Photo by rinck-content-studio on Unsplash
By Bishop Tracey Breashears Schultz
During the Bishop’s Tour, a piece of feedback I regularly received is members of our synod want to be more connected, both to each other (conferences, area churches) and to the Office of the Bishop. At one gathering, someone mentioned they had been a member of a particular congregation for a long time, and they could not ever remember the bishop visiting. I responded by wondering aloud, “Did the bishop know they were invited?”
Although there are congregations I have never visited, even while I was a bishop’s associate, I don’t presume they want me to stop in and see them. In this new year, I will be reaching out to particular congregations with which I have never worshiped to see if a visit would be possible, but I want to encourage you to also reach out to me.
I heard the story one time of a family that had moved to a small town. Everyone was talking about the town dance and potluck, but this family that was new to the area waited for an invitation that never came. Then, the night before the event, a friend called the mother (of this new family) and asked what she was bringing to the potluck. The woman replied, somewhat awkwardly and sadly, “I was never invited.” “What do you mean?” the neighbor asked, “Everyone is invited!” Invitations were never sent because news of the event was passed along by word of mouth. Still, how were the newcomers to know?
I’ve had it happen before that I show up to join a congregation for worship, and for reasons unclear to me, people have assumed I was there because someone was in trouble. This is probably tied to the congregation’s past history, but that experience taught me to schedule visits ahead of time. I can’t presume everyone has been looking forward to seeing me. At the same time, like the story of the new family in town, it may be that members of your church have been expecting a visit from me, and I haven’t been aware of that!
I love making congregational visits on Sundays. I am happy to come for a particular reason, like a church anniversary or to celebrate confirmation, just a couple examples of invitations that were extended to me last year, but I can also come just because we are the church together. When I come, I would like to preach and/or preside and to have an opportunity to talk about the ministry of the wider church through the synod. Please don’t wait for me to reach out to you if you would like to have me at your church. I’d be thrilled to be on one another’s calendars.
Deacon Aimee Elles, Bishop’s Associate for Candidacy & Education, and Pastor Cassandra Nagle, Bishop’s Associate for Community & Call Process, may also be available for congregational visits. Deacon Aimee will set a priority of visiting congregations which are supporting a seminarian so she can be engaged with our candidates. She will also visit first call ministers in their ministry sites, but these will not be her only stops. Likewise, Pastor Cassandra will prioritize congregations in transition, but she can make room for others, too.
I look forward to deepening our connections and responding to your invitations. I hope you will also respond to mine!