(singing)... "Memories...."

Over the past day or two, I've had a chance to ponder, wonder, and think of my last couple of weeks of Course of Study, as well as my graduation. I've considered everything from how I'm managed through the humidity levels when my air conditioning went out to the vows that an Elder takes in regards to the Message given at the Service (it goes to something my Uncle, another UMC Pastor, reminded me of).

In all of my thoughts, I've drawn back to some past considerations, ideas, plans, and covenants. I've been reminded of the involvement of some people and the effort put forth by some to help me get to where I am now. I've recalled the energy that some people have offered in order to help me get through this stage.

I hope that those who have put forth what has been promised, needed, required, and expected know how much I appreciate their help, and that others can learn from these people.
I pray that somehow, someway, there will be a way to use their examples as a lesson for everyone.

Blessings.

In 12 hours...

In 12 hours, I will be graduating from Course of Study.

Is this a big deal to you? Maybe, maybe not. Is this a big deal to me? YES!
I've worked really hard to get to this point, and now that it's here, I'm very excited!

This time marks a moment of accomplishment on many levels - Pushing through doubts and discouragements, differing standards, renewal moments, blind walks, lost paths, and so many other things that I could go on and on.

Does this make me "more" of a Pastor? Not really. Does this make me a better Pastor? I pray that the 20 classes have. Does this promise me a better future? Only God can give that. Does this change anything for me? No, I still have to do continuing education, as does every United Methodist Pastor. Does this mean that I get a bigger nameplate? Only if I go spend the money, but I don't have a regular nameplate anyways. Does this mean that my "title" changes? Nope, other than part of my education may increase the amount of time I spend in my involvement in the Order of St Luke (which I have the title "Brother", as in "the Rev. Bro. Kevin Burkhardt", but no one knew that. LOL).

The point is that I am still a Pastor, just one with a couple more classes under my belt, but now I'm ready to set forth in my next level of education, which at this point, I don't know what it will be. It will take some discernment through a lot of prayer and study.

For now though, this part is finally done. The road to get here has been a bumpy one, full of pothole and pits. But as I've traveled it, the scenery has been beautiful.

So now comes the next step... Look out world, here I come!

Is it who you know, or what you know, or both?

As I'm getting ready to head out to worship with my brother this morning, I can't help but think of a conversation I had with someone last night about how the Church (UMC) is doing overall. This person isn't graduating from Course of Study yet, and I don't know his full history. What I do know is this -
He was about to make very general statements about the Church as a whole. Maybe he forgot that there were people in the room from a dozen different Conferences.
He said that he attended many seminars on church growth, but of all the seminars, he had never been to the UMC of the Resurrection (For those who don't know, just google "Adam Hamilton").
He described methods that might work, but when confronted with the "an idea from 'so-and so year'", he was unaware of it, as well as many common books that spoke of the same practices.
Finally, my favorite, he didn't know key people in his Conference that he should know to be an active, church-growing Pastor. And yes, I know these people through my family here in Ohio and in my past.

Granted, this person might be doing great things at his church. Maybe the people are lining up at the doors to get in every Sunday morning. Maybe the kids are busting down the doors to get into Vacation Bible School.
But as United Methodist, we have a connection with one another, not just within our Districts and Conferences, but around the world. So if I can mention a name of a Chairperson or past Chairperson in his Conference who help and connect with pastors like him, and his response his "I try to stay away from those people as much as I can", what does that mean for the connection of his own people to the UMC and to the world?

I know that this may sound negative. It's not meant to be.
It goes back to my original idea of journaling from last year - posting my thoughts and ideas. My thought is "please don't tell me how my church is or should be until you have sat in my pews, preached from my pulpit, and lived with my people, all for at least a year." My idea is "if you have great plans, then as the song says, "Go Tell It On the Mountain" and please don't complain about what the UMC is doing wrong. If something is working for you, it might be the key that someone else needs".

I pray that I continue to be a Pastor who is blamed for being pushy about why we (the local church) has to worry about what happens at another church. I pray that I keep educating the people every day about what it means to connect with everyone all the time. I pray that if I ever see myself slowing down, that I will use my connectional resources to get help and assistance to reach out and rejuvenate myself, the congregation, and/or the community.

With God's help.

One down, one to go

I'm down to my final week for Course of Study. To put it in the grand scheme, the last of week of the last of 20 classes. The anxiety is growing high for four of us here (those who are graduating at the end of the week). So In one class where all four of us are in, either there is deadly silence or extreme laughter to break the tension. The one Instructor has learned to choose the words of "might, may, and probably" graduate very carefully (due to the rest of the class not being graduating students).

Many of the students here serve Churches within driving distance, and this school allows students to go home on weekends. So many people have left, but the few who are still around decided to go to a local restaurant for breakfast this morning. I joined them, figuring a different social setting with my schoolmates would be relaxing. As fun as it was, though, I could help but think of the work that was waiting for me back in my dorm room, like a soft, gentle voice, calling "come do your homework", with an occasional shriek thrown in to make sure that my spine was intact.

Tomorrow is a Sabbath, at least for the first half. Nothing is stopping me from that. Rarely do I get a chance to worship "on the other side of the rail", so I'm going to meet up with my brother near here and go with him to his church and probably grab a bite afterwards.

In the meanwhile, someone asked me what I was going to do after I graduate. Other than "passing out", I will be spending some serious time discerning that question. I still want to do pastoral ministry, but what about a speciality from that?
I wonder if this is what a doctor who goes back to school to be something like a neurologist or something wonders about...
But for now, I have to concentrate on this week - the here and now (literally).

I'll be getting back to work, writing a dozen essays on everything from the meaning of sin to different types of liberation theology to what it is that Christians may hope for....
Seems simple enough, but the class thought the same thing about last week's assignments. o_O

If I start counting the number of hours before class and you find me rocking in my chair, staring into space with drool coming out of the corner of my mouth, call for help. LOL

This is it!

And it's down to the final wire...!

I'm in the last two-week session of my basic Course of Study classes, and this has been a long road, just to here now and through the overall journey.

To quickly explain, Course of Study is a series of 20 classes that United Methodist Licenced Local Pastors must complete. Full-time pastors have eight years to complete all the classes, and part-time pastors have up to 12 years. The classes involve receiving the information on your class (syllabus, schedules, etc) sometime before the class (suppose to be about a year prior, but some schools do not get the information out until a few months before the classes start). The pastors then have to order the books and complete the pre-class assignments, all while still serving their Charges, trying to have a life, and everything else that happens in between.
Then the pastors converge on whatever school they signed up to take their classes at (there are 5 in the country, plus "extension" schools off of those) and live the next 2 to 4 week, eating, breathing, and living everything from Administrative to Wesleyan Heritage.

Finally, after you have competed the 20 classes, you get to line up during a short "ceremony", get your certificate, go home, and go back to work.
BUT, you go knowing that you've worked hard and successfully completed some very hard work that in most cases is taught by the same seminary professors who teach the same full-time students.

So there is your quick lesson on Course of Study.

Now I'm the final stretch of my coursework, and as I sat back and reflected upon a timeline that I had to make for one of my classes, I thought about the "road" that I had to travel to get to this point.
The many bumps, potholes, rough patches, as well as the smooth straight-a-ways. I think about those who supported me so much. I have to admit that I can't help but to also think of those who didn't care either (and no, I'm not being mean or ugly... they simply would say that they didn't care - but that's ok. Bless their hearts). But I also think of the stacks of books and paper that have been used through the process.
Let me tell you something - if someone says "write a 4-6 page paper", find a way to say everything in 4 pages. If someone says "you need to buy these books for class", immediately go find good used books, or shop at as many locations for the cheaper rates. Amazon may seem alright, but it is NOT always less expensive. (Even this trip, I saved over $25 ordering through the campus bookstore instead of Amazon, and all of my books were new).

So off to class I go. Hopefully, I won't have to pull any "all nighters" this time. I already know that I have to do some essays and I have a quiz at the end of one of my classes, but the Professors are really nice and the sessions are fun!

And so blessings to you and yours until the next ramblings... =)