 from
the Minister & President
Spring Will Bring Changes to the Massachusetts Conference
by Stephen Sterner, Interim Minister and President
April/May 2006
A few years ago I watched one episode of a show called “Early Edition.” The premise is simple: A person sees the headlines from a paper yet to be printed and tries to make sure the terrible thing that the headline describes doesn’t happen.
As I write this, I wish I had the benefit of an early edition for what the headlines for the Massachusetts Conference will be on April 1st. I trust that the coming of Easter will still be at the heart of our news and our life. But I know too that other news will be coming out in early April.
By that time the search committee for the Minister and President will have presented a candidate to the Board. The Board of Directors will have completed a round of meetings in every Association in the Conference about a proposed direction statement for the Conference structure and staffing. And sadly, there will also be news forthcoming about recommended staff changes for the Massachusetts Conference. But, I don’t know how any of those pieces of news will read in early April. The headlines have not yet been written. Some of the headlines we won’t want to change. Some we wish we could rewrite.
What I do know is something of what each of the stories will contain – not specifics, but some general content. The candidate nominated for the position of Minister and President of the Massachusetts Conference will be an outstanding individual. She/he will have the many gifts and graces to provide faithful, visionary leadership to our covenanted life. I know that whatever direction statement the board of directors finally adopts will be designed to better serve our churches and our covenant. It will take much work to put in place, but the work will be done in hope and faith. I know that any staff change will be greeted with sadness. Every person on the Conference staff has formed strong bonds and shared faithfully with the clergy and churches of the Massachusetts Conference.
This year, as the Conference moves into the Holy days of a Holy week, it feels like there will be days of darkness and days of light, days of grief and days of joy. I ask for your prayers for our staff, for our board, and for our Conference. And I pray that much as in the Gospel of Mark, the last words of Easter joy will not be muted by grief or fear, but rather will lead us to the celebration of new light and life stirring in our churches, in our Conference, and in ourselves.
I offer this prayer for our time:
“Holy God, in faithfulness you call us to follow on your way. In faithfulness we set aside our all consuming thoughts and tasks and rise up to follow you.” “Little do we know where you will lead us. We have wandered with our ancestors in strange and hostile lands. We have mourned the enslavement of your people, and we have rejoiced at the liberating triumph in your freedom. We have heard your word of command, and we have struggled with your call for justice. We have done all that and so much more.” “And now we come again to a place we have been before. We are putting down our palms, and quieting our shouts to enter a place of human frailty, foibles, and suffering. And as we take our steps through this place, take our hand, precious Lord, take our hand. Lead us on to see your light. Lead us on to see new life. Lead us on, precious Lord, lead us on.”
“Amen.”
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