Our Clergy Covenant: “Blest Be The Tie”

The Gathering of All ClergyNovember 5, 2013

Bishop Mike Coyner’s Sermon

“Keeping Our Clergy Covenant”

OUR CLERGY COVENANT

Where is God Calling You to Strengthen

Your Commitment to our Clergy Covenant?

Keeping Our Clergy Covenant

By showing up, being present with one another

“Do not neglect meeting together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another” – Hebrews 10:25

Keeping Our Clergy Covenant

By seeing each other as colleagues not as competitors

“If one suffers, all suffer together; if one is honored, all rejoice together. Now you then are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” – 1 Cor. 12:26-27

Keeping Our Clergy Covenant

By refusing to gossip and spread rumors about one another

“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” –James 1:26

Keeping Our Clergy Covenant

By paving the way for our successors and affirming our predecessors

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but it is God who gives the growth. Neither the one who plants or the one who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow” – 1 Cor. 3:6-7

Keeping Our Clergy Covenant

By leading our churches to pay their full share

“Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard-pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.” – 2 Corinthians 8:13-14

Keeping Our Clergy Covenant

By serving where we are needed, just as we have promised

“Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.” – Acts 15:22

Keeping Our Clergy Covenant

By doing the mundane things which manifest our respect and mutuality

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.” – Mark 6:30

Keeping Our Clergy Covenant

By living our lives and performing our ministry in a way that is faithful to our calling

“Therefore I urge you … to offer yourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God…” – Romans 12:1-2

OUR CLERGY COVENANT

Where is God Calling You to Strengthen Your

Commitment to our Clergy Covenant?

Levels of Commitment (from Peter Senge)

CommittedEnrolledGenuine ComplianceFormal ComplianceApatheticGrudgingly CompliantNon-Compliant

Levels of Commitment

Committed:I agree with our mission and will help make it happen.

I will create whatever“rules” or structures are needed to make it happen.

Levels of Commitment

Enrolled:I want to see our mission happen.

I will do whatever is needed within the “spirit” of the rules and structure.

Levels of Commitment

Genuine Compliance:I see the benefit of our mission.

I will do everything expected of me and more, obeying the ”letter of the law.”

Levels of Commitment

Formal Compliance:I see the benefit of the mission as a whole.

I will do what is expected and no more, being a “good little soldier.”

Levels of Commitment

Apathetic:I am neither for nor against the mission.

I really have no interest or energy for any of it.

Levels of Commitment

Grudging Compliance:I do not see the benefit of the mission or believe it is possible.

I will do enough of what is expected to stay out of trouble, but I will tell everyone I am not on board.

Levels of Commitment

Non-Compliant:

I do not see the benefit of the mission, and I will not do what’s expected.

“I won’t do it, and you can’t make me do it.”

Levels of Commitment

CommittedEnrolledGenuine ComplianceFormal ComplianceApatheticGrudgingly CompliantNon-Compliant

OUR COVENANT COMMUNITY

Where is God Calling You to Strengthen Your Commitment to our

Mission and Covenant?

PARAPHRASE OF WESLEY’S COVENANT PRAYER

My ministry is no longer my own, but Yours.

Send me where You will to minister as You will.

Rank me wherever You need me on the “ladder” of appointments, make me effective, subject me to disappointment;

Let me be productive for You or laid aside for You; let me be full, let me be empty; let me be fruitful and prosperous, let me be barren and in want;

PARAPHRASE OF WESLEY’S COVENANT PRAYER (cont.)

I gladly yield my calling and career to Your pleasure, and put myself completely at Your disposal.

And now, glorious and generous God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, You are mine, and I am Yours.

May it be so. And the covenant that we have now made here on earth, let it be ratified forever in highest heaven. Amen.