Every once in a while I’ll be thumbing through the back sections in a newspaper, and I’ll see a small, hidden article called “Corrections.” It talks about mislabeled pictures or misunderstandings or credit that was given to the wrong person. This post is about some corrections I need to make, perhaps some miscommunication.
The first one took place on June 9 in the post called “The Good Shepherd.” I was talking about how I can hear RobAnne’s voice over the noise of the Salsa Sunday Mexican fiesta that takes place at church after the service. In that post, I said we had a salsa contest, meaning we had a contest for hot sauce that you put on chips and burritos and whatever. However, there was a misunderstanding – some folks thought that we had a dance contest at our church, using the salsa dance (which can be somewhat sensual) as the basis for our competition. I assure you that we were only eating chips and salsa.
When I first heard about this misunderstanding, I found myself a little surprised. It was brought up by one of our brothers who works with a Latin community, and the post hit a nerve with him. Mary and Mike Pinkerton, who are very culturally sensitive, brought it to my attention. I am so glad that they pointed that out. We desperately need people like the Pinkertons who have a cultural understanding and can help us understand that something we say innocently can have devastating effects in other cultures, particularly as we begin to minister in other cultural contexts. So I want to set the record straight – it was chips and salsa.
The second correction I need to make is on a blog post I wrote about Fir Point Camp on August 4. I made the statement, “Sometimes I wonder if our leaders get in the way of our future. Is it possible the young, emerging leaders in the organization can’t get a voice because all of our leadership spots are filled up?” My intent in making that statement was not to say that we need to get rid of our older leaders – our mature leaders – but that we need to make more leadership spots where younger leaders can be mentored and cared for, and spaces for them to have leadership responsibilities within the mission as a whole.
I understand how people could have felt that I was pushing aside the present leadership, and for that I apologize. I am not trying to push aside our leaders. I merely wanted to say we have to figure out a way to give young leaders a place to lead alongside our present leadership. When I was in seminary, I took a class on church growth. I don’t remember much about the class, but I do remember this: one of the signs of a dead church is a slow track to leadership. In other words, if longevity is the main qualification for leadership, it doesn’t provide life, and people will leave.
I hope this post clears up a couple of errors. If there is ever a time when what I am saying strikes you the wrong way, comment on it. Let’s get it out in the open so we can talk about it and get things straightened out.
