For the last dozen years, I have
shared a wonderful fellowship with a nationwide cluster
of United Methodist clergy known as The Gathering. While
we all huddle under the same denominational umbrella, there
is nothing official about us. Our membership is self-selected,
generally numbering between 35 and 40. All of us serve relatively
large congregations. None of us is a denominational bureaucrat.
If a member becomes a bishop, seminary president or district
superintendent (which many have), they leave. The same being
true for retirees. In short, we are "working stiffs"
who know the burdens and blessings of parish ministry.
Each year we commit a block of
time in October (beginning with dinner on a Monday and concluding
before lunch on a Thursday). This year's version of The
Gathering will take place on October 13-16. And it is my
year to play host. A record attendance of 33 members will
be here, laying to rest the notion that nobody will come
to a city in the Rust Belt when they have spent recent years
in Fort Lauderdale, Phoenix and San Diego.
Monday evening begins with dinner
at our home. On Tuesday morning, we start going around the
table, answering but one question: "What has happened
in your life, personally and professionally, since we assembled
last?" The sharing is deep. The friendship is true.
The learnings are abundant. All of us do similar work in
similar places. And given the fact that there are never
more than two from a state, nobody is campaigning for anybody
else's job. I look forward to a wonderful four days, thanks
to a hardworking hospitality committee chaired by my wife
and including Judy Green, Linda Howell, Nancy Keesee, Janet
Smylie, Margaret Valade and Ann Windley. So if you see strange
faces in the building who have a "clergy aura"
about them, welcome them. Without them, my ministry would
be the poorer.
