Where’s Michael? August (525,600 Minutes)

As I begin year 2 as Regional Minister, there are joys, concerns, and always ministry to do and gospel to be.

525,600 Minutes. 21,095 Miles.

Looking back through my calendar and my journal, these are some of the joys this past year:

• Working with the planning team for Regional Assembly ’26
• NWA Clergy Retreat
• Oklahoma Disciples Women’s Retreat
• Oklahoma Clergy Women’s Retreat
• Chi Rho/CYF Fall Retreat
• Commission & Ministry Partner Reports to the Regional Board & 2026 Budget
• Generosity of Donors to the Annual Fund

Advent & Christmas Around the Region

• Ministerial Practices Retreat
• Chi Rho/CYF MidWinter Retreat
• Pastoral Relations Committee
• Installation of our new Regional Board
• Regional Assembly ’26

Easter Around the Region

• Rev. Shannon Cook joined Regional staff
• Northeast Area Clergy Retreat
• General Board Meeting of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• Successful Church Camp Season
• Digital General Assembly
• Congregations who are thriving
• First 2026-2028 Regional Board Mtg
• Generosity of Congregations supporting our common mission fund (DMF) and other special offerings.
• Installations of Congregational Ministers
• Ordinations

And in those pages and my calendar, some of the concerns and sadness of this past year:

• Congregations searching for a minister
• Colleagues who claimed the promises of their baptism
• Clergy and their families with health challenges or crisis
• Congregations who are struggling
• Conflict and violence around the world
• Economic, political, and theological divisions
• Care and concern for our immigrant, migrant, and refugee neighbors
• And always, “What kind of ancestors do we want to be?”

I’ve referenced grateful.org before.  The Daily Question[1] arrives in my inbox each morning. As we settle into this new biennium (which began in March with the installation of the new Regional Board), I’m pondering the Region’s mission, “To connect, equip, and empower Oklahoma disciples to love and serve like Jesus,” and three recent questions.

What opportunity is beckoning for my attention right now? (July 23)

In September, the Commission on Clergy embraces six new Incare candidates joining seven other candidates on the journey to either commissioned or ordained ministry.  If you are keeping count, that is thirteen candidates on the journey to serve in Christian ministry.

During this biennium, Rev. Susan Payne (Moderator-elect) will lead a task group to review and revise the Region’s Constitution and Bylaws as we embrace the changes to The Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and adjust our governance, where appropriate, for 2028 and beyond.

Assist congregations and clergy in the search process to be attentive to what God is calling them to be and do.

Expanding the Region’s mission to connect, equip, and empower Oklahoma disciples (no matter their age)[2] to love and serve like Jesus.

In the face of the unknown, what helps me stay present? (July 22)

¹I waited urgently for the Holy
And the Divine leaned close to me and heard my cry.
²The Holy brought me up from the roaring pit, from the deep mire
And set my feet on firm ground, the Holy made my steps firm.

³The Holy put a new song in my mouth –Praise to our Divine One
Many will see and fear, then they will trust in the Holy.

⁴Happy is the one who puts their trust in the Holy
And does not turn to the proud
To those who follow after lies.

⁵O Holy, my Divine One, you have done so much – Your wondrous acts and thoughts for us.
Nothing compares to you.
Were I to declare and speak about them they would be too numerous
Without number

⁶Sacrifice & Offering you do not take delight in
Ears you dig out for me (unclog my ears)
Burnt offering and sin offering you do not require.

⁷Then I said, “Behold! I bring a book scroll written about me.”
⁸In doing your will, my Divine One, I delight
Your teaching is within my gut.

⁹I have preached your righteousness in the great congregation.
Behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, Holy One

¹⁰Your righteousness I have not hidden within my heart
Your fidelity and your deliverance I have declared.
I have not concealed your hesed nor your faithfulness
From the great congregation.

¹¹You, Holy One, will not withhold your compassion from me.
Your hesed and truth (stability) will preserve me forever.[3]

Time for prayer and meditation.

The stories of ministry from our congregations and the denomination.

Which core principles guide the way I live? (July 21)

Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.[4]  Those two commandments that followers of Jesus are invited (called) to dance with or wrestle with, depending on the day. 

Servant leadership.

Proclaim the good news of God that the ways of Jesus lead to Truth about God, and that those ways and that Truth lead to meaningful life and eternal life.[5]

Be curious, not judgmental.[6]

Oklahoma disciples, there is ministry to do and gospel to be. Some days, it’s a dance. Some days, it’s a wrestling match.
Our congregations and region continue…
Expanding
Mobilizing
Staying
Creating
Welcoming
Celebrating
our banquet tables.

Thank you for being a voice of gospel. Stay centered in God’s shalom.

Disciples, you are a blessing.

______

Notes

1. The Daily Question, grateful.org.  https://grateful.org/practice/daily-questions/
2.  My personal addition to the mission of the Region.
3.  Rev. Dr. Lisa W. Davison’s translation of Psalm 40.
4.  Mark 12:28-34, Matthew 22:34-40, Luke 10:25-28.  Mark is my favorite gospel.
5. Following Jesus, whom we proclaim as Christ, is a faith in action; a way of being in the world, but not of it.  It is a way of grace, hospitality, teaching, pastoral care, and preaching that is always prophetic.  My parents would say, “Do your best to walk the talk.”
6. Often misattributed to Walt Whitman, the idea is from an advice column by Marguerite and Marshall Shearer in The Charlotte Observer, January 1986. [https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/be-curious-not-judgmental-walt-whitman/]