Bishop Kinisa was listening to the young pastoral candidate, but she was growing impatient.
The whole experience was bizarre—a recent seminarian coming to her with a proposal for a call. “If I listen to Bruce, how many other seminarians will line up at my door?” she wondered.
The time had come, she thought, to cut to the chase. She respected Gil and had enjoyed teaming with Bruce on the Undercover Bishop visits. But now she was not sure how to respond to Bruce’s appeal, especially since Gil was clearly in his corner before either had thought to approach her.
Young pastors were usually eager to be considered for any vacant church. Her usual role was to interview candidates, make recommendations to call committees and oversee the negotiations.
What was happening today was not the way things are supposed to be.
Bishop Kinisa decided to take charge.
“Bruce, correct me if I’m wrong, but you are not rostered in NEWS Synod.”
Bruce had anticipated the objection. “That’s right, I was sponsored in seminary by my home congregation which is in another synod. Frankly, I enjoyed working with you and the three Undercover Congregations. I have no real loyalties to any synod. It was only my home congregation sponsoring me. I have no financial obligations to my home synod. I thought it would be a good idea to explore possibilities. If my ideas have merit they may have wide-ranging benefits.”
“What hubris!” Ruby thought, but she maintained her calm.
“I confess I’m confused, Bruce. Are you here because you want to be considered for a call to a NEWS congregation? If so, I really don’t understand all the talk about Social Media.”
“I can see that what I’m trying to say might be confusing. I assure you it’s not my intention to cause difficulty. I keep thinking back to that conversation we had earlier this year, Bishop Kinisa. You asked me if I would consider serving in a small congregation. I’ve spent the best part of the year thinking about this. It seemed natural to return to the person who asked me the question in the first place.”
Ruby was encouraged with Bruce’s response. “And your answer is…?”
“I’d love to serve a congregation like Grace, Zion or Pleasantville. But I’m married with two boys about to enter college.”
“So your answer is no . . . just like so many other pastors.”
Gil interjected.
“Ruby that’s what Bruce is getting to. He has an idea that might make it possible for him to work with smaller congregations in a truly creative way.”
He turned to Bruce.
“Lay it out for the bishop, Bruce, just like you did for me at the conference last week.”
Bruce swallowed hard.
“Bishop Kinisa, I’d like to serve a small parish part-time, perhaps even two yoked small congregations. I’m hoping that such a call might support my ministry with a base salary of about $2000 per month.”
“But we know you can’t live on that,” Gill prodded.
“No, I can’t support my family on that, But I’m hoping to interest NEWS Synod in funding an experimental Social Ministry Model. I’d like to pilot a program that would help all 200 NEWS churches learn from my work.”
Both Gil and Bruce paused for Ruby’s reaction. She hesitated to answer at all, but finally said. “Bruce, I just don’t know enough about internet ministry. My gut reaction is that no one will be willing to support this idea. If there was any interest, someone would already be doing it.” She paused and smiled. “That being said . . . I’d have no trouble turning down either one of you…but the two of you together!”
All three enjoyed a laugh. That broke the ice.
At last Ruby said, “Bruce, I’d have to seriously study your proposal. Of course, I’d have to run it past the Synod Council and perhaps even the Synod Assembly before we could get funding.”
Gil interjected. “I think we can make it work. It will take a few months of meetings. Bruce will have to make presentations—beat the bushes, so to speak. The Synod Council might need a meeting or two to make a decision. That will leave only a few months left in this fiscal year. We can find the money.”
“Who do you think will give up their budgets for this?” Ruby asked.
“Social Media is so new that it doesn’t fall under any one committee. That’s probably why we have done so little with it. No one sees it as their job!” Gil said.
Bruce interjected. That’s the beauty of Social Media. It fits under several committees. It can be used for Witness, Education, Evangelism, Communications, Social Ministry, Justice Ministry and some churchwide agencies might be willing to get involved.”
Ruby smiled “Oh, to be young again,” she said. “I’m warning you, it won’t be easy.”
Gil added, “Bruce, it’s going to be your job to convince the movers and shakers in each area that there is something in this for them.”
“I’m up to the challenge, Bishop. Seriously, I really feel called in this direction. I hope I can count on your support.”
Ruby was not yet ready to commit one hundred percent, but she saw Gil’s enthusiasm and decided to leave the door open.
“I’m not yet on board, Bruce—at least not with both feet. A lot of work must be done before I approve this idea. But I am willing to put you in front of some people and see where you take us.”
Gil started humming, ”Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.” Bruce and Ruby joined in the last words. “Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.”