My General Synod Experience: riding into another dimension

When I was at General Synod, the national gathering of the United Church of Christ (UCC), I stayed in a little Airbnb apartment in Kansas City, MO. It was a good deal. Super cute. And the KC Rail stopped at my building, and I could hitch a free ride for half of my journey to the convention center every day. The KC Rail is like our Metrolink in St. Louis, but free. 

Inside my 2nd-floor apartment window, I could watch the KC Rail stop, exchange passengers, and take off. It was amazing until bedtime. I can now tell you that the rail runs until 1 am on weekends, and perks up again at 6 am. 🙂 Every 5 minutes, it stops on my Southbound side, and every 5 minutes on the Northbound side, across the street.

DING-DING! (doors open) Zoooo-oommm. (doors close and off she goes)

While I had the freedom to travel on the KC Rail, I only used my apartment at night for rest. In contrast, the Apostle Paul, who writes this Colossian letter, does not enjoy freedom. He is confined under house arrest awaiting trial in Rome for preaching blasphemy, a verdict of the Jerusalem council. The gospel of Jesus Christ was not exactly good news for Jewish or Roman leaders. You can catch the details of this story in the final chapters of Acts.

Although Paul was under house arrest, he didn't waste away while waiting. He actively wrote letters of guidance and good news to the baby churches. He invited people to come visit him to enjoy pastoral care and theological discourses. He invited the dimension of God into his life. It was like stepping into the KC Rail and being whisked away by another dimension of travel.

Paul's imprisonment had a political slant, and he is careful in his speech, veiled, using the language of images from the Roman way of life to describe the work of the Kingdom of God. For instance, Paul uses the word "Gospel" - a Roman word to describe the conquering of the enemies of the Roman Empire. This Roman Gospel declares that "Pax Romana," meaning "Roman peace," has arrived, which is no peace at all. The Roman Empire was bent on war after war. 

Paul redefines the meaning of the "gospel" as the arrival of peace in Jesus Christ. A spiritual transformation that sets the world right again through peace that passes all understanding. He describes in Colossians 1:13-14 that God has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. 

This is a big deal. In the Kingdom of God, Jesus the King has shed his blood for the forgiveness of our sins. Neither Pharaoh nor Caesar went to war for the people, but rather the people went to war for the Pharaoh or Caesar. The people shed their blood and died. King Jesus leads the way for us, carrying a cross, dying, calling us to follow him with the hope of resurrection. Jesus is the gospel, the good news that gives light and life. Step into this dimension of peace with me. 

DING-DING! (Doors open.) Zoooo-oommm. (Doors close and off we go.)

My view as a volunteer from my post on the General Synod floor at microphone #6.

At the UCC's General Synod, I stepped into a space where the gospel of Jesus Christ's salvation and peace was celebrated and expressed as a denomination. That is never an easy task for any denomination, which is composed of people from a myriad of ministry contexts and specific beliefs. I want to share some of what I heard the body of the UCC dig through. 

• Our UCC General Minister, Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, shared her heart that the UCC is "A Tent Of Our Own Making." This tent we have made is vast, enfolding members who are the most conservative in belief to the most liberal, with most falling in the middle space. She is amazed at the work of the Holy Spirit's gift among us, bringing respect for a wide range of convictions and beliefs.

• I deliberately attended an Open & Affirming dinner to celebrate the gifts of LGBTQIA+ Christians in our churches. Also, I attended a Faithful & Welcoming dinner honoring the ministry of conservatives in our churches. I found there was something for everyone in the UCC. You could tell by the snacks: wine and cheese, beer and pretzels, Diet Coke and cookies, water and fruit. So many beautiful people radiating their faith and love of Jesus, and Immanuel has her place in the midst of it all. 

• A BIG concern I heard in several spaces was the pastoral shortage in rural churches, which make up the majority of the UCC. The lack of ministers for small churches creates a desperation where they choose to be led out of the UCC denomination into spaces that are no longer Tents of Our Own Making with a gospel message of God's redemptive love for all. Where does the UCC find pastors for our rural churches? How can the UCC educate clergy to pastor in our small town and rural spaces? At times, I wondered if Immanuel holds a piece to this puzzle, as the Holy Spirit has brought us together as pastor and people.

• Because you sent me to General Synod, I was a voice that represented you in workshops and lunch and dinner meetings. I networked with the National UCC and explored more ministry grants, and this led to many great hallway conversations. I was a volunteer during the Synod business sessions and gained valuable insights into how the UCC functions as a denomination. All of it was very GOOD. 

Again, thank you for sending me. It is not cheap. It is an investment. We must show up to give critical insight and input from our ministry contexts. We must solve ministry challenges together. As an example, I showed up two years ago and asked ministry questions at the National UCC office in Cleveland, Ohio, and among my ministry peers. I learned lots, and Immanuel received a youth group grant for which we are grateful. We need to keep showing up with our struggles and questions. AND because our own Kristen Paul, who works for the Missouri Mid South office, attended and worked at Synod, Immanuel was gifted a LOT of children and youth ministry resources at the close of General Synod. Showing up and being present is an investment in the health of our church and our community. 

This is what happens when we step into the transformative dimension of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who brings everlasting peace.

DING-DING! (Doors open. Step in with me.) Zoooo-oommm. (doors close and off we go!)