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Easter Spirit: Discourse in Offstage Leadership

“You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” (Mark 16:6-7)

The difference a Methodist preacher made in my life, was not through what he did “on-stage” on Sunday mornings, but what he did “offstage” in his ministry and intentional outreaches. I took him as a mentor. Thus, I became a Methodist! He reminded me of the Easter spirit and directed the place I need to focus on as the location of Galilee in Scripture.

I’m a United Methodist, and proud to be so, ordained in Wisconsin, elected to the Episcopacy by the North Central Jurisdiction. I’m in my 21st year as a bishop.

I am pleased that the East and West Ohio Conferences found themselves able to begin to move beyond political polarization and petty competition. We took the spirit of open mindedness after disaffiliation season. However, ongoing arguments are what I see dominating United Methodist life and sidetracking us from being faithful servant community. Arguments abound between those who want to uphold “their standards” – which tend to be exclusive – and those who strive to be inclusive.

We forget that John Wesley was one who minimized theological differences. He was one who invited those whose heart was with his heart to give him their hand. Liberal or fundamentalist, he really did not care. A life-giving relationship to God through Christ – that was central to him. We observe from this that he connected with the grace and roots of gospel.

In the old children’s television show, “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood”, Fred Rogers often sang a song of great theological relevance: “The very same people who are good sometimes, are the very same people who are bad sometimes. It’s the same, isn’t it, for me and for you?”

Authentic faith communities would have said “Amen” to Mr. Rogers, for he affirmed the preciousness of every human life and the temptation in each of us to sin.

“The very same people who are good sometimes are the very same people who are bad sometimes.”

I believe future discourse belongs to “offstage” leadership in our society. Most congregations today are focused on Sunday “on-stage” performances. Leadership is usually defined by how pastors and others lead public worship. In no way do I disparage the importance of life-affirming Sunday worship services. In most congregations, not a lot happens Monday through Saturday.

“Only when we as a church leaders understand that the future is forming offstage and outside the programs will we grasp the implications for the reshaping of our life in this new space: recognition that leadership in the local church is less and less about creating and managing programs and them trying to get people into them and more and more about creating the environments that foster interconnections and conversations among people.” (Alan J. Roxburgh, Missional Map-Making: Skills for Leading in Times of Transition, Jossey-Bass, 2010., 169)

What I bring to our attention is that, as key leaders in their congregations, pastors need to engage other key leaders in the task of discerning and implementing how their congregation can be in ministry seven days per week.

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying a pastor needs to work his/her butt off. I’m saying congregational leaders, guided by their pastor, need to find ways for the congregation to be in ministry seven days a week.

Church leaders need to know other community leaders.

A diverse community is like Galilee today, a sign of a place open to outsiders. So, we need to learn how to be a society with civility and diversity in communities that are open, tolerant, and safe places – instead of a society where church is predominantly known as rigid and captive to traditional divisive discourse.

People are drawn to places known for diversity of thought and open-mindedness. They actively seek out places for diversity and look for signs for it when evaluating communities. These signs include people of different ethnic groups and races, different ages, different sexual orientations and alternative appearances such as significant body piercings or tattoos. They want to meet and socialize with people unlike themselves, to trade views and spar over issues.

In engagement with offstage leadership, we can embrace and be involved in creative discourse that can enhance a healthy society. Faith communities belong in this offstage leadership presence.

May we live with the Easter Spirit! May we look for adventurous ways to Galilee.