Unpacking The Interim Bag     

© Rev. Elaine Beth Peresluha

In the Alban Institute and interfaith educational and consulting organization has identified five developmental tasks for congregations in transition. The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations- has pretty much adopted them-

·    History: Coming to terms with history. Claiming and honoring its past and healing its disappointments and differences.

·   Identity: Discovering a new identity. Illuminating the congregation’s unique identity, its strengths, joys, needs, and challenges.

·   Leadership: Allowing effective institutional structure and leadership to emerge. Clarifying the

   multiple dimensions of leadership, both ordained and lay, and navigating the shifts in 

   leadership that accompany times of transition.

·   Connection: Renewing denominational linkages. Renewing connections with available 

   resources within and beyond the UUA.

·   Discovering: Creating new directions in ministry that inspire the congregation to

    engage its future with anticipation and zest.

Now, all that seems pretty intentional- and a very specialized sort of approach to specific circumstances- interim ministry- but when you think about them- those tasks are really applicable- and informative for us as individuals too- whether we are changing jobs, starting careers, ending relationships of experiencing retirement, empty nests- you name it- any life transition can use the principles outlined in those tasks- and really- the tasks are all about learning to love and live well within the context of what we have been given to live – in this moment- so- I hoe you will find the tools I have in this bag helpful to you- who ever  you are- what ever your journey….

I come to you with special skills and experience that I hope you will find useful- and helpful as move though these five transitional tasks 

So, most accredited interim ministers arrive in the pulpit their first day with a suitcase- or tool chest- full of their interim metaphors… I have an L.L. Bean Bag. What else would I have? I am from Maine- and that is the first tool I bring to you. Yankee, through and through, so I bring with me have a special love and appreciation for the culture, the environment, and the history that surrounds Portsmouth and this church.

First- and probably most important to you, I have this hammer.

I am a Social Constructionist, thus, this hammer. You will get to know a lot more about Social Construction and its applications, Appreciative Inquiry and Relational Responsibility as we move through this bag- and our time together. All three are all about middles

As a constructionist, I believe that in between where we have been and where we are going, there is an opportunity for some new realization or creation. Social constructionists believe that all that is real and the good is created and discovered in relationships. There really is no "self,” distinct and separate from the relationships, culture, or community we all came out of and participate in. In between what you know and I know- where you have been and where I have been is fertile territory for anything to be imagined or to be discovered. When two or more people engage in a conversation, intentionally leaving space in between their differing understandings or beliefs with appreciation and respect for the other, something new, that neither one could have discovered on their own can emerge. Both come away changed.

This perspective proposes a new way of appreciating responsibility for the differences that have historically divided people, replacing judgments, blame and their subsequent conflicts with acceptance, appreciation and respect.

Now, I am sure that you have your suspicions, questions and disagreement with this- and will have probably a lot more so- in the bag, we have the gun- for you- so you know you always have the option to shoot the messenger.

I have a Ruler to measure success- I come with my degree, my books, special guides to interim ministry- this Janus Book- and all my experiences of ministry and 20 years of nursing that help me to understand and appreciate the direction we are going- how we are doing and feedback that I can give you so that you will arrive at the destination you chose- and want.

This mirror is for me to hold up for you- It reveals a lot When you are looking for someone to fix it- look in the mirror- when you are looking for God- look in the mirror- It will be important for all of us to look in the mirror occasionally, when you are really, really happy with what I am doing or not, know at best, ministers are always reflecting back to you who you are… I am a reflection of you; we are a reflection of each other. .

Gardening tools- of course. We are tilling the soil, preparing the earth for panting- and gardens are a wonderful metaphor of possibility- we will garden together.

Band-Aid & Care Bear: It may be helpful for you to know that I have 20 years of nursing experience – presence- and appreciation of what a caring pair of hands can offer.

Mary Phipher wrote "... most of us are no longer menders. We are K-Mart shoppers who discard objects at the first sign of disrepair. Mending takes time, skill, and personal attention. It is cherishing, having an I-Thou relationship with something. Object you are mine so I will fix you." Staying in relationships is to be a mender. Marriages that last do so because of a commitment to cherish... we mend what we value. We value what we mend. Mending hallows objects and gives people depth of character." I have a needle and thread in my bag to remind us to be menders-

The Oreo Cookies? Oh- I always pack these- for satisfying hunger and for remembering that the middle is the cream- the sweetest part- the reason to eat a cookie. Middles are to be savored- and Oreo’s reminds me that we are all different- as exemplified by how we choose to eat our cookies- all at once- just pop the whole thing in, dip it first in milk, or nibble and dip, bite through the middle. - or as two separate halves, which some of us prefer to take apart  and lick out.

Today is the beginning of our creation of a covenant- an agreement between us- I am laying out for you what I promise you- but I do not ask you to promise me anything –yet- not until you have some experience of who I am and what you can trust about me- because a covenant is about trust- trusting your safety to take risks- be vulnerable- be honest and not be hurt, manipulated, shaped or taken advantage of in any way. I do not expect you to believe yet that you can trust me. So I will earn that trust and then, I will ask you to enter into a covenant with me, one we create, together.

You have a strong, meaningful, Covenant Group ministry – You may sign up to renew or begin participation in a covenant group today following the service. Everything that I have talked about this morning- all the tools in this bag- are part of what it means to have meaningful, caring relationships and personal growth. That is what is available to you as a member or frine d of South Church- what is available to you in covenant groups. It is in relationships that trust and faith can be developed, practiced and strengthened. Relationships  give us all the opportunity to process, listen, express feelings and concerns while appreciating the middle that we are in together.

So today, we begin. I open my heart and my hands to you- I come with these tools and I promise you to heal and not to harm this beloved community. I promise to earn your trust and to not betray the trust that you offer me. I will share my portion of truth with you so that together we can grow in wisdom, vision and understanding.