I was reading in Craig Groeschel’s Daily Devotional, Daily Power, the other day and was taken by this section in Craig’s reflection for August 15:

They call them the “dog days” of summer those weeks when the temperatures soar and make it impossible to enjoy being outside for long. The air scorches our nostrils, the heat burns our skin, and the pavement sizzles beneath our feet. You know cooler weather will come eventually, but in the meantime, you’re sweating buckets.

To be honest, I’m often stuck in the “dog days” of the news cycle about our world, country, state, county, and city. Something needs to break this cycle. And I believe I know the antidote.

Now is the time to increase our critical thinking skills to address the issues of power, justice, democracy, and leadership through loving, and God, and love others.

The good news of the gospel leads us to stand against hate. The good news of the gospel leads us to stand with the LGBTQ community, immigrants, and refugees. The good news of the gospel calls us to love all regardless of ethnicity, economic status, and yes, even those with different political parties than our own.

Are you stuck in the “dog days” of the news cycle about our world, country, state, and city? Exercise critical thinking. Engage justice issues. Confront the abuse of power. Support those who are experiencing relationship troubles. Discard anxiety and trust God. Esther did.

You too can exercise influence for the common good. It was the way of Esther. It is the way of Jesus. Critical thinking is necessary. Now is the time, my friends.

On the journey of Christian discipleship and spiritual formation with you, I remain faithfully yours,

Steve

The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh

Interim Pastor

Dear Grace Community,

As I look to my final two Sundays with you, I write to answer some questions.  One question that I am asked is about my involvement with you and Grace when I am no longer your pastor. I can’t attend events or worship at Grace when I’m no longer your pastor, nor can I lead worship, including funerals.

I won’t stop caring for you and about you, but it’s important to draw these lines.  When I hear that you are sick or having surgery, I will pray for you, but I can’t call or visit. On occasion, you may see me in the church building when I come to volunteer with Alice’s Brownie Troop in the Fellowship Hall, and of course, I look forward to saying a brief hello.

In that same way, Wichita is not all that big, and I imagine that I’ll see you in town. There was a day recently when I saw three of you at Trader Joe’s on one shopping trip. When we run into each other, I look forward to saying hello.

Another question I get a lot is about the new call I’m taking: what is it exactly?  That’s a good question, and I’m not 100% sure. It’s a brand-new position, so I’ll be part of creating it. Of the 50 PCUSA churches in the Presbytery of Southern Kansas, fewer than 20 have pastors with MDiv degrees from seminary.  A few have Commissioned Pastors (like Scott Randle) who have taken seminary courses. The majority do not have consistent paid/trained leadership.

The good news is that they’ve found ways to be a church without a pastor. I hope to meet with them, learn what their goals are, and help to equip them to be the church in new ways.  Part of my call will be to connect them with other churches, as isolation is a challenge for some of these churches.

I will continue to pray for you, and I ask that you pray for me.

In Christ,
Catherine NB

Dear Grace Community,

I want you to know about a conversation your Session has engaged with since June. The topic is our church’s welcome of the LGBTQ community.  I initiated the conversation out of a desire for clarity.

In 2011 the PCUSA (our denomination) removed the language from our Book of Order that prohibited the ordination of members of the non-celibate LGBTQ community.  I do not recall there being many conversations about this at Grace.  I, or another pastor, may have written a newsletter article about it, but those of you who were here then will recall that it was a time of huge transition at Grace, and our focus was more inward.

In 2015 the PCUSA added language to the Book of Order stating that marriage involves a unique commitment between two people, traditionally a man and a woman, to love and support each other for the rest of their lives. It is also noted that no pastor is required to perform same-sex weddings, nor is a church required to hold one.

Our Session voted to say that we receive and review each request for same-sex weddings in the same way we do weddings between men and women and do not prohibit weddings because of sexuality.

Since that vote in 2015, we haven’t talked about this formally as a congregation or Session.  When I talk with visitors who might make Grace their church home, I share this history with them. For some in our congregation, this is all history; we talked about it, and we’re done.  For others, there is a desire to talk more.

I sensed that it was time to talk more, in part because when we don’t talk about something that people are curious or passionate about, the absence of words can be problematic.  I also know that someone looking for a church might wonder about these issues at Grace, and there is nowhere to point them for information.

After months of conversation, the Session has decided to create a statement of welcome to be shared on our website and in our weekly worship insert. This statement is still in draft form but essentially affirms what the PCUSA has said: that all people are welcome, and we choose leaders based on faith, gifting, and character, and not sexuality.  The Session votes on this in October.

I know that some of you long for more conversation and action, while some of you prefer that we not discuss this as a congregation ever again.  Therein lies one of the challenges of being a church.  I am reminded of what our Book of Order challenges us to be as a church, “a community of witness, pointing beyond itself through word and work to the good news of God’s transforming grace in Christ Jesus its Lord.”

I am glad to talk with any of you more about why I brought this up this summer or anything related to it.  Members of the Session are also glad to engage with you.

In Christ,
Catherine

Dear Grace Community,

Earlier this year our Session, at my encouragement, committed to a staffing study for our church.  We then contracted with Ministry Architects to make this study happen.  Each year as we make a budget, we do so with uncertainty about whether we can maintain our staff and offer a modest cost of living increase to our employees.  We make it work, but then we start to worry about ‘next year.’

Grace is much different than it was 12 years ago when I came here.  (Yes, it really was August of 2010 when I moved here.)  And like most churches, we are different than we were before the pandemic.  In recognition of all of this, I would like to have a set of outside eyes help us evaluate what does and doesn’t make sense for us in our staffing, particularly related to long term financial sustainability.

We are not in a crisis, nor do we need to cut staff right now, and I do not want us to get to a place where we make decisions out of fear.  Instead, working with Ministry Architects allows us to take a step back and think about where we are and where we are called.  That way we can make decisions based out of planning and not panic.

Mike Crain, our Ministry Architects’ consultant, is on site June 13 and 14.  He meets with staff and groups like the Session.  His report will come with proposals for ways we might move forward, but how we move forward is up to us. The Session and I will share with you as we move forward, and we are grateful for your prayers and encourage your questions.

In Christ,

Catherine

Dear Grace Community,

I give thanks for Jennifer Snook and her gifts for ministry.  I give thanks often and especially now as Jennifer transitions out of her role as our Director of Children’s Ministries. Jennifer has family commitments that call for more and more of her time, and so the Session accepted her resignation. She will stay on in a very part time role through the end of the spring Sunday School Session.  In the coming weeks you’ll hear more from me about ways we can celebrate the seven years Jennifer has been on our church staff.

The Session and personnel team are looking at different ways to handle immediate and long-term children’s ministry responsibilities. At its February meeting the Session approved the hiring of a church consultant to help us look at our staffing structure, both for long and short term.  I’ll share more about that with you as we begin the process.

In Christ,
Catherine