Green: The Quiet Color of a Blue Car

I was walking in the parking lot of our public library this afternoon. In fact, I was walking where cars must drive to exit the parking lot. As an excuse for not using the sidewalk, I will say that I was fascinated by a fairly new, bright red Mustang that was stuffed full of what must of us would call junk. Curiosity simply demanded that I get a little closer look.

As I was walking by this car, I sensed something behind me. It was a hybrid vehicle, coming up behind me, silently, with the driver waiting patiently for me to get out of his way. I quickly got out of the way and waved my apology to the driver.

My experience was an important reminder for me. The synod-owned car that I drive is a hybrid and will often run silently in parking lots and in city traffic, so I cannot expect that everyone will either hear or sense my car coming.

The 2008 Synod Assembly mandated that the Northern Illinois Synod become a “green synod.” Among the requirements of the resolution was “replacing synod owned vehicles with those that are the most environmentally friendly available (currently hybrid).” The synod achieved that goal earlier this year with the replacement of our third vehicle with a hybrid vehicle. Currently we own two Toyota hybrids and one Ford hybrid.

Along with efforts in our office, the synod staff is working to make this a green synod. The 2008 assembly also adopted a resolution that encouraged congregations to evaluate their buildings and grounds and take a minimum of two steps each year to help reduce the congregation's negative impact upon the environment and to educate and encourage members “on the ways in which they can help care for God's creation in their everyday lives by living simply and walking lightly on the earth.”

How are you doing in your congregation? How are you doing in your individual efforts? I know my congregation has made many changes. Personally, we have changed all of the lights in our home to CFLs. I am a bit frustrated that they don’t seem to last as long as they are advertized to last, but we have certainly gotten used to them. Our personal car has a small engine and gets pretty good mileage, but we could be doing better. The next time we purchase a vehicle, we will certainly explore what the best options are. My wife is also leading the charge to simplify our livestyle.

Greening was a big emphasis for our synod in 2008 and 2009. Just because we are not talking about it as much right now does not lessen the importance of care for God’s creation. Allow this blog entry be a simple reminder to us all.

Comments? Go to http://niselca.blogspot.com/ or comment on Facebook. All comments will appear on the blog site. --JC

Transparency

The Internet headline caught my attention. “Avoid These Office Buzzwords.” The article provided a list of clichés that are often overused and somewhat despised in the workplace. The author provided her own definitions, which although humorous, are pretty much on target.

I was surprised at how often we hear the words on her list. We even use some of them with great regularity in the synod office. One of the common words is “transparent.” The article’s author, Marlys Harris, defined transparent as “Open about the facts, but not to be confused with honest.”

My amusement disappeared as I began to wonder if folks in our congregations have this definition in mind while I am encouraging them to be transparent. Transparency in the church involves facts and honesty. We strongly encourage transparency in communications within congregations.

Congregation councils are sometimes unclear on how transparent they should be. Actually, all council meetings are open, the time and location should be easily accessed, and members of the congregation should be welcome to attend. Council minutes should be made available soon after the meeting. Highlights of the council meeting may be included in a newsletter or minutes may be posted after they have been approved at a subsequent meeting.

There are exceptions to transparency. Personnel issues are always dealt with in a closed session. If the entire council serves as a personnel committee, guests are excused from the meeting before personnel issues are discussed. Other sensitive issues may require the council to act in private.

Call committees operate in a semi-confidential environment. Call committees sometimes err on the side of keeping too much information confidential. It is helpful for a congregation to be kept informed as to where they are in the call process. The only information that is kept confidential is the names of the candidates who are being considered. With the exception of the name of the pastor whom the call committee recommends to the council, all other names are never disclosed.

A lack of transparent communications leaves congregation members wondering what is being hidden. I often remind councils that a vacuum of information is quickly filled with rumor and misinformation.

Transparent communication conveys facts honestly. That may seem rare today. However, it needs to be standard operating procedure in our congregations.

Comments? Go to http://niselca.blogspot.com/. Comments made on Facebook are also published on the blog site. --JC

Prayer Shawls

My pastor called the other day. He was “in the neighborhood” and wanted to know if he could stop by.

I was in my pajamas. I was unshaven. My hair was combed, but in its natural (not gelled or glued down) state, which is just plain scary. But, my teeth were brushed and I was out of bed, so I told Mike that it would be just fine if he came over. How could I refuse his offer when I have visited countless parishioners in their sick beds?

I have been in a lot of pain lately. An MRI and X-rays confirmed that I have a herniated disc in my back. The most common question I have had is, “What did you do?” I wish I could blame it on something that I did, but I didn’t do anything. The pain specialist said something about “wear and tear” associated with age. Ouch. As if I didn’t hurt enough already!

I have been assured of the prayers of many. I am blessed with wonderful family, friends, colleagues and people throughout this synod who are willing to pray. I deeply appreciate each and every prayer offered on my behalf. Even so, I have found that I have had a difficult time sensing those prayers in the midst of the physical pain. My recovery promises to be slow and the Lord has never chosen to bestow upon me the gift of patience or, for that matter, an especially high tolerance for pain.

Pastor Mike came over and did exactly what I would expect. He listened. He empathized. He prayed with us. He did not look upon my pajamas with horror or my hair with pity. He also placed a prayer shawl around my shoulders, representing the prayers of Zion Lutheran Church.

I am well acquainted with prayer shawl ministries. I think they are a great idea. My wife has been knitting prayer shawls for a number of years. In fact, she currently knits for two congregations and Pastor Mike had to make sure that he wasn’t bringing me one that my wife had made. Sometimes prayer shawls are presented with a prayer pinned to it. Some congregations will pray over the shawls in Sunday morning worship before they are distributed.

I don’t suppose it is very masculine to be sitting around with a shawl around the shoulders. Too bad. When I need to feel all those prayers, the prayer shawl is a tangible sign of that support.

So, to the anonymous person who knit my prayer shawl, thank you. It meant a lot to me that our pastor could wrap me in the prayers of our church. If you are part of a knitting group in your congregation, keep knitting! If you are a knitter and your congregation does not have a prayer shawl ministry, consider starting one.

There are prayer shawl knitting patterns readily available on a number of Web sites. I try to never volunteer my wife for anything, but I am sure she would be willing to share her pattern and the resources that she has used. You may contact her through my email or by commenting on this blog post. I would appreciate hearing your stories of prayer shawl ministries. Comment on the blog site at http://niselca.blogspot.com/ or on Facebook. --JC