Day One of School of Congregational Development-- from David Burt

Music City lives up to its name. Our hotel is just a block away from the famed Broadway in downtown Nashville. Walking up and down the several blocks one hears bluegrass, country, blues and rock drifting from the many clubs, restaurants and even ice cream parlors.
Day One of the School for Congregational Development –

I attended the first of two Intensive Sessions focused on Managing Conflict that Blocks Change. What is being shared in this special class dovetails perfectly with what I am also learning in the Center for Pastoral Effectiveness, that many in our conference have already taken. Staying in relationship with those who may be at odds with us is crucial. It isn’t easy, but it is vital.

Our opening Plenary featured Bishop Larry Goodpastor sharing learnings he has gained from reading the latest biography of Francis Asbury. Four lessons in particular stand out.

1. Asbury’s piety and perseverance excelled.
2. Asbury connected with ordinary people.
3. Asbury understood and used popular culture.
4. Asbury was a great organizer, but understood organization is in service to the mission.

We reflected on the need to capture Asbury’s outlook in the church today.

But the highlight of the day, for me, was this evening when a special showing of the film “Lost in Woonsocket” was made available to us. In a nutshell, it is the story of a film crew helping two alcoholic men make some dramatic changes in their lives, and how those men in turn changed the film crew and continue to affect other’s lives. Following the film, the film producer, a pastor featured in the film and one of the two men whose lives were changed took questions from the audience. The United Methodist initiative Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence (SPSARV) sponsored this showing, and is currently developing a Bible Study which will be available to download to churches this September. How can the church respond to the ever-increasing challenge of addiction in our churches, communities and world? The film left a profound impact on me.

Blessings

david