By Rev. Racquel Ray, Associate Minister
Of course I am disappointed with the Search Committee’s decision to seek an external candidate for the Senior Minister position. And, I was hurt by the way the decision was conveyed. But, in over thirty years of ministry this was not the first time my feelings have been hurt or my ego bruised. Transitions are part of the ministry journey; seasons in the Spirit as in the natural realm are at God’s command. We often don’t know or understand God’s call or God’s timelines and they can be greatly different from our own. But, we can be assured that God’s will, will prevail.
When we have seasons of change and challenge we enter into a time of discernment. Discernment in terms of call and ministry is a time of contemplation and prayer, listening intently for the Still Speaking God to provide direction. In a season of discernment, we are trying to learn three things: 1) Is this challenge coming from forces or people trying to block God’s call? 2) Is this challenge coming from God heralding a time to change? Or 3) Is this challenge coming from our own desires and ego? 
We must listen for the Still Speaking God throughout the process. Our answers will come from the people around us that God sends as messengers. They will come from our own prayers and the witness God sends within our spirits in response. And, they will come from scripture, the Living Word.
In scripture, our answers may come for the examples seen in the great many that have walked The Way before us. We can join the great cloud of disciples following Jesus’ first followers. Many of Jesus’ disciples turned away from him when they began to realize the gravitas of his teaching. They realized that he was the Living Bread that is given for the life of the world as written in John 6:
When his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is too difficult; who can accept it?’” (John 6:60)…Because of this many of Jesus’ disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God. Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve?” (John 6:66-70)
The text shows us that Jesus invited his disciples to leave or stay. One principle here is that ministry is by invitation and consent. Both need to b
e present for the possibility of transformational ministry. A minister cannot be effective without an invitation. And, a minister must consent to the call and the work it entails.
Truly transformational ministry as with transformational leadership requires transparent and direct communication. We cannot see the path ahead without clarity. As we discern our path together I am reminded of Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth:
If I speak in the tongues of humans and of angels but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions and if I hand over my body so that I may boast but do not have love I gain nothing. Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It doesn’t insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wron
gs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
In all of our work together, let everything be done in love. In this season of transition and discernment, let us commit to transparency and communication. Let our ministry be firmly planted in love. Let our invitation be matched with consent. Let us share the Living Bread of eternal life. And, may we listen to the Still Speaking God for the next season. AMEN