 I was so excited to start Covenant Discipleship groups at my new church. I'd preached for several weeks about CD, taught about it in Sunday school and youth group, and shared my experience with several individuals. People were asking me and Rich, the assistant pastor, if they could participate, and we prepared to start two groups: one of women, which I would lead for one year, and one of men, which Rich would lead.
Soon we had two full groups started: meeting once a week, writing their covenants, taking on new service opportunities, growing in trust, praying for the congregation and one another. Steve Manskar came to visit in early summer and over breakfast reminded both groups how important it was that they existed to support the ministry of the church. "You are not an exclusive group," he said to them. Everyone nodded his or her head. Rich and I were planning to break both groups open in one year to make this wonderful opportunity available to everyone in the congregation. I was thrilled at how well everything was going. Covenant Discipleship was one of the most important steps for my first year at the church.
Then someone came to my office regarding some business and at the end of the meeting told me how hurt she was that I hadn't asked her to participate in a group. Suddenly I saw the flaw, the huge mistake, in my plan. I had missed the crucial step of inviting everyone to participate in the pilot year.
When we formed these first groups I couldn't figure out how to teach more groups than Rich and I could regularly attend, so we gathered groups from those who had expressed interest and those we sensed wanted to participate. But sitting there in my office that summer day, I knew this was wrong.
I called Steve Manskar that afternoon and told him about it. "I've made a huge mistake, haven't I?" I asked. "Yes, you have," he said. "So, is there a way I can get out of this mistake without admitting to everyone I blew it?" I replied.
"Why would you want to do that?" Steve said. "A good leader will admit to a mistake and change course. You can do that, and be clear with everyone in your congregation that everyone is invited to participate."
"Oh dear," I groaned. Grace is great, but I hate making mistakes.
We laid out a plan and Steve talked to me about how we can support several groups without being in all of them. He reminded me how important that thorough invitation process is, even, or especially, in the pilot year.
So I wrote an article for the next newsletter. I explained my mistake and apologized. I told my Covenant group about it, and Rich. And we have a new introductory, informational meeting scheduled, and a new series of invitations. And I think we will have one more group before it is all over, and perhaps a more humble pastor as well.
••••
The Rev. Michelle M. Hargrave is pastor of Fairmount Avenue United Methodist Church in St. Paul, MN. You may read her blog at http://33namesofgrace.blogspot.com/.)
••••
Return to Covenant Discipleship Quarterly (Fall 2008) Home Page
Text Only Version
|
