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Lewis Fellows

Lewis Fellows

Lewis Fellows: Kansas City or Bust

This past week was crazy.  I didn’t have any time to blog or tweet. I traveled to Kansas City, MO with the Lewis Fellows and spent some time with pastors of dynamic churches.  When I returned to New York, I went back to the airport to welcome Gary Long, our retreat speaker.  Saturday the church held our fall retreat on vision – an excellent time.  Sunday was worship.  As you can see, it was a pretty full couple of days.

I want to briefly share with you my Lewis Fellows experience.  Tuesday, October 19 we visited Saint Andrew Christian Church (www.sacchome.org) and had a conversation with Senior Pastor Rev. Holly McKissick.  Saint Andrew Christian Church is a Disciples of Christ church.  Check out the church below:

As you can see, it looks more like a market than a church.  Such a welcoming property and building.  The church is only 20 years old and Holly is the founding pastor.  Below, Holly is standing and we are meeting in the sanctuary.  I loved this sanctuary.  The building is only about 12 years old.

Holly comes out of the Southern Baptist tradition, but was ordained in the Disciples of Christ church.  The sanctuary is welcoming and seating is structured in a “U”.  Holly’s take on leadership was interesting.  She talked about making mistakes, as all pastors do, but learning from them.  She was honest and candid about her leadership and ministry.

Below is a pic of the cross that hangs in the sanctuary:

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Lewis Fellows

Young Clergy Unite

This past week I attended the first gathering of my Lewis Fellows cohort in and around Washington D.C.  I blogged about the whole program and the reasons why the Lewis Center for Church Leadership focuses on young clergy. It was a wonderful experience to connect with other young clergy because there are so few of us.  Also, ministering in Upstate New York, I do not get opportunities like this.  It was extremely affirming to be in a gathering where younger clergy are seen as critical to the present and future Church.

Our sessions were thoughtfully led by experts and leading pastors.  Much of our discussion revolved around leadership, vision, practice of ministry, dealing with conflict, and transforming churches. Not only was the theoretical covered in our meetings, but practical learning.   We visited churches and talked with pastors who were able to transform their churches or in some cases bring a church back from death.

As I participated in the discussion, it was clear that not only do clergy need to understand leadership, but lay people need to understand certain realities of church leadership:  Continue Reading…

Lewis Fellows

Lewis Fellowship

I’m away this Sunday, but our Area Minister Jane Lang will be preaching. Jane serves as the Area Minister for the Capital Area Baptist Association, Fransego, and Mid-Hudson/Union associations and is a former missionary to the Congo.   She attended Central Baptist Seminary and graduated with a Master of Divinity degree.   Jane served three churches as either Pastor or Interim Pastor and been a chaplain at a nursing home. I have appreciated Jane’s leadership in CABA and for our church.

This Sunday, we will have some lay people involved in worship and leading in different ways.  I hope that you will join with the congregation in worshiping this Sunday at FBC.

This week, I will be attending something truly unique and fruitful: The Lewis Fellows.  The Lewis Fellows Program is a post-graduate, post-ordination leadership development opportunity for young clergy offered by the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary through a grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. The Lewis Fellows program brings together outstanding young clergy persons from across North America (under the age of 35) for intensive leadership development activities and sustained peer interaction.  The fellowship lasts for two years and is fully funded from a grant by the Lilly Endowment.

Many ask, “Why all this attention on younger clergy?”

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