3. Systematic Reflection: The clearest systemic social forces at play in this case are racism and classism. I do not wish to highlight either of these as judgments on the congregation. They are, in my mind, a natural byproduct of a diverse community that came of age in an era unaccustomed to systemic reflection. On more than one occasion conversation has turned to “the Indians” who are just “waiting for us to close this church so they can get the land.” Are these comments made without making the connection between the history of our church’s property and Fred, a Native American man who lives in poor conditions in our church building and works tirelessly to ensure that our building and property are cared for and safe? Grace’s members were formed
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Professional/Vocational Reflection: My role in this situation is informed by all of the factors above combined with a deep sense of pastoral call to the spiritual and faith formation of God’s people in the Church. My position in the congregation is analogous to the hospice care nurse who comes alongside the dying and their family and equips them to make meaningful end of life decisions through an invitation into the spiritual heart of the matter. The reality is that Grace United Methodist Church is in the final stages of its life together, and most of its members are nearing their deaths as well. This is not an opportunity to expose the systemic injustices of the community or demand them to live out their faith in new ways. Neither is it an opportunity to embroil myself in an internal struggle for power and control over the Order of the church. My role is to embody a relational way of being that suggests sacramentally that an encounter with God in Jesus Christ is possible even in the most impossible of situations. Thus my response in the midst of the all-church meeting to determine whether or not we can advance Fred several months’ pay is to encourage them to make meaningful end of life decisions through an invitation into a deeper encounter with Christian faith through our shared language of liturgy and sacraments. This means letting go of my need to control outcomes or exact reprisal for being left out of the initial process between Fred and
Professional/Vocational Reflection: My role in this situation is informed by all of the factors above combined with a deep sense of pastoral call to the spiritual and faith formation of God’s people in the Church. My position in the congregation is analogous to the hospice care nurse who comes alongside the dying and their family and equips them to make meaningful end of life decisions through an invitation into the spiritual heart of the matter. The reality is that Grace United Methodist Church is in the final stages of its life together, and most of its members are nearing their deaths as well. This is not an opportunity to expose the systemic injustices of the community or demand them to live out their faith in new ways. Neither is it an opportunity to embroil myself in an internal struggle for power and control over the Order of the church. My role is to embody a relational way of being that suggests sacramentally that an encounter with God in Jesus Christ is possible even in the most impossible of situations. Thus my response in the midst of the all-church meeting to determine whether or not we can advance Fred several months’ pay is to encourage them to make meaningful end of life decisions through an invitation into a deeper encounter with Christian faith through our shared language of liturgy and sacraments. This means letting go of my need to control outcomes or exact reprisal for being left out of the initial process between Fred and