Everyone always says that school doesn't train you for the real world. School,at best, teaches you how to think in a way that may prepare you for the real world. To some extent. But it doesn't train you to be creative, innovative, or courageous as a leader. The same is said about seminary training for ordained Lutheran ministry. Sure, the biblical, theological, and therapeutic aspects of ministry are taught and studied. But they never trained me to do mission development, to restart a congregation, or to evangelize within and outside a congregation. And that is what I am doing. This is more like mission work, more like starting from scratch. It's a lot like starting a new congregation. Except that the old congregation has not gone away. Everyday now, I find more and more that I am doing mission development or redevelopment work for which I was not well equipped.
Now, I don't think the congregation really hired/called me to do that either. I suspect they hired me to lead worship, visit them, and care for them in times of need. I think they hoped I would naturally bring some enthusiasm to worship and maybe bring in a few young families to fill pews and plates. But redevelopment? Not so much. Which is precisely why it is a redevelopment ministry.
Here's an example. Lent. In Lent, Christians gather more intentionally to practice a spiritual life in community. It usually includes a simple meal, bible study, and prayer. Three practices that Lutheran Christians have perfected---especially the potluck supper!
I have recently been told that we can't offer a dinner this year because no committee planned it and Lent is only five weeks away. What? Lent is not a new thing. We do this every year, or so I thought. So how is it that we are not able to pull this together? And secondly, when I gave them a plan to consider regarding the week night spiritual practice fo meal, bible study, prayer I was told that it would take too long, that no one would come, that we can'tpull it off so quickly. When offered as a cooperative event with two other Lutheran congregations I was told that we don't want shared ministry.
How do I continue to lead here?