Reflections for the Order of Evangelists

David R. Brock, Presiding Evangelist, Community of Christ

April 14, 2010

Our Heritage and Call
 

Not unlike the wise ones of tribes and clans throughout history, evangelists are often the elders who have lived long enough, but more far more importantly, deeply enough, to know the richness and meaning of life that many of the young ones are yet discovering.  They have taken time to savor the Presence of the Holy that we humans so often fail to perceive in our midst.  They continue the journey toward a far horizon of hope and encourage others who would abandon the search for the sacred.  They are observant enough to stand in the midst of the mundane and time bound, yet sense the eternal.

Evangelists do not give answers or unsolicited counsel (not very often!) but we tell our story.  And, we listen to the story of another and reflect back to them elements of their life to reveal dimensions of self and dimensions of human existence that they did not before have eyes to see.

We are acquainted with sorrow and grief. And, we are marked by the blessed wounding of wrestling with God in the dark of night, as did our father Jacob. Like him, we limp, but we limp into the rising sun and toward God’s risen Son with our new name, our identity assured. Authenticity resonates and rings true when evangelists speak out of such encounters.

Through the decades of our own faith movement’s story, since Joseph Smith, Sr. was called and ordained to be the first patriarch evangelist of the church, we have been blessed. When this office of priesthood is expressed faithfully, facets of the ministry of Jesus are gifted to the body of Christ and to the body of God that is found in the larger world community.

In prophetic word to the church, Joseph Smith III defined patriarchs as evangelical ministers and revivalists; ministers who visit congregations as the Spirit requires, comfort the saints, give counsel and advice to those who seek it, and lay on hands for the conferment of blessing (Doctrine and Covenants 125). In the Spirit of his leadership, which we particularly honor at this sesquicentennial conference of the reorganization, we honor one who embodied the belief that there is no special place for us at the table.  Neither he, nor we, ask to sit one at Jesus’ right hand or one at the left, but there is the distinct privilege and the urgent call to be vulnerable enough, melted, molded, filled, and moved enough, to re-present elements of the nature of God in Christ so that others can see the Christ in the person next to us, in the person in the mirror. So they can see the presence of the reign of God revealed in the everyday elements of home and family life, and the work-a-day world.

Our Name

We are evangelists. Our name (yes, a difficult one at times what with the images extant in the land!) is a good one.  EVANGEL. Good News. We are privileged purveyors of the good news of God’s nature most fully revealed in Jesus Christ. We are shaped by, and known to be, those who are immersed in the teachings of Jesus and the story of his life. There is no greater joy than sharing the love of God as revealed in Christ.  There is no greater joy than sharing in word and in silence, in action and in being, the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  “The mission of Jesus Christ is what matters most for the journey ahead.” That mission is the heart and soul of our call as ministers of blessing.

We are apostolic witnesses.  Called by the Council of Twelve apostles, we are yoked with them to preach and teach and embody the evangel in congregational life.  We are ministers refreshed and revitalized as we are “fully immersed in the servant life of Christ; Living the meaning of our baptism daily.” And that Spirit of revival that marks our own lives then splashes liberally onto the lives of those around us.  While the apostles and seventy reach those outside the gate, we join in support of missionary elders and shepherds within the flock to share that same apostolic witness of God in Christ; the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. “Ultimate Reality is at hand!” says the writer of the Gospel of Mark. “Change your mind and believe such good news!” (Mark 1:15)

Our Sacrament

Since last world conference, I have spent considerable time working with teams to create new resources on evangelist blessing and congregational blessing.  The newsletters have prominently featured the sacrament of blessing. New teaching resources on the web page focus on the specifics of the sacrament.  I do not apologize for that.  As I talk to many of you and as I become more and more drawn toward the centrality of the 8 sacraments in our human life and the life of the body of Christ, I am increasingly convicted that it would be a tragedy to lose the gift of the sacrament of evangelist blessing in the life of the church.  The dangers inherent in misuse or misunderstanding of the sacrament are far outweighed by the transforming encounter with God that is resident in the sacrament.  I am an unabashed promoter of and advocate for the sacrament of blessing, continuing life blessings, and congregational and family blessings.

I believe in the sacraments. I believe in the sacrament of blessing as a process that begins in trust, grows in listening deeply to another life, expands as a candidate or a congregation engages in a period of preparation, culminates in the day of the sacramental prayer, and expands in meaning on into the future.  The sacrament is a process.  Please speak of it. Please recommend it. Please invite people to receive the gift resident within the body. And if what causes you to be hesitant about entering that sacred time is fear; pray to be relieved of that fear and find support from a guide and support who can walk with you through that fear.

Blessing Our Differences

Having spoken of the sacrament of blessing, however, I want to say clearly that some of you are called to other dimensions of the ministry of blessing. If there is a sense that all other dimensions of evangelist ministry are secondary to the sacrament, we diminish the richness of the office and calling. We diminish each other. A few of you have wisely raised concern about whether we are dropping or lessening the call to be ministers of revival, for example.  The answer is an unequivocal “NO.”  Though the term “revival” is not in the title of one of the 5 expressions of our ministry, it is central to our ministry of apostolic witness . . . and a part of the other four elements.

Some of you are particularly called to preach with conviction or teach with power. Any old pulpit or lectern will do: stand at the pulpit from Plano in front of thousands at the sesquicentennial World Conference of the reorganization; stand by the piano at the Senior Citizens Center; sit across the table from a young adult at Starbucks; e-mail, Facebook or Skype with a beloved lonely one in Afghanistan or Argentina.

All of us are called to share our testimony, to Initiate conversations, then listen deeply enough to draw into speech an awareness of the sacredness of life and the presence of the Divine in the life of another.  With the children at the pot luck, with the shy ones who enter the foyer with trepidation, and with the old ones who need a steadying hand or a word of encouragement, we have this privileged responsibility to be the presence of the enlivening Spirit in the midst of the people. Up front as teachers, preachers, prayers or presiders, or just hanging out with those who are at the margins, some of you are first and foremost ministers of revival!

At the recent “Refresh, Retool, Revitalize” training event at the Temple, President David Schaal taught a class on “Blessing the Difference.”  Afterward, several evangelists shared how refreshing and freeing it was to be assured that they could minister from giftedness rather than fulfilling an expected task.  Think, for example, of the difference in giftedness of an Elbert A. Smith and a Roy A. Cheville; of a Paul Booth an Everett Graffeo and a Danny Belrose.  And what blessed difference between Velma Ruch, Margaret Chilolo, and Pam Law.

After the January training, Tom Mountenay wrote reflections in which he said, “I am becoming much less judgmental of myself and others and less judgmental of congregations.  Instead I am looking for ways to appreciate and support rather than criticize.  We tend to put ourselves down.  I believe if we can celebrate (bless) differences rather than placing differences in hierarchies of importance or making comparisons we will be responding to our call. Perhaps our job is to help others love diversity, even imperfection.”

The modern world was “Newtonian” and “mechanical” where the metaphor for an organization was a machine with distinct parts and very clear boundaries.  Organizations categorized, standardized, and organized the ‘distinct’ parts.  Control was a value.

The post-modern world is “quantum physics” and “organic” where the metaphor for organizations is “a living organism” which emphasizes the relationship between the parts, not the parts as separate pieces.  Now organizations are more apt to recognize individuals in terms of giftedness, being in networks, collaborating together, with fewer lines of demarcation. “Roles”, “titles”, “assumed authority” are all being questioned and new values are based on “trust” and “authenticity”, and on “relationships rather than tasks.”

Applying this “Quantum World” paradigm to our Order, let us as evangelists, then, bless the people in our differently gifted ways and in concert with others disciples and priesthood members:

As Apostolic Witnesses who, by God’s grace, shares freely his/her personal renewal as a revivalist, value bearer, and hope-giver to make manifest the Evangel in the life of the church.

As Spiritual Companions who share the personal practice of spiritual disciplines and invite other individuals into a deep and enriching relationship of mutual spiritual growth in times of need and times of plenty.

As Pastoral Presence in the midst of the people, gently leading, sheltering, mentoring, and shepherding on the path of discipleship through prayerful encouragement and gift discovery.

As Teaching Learners who, with open minds and sensitive spirits, actively seek and share insight, knowledge, and wisdom through consistent study and training.
 
As Living Sanctuaries who share a lifestyle of safety, sanctuary, and confidentiality with others as they face life’s challenges and share longings and dreams for the future.