This letter was written by our former Senior Pastor Bill Ritter when he introduced the Czech Initiative to our congregation.

From Steeple Notes May 14, 2000

Dear First Church Friends,

I have been thinking a lot about the word "dysfunctional" lately. We toss it around as if we know what it means. We apply it to our enemies, our neighbors, people whose differences we are unable to understand and (at times) even to ourselves. Mostly, we apply it to families. In discussing this year's Academy Award winning film, American Beauty, one of our members exclaimed: "It's as if they took every conceivable image of dysfunctionality and wrote it into the same neighborhood." Which is not far from the truth. And which is why the film has been termed everything from a "painful satire" to a "black comedy." All I know is that there were times when I found it excruciating to endure ... quite apart from the fact that (artistically speaking) it may have been brilliantly designed and executed.

I worry, however, that we have become so glib in talking about "dysfunctional families," that we assume we live in one ... or come from one ... save for the family that posed over Thanksgiving dinner for Norman Rockwell. Certainly not every flaw, foible or fall from grace renders a family "dysfunctional." I refuse to let go of my belief that a lot of families are working very hard and doing a lot of things right. Not perfect. Not blissful. But right. As we approach Mother's Day and the celebration that Methodist types have historically called "The Festival of the Christian Home," I want to explore a bit of that "rightness" in a sermon entitled "It's What You Make Of It." If you want to know the source for my title, give Neil Wester a call. He's got a wonderful story to tell.

There is something else that will happen on Sunday that excites me greatly. I am going to introduce you to a new friend and let him greet you in all three services. His greeting will be warm and personal. It will also be brief, given that his command of English is somewhat limited. His name is Josef Cervenak and he is the Superintendent of Methodist work in the Republics of Czech and Slovakia. While he supervises less than 30 pastors (in addition to leading his own congregation in central Prague), he harbors a great vision. Kris and I were privileged to spend a day with him during our visit to Prague in January. And it was on that snowy Thursday that First Church's "Czech Initiative" was born.

Josef is coming to Birmingham following two weeks in Cleveland as a delegate to General Conference. Joining him from Virginia is a wonderful guy named Dick Arnold who heads the Czech desk for our Board of Global Ministries. And helping to facilitate conversation is Amy Arends Vesela (a daughter of this church) who served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Czech Republic.

Four separate First Church groups have helped design our Czech Initiative. Funds, escrowed from two previous budget surpluses (augmented by special gifts), will make it possible for us to become a "player" in the renaissance of Czech Methodism to the tune of $30,000 in the first year. Conversations with Josef (as to his most pressing need) have suggested that we put two of his pastors on wheels. Given that we can buy a pair of new Skodas (complete with insurance) for about $9,000 apiece, that is what we intend to do. The remainder will be directed to one of the churches and (perhaps) support the sending of a mission work team from Birmingham to Prague.

I don't know where all of this will lead. But I sense the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit blowing through it. And I, for one, am excited about riding that wind. As for putting pastors on wheels, I can't think of a more fitting enterprise for a church in the Motor City to undertake. Czech pastors make all of $3,500 per year. Which does not allow for mobility unless they bring a car into the ministry with them. A pair of Skodas may not seem as "spiritual" as a truckload of Bibles. But when you see Josef's eyes light up at the prospect of a "traveling" ministry, you will take profound delight in helping him create some "holy rollers."

Sincerely,

William A. Ritter