In the beginning...

...was the first post. And here it is.

This is a blog as I work with the Seven Rivers District of the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (try saying that 6 times fast). We're a geographically and theologically diverse bunch of Christians located in the center of Washington State. The district is bordered by Canada to the north, Oregon to the south, and the Cascade range to the west. Our eastern border ranges from Walla Walla and Dayton in the south end to Grand Coulee in the north.

We have the unique distinction of having 2, count 'em, 2 district superintendents. Steve Schroeder and I (Mary Huycke) job share the position. As far as we've heard we're the only district in the US that has two people sharing the work. Steve and I each work 1/2 time in this role and 1/2 time in another role -- Steve as the pastor in Twisp, me as a church consultant and ministry coach with CourageousSpace. I liken our work as superintendents to being the round connector piece in a tinker-toy set, (OK, that's dating me). In the ds role, we help connect local congregations and clergy connect to one another, to other congregations, and to the ministry done jointly by larger groupings and agenices within the United Methodist Church.

Communication is basic to how we connect. Hence this blog. It's one way we can share what's going on as our congregations explore what it means to be a faithful, fruitful Christian community in their own particular setting at this particular time in history. That's always the key question for a church, but more than ever, churches are intentionally addressing it.

According to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church, the goal and work of each local congregation is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
This fall each of our congregations will be receiving a self-assessment tool from the Annual Conference (via Steve and me) to help them assess how they're doing in that work. What's working...and what may need some shifting.

The questions are designed to help a congregation look at themselves through 3 lenses 1) Who are we and who is our neighbor? 2) What's our definition of a Christian disciple, how do we think they're "made", what are we doing to do that, and how successful in it are we? 3) To what extent is our work impacting the lives of people beyond our doors; to what extent do we as a church walk alongside the community in direct ministry to community needs?

Much of what we'll be sharing in this blog are what these conversations stir up and what's it's like to be engaged in this work. That's what the title of blog refers to. God is deep at work in our communities. Our call is to listen and then step into the flow.