A Vision of the Future

The 3rd sermon in a series about MLTs

(Revelation 21 & Mark 1.14-20)

This is the third and final sermon in a short series about Ministry and Leadership.

So, if I can just take a couple of minutes to summarise what we've been thinking about so far.

A fortnight ago, ...

RECAP WEEK ONE

And then last week, ...

RECAP TWO ONE

Well this week we are going to think about some of the gifts and skills that we are looking for from the members of the MLT.

One of the skills we are not looking for, is the ability to persuade people to do things they don't want to do.

I like the story about a farmer who owned a mule that was very important to him. The mule got sick one day, and the farmer called in the local vet.

The vet gave the mule a good examination, and then gave the farmer some very large pills. "Just give the mule one of these pills, three times a day, and he'll be fine."

But the pills were so huge that the farmer asked the vet, "Just how on earth am I meant to get one of those things down the mule's throat".

"That's easy", said the vet. "Simply find a piece of pipe that's big enough to fit the pill into. Put one end in the mule's mouth, put the pill into the tube, ...then blow."

It sounded easy enough, but a few ours later the farmer walked into the vet's surgery. He looked very ill.

"You look awful!", said the vet, "What happened."

The farmer replied, "The mule blew first!!"

That's often the way that leadership works elsewhere. The leader decides what's to be done, and then tries to persuade everyone else to swallow the bitter pill, ...with various degrees of success!

But as we saw last week, Christian leadership is different. It is servant leadership. And I want to spell out in practical terms how that might work.

To begin with, the MLT will need to develop a vision of where God is calling our church, and then to share that vision with the church.

But it's important to stress that this is not done in an autocratic way: "This is where we're going, so the sooner you accept it, (and swallow the pill), the better it will be for everyone".

On the contrary, servant leadership means that it is done with humility: "This is where we believe that God is calling is, but we might have got it wrong, what do you think?"

The members of the MLT therefore need to be good listeners, ...they need to be able to listen to GOD, and to OTHER PEOPLE.

Let me give you an example of how this might work in practice.

The following example is suitable for Allesley Park, a different example will be needed for Whoberley.

Over the past few years there has been a lot of debate about our building, with a wide range of opinions about what should, or should not, be done.

About 18 months ago a small team of people started once again to pick up a vision for our building. We knew that we desperately needed a new roof, but this team also had a vision for more than that. They felt that this church and hall was a wonderful gift from God, and that it had a great potential for reaching out to people in our community. They eventually summarised their vision in the following simple words:

"Our vision is to provide warm and pleasant surroundings which will serve the whole community. To achieve this we need to restore our building and improve our facilities."

This vision was initially shared with the PCC, and their comments were listened to. It was then shared with the whole church.

Since then the vision has been developing. We've contacted all the groups that use the building, to ask them how they think we can improve our facilities. Everyone's suggestions have been passed to our architect, in order to get his professional opinion.

We've now completed the first stage of the project, (we've got a lovely new roof), ...but there's still a long way to go. And throughout this time this team has played a vital role in:

1. Developing the vision

2. Sharing the vision

3. And seeing that we keep moving towards the vision.

Having said that, there are two things that the team has not done:

1. It's not taken any important decisions itself. The team has been working under the authority of the PCC, and all important decisions are referred back to the PCC.

2. It's not done all the work itself. Some of the team members have been very involved with the work, ...but several other people have also offered their help at different stages.

And that's how an MLT would work.

It would work under the authority of the PCC, with the brief to oversee all areas of ministry in our church. And it would do this by:

1. Developing the vision

2. Sharing the vision

3. And seeing that we keep moving towards the vision.

You will have noticed that 'vision' is a key word for an MLT, ...and in choosing the MLT members we need to choose people of vision.

In our Epistle reading we heard St John's vision for the future:

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away..."

The vision that we have for our church, needs to be the same as God's vision for our church, our parish, and our world.

So let me briefly summarise what that vision is.

Whether you see the story of Adam and Eve as history, or as a parable the point is still the same. God's vision was for a world of peace and harmony:

- peace and harmony between all people;

- peace and harmony between people and God;

- peace and harmony between people and our environment.

But instead of going God's way, people chose to go their own way. As a result, there was a breakdown in these areas.

- a breakdown in relationships between people, (and so we get wars, and murder, and rape, and all other kinds of evil);

- a breakdown in the relationship between people and God, (so that people feel cut off from God);

- a breakdown in the relationship between people and our environment, (so we abuse the earth, and have pollution, and global warming, ...and so on).

Now God knew that we could never sort ourselves out, so he initiated a rescue plan. He set his one and only Son.

As we heard in our Gospel reading, Jesus came to announce "The kingdom of God is near". (Mark 1.15).

Now what did Jesus mean by that?

Well the kingdom of God is anywhere that God rules as king. So that:

- when an individual asks God to come and rule in their life, ...the relationship is restored and the Kingdom of God comes there;

- when two people who were enemies become reconciled, ...the relationship is restored, and the Kingdom of God comes there;

- when people look after God's creation, ...the relationship is restored, and the Kingdom of God comes there.

Now the Bible gives us a vision of the future, when one day Jesus will return to earth, and the Kingdom of God will come in all it's completeness.

If you like, ...the Bible starts with a perfection in the Garden of Eden, ...and it ends with perfection with a new heaven and a new earth. But in between we are caught up in battle of good against evil. We want to see more of the Kingdom of God here in our parish, (that's why we pray "your kingdom come"), ...while at the same time looking forward to the time when God's Kingdom will fully come.

That should be the vision of all Christians. But seeing how that might work out in practical terms, is something that only a few people are gifted in.

The MLT needs people of vision.

But it also needs people who have other gifts as well. You've heard the expression that "he's so heavenly minded that he's no earthly good".

We need people who are good at communication. It's no good the MLT having a vision if it can't share it with others.

As I've said before, we need people who are good at listening, ...and who are not so fixed in their views that they are unable to change.

We also need people who are good at planning, ...who can turn a vision into reality.

And also people who are good at encouragement, ...who can encourage everyone in the ministry that God has given them.

Of course, no one person will have all these gifts, (that's one reason why we need a team). But all these gifts need to be covered by the MLT together.

During the next few weeks we hope to choose the members of our own MLT, (which will comprise Graeme, and 7 other people). And I want to describe exactly how we will do that.

The first step involves each one of you.

You should have been given this slip of paper when you came in, (if you didn't get one, please make sure you pick one up when you leave).

Please take this slip home, and then pray and think about who you think should be the members of the MLT. Don't rush your decision, you've got up to seven days.

Then simply write their names on the sheet, bring it back to church next Sunday, and there will be a box for you to drop it in.

It is totally anonymous. No one will know who has nominated who. If you would like to be on the MLT, feel free to nominate yourself.

If you know that you're not going to be here next Sunday, please pop your slip through the vicarage letterbox any time before Sunday.

What will happen next?

Well, the PCC has already nominated 4 of it's members to act as 'sifters'. These people have been chosen because they have wise judgement, and they also know most people both at Allesley Park and Whoberley.

They will take all your nominations and prayerfully 'sift' through them, until they eventually agree upon seven names.

The team of sifters are not bound to choose the people who had the most nominations, ...because we need a 'balanced' team, with a wide spread of gifts and skills. However, the number of times that people are nominated will be one of the factors they will take into account.

Having agree a list of names, Graeme will confidentially check that people are willing to serve on the MLT. If they're not willing, someone else will be chosen in their place.

The final list of seven names will then be put before the PCC, who can either accept them, or reject them, en bloc.

So please play your part in this process. If you're relatively new here you may not feel able to choose seven people, ...well that's fine. If you feel able to nominate just one or two people, then please do that.

I think that in five years time people will look back and see that the establishment of an MLT was a very positive step forward in the life of our church.

So please pray that we choose the right people, ...and please let us know your nominations by next week.

TO BE INSERTED NEAR END OF SERMON.

During the past two weeks we've been thinking about MLTs on our Autumn Course, and I want to finish by addressing some questions and concerns that people have raised.

"Do we have to check that people are willing to serve on the MLT before we nominate them?"

No. Once we've received the nominations, Graeme will check that people are willing to serve before they are finally selected.

"It all sounds a bit scary!"

There's no need to be scared, because our church has already been working this way for the past 18 months.

When Graeme first came here, the PCC agreed that he could work with the readers and wardens as an unofficial MLT (John & Lynnette Clarke, Charles & Barbara Bell, Jan Pringle, John Kraussaar, Kay Law). Graeme feels that this experiment has worked extremely well, and he & the PCC now want to do it properly, (with the Bishop's approval).

It would be appropriate to have some, but probably not all, the readers and wardens on the proper MLT. Be we also want some different people, who have also got leadership gifts.

"What if I can't think of seven names?"

It doesn't matter. If you only know the name of just one person, then just right that one down. Remember it is totally anonymous. Don't overlook the obvious people, Graeme is the only person who will be on the MLT by right, everyone else needs to be nominated.