Power to the People!

POWER TO THE PEOPLE is the credo of my ministry as an intentional interim pastor.  Interim time in a congregation happens when either the lead pastor or second pastor leaves the congregation, and an interim pastor is called to fill the ministry needs until a new, full-time pastor is called.  The intentional interim pastor is trained to accomplish certain tasks to prepare the congregation for the future such as: doing surveys of preference, conversation about what it means to be the church, addressing questions of how ministry is done, writing or revising the constitution, developing a new mission statement, dealing with feelings relative to the pastoral change, and doing the regular ministry tasks.

The greatest calling is to give POWER TO THE PEOPLE.  This means listening to and empowering the people in the congregation to assume greater responsibility for the ministry within and outside the congregation.  It is easy for a congregation to simply "let the pastor do it."  Good pastoral leadership does not fall into this trap, but constantly calls forth the talents of the people to do the ministry.  PTTP is consistent with Paul's writing on the Body of Christ.  PTTP is the time for the people to step-up and do new things, having learned from the previous pastor(s) what to do and perhaps what not to do!  The interim time is not a time of "maintenance", but of action, of moving into the future with the dreams and faith of the people of God, set free by the Spirit to lead!

PTTP is dynamic!  Instead of being led, the people lead!  Certainly the pastor provides leadership, but the passion and volume of the Spirit goes out from the people.  This is Christian Revolution!  This is how the church grew!  "Go therefore and make disciples...."  The Gospel means liberation!

It is this same dynamic that is changing the world's political map.  PTTP is telling the controllers, the dictators that the people are fed-up with domination and they are not going to take it anymore (remember "Network": "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!").  The people want free speech, the right to assembly, the right to work, the right to travel, equal justice under the law, freedom from fear of reprisal, the right to choose their leadership, the right to earn a living wage.

PTTP means that what we are thinking is what we now demand through action.  Action happens through expression, using cell phones, Twitter, Facebook, texting, and email.  People seizing the power of expression is dangerous to the tyrant and dynamic to the people!  It is kin to the Word of God providing the energy for the liberating effects of the Gospel to transform the world!  Expression is the liberating spirit for revolution!

PTTP sparked the Reformation, ignited the American Revolution, stirred the Russian Revolution, energized the Civil Rights and Anti-War Movements.

And now, how inspiring to see and hear the people of Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, Yeman, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and more gather as POWER TO THE PEOPLE shakes the foundations of oppression to demand justice and freedom!  It is the PEOPLE stepping up to a higher calling that transforms a nation and liberates a world, refusing to be controlled, refusing to go away quietly, refusing to accept injustice.

This Saturday, Linda and  I are going to rally with other Minnesotans at the State Capitol in support of our Wisconsin brothers and sisters.  POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

Peace!

Ron