The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
— Psalm 27
Resource Archive: Newsletter Archives
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— Psalm 27 Resource Archive: Newsletter Archives |
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Who would benefit from this issue? Pastors, church staff, congregational lay leaders, Christian education directors, and any member of the congregation.
A- Read: Psalm 27
When my daughter's four wisdom teeth became impacted, we looked into having them removed. Our initial meeting with the oral surgeon was necessary, but a bit too informative. My daughter left the appointment with visions of all that could go wrong. To be honest, I did, too. The appointment had elevated our fears instead of decreasing them. Because of the fear of lawsuits, modern medical practices tend to focus more on all the things that could go wrong than on how much better you'll feel once you've come through the procedure and are healed. Focusing mainly on the negatives will raise one's level of fear and anxiety. This is true of every aspect of our lives. We need to hear the words of confidence spoken by the psalmist who turns to the Lord in times of trouble. These words remind us that no matter what happens to us in life, God is our stronghold. No one can undo what God has done for us in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Whatever we face, we are in God's hands. That's a safe and comforting place to be and something that can never be taken away from us. Help me, O God, to
turn to you and trust in your faithfulness at all times. Amen. Copyright © 2008 Susan M. Lang
Fear is one of the most primitive emotions increasingly affecting modern people. Today, we struggle not only with threats humanity has always faced -- such as natural disasters, wars, diseases, and the like -- but our lives are at risk when we travel by air, go Christmas shopping at the mall, and send our children to school. In addition to fears for our physical safety, we worry that the stock market will drop like a box of rocks, the price of gasoline will skyrocket, and international terrorism will pull us into yet another war. The ancients who lived in fear of the plague and the pox had nothing on us. The media and Internet have globalized our fear and anxiety far beyond our local communities. The Gospels of Matthew and Mark refer to the crowds that followed Jesus as sheep in need of a shepherd. That description has never been more apt. (Matthew 9:36 and Mark 6:34) How are Christian leaders to minister to church members who bring their contemporary anxieties into the fold? Not exempt from the stresses of our culture, and the simple fact of being human, how are church leaders to deal with their own fears? The popular consensus is that being candid about their fears makes church leaders appear vulnerable. This can cause discomfort in facing our own fears, and in dealing with congregational members. "With pastors, especially, there's a sense that people look up to us like we’re perfect," says Pastor Mark Singh-Hueter of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Lionville, Pennsylvania. "But every pastor I know would say, 'Hey, I'm human, too.' The trouble is, it's one thing to say that and another to reveal it in an honest way." Below are some options
suggested by Pastor Mark to help church leaders address their personal
weaknesses, work through fears, and facilitate a life-long process of
self-discovery: Caring for self can include scheduling regular health check-ups that can identify stress and anxiety problems before the leader's mind or body suffers illness. Working with a spiritual director is an intentional way to seek private spiritual growth. Taking a sabbatical is another form of growth that does much to promote serenity and health. Finally, everyone benefits from regular vacations for rest and quiet time with family and friends. Pursue continuing education Attending conferences to acquire new skills and hear respected speakers. Also, participate in ecumenical forums to consider different points of view. Gather frequently with denominational and ecumenical colleagues These smaller, more intimate get-togethers promote camaraderie, relieve isolation, foster friendships, and provide a place where pastors and other church leaders can be completely honest about the stresses they encounter in their congregations. Initiate financial planning Living within one's means and planning for the future are two strategies to reduce financial fears and stresses. Pastors and church staff should begin financial planning as early as seminary and their first call. Fear is a common denominator between church leaders and congregational members. Church leaders can help their fellow Christians by recognizing, in themselves, some of the behaviors that often signal these underlying fears. For instance, rigidity can be a clue that you might be fearful of change. Overly apologetic behavior might indicate a fear of confrontation. Dealing with your personal anxieties will strengthen your leadership abilities and eventually contribute to the strength of the congregational system. No matter what we do, we, as human creatures cannot totally avoid being stressed and anxious. These emotions are part of the human condition and will appear in the emotional systems of our churches. Our comfort lies in trusting that our negative life experiences are known to God and that he promises to bring good out of them. One of the manifestations of his promise, in the here and now, is that the adversities we survive help us to connect with others in ways that are more deeply meaningful than if we lived problem-free existences. While it is human nature to avoid admitting we are fearful, we can trust that our fears can be used by God. For example, our fears can point us toward our need for God, draw us into communities of faith, and stiffen our resolve to improve this world by working for justice and peace. Finally, for congregational leaders to accept that fear can be useful and instructive is to more fully appreciate the Incarnation. Through becoming human, Jesus experienced human emotions, including fear. As head of his Church, and through the presence of the Holy Spirit, he assists leaders as they struggle with fear in themselves and in congregational members. Fear, a longtime predator of humankind, can be an menace to church leaders. By relying on God's superiority over fear, as well as using the resources he has given us to face it, we can recognize who is really in charge of the Good Shepherd’s flock. Copyright © 2007 Diane Rosier Miles
1. Why might some congregations implicitly discourage their leaders from sharing their fears? 2. What might motivate church leaders to assume the heavy burden of trying to appear fearless? 3. What are some of the common roles that fear plays in congregational conflict? 4. What are some positive outcomes and lessons for church leaders who struggle with their own fears and those of their congregational members? 5. What are some characteristics of strong congregational leaders? 6. How is fear handled by secular leaders versus religious leaders? What are some similarities? What are some differences? 7. Under what circumstances might it be better for a church leader to leave his or her fears unspoken? 8. Jesus instructed his followers not to be afraid. How can church leaders interpret the Lord's words to help themselves, their communities, and society? Copyright © 2007 Diane Rosier Miles
How is fear explored in these passages. What are we to fear? Why? What should we not fear? Why?
5 - Resources: Friedman, Edwin. Margaret M. Treadwell and Edwin W. Beal, editors. A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix. New York, New York: Seabury Books, 1999, 2007. Melander, Rochelle and Harold Eppley. The Spiritual Leader's Guide to Self-Care. Herndon, Virginia: Alban Institute, 2002. Nouwen, Henri J.M.
The Wounded Healer. New York: Doubleday, 1972. Steinke, Peter L. Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times: Being Calm and Courageous No Matter What. Herndon, Virginia: Alban Institute, 2006.
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B - What's New?
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Financial Contributions Welcomed Due to the addition of new charges at my e-zine delivery system, this year it will cost me over $400 to produce and manage The RevWriter Resource. Writers of devotions and main articles have always been, and will continue to be, paid. In the past, this has come out of my personal writing income, but as this ministry continues to grow, the cost to me will also continue to increase. In the effort to maintain the ministry provided through the publication of The RevWriter Resource without requiring a subscriber's fee, I am now welcoming contributions from subscribers.
Most importantly, I appreciate your prayers as this ministry continues to grow during its sixth year in publication. Blessings, Sue
About the author: RevWriter, Rev. Susan M. Lang, is an interim pastor and writer, residing in Pennsylvania. She is also the author of the Augsburg Fortress Congregational LEADER Series book entitled, OUR COMMUNITY: Dealing with Conflict in Our Congregation. Revwriter Susan M.
Lang http://www.revwriter.com & http://www.suelang.com
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