Over the past year it is fair to say that Trinity United Methodist Church has received the bulk of my time and attention. Part of this is because the plan was never for me to do this work without an associate. Part of it is because it takes lots of work to build relationships with a new congregation. Part of it is because of the leadership needed at Trinity as we hired new staff, crafted a balanced budget for the first time, and addressed the issue of asbestos flooring in our basement.
The folks of Sellwood Faith Community have been supportive of this dynamic. They understand that Trinity needs some extra TLC as we begin this journey together. They have named that next year things will settle more and we are planning and dreaming new rhythms to our life together, many of which will be lead by laity or one of our other clergy folks with my support.
The people of Trinity are struggling with this new way of being part of a shared system. When I’m late to a meeting or have a conflict I often hear from someone a complaint about how SFC is getting my time and attention, even if my lateness or conflict has nothing to do with SFC. Trinity has long had a full time pastor, so even though the church can only afford a half time person these days, the cultural expectation of the community is one of being the primary focus of leadership.
It is an interesting dynamic to watch these two faith communities respond to one another and to my work of serving them both. Trinity is a traditional church living with decades of decline. Their fear and uncertainty has crept in to the point that they are conditioned to see things as threats. SFC is new and has formed with the idea of experimentation and shared leadership. The folks who have been with us since the beginning have helped to craft a community of adaptability and this culture is absorbed by new folks as they join us.
The folks at Trinity aren’t bad or wrong, they are traumatized by living in a dying system that they love. The folks at SFC aren’t good and right, they are set free by living in a growing system that they love. The life cycle of institutions means that some day SFC might actually be right where Trinity is, that is if we make it to 62 years!
The next year will prove interesting as I pivot to a more equitable distribution of my time and energy. Having Jayde come on board will be a huge help as we navigate and engage with fear, experimentation, life, death, constancy, and change. As we do so we will be trusting in God’s Spirit which is always with us no matter the stage of our institutional life cycle.
-Eilidh
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