The 30 year anniversary of the Jonestown massacre is upon us. We do well to remember and to prepare for questions from congregation and community members who will see this in news and special reports over the next week. Here is a link to a CNN story: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/12/jonestown.cyanide/index.html  and another to this month's Disciple World: http://www.disciplesworld.com  (scroll down the page to click on the cover story; "Jim Jones and the Disciples").

For new Disciples of Christ, the Rev. Jim Jones was an ordained pastor of an Indianapolis congregation that, in the early 1960's was lifted by many in this denomination up as model of community involvement. Fast forward to a remote camp in Guyana in 1978 and the killing of a U.S. Representative investigating allegations that Jones is running a cult commune that detains some U.S. citizens against their will. Four others traveling with the congressman are also shot by compound guards at the airstrip. That murder leads to an order to begin a mass murder/suicide that claimed the lives of 909 - a third of them children.

I highly recommend that we clergy take the time to re-familiarize ourselves with the story. The Disciples World articles include recollections of Disciples who had to answer tough questions from an angry public about why the denomination would give standing to a madman/mass murderer.

This may also be an opportune time to revisit why an increasing number of regions in the denomination are pushing for higher standards for those who serve as pastors and pastoral staff. The historic Disciples love of independence is a strength in keeping tyranny of theological and ideological uniformity at arms length. It's downfall is the ease with which some Disciples pastors can manipulate unusually vulnerable believers into activity that others would recognize as harmful.

For me personally, my concern is less about structures to screen out the incompetent, the immoral, the lazy and the crazy. Most congregations in this area can do that well on their own (if they choose to . . . and some clearly don't). I am more concerned that each of us clergy colleagues recognize the increasing pressure under which we do our work, our high need to be needed, and the lack of real accountability in some settings that allows us to work on everything but "the log in our own eye."

Among you, I may the worst offender at not giving adequate time, attention, energy and resources into growing up and becoming a truly helpful servant of the Church, and, I suspect that I am not alone. Perhaps together we can encourage and exhort each other to set high personal goals for health, maturity, spiritual vigor and God-honoring outcomes. Then, if church bodies require higher standards, we will (with God's grace and each other's support) have already exceeded them.

Resources:

• Great new post by Bill Tenny Brittain about Communications: http://www.billtennybrittian.com/got-a-foundation-lets-build/communications-and-the-church 
• Alan Roxburgh's new vlog is worth a look. This first 8 minute installment is on the impact of improbable events on the Church: http://www.allelon.org/missional_journey 
• Preview New Worship Music on the CCLI Website: click 

Ministers who established Association of Disciples Intentional Interim Ministers (ADIIM) believe that the time has come for an association that will benefit and support interim clergy, who serve the church during the sometimes difficult period of congregational transition. An intentional interim minister typically serves a Disciples congregation between nine and 24 months. All churches will experience a pastoral vacancy at some point. Intentional interim ministers provide valuable leadership during transitional periods. For more about the objectives of ADIIM and how to join, see: www.adiim.org  (Courtesy Disciples News Service)

If you thought that you had it rough being a Christian in the U.S., check out this article from Christianity Today about the challenges of Christians in parts of India: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/novemberweb-only/146-11.0.html 

Creation Care for Pastors is a brief booklet with good ideas. Visit www.creationcareforpastors.com .

This was just too good to not include. For every time you see the word "employee," think "volunteer" and see if this isn't something worth putting into your leadership strategy:

A few years ago I had lunch with a top executive from a company known for their legendary retail service. My wife and I are both big fans, and over lunch I shared with him some of the great service stories his people had provided the Anderson family. I said, "With the service your people give...you must have a training manual 2 inches thick."

He looked up and said, "Mac, we don't have a training manual. What we do is find the best people we can find and we empower them to do whatever it takes to satisfy the customer."

Then he said something I'll never forget. He said, "We learned a long time ago that you can't send a duck to eagle school."

"Excuse me," I said. He repeated... "You can't send a duck to eagle school." He said, "You can't teach someone to smile, you can't teach someone to want to serve, you can't teach personality. What we can do, however, is hire people who have those qualities and we can then teach them about our products and teach them our culture."

From Mac Anderson, www.SimpleTruths.com 

Clergy and Family Care:

Thinking about Christmas shopping in a tight economy? Visit www.adventconspiracy.org  or www.altgifts.org . Become part of a growing movement to make the Christmas witness and experience more Christ-like.

Coming Up:

• CYF Retreat November 15, FCC Lathrop (see Connection for details)
• Commissioning Service for David and Jazzell Ramirez, Pan de Vida Christian Church (DOC) – nested at Wyatt Park CC, St. Joseph, 6 pm, Sunday, November 16. This new congregation is growing and we want to invite many to come see what God is doing and to offer prayerful support!
• The annual Area Sponsored Pre-Advent Gatherings for clergy and spouses will be December 2nd at Richmond FCC at 6:00 p.m. or December 3rd at Wyatt Park Christian Church 12:00 noon. Please RSVP to the area office (816)632-2237 or nwareacc AT nwareacc.org

Winding Down:

We are looking forward to several upcoming events, none more than the Pre-Advent Clergy gatherings. Some of you wondered about the noon scheduling at Wyatt Park since some spouses work during the day and may not be free to participate. That change was made at the request of several clergy that we hold that particular event at noon.

We are not limited to two events. If clergy and their spouses would be unable to attend the scheduled events, we'd be glad to add a third if offered a host location. We cook for these events and organize a time of worship - our way of offering just a little extra support and saying "Thank you" as you prepare to lead and serve during the holidays. All it takes is a request from you and we'll be happy to accommodate another event in your neck of the woods.

The five pastors currently organizing the February NW Area Clergy retreat have been talking about the creation of more clergy networks among us - pastors hosting and supporting pastors around shared spiritual disciplines, mission interests, and recreational activities. We think this is a great idea and want to support that fully. A part of the retreat will be devoted to conversation about that, so, plan to bring your ideas and offers to help serve and lead.

Thank you for serving and leading - especially in such chaotic times. Hold fast to the biblical witness that it is precisely in chaos that God brings new life.

For the whole staff,

Bill