I have been very blessed to have four consecutive weeks off in a form of spiritual sabbatical renewal leave from my local church. This time has been a gift for my family and I. It has been a fruitful time of rest where I moved outside the normal demands of pastoral leadership in order to make space for God to bring renewal. During my time away I worshiped each Sunday in a different congregation. My family and I traveled extensively spending time with family and enjoying God’s creation.
Here are the top six lessons I learned on sabbatical.
#6 A Deeper Appreciation for the Long View of Preaching.
When I played high school football I was obsessed with the team we were playing that Friday night. I would think about them, study film, and even write the opponent’s school name at the top of my class notes so I could focus on them. Preaching can be of a similar intensity. The “term paper” is always coming each week. Even more than the pressure of a good grade is the responsibility to preach God’s word faithfully.
Sitting with the congregation for weeks in a row was a reminder that Christian worship is deeper than the sermon (although please do not interpret this as a diminishing view of the sermon). Sermons absolutely have a role to play. Yet, there is so much more going on during worship. There is community, there is worship through song, there is confession and pardon, there is rhythm of gathering and sending out.
My hope as I return to the pulpit is fresh, relevant, faithful preaching. I also hope to have a renewed confidence in how God is working in so much more than just the preaching.
#5 A Clearer Vision for My Calling
This season of pondering the future of Methodism and Christianity has given me plenty of time to consider my calling. There has been a renewed understanding of how I am called to cheer on people for what God is doing in their life. I also have a clearer understanding of my role as someone, like all Christians, called to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Specifically, how the Triune God who created the world and everyone in it loves the world and everyone in it. This God cares deeply for everyone and provided a path to eternal life, here and now, through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for our sin. It is a free gift. No matter how good, smart, pretty, successful, or friendly you are, you can not earn it. It is the greatest gift you can ever receive.
#4 An Extending Gratitude to the Local Church
While I have gotten clarity on my calling I have also grown in my gratitude for my local church. To all of our knowledge no one has ever been given a sabbatical leave like this before. It was new for me and for them. The Christ-followers at Glennville Methodist Church were very encouraging.
A few years ago I had a very traumatic church meeting where some trusted friends blindsided me and unloaded some frustrations on me again and again. That night I went home literally shaking. Even though it was over ten years ago, I still think it is going to happen again.
Nothing could be further from the truth in almost all other ministry contexts I have served in. Particularly here I have received a bounty of prayer and encouragement. I wish everyone had a chance to serve and live in Glennville.
I also realize having a sabbatical is a privilege most churches and professions in America do not enjoy. I am extremely grateful to have had this unique benefit.
#3 Being with God vs Doing for God
This is not a new theme for me. I discovered it a couple of years ago from Rev. Pete Scazzero. The time away showed me how I can turn almost everything into an act to please God or even worse a chore to be done.
I am not really sure I have come to a clear answer on how to combat this. There are a couple of ways I hope to experiment with this through some questioning.
The first question to ask myself is this: Am I trying to do too much for God?
Do not get me wrong, the Lord calls us to do great things that stretch us personally. However, for me, this question points to my inability to be happy for what Christ has for me today. This question is a reminder that if I have so much on my to-do list that there needs to be two or three of me to get my tasks done then I am probably trying to move at too fast of pace. I am probably not trusting God’s timing but trying to usurp God’s will by achieving in a way that is subtly trying to earn my own salvation.
The second question to ask is: Am I enjoying God?
This one is more straightforward. Am I enjoying God and God’s blessings in my life or am I obsessed with my own pleasure or comfort. Surely there will be days that are not enjoyable. Yet, even in those days we can enjoy God’s presence and comfort.
#2 There are Piles of Beauty and Heaps of Sadness in this World
One of the blessings of my time away was the privilege of travel we experienced. We hiked in the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. We saw the beauty of waterfalls in the Pacific Northwest. We played in Beautiful public parks in the State of Washington. We felt the thrill of rushing to make a connecting flight in the Houston George Bush International Airport while the air conditioning was out in the airport on a hot June day. We experienced extreme generosity from my family who hosted us in Portland. For the first time, we saw the West Coast and put our feet in the cold Pacific water at Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach.
Along with beauty we also saw despair. While on a day date in Savannah, Brandy and I saw what appeared to be a homeless man going through the trash looking for watered down alcohol beverages that had been discarded. While on a date in downtown Portland, we walked beside a group of gentlemen sharing needles and heating something in tin foil (I do not think the answer is to stop going on dates with my wife). We showed our children the tent cities in Portland and pondered how they handle the colder winters than what we are used to in Georgia. We talked about how each of these people have someone who loves them and is worried about them.
I’ll confess I do not have an easy application to this lesson. This is more of acknowledgement of the sadness in our world displayed in poverty and addiction and call to prayer and action where possible.
#1 Do No Harm… to Myself.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, had rules for those striving to follow Christ. They were (1) Do no Harm, (2) Do all the Good You Can, (3) Attend to the Ordinances of the Church.
David Watson has an excellent article about how Wesley saw these rules as external actions. Wesley pointed out how if we only have these outward actions we are pharisees. Wesley taught how we needed inward holiness as well.
My take is this, what if we asked, “How can we do no harm to ourselves for the sake of Christ?”
Ministry is notoriously well known for having a high rate of burn out. Rev. Tish Harrison Warren talked about a recent survey in a piece published in the New York Times. She talked about some of the challenges pastor face:
“The top reported reasons for clergy burnout were the same ones that people in the population at large face: stress, loneliness and political division. But these stressors affect pastors in a unique way. Pastors bear not only their own pain but also the weight of an entire community’s grief, divisions and anxieties. They are charged with the task of continuing to love and care for even those within their church who disagree with them vehemently and vocally. These past years required them to make decisions they were not prepared for that affected the health and spiritual formation of their community, and any decisions they made would likely mean that someone in their church would feel hurt or marginalized.”
Author James Clear in his book Atomic Habits talks about each day being a vote for the type of person we want to be. Clear talks about how we need to have more yes votes for the person we want to be rather than no votes.
If clergy are to have a long, faithful, and fruitful ministry I think it starts with examining if we are doing harm to ourselves. This can be in addiction, neglect of health, being too career focused or some other struggle. I personally need to examine whether I am doing harm to myself in my daily habits, rhythms, or neglect of my health. Am I willing to vote for the person I feel like God is calling me to be? Am I willing to do no harm to myself for the sake of others and love of Christ?
More From David
About the Global Methodist Church
Last night I heard the news the Rev. Dr. Tim Keller was entering hospice. I spent part of the evening thinking of how this pastor has affected my life.
Moments ago on social media I saw this post:
It has been an up and down medical journey for Dr. Keller since he shared his cancer diagnosis. Now he rests in the Savior’s arms.
Like his life, it appears his death was a way for him to share his faith and model a Christian life.
Recently, I was blessed by his book Jonah: The Prodigal Prophet as I preached through the book of Jonah. In seminary Center Church was required reading. It impacted how I view the church and gospel in regards to the way they affect the city. My wife and I have the Meaning of Marriage Couples Devotional. While commuting to seminary I listened to a whole class of lectures on the now defunct iTunes University called Preaching Christ in a Postmodern World where he taught about his preaching method.
His New York Times Article Am I a Christian, Pastor Timothy Keller? with skeptic Nicholas Kristof is one of my favorite articles. I even quoted it in an article about the Future of Methodism.
In line with his brilliant mind and clear writing was his attitude. I always appreciated how winsome he was for the lost in New York City (and the wider world) without compromising Christianity. He was not afraid to talk about the tensions in faith for thinking Christians. He would have open microphone question and answer session on Sunday nights at his church in New York City for whoever wanted to attend. I never heard him get angry or talk down to anyone.
Christ has blessed me greatly through Dr. Keller’s work. I look forward to continued mentoring from Dr. Keller from his published work.
Over the next few days I will continue to pray for the Family of Tim Keller.
I will also thank God because I am a better Pastor and Christian because of Tim Keller.
Methodists Moving Forward in South Georgia
April 28, 2023
One of my passions has been writing about the future of Methodism. Methodists all over Georgia are sensing God’s leading and moving forward. Here is a sample of a few beautiful snapshots of where Methodists are heading after church disaffiliation votes in the past year. These are all happening around my area of ministry.
New Church Groups Starting Up
In Savannah, after a majority vote did not reach the required 2/3rds majority hundreds of Methodists planted a new church on Isle of Hope in Savannah, GA. The new church is called Good Shepherd of Savannah.
Rev. Scott Tucker will be the lead pastor of Good Shepherd of Savannah. Rev. Sam Paul has joined the team to lead worship and youth ministries. The church is temporarily meeting at Isle of Hope Baptist Church (22 Rose Ave., Savannah, GA).
The pastor’s shared about their excitement in recent church social media posts. Rev. Scott Tucker said, “I believe Good Shepherd Savannah will serve our city with the kindness and the truth of God’s healing work in Jesus Christ.”
Rev. Sam Paul in his church staff highlight social media post said, “I have loved every minute of leading the band and singing songs to our Lord, and I have especially loved the chance to work with students and watch them grow in their faith. I never would have imagined this opportunity to help build a new church plant, and I can’t wait to see where God takes us!”
The church plant is aligned with the Global Methodist Church (GMC). See Good Shepherd’s Savannah’s website for the most up to date meeting locations and times.
In Statesboro, a group consisting of hundreds of Methodists have been meeting together after another majority vote did not meet the required supermajority. Under the leadership of a board of thirteen members they have been organizing speakers as they continue to worship together.
“We just want to keep everyone together” says Warren Ball, a member of the new communities leadership board.
Statesboro Worship is the name of the Christian group. They are meeting at the Home Builders Association of Statesboro in the Market District (1223 Merchants Wy, Statesboro, GA 30458). They meet at 9:00 a.m.
The Statesboro group is discerning where they want to align. The majority of the group want to remain Methodist or in the Wesleyan stream. However, they are still discerning what this may look like moving forward.
Local churches are aligning with the Global Methodist Church
Rev. Paul Broussard aligned quickly with the Global Methodist church. His church, Bethesda Church (Guyton, GA), took more time to discern where they wanted to realign moving forward.
“Back when I returned to the Methodist church I knew then I wanted to align with the Global Methodist Church. It just felt right. Reading the Transitional Book of Doctrine and Disciplines. I just felt deep in my Spirit that the Global Methodist Church will usher in a new great move of God,” Paul said.
His church leadership voted recently to move forward with a church wide vote about joining the Global Methodist Church.
Paul added, “The transition team of Bethesda went through the Transitional Book of Doctrine and Disciplines. [They] loved the conservative and traditional Wesleyan heritage. Another plus was the fact that the GMC wants the churches to begin to govern themselves more…”
Another local Methodist Church in Twin City, GA decided to align with the GMC even though that meant they would lose their pastor.
Church member Sybil Johnson talked about the Twin City Methodist Church’s decisions.
“I attended the Isaiah 43 Conference [the first gathering of the South Georgia Global Methodist Church] at Epworth by the Sea in October last year. It was a revival of blessings! I felt the presence of the Lord with us! His spirit was moving around us and within us.”
While Sybil had a great experience at the conference she elaborated on why she personally leaned to the GMC. “My faith is rooted with the John Wesley traditional teachings and beliefs. So is Global! So thankful for Global Methodist coming to our rescue!”
They are looking forward to their new minister being appointed by the GMC this summer.
The South Georgia Conference convening session is July 27th – 29th
The South Georgia Conference of the Global Methodist Church (SGAGMC) will hold it’s convening session from Thursday, July 27th to Saturday, July 29th. As of this article publishing, the SGAGMC has 99 clergy aligned or in the process of joining the conference. There are currently 92 churches aligned on in the process of joining. This list will continue to grow.
Epworth by the Sea is a historical place for Methodism. Charles and John Wesley both lived on St. Simons briefly. Epworth by the Sea also holds the Bishop Moore Methodist Museum.
During this historic conference there will conclude with an ordination service presided over by Bishop Scott Jones.
The SGA GMC is led by President Pro Tem Rev. Jay Hanson. Reflecting on the upcoming momentus conference he said, “As Methodist we are a called people, a holy priest hood, who have historically encountered and responded to God in special ways at Epworth by the sea on St. Simons Island. This is sacred soil for us. As Methodist from across Georgia gather on July 27-29 for our First GMC Annual Conference at Epworth I have deep sense that we may again experience a fresh move of God which enables us to worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly.”
Other speakers will be announced soon. For the latest on the convening conference session including registration, speakers, and schedule, visit the SGAGMC Annual Conference website.
While this is just a small picture of what is happening in my area, I am curious. Do you know of a Methodist story that needs to be told? Reach out to me and let me know.
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David Donnan 