among other things, “If you have been waiting three semesters to finally have your chance to straighten everyone out, wait longer.” Every preacher has something she or he is dying to say. But is that what God wants those who are gathered to hear?
3. They know how you voted. Do they know how much you care?
After a few weeks, anyone listening to our sermons probably knows how we voted. This only matters if they do not know of your love for the Lord, the church, and for them, and if they are not learning that you vote the way you do because your faith has led you to do so.
4. Have you laid a foundation for your words in deeds and actions?
Talk is still cheap unless it is surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. After a few years in a particular corner of the kingdom, pastors have laid a foundation as teachers through pastoral care and in involvement in causes they champion. This is why a preacher can talk about things and talk about them in ways she would never dare to in year one.
5. What does the Holy Spirit want the people of God to hear from these texts on this occasion?
You must still ask this homiletical question. The more passionate we are about a passage or a topic, the more important this is. We do not want to begin our preparation with, “What do I want to talk about on Sunday?” We absolutely do not want to begin with, “This is the week I finally tell them what I really think!”
6. When the time comes, speak your mind, not just your heart.
Do not make the mistake of thinking that others care about something as much as you do. Do not make the mistake of thinking that caring passionately about an issue will automatically translate into preaching convincingly about it. We have to persuade, and that means making the case, not hoping that our passion will do it for us.
Biblical hope counters cultural cynicism
If the situation is toxic, the challenge is to eschew the rhetorical weapons of the moment, and the opportunity is to invite, welcome, and practice active, engaged listening. Then the way forward is to ground our preaching in the conviction that biblical hope is not just a challenge to be sustained; it is the best response to our cultural cynicism. It is what we have to give to the world.
Our preaching must manufacture hope. Or more accurately, we must fabricate hope. Like Jesus. Fabrication is popularly understood to mean lying but at its root means something much more substantial than telling a lie. To fabricate is to form and fashion something out of that which already exists, like an artist turning items rummaged from the recycle bin into a beautiful sculpture, or a storyteller turning the mechanics of first-century Palestinian family into a parable of the kingdom of God. In an age of alternative facts, preachers need to fabricate hope out of the truth of scripture, the lives of their listeners, and the blessing of the Holy Spirit.
This article is adapted from Preaching Truth in the Age of Alternative Facts(Abingdon Press, 2018) by William Brosend. Used by permission. The book is available at Cokesbury and Amazon.
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About Author
William Brosend is an Episcopal priest and Professor of New Testament and Preaching for the School of Theology at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. His most recent book is Preaching Truth in the Age of Alternative Facts (Abingdon Press, 2018), available at Cokesbury and Amazon.
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The work of faith formation leaders in a congregation is expansive and vital, yet often undervalued and misunderstood. Virginia Callegary lifts up the need to support and affirm their work by sharing eight things she and other Christian educators want church leaders to know.
Many churches employ a faith formation leader, Christian educator, or youth leader. Churches that do not have paid staff for education usually have volunteers who help keep the educational ministry of the church running. Whether paid or volunteer, the work of a faith formation leader is never easy. Our voices are not magnified by the pulpit or empowered with a vote. We are leaders in the church and yet we are not the leader of the church. Our job is expansive and vital but often undervalued, under-supported, and misunderstood.Our job is challenging and can be thankless, but we persevere because God has called us to love and serve the church in this particular way.
As I was preparing to write this I asked fellow Christian educators to share one thing they would like the lay leadership of their church to know. The following are eight things that those of us involved in the ministry of faith formation want church leaders to know:
1. We can’t do it alone (and we shouldn’t have to).
Faith formation is too important to be left to one person. Clearly, it’s not possible for us to be everywhere at once, though we really do try. Our work in the classrooms and youth rooms of the church is vital but our ministry shouldn’t be limited to those spaces. Teaching a class or providing childcare should not consistently keep us from attending worship, meetings, fellowship events, or mission opportunities. We need other adults in a room full of children, to provide mentorship to youth and young adults, and to share your vision for Christian education in the church.
2. Chances are that most church leaders are already involved in faith formation ministry.
If you volunteer for the church, attend fellowship events, participate in mission opportunities, and/or lift your voice in song and prayer in worship, you are already a part of the ministry of discipleship in your congregation. Why? Because we learn by doing, but that doing doesn’t usually happen alone. What better way to encourage children to follow Christ than to stand with them in worship and teach them by example how to thank and praise God with prayer, music, study, and service?
3. My job description sometimes feels overwhelming.
The work of a Christian educator is naturally ambiguous. At the end of our long list of duties and responsibilities you can usually find a bullet point that says, “Perform other duties as assigned.” If we’re doing our job correctly, those other duties are usually assigned by us when we think of some new ministry we would like to try. Our job involves creativity and innovation, which usually results in a longer to-do list and more responsibilities.
4. Letting go of older programs is a reality and a necessity.
Coming up with new, creative, and innovative ideas takes time and energy. That time and energy has to come from somewhere. We should evaluate the things we put our time and energy into and let go of those that no longer work for the church or are disproportionately burdensome. This process is the key to discovering and embracing what is next for the church.
5. The congregation needs to hear from church leadership how important our ministry is.
Most people in the congregation know very little about what the role of faith formation leader entails. This is because a good amount of what we do is behind the scenes: preparation, organization, problem solving, etc. We need you to give us credit for the creative things that come about because of our dedicated ministry to the church. Yeah, we could toot our own horn but that feels unnatural.
6. Continuing education is very important to our ministry.
Continuing education provides time for rest and renewal, for reconnecting with the Spirit and rediscovering our call to educational ministry. Attending a continuing education conference provides even more opportunities for networking, brainstorming, and resource sharing. To make continuing education possible for us, we need time off as well as a budget.
7. Yes, we know our office is a mess.We try hard to work on it, we really do, but as soon as we get rid of one thing we somehow manage to acquire more things. Our offices are full of the many ministries we undertake in our leadership role. Instead of criticizing us, try being understanding, and maybe even offering to help. Please don’t be offended if we say no because, truth be told, we might like our office just the way it is.
8. We have been called to educational ministry.
We feel strongly about the importance of our role in the life and ministry of the church. Our job is challenging and can be thankless, but we persevere because God has called us to love and serve the church in this particular way. This is not a step on the path to something else, but a passion we have to walk alongside others on our shared spiritual journey.
This article was originally posted on the NEXT Church blog and has been re-posted with permission.
Related Resources:
About Author
Virginia Callegary is Director of Christian Education of First Presbyterian Church of Howard County in Columbia, Maryland. She is on the leadership council of the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators and manages the social media presence of the organization.
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The Right Question
Leaders do not need answers. Leaders must have the right questions.
Churches make decisions regularly. Lots of factors shape those decisions. As you discuss options that come before your church, keep in mind this right question offered by Tod Bolsinger.
1. Does it further our mission?
Want more Right Questions? Read Right Questions for Church Leaders.
Vital congregations are increasingly committed to serving others through mission, and congregations are asking whether their good intentions always yield good results. Through engaging videos and presentations, the Doing Good Well Video Tool Kit explores the fruitfulness of mission efforts and provides practical strategies to help ensure your mission hits the mark.
Learn more and watch introductory videos now.
Vital churches provide ways for people of all ages to grow in faith through learning. These 50 Ways can help your congregation build a strong program of Christian education for adults.
Create a culture that supports adult study
1. Communicate that learning is intrinsic to faith development. Lift up ongoing study, including adult education, as an essential function of any Christian community.
2. Reinforce the expectation of study participation from the pulpit and with new members.
3. Make Bible study a part of other church activities such as committee meetings and mission activities.
4. Use scripture meaningfully in worship. Don’t assume your worshippers know the context of the passages read. Use sermons as an opportunity to teach the Bible.
Offer a variety of formats, schedules, and approaches
5. Experiment with a variety of times — Sunday morning classes, weeknight groups, retreats, oneday events, and breakfast-hour or noon-time classes — depending on lifestyles in your congregation.
6. Consider scheduling some classes or small groups in homes or other community locations. Christian education doesn’t happen only in church buildings.
7. Start new studies and groups often. Despite their best intentions, ongoing groups have a tendency to become cliquish. Newcomers are far more likely to feel comfortable joining something new.
8. Have as your goal a Bible study program that exposes church members to the entire biblical witness over time.
9. Recognize different learning styles among individuals and age groups. Older folks tend to be most comfortable with traditional classroom structures. Boomers are inclined to question authority and enjoy discussion. Younger persons are more accustomed to media and technology and prefer a fast-paced, informal style.
10. Make use of a variety of different approaches, including lectionary-based studies, topical studies, character studies, etc.
11. Incorporate different learning strategies, such as role playing, dramatization, guided meditation, even memorization.
12. Churches too small for a large number of groups can vary their approach by rotating different studies and curricula with groups.
13. Don’t teach “about” the Bible in a way that doesn’t allow people to encounter the texts for themselves.Encourage individual reading or make it part of the group’s time together.
14. Encourage active, discussion-based learning. Break into small conversation groups frequently.
15. Allow for diversity in perspectives.
16. Encourage the use of a variety of different biblical translations. Those less experienced in Bible study may find it helpful to read from a paraphrase, such as The Good News Bible or The Message.
Meet people where they are
17. Acknowledge biblical illiteracy among many adult church-goers — even the well-educated — and strive for methods that straddle this paradox.
18. Recognize that some beginners will be turned off by “homework.” Use videos, in-class readings, dramatizations, or audio tapes as alternative ways of getting everyone “on the same page” and ready for discussion, all the while encouraging the habit of daily scripture reading.
19. Provide short-term classes for those who won’t commit to a long-term study or ongoing class, but make these short-term learning experiences “stepping stones” toward greater involvement.
20. Conduct “taster” classes for those who want to try out the experience before they commit to it. Select topics that will appeal to those new to Bible study.
21.Break an ongoing class into shorter, defined segments, each with a clearly identified focus. With each new segment, take the opportunity to publicize the topic and invite newcomers.
22. ATeach stewardship of time to counteract “busyness.” Just as with financial stewardship, persons need to be encouraged to make Christian education a priority. Encourage “first fruits” commitments of time.
23. Be clear about expectations with regard to attendance, participation, and preparation.
Promote participation effectively
24. Link group study topics to sermon series and encourage participation from the pulpit.
25. Emphasize study during Lent. Select a topic or curriculum for church-wide study during this period and encourage all to take part. Tie the topic into preaching and worship.
26. Lift up study leaders and participants. Celebrate every time a new group starts or completes a study program. Use the newsletter, a photo board, or a dedication service in worship.
27. Ask class members to write a newsletter article or testify about the significance of their learning experiences.
28. Remember that personal invitations are usually the most effective way of getting someone involved in any activity.
29. Capitalize on the current popularity of book clubs and films by creating opportunities for those who enjoy these activities.
Foster strong leadership
30. Recruit leaders as the first step toward forming groups. Groups will often form around a gifted leader.
31. Stress the group leader’s role as facilitator, rather than teacher. Setting up one person as “the expert” creates a poor group dynamic and discourages new people from stepping into leadership. Thinking of group leaders as facilitators allows Scripture and the Holy Spirit to do the teaching.
32. Expect your pastor to model the importance of ongoing adult education by leading and participating in study, but don’t reinforce the notion that only the ordained can lead study groups.
33. Take advantage of the leader training opportunities provided in conjunction with many popular study curricula.
34. Provide orientation and ongoing support for group leaders.
35. Train leaders in group process so they can keep their groups on track, being sensitive to the need to keep more outspoken participants in check and draw out the more reserved using phrases like, “Let’s hear from some of the others,” or “You look like you have something to say.”
36. Emphasize the importance of leader preparation, especially mapping out discussion questions in advance.
37. Encourage team leadership. Experienced leaders should invite a newer person to pair with them in leading groups to develop the less experienced leader.
38. Rotate the leadership responsibility within a group so that all participants get experience leading sessions.
39. Know that Sunday School classes and small groups are one of the best places to develop lay leaders and lay relationships that strengthen the church.
Use resources effectively
40. Stay abreast of new resources, including those available from other denominations or traditions and the secular press.
41. Don’t be afraid to introduce ideas and resources from a variety of theological perspectives. Trust the discernment abilities of individuals and the group.
42. Use workbook-style studies creatively. Nothing is more boring than a lesson read straight out of a leader’s manual. Find ways to make pre-packaged lesson plans come alive.
43. Use videos to bring expert perspectives to bear and to get everyone “on the same page” for discussion. But avoid class sessions that are no more than viewing a video, or participants will soon wonder why they shouldn’t stay home and watch their own TV.
44. Create a resource center with reference materials, maps, and other items to support your leaders and participants.
45. Don’t allow your church library to become a museum. Update the collection. Offer books and resources linked to sermon topics and congregational study themes.
46. Consider a book sales kiosk and stock it with things you’d like your congregants to be reading. Many busy people would rather buy a book than worry about due dates and library fines.
Stress spiritual formation
47. Remember, the goal is formation, not information. Every class should be deliberate in helping members accept God’s grace, grow in faith, deepen their relationship to the Christian community, and answer Christ’s call to discipleship.
48. Include prayer as part of every study session and encourage group members to pray for one another daily.
49. Encourage a covenantal relationship within study groups.
50. Nurture a sense of Christian community and connectedness within groups. A Sunday School class or small group can be a “home” for individuals within a larger church.
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Adult Education Studies from the Wesley Ministry Network
The Wesley Ministry Network brings the best of contemporary Christian scholarship to your congregation’s small groups and adult Bible studies.These video-based group study courses encourage the energetic discussion and personal reflection that are keys to a life of informed discipleship. Courses are designed for use in small groups in a wide range of denominations, but they are also appropriate for individuals seeking self-study opportunities. Learn more now.
Ecumenical studies: Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense | Journey through the Psalms | Devotion to Jesus: The Divinity of Christ in Earliest Christianity | Serious Answers to Hard Questions | Religion and Science: Pathways to Truth | In God’s Time | A Life Worthy of the Gospel | Women Speak of God
United Methodist studies: Methodist Identity — Part 1: Our Story; Part 2: Our Beliefs | Wesleyan Studies Project — Series I: Methodist History; Series II: Methodist Doctrine; Series III: Methodist Evangelism
Read now and download free.
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Leading Ideas is made possible by contributions to the Lewis Center for Church Leadership from readers like you. Thank you.
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Wesley Theological Seminary and the Lewis Center together offer two Doctor of Ministry programs. The Public Engagement track equips participants to lead congregations in healing the brokenness experienced in communities while being beacons of hope. The Church Leadership Excellence track provides clergy the enhanced knowledge, skills, and motivation to increase congregational and denominational service, vitality, and growth.
Learn more and apply today.
Quotable Leadership: These days call for the church to stretch itself out and create alternative spaces for building bonds and bridges. (Neichelle R. Guidry)
In this eight-session video-based congregational study course, Dr. Larry Hurtado, one of the world's leading authorities on the subject of Christian origins, explores when, where, and why Christians first believed in the divinity of Jesus. He also clears away a mountain of popular misinformation. Devotion to Jesus is ideal for your congregation's small groups, adult Bible studies, and Sunday School classes.
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