Over the years those learning the Gather-Transform-Send model in The College for Congregational Development have often wondered out loud about how congregations can explore and support the “Send” portion of the model. The “Send” portion has to do, of course, with where we as baptized Christians are sent in the world: work life, civic life, family life and, for some, back into work within the Church. One of the ways we can explpre this “Send”portion is to initiate exploratory conversations among parishioners and others about the intersection of their faith and life.
One such conversation took place at St. Paul’s, Seattle about two weeks ago on a Friday night. I was pleased to moderate a panel discussion in front of about twenty-five others in which three people working on The Seattle Opera’s production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle explored their work and how it was connected to their spiritual lives. Panelists included the accompanist, a singer and an assistant stage director.
The parish is still talking about the event in that the parish itself is full of people who work in the arts and, what is more, as one parishioner put it, “the issues they discussed had everything to do with the real issues of simply being alive!”
What opportunities do you have in your parishes to foster such conversations? What might you and your congregation learn about baptismal life, life poured out for the sake of the world and for our own soul’s sake?
I would welcome more conversation about how to do this in your parish. Be in touch! The Rev. Canon Melissa Skelton at mskelton@ecww.org
