The
first month, I found myself attending the regional gathering
of the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators. My first
summer as a new Presbyterian educator was spent at synod school,
where I received formal training in “How do you tell a
Presbyterian?” Many of you are living examples of this
“connectional nature” as you chuckle to yourself
and ask, “Tell them what?” All of these avenues,
among them attending yearly national training events through
POINT (Presbyterians Organized in Nurture and Teaching) have
been opportunities for me and for others to experience this
“connectional nature” firsthand.
As I have continued to minister in the local church setting,
at the presbytery level through Christian education committees,
and with my colleagues in the educational ministry of the greater
Church, I’ve discovered a growing sense of isolation among
pastors, educators, elders, and lay leaders wherever they may
be. How has this happened? This feeling of separateness in ministry
is especially disturbing to me as it relates to the fulfillment
of call through the educational ministry of the church. In this
age of instant messaging, chat room technology, Web surfing,
and e-mail overload, why do we experience such disconnection?
Maybe the very tools that bring us together in the blink of
an eye keep us from being a truly connectional church!
How can we reclaim our connectedness? We can start with this
reminder from Hebrews 10:25, “not neglecting to meet together,
as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all
the more as you see the Day approaching.” All the technology
or distractions keeping us apart should not take the place of
being together. As Dietrich Bonhoffer stated in his classic
about Christian fellowship, Life Together, “The
physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable
joy and strength to the believer.” Amen!
In what way does the larger Church continue to provide opportunities
for reaching across barriers of distance and technology? How
can we bodily be present with one another? Excellent opportunities
for networking continue through presbytery events, resource
centers, regional and national APCE gatherings, and synod schools.
An example of connectedness close to my heart is the ministry
of the General Assembly Council called POINT. Having served
as a volunteer for POINT and now as coordinator of the network,
I celebrate the fact that POINT strives to promote connections
between local churches and individuals who are willing to share
their Christian education expertise on a more personal level.
POINT representatives, appointed by each presbytery and supported
through Congregational Ministries Publishing, Congregational
Ministries Division, PC(USA), are one way the connectional church
provides for relationships to be formed and technologies to
be harnessed as tools for assisting churches, instead of vehicles
of isolation. Through face-to-face meetings with a POINT representative
to introduce denominational curricula or for answering questions
about how to develop a vibrant Christian education ministry,
churches discover their own potential for being points of contact
with others. The POINT network upholds the premise that we are
a connectional church. For more information about POINT or to
arrange a visit with a POINT representative, contact your presbytery
office or call (888) 728-7228, ext. 5166.
Let us not allow the current trend of fast-paced communication
to keep us from building bridges through human presence. We
may be a scattered, busy community of faith, supported by technology,
but we are held together by the grace of God and by any sincere,
intentional connections we are able to foster through Christ
in our work and world. |
