Quorum of High Priests Newsletter

May 2007 World Conference Edition

Jane M. Gardner, president
Mareva Arnaud and Don Compier, counselors
Arthur Smith, secretary

Prophetic Ministers

by David Schaal, The First Presidency
Conference address to Quorum of High Priests

Last night during Jane’s prayer of setting apart, one of the things prayed for was the courage to probe deeply into the question of what it means to be a high priest. Any question, of course, is informed by the context in which it is asked. Our context this week includes a strong reminder of the church’s call to be prophetic. Therefore, the probing into high priestly ministry really asks the question this way: “What does it mean to give high priestly ministry within the context of a people who are called to be prophetic?”

There are probably many ways to understand the call to be a prophetic people, but for me, it has to do with being “prophet-like.” If we then ask, “What were the prophets in scripture like?” a notable pattern emerges. Namely, prophets were those people who had one foot invested in an intimate relationship with God, and the other foot invested deeply in the affairs of their surrounding culture. They then attempted to put their feet together.

This image is important, I believe, when considering what it means for us to be a prophetic people. It is important for us to give adequate care to nurturing our own spirits. If we do not, then we have little else to offer people other than a religious version of the same frazzled, hurried, distracted lives they already know. At the same time, it is critical that we be engaged in dealing with the real life issues that need attention in our world—poverty, violence, broken relationships, and a host of others.

Bridge Ministers
For several years now, we have proclaimed that high priests are called to be ministers of vision, and quorum officers have stressed that this includes being a bridge minister. What does it mean, though, for high priests to bring visionary, bridge-building ministry in the midst of a people who are called to be prophetic?

This morning I would like to suggest three possibilities.

Bridges between Congregations and the World Church
First of all, there is a great need for the Quorum of High Priests, as members of a World Church quorum, to lift the vision of the congregation by being a bridge between the congregation and the World Church. As high priests, I’m asking you to be intentional about staying in tune with the church’s direction—with what’s being said and written about our identity, message, and mission. The high priests can then serve as living vessels in congregational life to keep the prophetic vision and direction of the church before the people. Our congregations need to know the direction of the church; they need to know the profound difference their tithing makes and what it’s being used for. High priests can be a blessing to the entire church by keeping these things before the people within the context of a visionary voice that calls the congregation to action.

Bridges between Congregations and the Community
Second, high priests in a prophetic church will find ways to build bridges between the congregation and the surrounding community. Someone asked me recently, “What is the biggest issue facing the church?” I’m sure that this person was thinking about the various controversial matters that churches always have in front of them. They were probably surprised then by my answer. My answer was: “The biggest issue facing the church, in my opinion, is whether we will be faithful enough to be relevant.” What I was referring to was the idea that faithfulness to God calls us into the world to address real-life issues that people are grappling with. As visionary bridge builders for a prophetic people, high priests do well when they help congregations interface with the surrounding community in ways that address the needs of that community.

Bridges between Individuals and Their Potential
Finally, I suggest that high priests can build visionary bridges between other individual ministers and the potential resident in those ministers. If we’re going to move aggressively into the future in the manner that’s been indicated this week, it will require dedicated, highly skilled leadership at every level of the church’s life. One of the obvious emphases stated in this Conference is the emphasis on leadership development. As opportunities for leadership development expand, it will be important for new leaders to receive support and mentoring from mature, veteran ministers. This can be a key role for high priests. The challenge, of course, is for high priests to be tuned in to where the church is going and the principles being conveyed in our leadership development programs. When this awareness is combined with the experience resident in most high priests’ lives, wonderful opportunities for mentoring ministry abounds.

The church is currently on the cusp of significant things. We’ve been called to open our ears to the cries of the poor. We’ve been reminded of the high level of stewardship associated with priesthood. We’ve heard a voice of renewed hope for the church coming from youth and young adults, and their desires to minister and lead. All of these call for ministers of vision who know how to build bridges. It would seem, then, that the need for high priestly ministry abounds.

 

New Quorum Leadership Team

World Conference 2007 was a time of transition in the leadership of the Quorum of High Priests. A Letter of Counsel presented to the church in March 2007 announced the retirement of William M. Barnhard as quorum president and presented the call of Jane M. Gardner to serve in that role. Sister Gardner had previously been ministering as counselor to Brother Barnhard and worship coordinator for the World Church. The Quorum of High Priests, as well as the World Conference, voted to sustain Sister Gardner in her new calling as president of the Quorum of High Priests during the Tuesday evening World Conference worship service. She is the first woman to serve in this position. On Wednesday of World Conference, a new leadership team was sustained and set apart including Don Compier, counselor, Community of Christ Seminary; Mareva Arnaud, counselor, French Polynesia Mission Center; and Arthur Smith, secretary, South America Mission Center.

Sincere thanks and appreciation are expressed for the years of service offered to the Quorum of High Priests by Brother Bill Barnhard and his team. Brother Barnhard will be remembered for his work to clarify the nature of high-priestly ministry.

We also appreciate the many hours of service that former secretary Jane Watkins gave on behalf of the quorum.

New Quorum of High Priests Leadership Team

From left to right:
Arthur Smith, secretary
Don Compier, counselor
Jane M. Gardner, president
Mareva Arnaud, counselor

 

World Conference 2007 Closing Address

William M. Barnhard, Outgoing High Priest Quorum President

To: High Priest Quorum, March 27, 2007

I have served as president of the High Priest Quorum for the past seven years. Working with individual members of the quorum and ministering in high priest gatherings around the world has deepened my appreciation for the ministry of high priests and their importance in the life of the church.

My focus has been to broaden the understanding of high-priestly ministry in the life of the church and to encourage individual high priests to express their gifts of

• honoring the past, while visioning the future;
• bridging cultures and people;
• developing spiritual growth and wholeness;
• standing for peace and justice;
• enhancing leadership effectiveness; and
• building support systems.

Our individual ministries will continue to bless congregations, mission centers, and the International Church.
I am deeply grateful to the First Presidency and Council of Twelve for prayerfully working with quorum leadership to refine the role of high priests in the life of the church. A glimpse of what is envisioned is outlined in the quarterly Quorum of High Priests Newsletter:

• The Value of High Priests—Stephen M. Veazey
• High Priests as Mentors—Kenneth N. Robinson
• High Priests: Learners and Teachers of What?—David D. Schaal
• High Priests As Leaders of Mission—James E. Slauter

Going forward from here, for the first time in the history of the church, as far as I can tell, the primary assignment of the quorum president will be to work with the quorum leadership team to continue to envision and implement ways to motivate and equip high priests around the world to function to their fullest capacity according to the needs and opportunities before the church. I ask for your support for Jane as your leader. I believe that she is truly called of God to serve as your quorum president.

The call of Jeremiah is such a powerful image for those of us who may be shy, feel like we can’t speak, or feel we don’t have a voice in the world.

Do you believe you have something to say to the world? your community? your friends? your family? Have you found your prophetic voice? We all may not be called to serve as prophets, but we all have a prophetic voice deep in our hearts. Imagine God putting a hand on your mouth and giving you words to say. To whom are you called to speak? What is God calling you to say? Surrender today the fears of being too young or too old, too boisterous or too timid to speak for the Lord. Take each opportunity God gives you to offer your voice to God as one willing to bring God’s word to the world today as Jeremiah did in his day.

Our ministry is only limited by our willingness and our tenacity in finding meaningful ways to serve God’s people. “The call to ministry as a high priest is a blessing, a call to engage in an expanded vision of the mission of the church, and as we actively engage in this vision, we can be instruments of blessing for the church.

My time with you has shaped my ministry in a profound, positive way, and I look forward to continuing in the quorum with you.

My prayer is that each of you, as high priests, will deeply feel God’s grace moving in and through you to bring the peace of Jesus Christ to the places where God is directing you to serve.

Insights for Pastoral Leaders in Ministry and Mission

From the Annunciation: Luke 1:26–38
Sue McLaughlin, Community of Christ Seminary

Leaders provide reassurance to others engaged in ministry and mission. Gabriel tells Mary she is a favored one and reminds her that the Lord is with her. Leaders do the same. Announcements/changes are bad news for some and good news for others but leaders treat all as favored ones and embody the presence of God in all aspects of ministry and mission.

Just as Mary was perplexed by Gabriel’s greeting, leaders are perplexed about what the future may hold. We don’t exactly know how things will work out, where we and our congregations will be called to provide ministry, or exactly how God’s mission will be accomplished. We remember, however, like Mary, that courage is responding despite our fear. We remember to not be afraid, because God favors us as well.

Mary is told that the Holy Spirit will come to her and that the power of the Spirit will overshadow her. I am intrigued by the image of the Spirit overshadowing her. It seems to me that being overshadowed is very different from being overpowered. Overshadowed implies awareness of the Spirit’s presence but with room to breathe and to choose a response. On the other hand, being overpowered would imply coercive force, with no room to breathe and loss of choice. Leaders in ministry and mission need to be alert to the Spirit’s presence, understanding that ministry and mission are always a choice and that there is always a matrix of possibilities present. God’s mission can be accomplished in multiple ways.

The inclusion of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth in this story reminds us that there are those who go before us paving the way and who can share with us the wisdom they have gained through their experience. Like Elizabeth with Mary, they can celebrate with us in our joys and support us in our hardships. Exactly twenty-six years ago today, Ken and I announced the birth of our first child, Katie. Just three weeks ago last Friday, Katie and her husband announced the birth of their first child, Carter. Some of the dynamics of leadership in ministry and mission are similar to the dynamics of parenting. I had the pleasure of spending ten days with Katie, Carl, and Carter after Carter’s birth. I was happy to provide support and reassurance to Katie as she got the hang of nursing. I could express to Carl what a good dad he is in the aftermath of his first fumbling attempts to clean Carter up after a blowout. Like new parents, we need this kind of support and mentoring in our ministry. As leaders in ministry and mission, we turn around and do the same for other disciples.

Last of all, I imagine that Mary had to reaffirm throughout her life and ministry her choice to be a servant of the Lord. Surely, there were points in her life when she wondered what the heck she had signed on for. Yet, based on what we know of her through the various Gospel accounts, she must have been able to respond again and again to the challenges of life and ministry with the words “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” May we, like Mary, continue to respond in this same way as leaders in ministry and mission.

World Conference 2007 Final Quorum Meeting Closing Remarks

Jane M. Gardner, Quorum President

To: High Priest Quorum, March 30, 2007

I want to commend the quorum for the good spirit with which you have functioned this week. As we begin to turn our thoughts homeward, let me suggest three disciplines, three “M’s” if you will, for your ministry, the ministry of 21st-century high priests.

1. MENTOR As President Schaal shared on Wednesday, bring someone along with you on the journey.

2. MODEL the love, compassion, ethics, and integrity involved in being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

And from last night’s Temple service Litany (see next page):
3. MAGNIFY CHRIST’S PEACE in the myriad ways that this group of gifted, mature ministers can.

Mentor, model, and magnify Christ’s peace as you move forward in your ministry.

And now,
May the peace of Christ go with you. Amen.