Dear Friends,

            I write this on the eve of the 2007 Annual Conference to be held… as always… at Adrian College. Yet, I am reminded I might not be able to say “always” for much longer, if the proposed creation of one new Conference in the State of Michigan is approved next year and is then subsequently approved by the 2008 Jurisdictional Conference and becomes effective January 1, 2009.

            While the rubrics of our liturgy notes, “… the Church will be preserved until the end of time…”,  that is true of the church as the Body of Christ, it is clearly not always true for individual congregations. I learned this very early in my ministry when I was the pastor at the time the Boulevard Temple ceased to exist,  during the summer before my final year of seminary.

            There are many relationships and many institutions that we believe will always be there for us… to think otherwise is to invite despair and grief to overcome our lives. Yet, many people will either cling slavishly to “that’s the way we’ve always/never done it” mind set… or will, despite our enthusiastically singing of “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”, allow what might best be called a “slight”  to separate us from a faith community that really does need us… our gifts, our passion, our vision and our financial gifts.

            Since June 8, 1972, I have been a clergy member of the Detroit Annual Conference. It’s been a central part of my identity. That may well change come 2009. It has caused me to reflect on where my identity is rooted: in an Annual Conference… or in a relationship with Christ who has been made known to me in ministry for some 35 years now in covenantal relationship with brothers and sisters in ministry, both lay and clergy.
How much difference will it really make if I am no longer a member of the Detroit Annual Conference… but in the Great Lakes Annual Conference?  Indeed, will this not simply increase the number of colleagues with whom I’ll be in ministry? How great a gift might that prove to be?

            To be sure, at this time, there are as likely as many questions as answers about the proposed future of our Michigan Area. I do not pretend to have all the answers… or even know half the questions. I trust, however, that the Church’s ministry will continue to move forward. I trust that the people of Christ will continue to embody the way of “faith, hope and love” both nearby as well as far away. It will be interesting to see where this takes all of us. Please pray for discernment, for steadfast vision and an openness to the spirit of Christ. As always, I invite your feedback and pray that the renewing and transforming spirit of Christ will continue to bless you and all you love.

Shalom,

Tom Macaulay