You’re Grounded
“You are grounded.” The phrase can mean a number of things. A child can be grounded, forbidden to leave their place of residence for any non-essential activity, no social life whatsoever. But an adult can be grounded too. I remember hearing these words from a spiritual instructor as a group of us students practiced tai-chi-like stances during a meditation session. She walked around the room, pressed on people’s shoulders, exploring who might topple over under the slighted pressure. To anyone who stood their ground without teetering she said, “You are grounded!”
Grounded means “firmly fixed.” It may refer to something physical or something emotional and psychological. Whether ministries were grounded was a topic of conversation in the Early Church. Jesus and his disciples spoke of being firmly fixed on a solid foundation. As the church began to develop and grow, leadership began to change; some argued over which leader was the best, and in whose footsteps should the church follow. Once, such an experience was happening in Corinth, where half the church wanted to do things Paul’s way and the other half wanted to do things Apollos’ way. How were they to decide which way was the best way?
The Apostle Paul wrote the church a letter to set the record straight. In this letter, he told them that builders would come and go. Even though he, Paul, laid the groundwork for ministry at Corinth, it was good that Apollos was building on it. As long as the foundation was strong and the ministry was grounded, then many leaders could come and go, and the ministry would not sink. To help the church discern whether something is grounded, he gave them two things to look for. The first, whether the leader loves Jesus and leads in his name and ways. The second, what is being used to build on the ministry. Paul said that Christ built with precious metals and stones, and that it’s easy to see if someone comes along after and is building wood or straw. The test is when the ministry goes through a “a trial by fire.” He explained that smiths take heat old worn-out tools to reshape them into something new. If the tool is made of something that burns when heated, it can’t be reused. But if the tools are made of precious metals that can stand both heat and the test of time, they can become something new. As they are heated, they become flexible and malleable. It’s the same with ministry. As we build upon old ways of doing things, we must build with tools that will last. Once they wear out, they can be shaped into something new.
It’s hard to believe that Trinity’s Mission Teams have already been around for two years! From its inception, Mission Teams were meant to rotate after three-year terms, with leaders cycling in and out over time, to keep the ministries dynamic. The first round of leadership has built a solid foundation for new leaders to ground themselves upon. This fall, Mission Teams are transitioning into their third year, which means you may see leadership change. This also means that if you have been watching or wondering about a Mission Team, now is the time to connect with current leaders, share your ideas, and explore ways you might be a part of enacting the cathedral’s mission to proclaim in word and action God’s justice, love, and mercy for all creation. It’s a season where you may also be asked by current leaders to do your part in service, teaching, or leadership. Cathedral Ministries is the vestry committee that officially installs new leadership on Mission Teams. If you’d like to learn more about how to be a part of a team’s work, feel free to contact Trinity clergy or any lay leaders on the committee: Kim DeNero Ackroyd, Audrey Hudak, Dale Murphy, and Marie Curry.
This spring and summer, I invite you to discern your place in the ministry of Trinity. As you discern, don’t be too worried about whether you might be able to do things the way that leaders did it before you, don’t worry about “the way we’ve always done it,” and instead, recognize that you are building on a firm foundation. All you have to do is bring your ideas and skills with flexibility so that they can be transformed into new tools that the church can use to preach the good news of Christ. Remember, the greatest leadership quality is love of Jesus and following in his footsteps. So, let’s follow him together, and continue to assure that Trinity Cathedral remains a sacred place for all people: https://www.trinitycleveland.org/mission-teams.
– The Rev. Adrienne Koch