August 2004
Bridges Vol. 1, No. 6
With a voice of singing
“With a voice of singing, declare ye this and let it be
heard!” Thus begins an anthem, which has meant a great deal
to me ever since I was part of a festival chorus that performed
this work. That event occurred many years ago, but I have repeatedly
experienced the transforming power of the voice of singing. For
instance, I have seen popular music become the impetus for movements
of peace, unity, justice, and compassion, and I have felt religious
music quicken people’s sense of God’s comforting presence,
Christ’s challenging call, and life’s sacred goodness.
I have heard, seen, and felt the renewing power of the voice of
singing.
However, until recently, I was not aware that institutional bodies
and administrative leaders are as amenable to being shaped by
the voice of singing as individuals and grass-roots organizations
may be. In fact, I have not always been mindful that administrative
agencies are commonly made up of individual seekers who feel deeply
and reflect carefully. Thus, I am grateful that recurring opportunities
to interact with the national leaders of the Evangelical Church
of Czech Brethren have refuted lingering, subconscious stereotypes
about high-level administrators and national agencies. Indeed,
I am especially thankful that I have been able to see the transforming
power of the voice of singing, which is at work within the administrative
branches of the ECCB.
I want to expand on that comment by recalling that in November
2003, the ECCB installed an entirely new leadership team, which
lacks direct continuity with the preceding synodal council that
heroically guided the church throughout the years of transition
that followed the collapse of the communist regime. The new council
has inherited many challenges and faces responsibilities that
might be daunting, if its members could not sing together. However,
that group is made up of a guitarist, a singer, three pianists,
and a composer who are approaching their tasks with a voice of
singing that is uniting them in a spirit of respectful cooperation.
This harmonious course is very valuable since the present council
has begun its work with a completely clean slate! Insofar as no
long-standing patterns must be preserved, the entire church is
anticipating—and is prepared for—change. This state
of affairs has given rise to a certain sense of freedom, which
Moderator Ruml alludes to when he says: “I do not feel the
need to protect my position.” Instead, Rev. Ruml is seeking
to develop open relationships and to foster a spirit of solidarity
among church workers that may facilitate a creative approach to
“that which has been given.” Thus, the voice of singing,
which unites the council in a spirit of solidarity, may bring
more and more people within the range of its harmony.
Forging new directions is a complex process that might spawn
tense deliberations if such harmony did not enable the members
of the council to fully accept, and willingly share, responsibility
for both the positive and negative results of their decisions.
However, the present council is letting itself be led by a new
song, which is characterized by a degree of enthusiasm, creativity,
and service that would have been unimaginable fifteen years ago.
Thus, its story surely confirms the possibility that the “sad
songs,” which so often resound in our world, can actually
be transformed by new tonalities.
I want to add that I am grateful that in August, I was able to
experience the voice of singing that binds the staff of the Worldwide
Ministries Division in Louisville to all of PC(USA)’s mission
co-workers. Those committed folks (who support us so faithfully
when we are far from home) hosted this year’s missionary
sharing conference with the sort of warmth, humor, and honesty
that are the hallmark of faithful seekers who “feel deeply
and think carefully.” It is my prayer that the grace that
characterized the sharing conference will radiate throughout the
PC(USA), uniting more and more people in a spirit of solidarity
within the range of a God-granted harmony.
Joyce Michael
The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
337
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