Discernment

Discernment is term used a lot these days by leaders, especially in church.  What does it mean?  Discernment is another way to talk about strategic planning and visioning a desired future.  In the church, the discernment question is not so much what do I want or what you want, but

• What is God calling us collectively to be and do now?  
• What does faithful stewardship of our time, talent and resources look like for us?  
• How might we best live into that vision?  

Answering these questions requires prayer, listening to God and understanding God's desire.  Having just experienced Lent and holy week, I am mindful of Jesus' discernment.  We entered Lent after Jesus engaged two great saints Moses and Elijah in a transformative moment on the mountain (Mark 9:1-8).  His every step after that conversation led him to Jerusalem.  Then when he got there he prayed, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me, yet not my will but yours be done" (Luke 22:42).  Which was just the opposite of what Adam and Eve did when they ate fruit from the one forbidden tree in garden (Genesis 3:1-6). They said rather than God's will, what we want.  But what is God calling us to do?  Discerning God's will requires:

• Studying scripture;
• Knowing who we are and claiming our identity;
• Identifying our values as God's people;
• Paying attention to our context now and future projections;
• Acknowledging the dissonance between our held values and our lived behaviors;
• And with God's help realigning our values and behaviors.

This is why at worship we remember our baptism, why our worship liturgy and sermons address our identity, God's values, and explore our context.  

Presbyterians believe that we discern the mind of Christ best together, that we notice who is not at the table, whose voices have long been silenced.  The Session wants to hear from our members and provide opportunities for giving input and feedback.  Discernment is a process and takes time, but does lead toward a decision and implementation.  Right now our Session is busy exploring, getting information, engaging in conversations.  Communication is critical, so everyone knows what's going on!  The following are activities the Session has engaged in over that past months and weeks.  Note this is not an official Session report, but as moderator, my attempt at keeping you informed. 

• February 3rd, held a congregational retreat with Rev. Calvin Bremer, co-transitional leader of Presbytery, when we explored our history, took stock of our present financial status, demographic and energy for ministry, developed options to explore, and privately indicated top options to explore.
• March 19th, received a summary report of that retreat prepared by Rev. Bremer, reviewed and discussed it with Rev. Sarah Schmidt-Lee, Presbytery's Committee on Ministry representative, and subsequently shared the report with the congregation on March 20th; 
• April 7th, met with the congregation following worship with Rev. Schmidt-Lee to disgust that report, which indicated that the top option to explore was some sort of merger with another church.  Feedback urged conversations with First, North and Westminster Presbyterian Churches.
• April 16th, extended pastoral contract with me through September 30th to provide consistent pastoral leadership during our discernment, with October 1st as a target for implementation of congregational decision.  Also prepared a two page statement to introduce Pine Island Church to others and shared it with the congregation.
• April 18, 19, worshiped with Westminster Church for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services.  Multiple Pine Island participated on Thursday, one on Good Friday.
• April 25th, five elders met with First Presbyterian Church leaders Rev. Weeldreyer, elders Mary Lou Boulden, and Laurie Tupper. This was an open informational meeting with six members participating.
• April 28th, three elders worshiped with North Presbyterian Church and toured the space North is using as a nesting congregation at First Congregational, downtown Kalamazoo.
• May 1st, Rev. Liz Candido, Kalamazoo College Chaplain and member of the Presbytery of Lake Michigan, reported to me that she has been recruited by the COM and looks forward to assisting the Pine Island Session and congregation in its discernment process.  After we have done our homework, she will help us process what we've learned.
• May 2nd, Paul Hartwigsen met with Charles Moerdyk, lay pastor of North P.C.
• May 5th, exchanged pastors with North Presbyterian.  I led worship at North.  Charles Moerdyk led Pine Island's worship.  Several elders met informally with him after worship.
• May 7th, met with representatives of Presbyterian Churches in the Kalamazoo Area including North, First, Westminster and Paw Paw.  Each church gave an update of their ministries and ideas for future planning including the following possibilities: a broader pulpit/pastor exchange Sunday; a joint picnic vesper service at Pine Island's Q. Ave property; recruit/identify volunteers from neighboring congregations to assist with our garden project;
• An inquiry questionnaire sheet for soliciting information from potential partners is presently being constructed.  This will help us assess what we are learning and provide a means for sharing it with the congregation.
• May 9th, Paul Hartwigsen, our clerk of session, along with a few other elders will meet with Westminster's clerk of session.
• Being negotiated, an information/getting acquainted meeting with leaders of Westminster for either Monday June 3 or Tuesday, June 11, 7 p.m.  Members will be encouraged to attend.

So....we have been busy exploring, engaging potential partners, trying to envision a new future.  May we all be at prayer listening for what God is desiring for us.