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The act of writing this kind of a statement is similar to stopping a dance in mid-step. From the static picture one can get a sense of what has come before, and what is yet to arrive, but little of the constant movement that give the dance life. With that caveat, I offer my personal statement of faith and ministry: a snapshot of who I understand God and me and us to be - in this moment. I believe in God, who created all that is. Through the act of creation God celebrated, and continues to celebrate, life. I believe that God, while separate from what has been created, is intimately connected with it. Because of this relationship, both the creation and the Creator are in a place of constant movement and exploration. The intimacy of that relationship works to make all things, all places and all beings sacred. As human beings we are an important part of the creation. In our creativity, our curiosity and our cognition, as well as a variety of other God-given attributes, we have the ability to participate in God's yearnings and actions. We constantly make choices that affect our lives and the lives of those connected to us - individuals we know, individuals we don't know, and God. At times, our individual or corporate choices create injustice, causing unnecessary pain and imbalance. At times, we work against our responsibility as children of God and disciples of Christ to "love God with all our heart, minds and soul" and "to love our neighbours as we love ourselves." As disciples of Christ, we are called to think carefully about the consequences of our decisions. We are also called to be open with God about our failings and faults. Through openness to the Spirit, God continues to grant us wisdom, strength and compassion. Having received God's grace and love, we again align ourselves with God's desire. As part of the ongoing development of relationship with creation and humankind, the "Word became flesh" in both a mysterious and a tangible way. Through, with and in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, the Word lived with us, offering us ways to be in deeper relationship with God - as well as experiencing the joys and sorrows of human life, first hand. Through the continuing gift of the Spirit, individuals work to be faithful to God's call. Sometimes we do that alone. At times we gather with other Christians, working together. Other times the Spirit calls us to work with people who believe differently than we do; that we might better understand one another; that we might better understand God; and that we might work to bring healing and wholeness to God's creation. I believe that the Church is a human institution, finding both its strength and its weakness in its continuing attempt to move in accord with the Holy Spirit. Sometimes our collective dance is filled with a great deal of beauty and grace. At other times we find ourselves out-of-step with each other and with God. Part of the church's "saving grace" is that it is willing to recognize its missteps and work to change. The rest? God's readiness to love, to forgive, and to continue in relationship with us all. I see God's family and household as a circle in which we are all integral parts. Each of us has various gifts and abilities we can share with others "to celebrate God's presence, to live with respect in Creation, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope." (A New Creed, The United Church of Canada) I believe I am called to a ministry of actively using my own gifts to help others articulate, explore and share theirs. Deo gratias! |
Section Blog
