Alternative Spring Break

So I did my first ever mission trip over spring break last week. I had the opportunity to take a group of local college students from my internship to Houma, LA to do some work with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. I have to admit, the PDA people seem to have the whole operation down to a science. You pay about $20 day for food and lodging in what they call a pod. That is short for laminated corrugated cardboard tents. They did have hot water showers and a dining facility. It was extremely comfortable and was kind of like upscale camping. There were other students at the camp from California, New Jersey, Tennessee and New York. It was great getting to know people from all over the country and that provided a great experience for all of the students from our group.


The work was a bit different. Usually the groups go and do heavy demolition or construction for homeowners that have pretty much exhausted all FEMA options and didn't have any insurance. PDA provides labor and some materials and most importantly sitting with the owners and providing someone to talk with developing a relationship. We didn't do any of the construction work. We helped move elderly individuals back into their apartments at Bayou Towers in Houma.


This building is section 8 housing and the roof blew off during Ike and Gustav and had been closed for the last 7 months. We were busy cleaning with the residents and preparing other rooms for them to return back to. They hadn't seen their rooms until last week so we were there when they returned and that in itself was pretty powerful. Many stories and relationships with the residents came from the experience and I can truly say it was life forming for all involved on a multitude of levels. As for the management and the conditions that we saw in the buildings, I am still trying to wrap my mind around how poorly run the whole building was and the way in which the residents were treated was appalling, but don't quite yet know how to put those things into words.

Now back to studying. Hopefully it won't be a month between posts but it is a crazy semester.

Jack of All Trades, Master of None

For all the submarine type readers, I have to disappoint you in this post as the title actually describes my estimation of the PCUSA denomination. There are many similarities between the two behemoth organizations and I will mention a few of them here. I spent the last few days at the Montreat College Conference and got to hear an amazing keynote by Congressman John Lewis. His book just doesn't do justice to hearing his powerful story in person. What an amazing man with a phenomenal story that evokes confidence and hope in humanity.

I don't want to focus on his story, because I could never do it justice, but a common thread I noticed in listening to two leaders of my denomination. One was the moderator and the other the head staffer of the church for Campus ministry. Many people think the denomination will fracture and split over issues that are in the press for all denominations. However, after following the discussion for a few years and applying some good old submarine thinking of root causes. I think the root cause is a lack of denominational identity.

Whenever a proposal or issue rises to the top of the denomination at the General Assembly, it seems the PCUSA decides to take it on and study the issue. They then release a report and say it is on their radar. There are a myriad of issues which follow this pattern. What happens is that precious resources of time, talent and money are thrown at all sorts of issues and all of them important to some group of people. I appreciate acknowledging everyone's worth in the body. However, with so many issues to grapple with everyone suffers.

Take campus ministry for example. I think they said there were 64 universities affiliated with the denomination and another significant number that have campus ministers. However, as the resources have dwindled, the church as significantly reduced their support for nurturing the members who are in college. The conference is a start, but really a band aid and political gesture so show the denomination cares as no real support stems from the conference. Kind of like a steinke hood. There is no real movement or support for college ministry because there are too many things to occupy the denominational offices.

This is similar to one complaint many submariners make about the sub force, myself included. The sub force, around the same time of the Greeneville collision, decided to make everyone experts in every single mission area a submarine could possibly encounter. When I was a Junior Officer out in Pearl, each squadron focused on one or two mission areas and everyone knew what the squadron's main mission was. We learned basic competency in each area, but became experts in a few areas. We felt confident in our ability and overall mission impact and accomplishment. This new focus puts a great strain on the entire force to excel in so many areas that the overall performance seemed to suffer. There is no way to be the best in everything imaginable, humans are designed that way.

Thinking about the church, a denomination can't do it all and shouldn't try. We are told the church is a body with every person having a distinct function. Congregations and denominations are no different. This doesn't mean that my function is more important or vital to the overall body. If I am the hand, I can't be the eyes but I do appreciate what the eyes accomplish. Each denomination seems to be wanting to be the sole expert in every possible function of the universal church and that just seems absurd. This all got me to thinking what would be a good model for a denomination.

Well, maybe the PCUSA needs to spend the time at General Assembly prayerfully discerning what the denomination is called to act upon for the next two years until the next meeting. The church should make a statement of what their vision is and actively work toward that vision. I think they should take a stand and stake a claim to a certain number of issues/movements and put all of their effort into that. This is not to say that individual congregations can't work on their own. They should as each congregation needs to discern their place in the world. But if an outsider can't determine what issues are truly important to the denomination, they will leave it aside. In my experience, churches that succeed, and by extension denominations, are those that you know what they stand for. If you don't agree with their views you respect them and move on, if you agree you stand with them. There is an old saying, if you don't stand for something you will fall for anything.

That being said, the other issue is that if a congregation wants to leave let them. Sign over the property recognizing they are our Christian brothers and sisters. Just because people are in different places theologically doesn't mean we can treat them as enemies. Let them go in love and make sure the path back to the denomination is just as loving if the priorities align once again. I just think that all sides on these denominational issues are looking for the complicated answers when the simple answer is usually the correct one. This idea, while still rough keeps the ability to be a theologically diverse organization, but still allows for a graceful exit for those who don't agree. People on the outside look at our behavior and turn away for good. We need to set the example and put aside our pride and take a stand on living a life of love for everyone.

My two cents.

Random Thoughts

So it has been almost a month since the last post. That means I am either lazy or busy. This time I can actually claim the busyness factor. This has started to subside now that things are getting routine and should let up a bit in a little over a week when I get my next two major assignments complete.

On a good note, I again survived the campout for Duke Basketball tickets for the Graduate Students and the lottery chose me for season tickets for the second straight year. Nothing like staying up for 36 hours straight to get tickets for essentially one game, UNC. The rest of the home schedule pretty much sucks but at least I get to go to some of the games as our group divides the tickets between the entire group that tented together. It is a great way to get to know others and it raised about $3500 for local charities over Friday and Saturday.

The semester is going well despite an initial feeling that I had over extended myself. I have been amazed at the time demand that campus ministry, my internship this year, places on people. It is such a good practice for becoming a military chaplain that the time commitment is well worth whatever stress it may induce. I get to work with young adults of the same age as my future Sailors and Marines dealing with all of the same issues as those in the military. Just like being a military chaplain, campus ministry is all about being present and available in their lives. I am blessed that this opportunity basically fell into my lap for this year. It would be better if I was getting paid for the work, but I didn't jump ship for the pay. Having to work for no money really forced me to deal with the fact that ministry is a calling and not a job. I just have to trust that I have the resources now and will have them later after I graduate and get a paying job again.

As with the Chaplain thing, I am at a loss for words with what happened on the USS Nebraska this past weekend. Apparently, the details are still not official, one of the junior sailors died while cleaning around a piece of gear that is powered by high pressure hydraulics. The gear moved and sliced his leg causing a mortal injury. My prayers are with those on board the sub and all of his brothers in the fleet that knew him. I never lost a shipmate while underway, but did lose some from other causes and those were traumatic. I can't imagine what they are dealing with losing him while underway. Hearing of times like this affirm my calling in that I am able to see the need for the Chaplain Corps in the overall health of the units they serve. These are the exact reasons why Chaplains are needed throughout the military. The service members constantly stare death down every day and need someone there to provide the care when death claims an occasional victory.

Year Two Week One

What a fast paced week. It looks as though this semester will be difficult in a completely different way than last year. Gone are the days of weekly one page busy work assignments. These are replaced by more intense and dense reading assignments and papers that make up a larger portion of our grades. As expected, it was an overwhelming week when I looked at all the assignments at first glance. But, as I get into the cycle of school and get the routine down again, it should be less daunting. I am excited about the subjects: Theology, Calvin, Greek and American Christianity. As long as I learn enough to pass my ordination exams next summer I will be satisfied with the semester.

I started my internship with the Campus Ministry here at Duke (the PCUSA variety). It is a great group of students and the supervisor is amazing as well. I am looking forward to seeing if campus ministry is a possibility in my life. Regardless of that outcome, it will be good practice for my future as a Navy Chaplain. Hopefully, I can teach the students as much as they will teach me this year. I really like the idea of learning how to work a ministry of presence, just being there for a group of people when they need me. It makes the job a bit more relaxing as well. I don't need to change the world, I just need to be ready when called.