I realized that my last few posts may be interpreted as "bashing" my clergy colleagues here. I knew I'd be the odd one out when I moved here, but I didn't realize by how much. It is truly challenging, and sometimes a little draining, to be the only clergy voice for progressive Christianity (or heck, even "middle-of-the-road" Christianity, for the most part), but I've accepted my role as a missionary for theological liberalism here. And, for the most part, it's well-received - at least to my face.
And while it's true that there is a lot of theological disagreement among us, it's also true that when we are face-to-face, at least, "Iowa nice" prevails. While I don't love all that "Iowa nice" is and means, I do find that I appreciate how it allows us to work together on what we can agree upon, and not waste all our time bickering over points of doctrine about which we'll never agree.
So, today I want to share some things I really cherish about my clergy colleagues in this community. All of these are snark-free:
1. We spend our time together focusing on what we can agree upon, not the many things that divide us.
2. We work to feed the hungry and provide spiritual nourishment to one another's members in a variety of ecumenical services throughout the year.
3. My colleagues "play nice" when they speak at our church for the Lenten Luncheon series (and they know I will, too, when I speak at their churches).
4. My fellow women ministers and I have some special bonds that have allowed us to peel back "Iowa nice" to discuss some of our differences rather frankly and respectfully, and to grow in genuine friendship and collegiality. There's a couple of services that our three churches do that "the guys" don't seem interested in. (More's the pity.)
5. My colleagues keep me honest, and help ground me in the text. We don't come to the same conclusions, but we draw from that common well.
6. We are genuinely interested in each other's personal lives - we rejoice when there is cause to rejoice, and we lift each other up in prayer in times of difficulty. (I wish we shared more, but I'm grateful for what we do share.)
7. We support some of each other's ministries, such as food pantries and soup kitchens. (I hope they'll also support a new mission venture we'll be starting soon.)
8. I am grateful that there are other churches besides ours in the community, because I know our church is not a perfect fit for all Christians. I'm grateful that I can say some true and wonderful things about my colleagues to those Christians who are looking for something we can't provide.
9. My colleagues welcomed our sabbatical pastor with open arms and truly made her feel welcome this summer.
10. I'll soon have a clergy colleague who is also pretty theologically progressive, and I look forward to our growing in faith, service, and perhaps joint ventures with our congregations!! I hope we can be a balm and boon for each other.
For my clergy friends, what do you appreciate about your colleagues and partners in ministry? And for my lay friends, what do you appreciate about collegial relationships among clergy leaders in your communities?
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4 comments:
Very nice post. I miss being one of your colleagues.
I miss you, too, Baz. You were one of the few with whom I could wrestle deeply and disagree with so agreeably. And, still enjoy being around!!
I miss you too! And I can appreciate these "Iowa nice" qualitites in some of my Arab and Israeli colleagues here as well -- I've been accepted in all my difference, and found many friends in a country where no one assumes that everyone will ever agree on anything. In interfaith and multi-cultural work, differences are pretty out in the open and times when we find some common ground are usually treasured.
On the first day of my seminary internship, my supervisor called me into his office for lunch. Taco Bell, accompanied by Rush Limbaugh on the stereo. And yet, despite some pretty significant differences, we managed to work together very well, and I learned an enormous amount from him.
On the other hand, I've put a lot of time and energy into some other professional relationships with colleagues I disagreed deeply with. Successfully, at least for a while. And I have to admit that, in the long run, it's hard to argue that the time and energy have often been well spent.
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