BUILDING SUPPORT SYSTEMS

presentation by Jane Watkins

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The Quaker poet John Greenleaf Whittier wrote: “Me lift thee and thee lift me, and we’ll both ascend together.”

It is my privilege to touch briefly today on the subject of “Building Support Systems.” If we consider the arrowhead graphic used on the high priest materials as a dynamic arrow [hold up book cover], moving toward the future, then we might consider this area, “support systems,” as the location for the twin rocket boosters! Or perhaps there is merit in setting the design upright on this base, for indeed it is the “stuff” of a firm foundation.

In the Temple School course PA-212, High Priests: Ministers of Vision, you will find only one small paragraph devoted to this subject. It states, “If high priests are to engage in the . . . ministries [elucidated in this course], it will be vital for us to support one another. We are not talking here about “just another meeting” filled with rhetoric. We are talking about the experience of ministerial colleagues coming together to open their lives to each other as we share the journey, support one another, and explore new possibilities for ministry. In the future, both the quorum and field jurisdictions will be working together to foster more effective ministerial support systems.”

My role today is to act as a cheerleader-an encourager of your efforts to reach out and seek out to support each other’s ministries. The fact that you are even watching this presentation is an affirmation of your commitment to this support system. There are countless opportunities ahead for developing a network of caring and supporting each other. With internet access, the possibilities of electronic support systems and round-robin notes of encouragement or education are only a “click” away. Forming covenant groups, if you live in proximity of other high priests, is another excellent possibility.

In October of 1999 I had the privilege of sharing guest ministry with the Saints in the Southeast Texas District conference. On Saturday evening, I met with ten high priests at a restaurant in downtown Houston, Texas. I shared some details of the quorum revisioning process and discussed plans for the 2001 area conferences. We chatted about the Temple School course and the High Priest Certificate Course. We had a joyful evening of sharing, good fellowship, and frank discussion on the role of the high priest. As the evening was drawing to a close, one of those present stated, “I’m not sure why we have waited so long to meet together like this. We should meet quarterly.” His comment was received enthusiastically and they eagerly made plans to meet again in January. A covenant group was born. In a follow-up e-mail, the organizer of this group described this as a “Lazarus experience.” They had not only met again in January, but had made plans to take the Temple School course together. They were also exploring ways they could work with area pastors to empower discipleship within congregations. They are my “poster children” for building support systems.

Take the Temple School course! Come to the Congregational Leaders’ Workshop at Graceland each August or Winter Field School at the Temple to share heart-to-heart with other high priests in the Seminar on the High Priest. Find a mentor to share with and work on the Certificate Program. Meet with members of the leadership team as we travel among you. We need your support, too, and meeting with you on your own turf is invigorating and informing for us. Even your attendance at world conference quorum sessions is a significant show of support.

So often we work day-to-day and week-to-week, shouldering the blessings and burdens of our ministry all by ourselves. We agonize over difficult decisions and wonder to which direction we will next be called. We should note that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who could turn water to wine and raise the dead, chose companions for his journey. He didn’t select only one or two, but twelve! Jesus found friends with whom to preach and teach, travel and dine, and laugh and cry. Shall we, mere mortals, attempt to do less?

There is a story of a father and son who sought some quality time and camaraderie in taking a nature hike together. They savored the many wonders along the pathway: a bubbling brook so clear you could see the crawdads at the bottom; the smell of pine and the wonder of pinecone; velvety moss coating the north sides of trees; chattering squirrels. The boy dashed over to a boulder nearly his height that roosted on the side of the path. He said, “Dad, if I use all my strength, do you think I can move this rock?” His father said, “Yes, son . . . if you use all your strength.” The lad planted both hands firmly on the side of the rock and began to push. He rocked and pushed. He pushed high. He pushed low. He put his shoulder into it. He put his back to the rock and groaned with effort. The rock wouldn’t budge. Disappointed, he said, rather accusingly, to his father, “You were wrong!” To this his father replied, “You didn’t use all your strength. You didn’t use me.”

During the final quorum devotion at last world conference, I stood with three of you, our heads bowed, quietly praying together. I found myself beginning to “weave” as I seem to do at times when standing still in one spot. As we prayed, we simultaneously reached up and placed our arms around each other’s shoulders. With a brother on my left and a sister on my right, I was suddenly steadied-rock solid! At that moment I was pierced with the truth of how dearly we need to feel this support of one another. May we reach out to each other, in encouragement and support, that we might be steadied, strengthened, and empowered for our personal call to discipleship for the Christ.