American

I finally got my voter identification card in the mail. It was a little sketchy there for a bit. I changed my registration from IL to MI within the time allotted, but the computer at the state office was down. They said to wait three weeks, and if I hadn't heard from them, I should follow up. I checked the MI web site and I wasn't registered. I checked the IL web site and I wasn't registered. I was somewhere in the misty in-between. With the help of the good folks at the town hall, we got it all figured out. I'm registered to vote here. *whew!*

These few weeks we're in are the best part of being an American - that time when all the parties finally nominate their candidate. The run-up to that was exciting too this year. I'm glad Clinton didn't back out too soon. I really enjoyed the back-and-forth between her and Obama. It was a good fight. Being a highly competitive person myself, I appreciate the size of the fight in the dog over the size of the dog in the fight, as they say. The debates, both pres and vice pres, had me glued to the TV. It's not just what they say that's so revealing, but their body language as well.

I've been hearing a lot about early voting. I realize it's convenient, but I don't like it. I really think voting should be on voting day. That's the day we as a/the United States speak with our collective voice. I hate waiting in lines too, but I think it's a small price to pay for exercising my freedom. People talk about the valor of dying to protect our freedom. I think standing in line for a little while is much better price to pay. We could make it a national tailgaiting event. Now wouldn't that be cool? Fireworks anyone? Election day could be as big a celebration as Independence Day, don't you think?

I'm looking forward to casting my ballot more this year than any other. And there's no question that I can do that, now that my paperwork is settled.

new learnings round-up

The IMC is over, and I've returned with a broader view of internet ministry, a better understanding of necessary skill sets, and a working philosophy of effective internet ministry. I went to this conference thinking that the Evangelicals were the ones to watch for using this medium to its utmost. It seems however, that they struggle with the technology just like the rest of us. There is strong and lively debate between the camp that believes internet ministry is content-driven, and those who think it's technology-driven. I'm squarely in the content-driven camp. If you can't get your point across without splash, you've got nothing to say. There are in fact workhorse software programs that have a long shelf life, and are available free or cheap on the web. This is very good news for those of us with limited budgets, who cringe at the thought of having to upgrade every latest, greatest version. All the presenters used Mac computers which leads me to think that maybe Mac is best - at least for this kind of application. Splashy technology will woo even the most staunchly gospel-based minister to an eyes-glazed-over-ooh-look-at-the-pretty-effects computer geek. Jesus who...? Oh right, we here to spread the Good News. The most successful web sites have links to blog and Facebook pages. I may have to bite the bullet here and get a Facebook and blog link for the parish site. This will increase my workload. But it's effective. But I spend enough time on-line already. But it's proven. But... But... And finally, the 5-Ps motto "proper planning prevents poor performance" still rings true, especially when 80% of web design is in the planning, and 20% is in the actual construction. One of the people I met exchanged contact info with me. We're going to give feedback on each others sites as they're developed.

So, now I've got to get with my graphic arts person and start the business of planning our new site. I would love to have it up and running before Advent. That might be too optimistic. I built an on-line portfolio web site on html back in the late 90s. Talk about last century! Once I got the hang of it, I went pretty fast. I'm hoping the technology has gotten more efficient in the intervening years. Still though, the learning curve will be big. Ah well. It will get done one way or another. I'll let you know when it's done. Feedback is welcome.

more from IMC

Last evening's second plenary was great. The speaker presented his research on successful use of the internet. It was a lot like the THQ research, only instead of identifying effective versus not effective, this research looked at successful versus unsuccessful. You might call it Toward a Higher Quality of Internet Ministry. He took us to a few of the bigger success stories. One of them, to my surprise and delight was Trinity, Lime Rock. Go us! I thought I was the only TEC rep there. The presenter's findings are rough, by his own admission, but remarkable nonetheless in terms of the basic goals we all have. Is your site maintained by volunteers, staff, or outside vendors; how much time are you able to put into this ministry; what do you consider successful, and are you successful by your own standard? One of the women at my table had a similar experience with the ops of the day as I did. About half were really fruitful. When this presenter was done we looked at each other and concurred this plenary was worth the price of admission.

I went to this conference thinking that the Evangelical folks were the ones to watch in terms of internet and technology use in ministry. I've since come to learn that we're all struggling to work with this medium. There are lots and lots of designs out there to get our points across to the end users. What sets one site above the others is in many ways subjective. Some push content, some push technology. My motto is high concept/low tech. Before I run off and get the next best thing in software, I want to use up everything the current software has to give. (And that's why my laptop is 4 years old and slow as a swayback horse in winter!) Some of the flashiest web sites are the least effective in communicating their mission to the end user.

At this morning's ops I met people from France, Iran, Holland (not Michigan, the original), and Wales. They're working toward global evangelism in the truest sense with international partnerships and information/resource sharing. The guy from Iran was particularly interesing - we chatted the longest. Yesterday I didn't wear my collar, but I did today, as I've got to be back in BR this afternoon. I fielded lots of questions about the collar. Veeeery Iiiinteresting. I met two guys who claimed to be former Episcopal priests - thought they didn't seem to have a clue. I met some ex-gay ministry pushers. That's so last century. I met some whiz-bang computer geeks who could make a killing in the corporate world, but have put their gifts and talents to work for the kingdom of heaven instead. What an amazing gathering of people. It's such a gift to participate in this. I'd like to thank St. College Town for providing me this op.

later...

So... one of the other points last evening's plenary speaker made was the importance of contextuality in web-based ministries. (That's my paraphrase for his terminology.) It made me think about the book Constructing Local Theologies, and inculturation ministries in dynamically pluralistic societies. The speaker and the author make strong complimentary points. I think it would be interesting to read the two side-by-each and gather a more universal perspective on this as it relates to a Christian internet church sub-cultre.

Lunch was good too.

brain candy

I'm writing to you from the Internet Ministry Conference. I've been waiting for this opportunity for a couple months. I went to the plenary session last night, and one op this morning. Last night's op was led by one of the researchers of a new book called unChristian. He made some good points, though there was one particular slide that I thought was grossly oversimplified. He didn't spend a lot of time on it either, so I wonder if it wasn't clear to him what he wanted to do with it. A point he made that I find is being repeated today, is perception. What do we want the viewers of our web sites to perceive about us through this meduim?

Next op is strting now. more later.

happy bosses day

My secretary left a beautiful handmade card and a bottle of local wine for me to find at my desk on Bosses Day. Her daughter is a wine maker in this area (the Diocese of Wine Country). It was such a sweet thing to do. It capped off an already nearly perfect day a tear in my eye. I've been a boss before, but I've never gotten a bosses day gift. I'm just so flattered and humbled. I live a life of abundance.

I did it... and I'll do it again

Appreciation is a big deal to me. This is because I feel there's so little of it in our culture. Thanks for a job well done, acknowledgment of effort, appreciation of skill and ability needed to complete the task, have an intrinsic value that is under-utilized, and yet it goes so far in building lasting relationships.

Friday evening I hosted an party for the members of the Vestry and Search Committee to acknowledge their work holding together a parish without a Rector, and going through a long and complicated search process. When I approached some of them with the idea of planning this, I was met with surprised looks. It seems no one has thrown them a party in their honor before now.













It was so much fun getting it together. I found a fantastic caterer that did so right by me. I'll be calling on them again to be sure. I had great jazz music - thanks to K's excellent music tastes, and my having the forethought to take all the good CDs in the move. Thanks dear! The timing for each part of the evening was smooth, and things went off exactly as planned. Not bad for my first solo cocktail party.

Having spent my share (or more!) of time in thankless jobs, I find it very motivating when someone notices my efforts, and takes the time to appreciate me and my work. I'm willing to bet others feel that way too. To be honest, part of the reason for the party was to get them into the habit of appreciating themselves and the work they do in our parish community. I want to build up their self confidence in their ability to function as effective leaders. An enjoyable night was had by all. They all left knowing to expect more community/relationship-building gatherings like this.

Congregational Development-a-go-go-a-palooza.

cat as catch can

Remember how I said my neighbor is trying to befriend the stray cats? Well, she came up with a concerted plan to capture two or three and take them to a cattery. The proprietor of the cattery is a member of the Angel program. My neighbor has been very good to me, so I offered to transport the little cuties. She trapped only one large male. It was rainy the night before, so he was pretty damp, and none too happy about it. What was really striking was the smell. I thought wet dogs smelled bad. Wow. Wet stray cat - yuck. My neighbor was hoping to capture more than one - particularly a different large male who she thinks is responsible for many litters. But he won't be taken so easily. As we were getting ready to close up the stink- mobile, one of the females came trotting across the street. Mamma Calico, is the name she was given, and she has a youngster who's just adorable. We got Mamma, but I'm afraid Baby Calico will be looking for her. I would love to capture Baby Calico and reunite them soon at the cattery.

Literally dozens of cats greeted us when we pulled in the drive - and that was just what came out in the open! There were others that stayed in the fields surrounding the house. I've never seen that many cats before. They were all so friendly. We brought two big bags of cat food as a donation. One of the bags had a tear in it, and when I turned around there was a line-up of cats, faces to the ground, along the path from the car to the front door. After shooing two cats out of the car - I left the doors open to air it out, and they made themselves at home - we left. Put a check mark in the good deeds done box for me.

Later that afternoon, the other big male that my neighbor wanted to catch, was lounging on top of the trap my neighbor reset. Attitude.

inspiring

When people ask me what I find inspiring I think of things like this. Wayne Clough has an awesome job in front of him. I mean awesome, not just that it's big - it certainly is - but that it is ripe with possibilities. I particularly like his vision of leadership, and his future thinking.


"We can't collect things willy-nilly."
This is the kind of thing that I believe to be the backbone of organizational development - be it a museum or a church or a business. With a clear direction, there shouldn't be any room for "willy-nilly." My sense is that we need to be extremely deliberate in the choices we make with our organizations. What we do, or make, or provide must come from the core of what makes us strong - form the core of the organization's value system. "Willy-nilly" to me is spending precious resources (time, talent and treasure) on the things that don't directly relate back to the core strength of the organization. Paper towels are a great idea, but it would be absurd for a fastener company to spend its resources perfecting the most absorbent paper towel, no matter how good an idea it is.


"We need to reach out as opposed to simply hope that people will come in..."
One of my summer "presiders of the month," as I called them, made a comment during a sermon about our purpose. She asked the question, do people look at us and wish they had what we've got? What a good question. To me that's a little like asking, if we shut our doors tomorrow, would anybody notice? How do we let others know about who we are, what we've got, and what makes us unique from all the other churches out there? Episcopalians are notoriously private about expressing their faith. We just don't do evangelism as obviously as some of the evangelical churches. What I want is to find what authentic evangelism is for Episcopalians - or at least my little corner of it.

As I begin to live into the role of rector of this parish, I always have in mind the incredible value of the people I have been entrusted to lead. These are all God's own, and they deserve nothing but the best. It would be so easy - so very uncomfortably easy - to become isolated here; separated from the things that inspire me. At about 7:30 this morning, this Morning Edition piece came on my local NPR radio station, and I was glued to it. This is the kind of thing that inspires the best in me: others striving for the best in their own arenas. We've got a Vestry retreat coming up, and I'm working out the day's schedule. We're going to use one of my favourite leadership books, Jim Collins' Good to Great, as a guide book for plotting the course of the parish into the future. I hope it inspires them as much as it does me.

Unlike Clough, I'm not coming on board an organization troubled by ethical, financial, or any other scandals. It is obvious though, how easily such things can run amok in any organization. The things he talks about are nothing new to me, but it is so refreshing to hear someone else talking about them. Like Clough, I hope to ensure St. Andrew's future by using creative leadership and future-thinking attitudes to move our little corner of The Episcopal Church successfully into the 21st century. Survive is not enough. We must thrive.

I will be keeping a close eye in the Smithsonian to see how it goes. I wonder if Clough and I can sit down over coffee and talk shop? Maybe I'll write to him.

heat and eats

I turned the heat on for the first time. It worked well. I had my misgivings. The house I'm in a former student rental with an absent owner. There are some important maintenance issues that have been deferred. It took several notifications to the management people to get one thing on the way to resolution. With that in mind I tentatively turned the thermostat up. To my delight the heater kicked on with a clear and deliberate hum. Wonderfully warm air came up through the registers that amazingly did not smell like the basement. Nice. Then it happened.

I am the proud caretaker of a cowardly Siamese Cat. I love him. He's got personality to beat the band. And he's afraid of his own shadow. But not as much as he's afraid of the heater noises. He's never experienced the sound of a heater, and hot air blowing up from those mysterious metal grates on the floor. He started meowing, and meowing, and meowing; and wouldn't stop until the house got to temperature. He had this wide-eyed, low crouch, skulking look the whole time -- and the classic long, loud, scraggly mmmeeeeeeoooooowwwww. It was like that all night. Every time the heater turned on he had to announce it. We had a similar issue with the ceiling fan a couple months ago. Scardy cat.

Last night the finest parish in the diocese (that would be mine) had a kick-off dinner for our Epicureans small group. I may have said this before, but I've got a parish full of foodies. Good for me, right? Well I learned that I've also have a parish full of hunters who really know how to serve up wild game. Wow. Venison has always been a rare treat for me. I've enjoyed it a few times in the short while I've been here. Very good for me, yes. I got to try rabbit, which I've always wanted to try. It's wicked good. There was also pheasant, and I think boar. There was also a variety of venison dishes, of course. There were such wonderful flavors. I might never go back to chicken and beef. And the stories! I think hunters have the funniest stories. Though I've never hunted before, I did have a deer story to share: the one about the woman in Salem who got hit by a buck on a street corner. The wildlife version of a drive-by shooting I guess. Nature strikes back. I won the prize for funniest, though I think it should have gone to the squirrelope story. I almost got an invitation to go hunting with one of them. It's such an important part of the culture here. I'd like to go sometime and experience what they're so passionate about. Maybe an invitation will come through before the season is over. Until then, I now know a source for venison, and I have a slow cooker.

death by dial-up

Ugh......

must...
down...
load...
e-...
mail...

I have dial-up at work. I share it with my secretary. We have to check-in with each other before we go on-line to make sure the line is open. Yes, only one of us can check e-mail at a time.

I should be grateful really. I can waste untold hours surfing around the web for absolutely nothing in particular. I'm sure I'm much more productive with dial-up. That's what I keep telling myself. (I just spent 23 minutes trying to find just the right Slowskys commercial clip to illustrate my point. I can't find the one where he says, "Aahhh... me time." That's my favorite. I say it every day.)











I'm eternally grateful for my BlackBerry. I can get e-mail from my work account on it. So if I really, really need to connect with someone, I can use that rather than the laptop. I think there's a way to use the B'Berry to connect wirelessly, but I think I need some other piece of hardware or software. It may be more than I'm willing to invest the time in. Even though I have lots and lots and lots and lots of time waiting to log in.











I've got high speed at home, which keeps me from climbing the bell tower, but I'm sure it's not as fast as what I had in Ev'tn. Our wireless system was never all that reliable, but I'm certain it was faster than this. I'm going to chalk this up to another adjustment to small town life. This isn't Chicago anymore. Stuff doesn't happen at city-fast speed here. I should be thankful to get out of hyperspeed. It's not a healthy pace to maintain.

It reminds me of the joke: What did the snail say while riding on the turtle's back?

Wait for it...

"Weeee!!!"

Aren't you glad you waited?

I am.

Ahhh... me time.