Epworth UMC Transition - Welcome, Questions, and Concerns+Note From Michael
Dear Epworth Family:
I am thrilled to be your new pastor, and believe in my heart, after weeks of spiritual discernment, that "God has ordered our steps" (Proverbs 20:24)--yours, the Bishop's, and mine--in this fascinating appointment process. But let's face it; we're taking the first steps in an "arranged marriage." The Bishop and Cabinet believe we will like each other and come to love each other in time. I think they are right, but it's a preferred reality we anticipate and will grow into.
Given our similar passions and commitments, I think we are a good match. I'm all about building the Beloved Community of Shalom in over a hundred "shalom zones" around the world. I was "witnessing for peace" in Nicaragua way back in 1984 during the Contra-Sandinista conflict, and still have close friends living there. My previous charge conferences were Bethany UMC and Glide Church-both prophetic and reconciling congregations. I am involved in on-going community development work and HIV/AIDS training projects in Uganda and Malawi, and I need a faith community like Epworth to ground me in prayer and worship for the sake of mission. But only time will tell if our match was made in heaven. What is important now is that our Pastor-Parish relationship has begun.
Everything I've heard about you so far I like-your authenticity and commitment to build the Beloved Community in Berkeley, your love and care for each other in the Epworth family, your international friendships in Nicaragua and Africa, your prophetic witness to our own United Methodist Church and the larger world as a reconciling congregation. Knowing just a few of you at this point helps me love you all already. And I can't wait to meet you on October 11-14 when I come to visit.
Thank you Becky Wheat for arranging specific times for me to meet the choir on Thursday, the staff on Friday, and any who want to drop by the church when I am there. And thank you Dianne Rush Woods for being willing to speak with me on Saturday. I also hope to secure a house or apartment that weekend to move into when I arrive on November 1.
In the meantime, let's get started. Dianne suggested we have a Church Council meeting after church on Sunday, October 14, which I think would be a good idea. Advent is coming, and we want to set our theme and schedule. Proposed mission trips and annual Church Retreat dates need to get on our calendars. And there are many questions to answer or suspend long enough to live into.
When my colleagues at Drew ask about you, I tell them "the Epworth Church is an important, prophetic, reconciling congregation with significant local community and international ministries. It has a strong lay leadership team and multiple staff that makes such an assignment possible. I look forward to joining the leadership team while continuing to work with Communities of Shalom internationally. It will be wonderful to come full circle to serve a vital local church in the Cal-Nevada Annual Conference, my home conference, after nearly 20 years at Drew. I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to seek shalom in Berkeley as well as around the world."
After the 20th Anniversary Shalom Summit in Los Angeles next month (to which I hope Epworth will send a representative), I will begin my new appointment with you as Lead Pastor of Epworth Berkeley and Director of Communities of Shalom.
My first Sunday with you will be All Saints Sunday, November 4. Common Lectionary Readings for this day include: Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9, Psalm 24, Rev. 21:1-6 and John 11:32-44. I plan to preach from Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 on spiritual discernment and the saints. My wife, Rebecca Laird, and daughter Rachel, plan to be with me on that day (Our younger daughter, Megan, is studying abroad this semester in The Hague and cannot be there). We are very excited about our new life and vocation in relation to Epworth.
Let's build the Beloved Community together, in the North Berkeley foothills, and around the world!
Michael J. Christensen
Cell 973-714-0023