MASSACHUSETTS COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
ANNUAL MEETING
JANUARY 19, 2008
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
THE REV. JACK JOHNSON
Grace and Peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
As your new Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches, first I wish to acknowledge with thankfulness the strong support I have received in this time of transition from my predecessor, the Reverend Diane Kessler, my Associate Director Ms. Laura Everett, my Administrative Assistant Mrs. Louise Frehill, Mr. Dick Harter Chairman of the Board, Board members and a host of clergy and laity who have welcomed me into this ministry.
Basic to our understanding of the nature of the Council is a working definition of what a Council is. Diane Kessler, and our new General Secretary of the National Council of Churches The Reverend Michael Kinnamon, define a council as “a voluntary association of separated and autonomous Christian churches, within a defined geographical area, through which its members seek to manifest their fellowship with one another, to engage in common activities of witness and service, and to advance toward the goal of visible unity.”
Let me share with you reflections upon the ministries that unite us, those that beckon us and those that challenge us as a Council of Churches as we seek to advance toward the goal of visible unity.
Indeed the Council is alive, healthy, and vital. Its vitality is no doubt a reflection on its strong history, a history of dedicated and most capable leadership that focused the Council’s ministry on issues of public policy and ecumenical theological discourse. Yet the Council finds itself, like any institutional organization, challenged by a life cycle of change, not only in our culture but in the institutional denominations which we represent. One has noted that “change is inevitable but growth is a possibility”. If our healthiness is to continue, we will need to identify and implement opportunities of growth for the Council that will address the broad challenges that our world faces.
Clearly there are ministries that unite us. Ministries of compassion and mercy that respond to natural disasters that address human suffering caused by war and economic hardship. We recognize that such response occurs through ecumenical ministries at international, national, and local levels. We express our gratitude to persons of faith who through their local church and their denominational agencies witness to the compassion and mercy of Christ.
Yet there are issues that beckon us to act together in unity. Here is where the Council may be most effective in addressing issues in an ecumenical witness.
The Reverend Bob Edgar, past General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, reminds us that our faith should lead to progressive solutions for the defining issues of our time; issues he defines as Peace, Poverty, and Planet Earth. I believe these are the issues that beckon us to work in unity with one another through the Council.
The issue of Poverty is an issue of economic justice. It is an issue of economic justice that leads us to engage in strong opposition to casino gambling in a coalition of partnership with Casino Free Mass to oppose what will hurt the most vulnerable, the poor, and the elderly. Raising revenue to finance programs for the common good through a regressive tax on those who are most vulnerable is not good government. We will seek to engage faith communities throughout the Commonwealth to oppose such a measure.
The Planet Earth is under an incredible challenge as we burn through nonrenewable resources without concern for their eventual disappearance, draw down renewable resources faster than they can be replenished, and produce more waste products than our environment can absorb. It is what Brian McLaren calls “prosperity dysfunction”. As stewards of God’s earth we as persons of faith through the Council have incredible opportunities to unite in environmental ministries that will educate and advocate for change. “Healthy Kids, Healthy Churches, Healthy Communities”, an environmental faith curriculum, the Interfaith Climate Network, the Healthy Environmental Leadership project, and advocating for a clean environment through state legislative initiatives will be a focus for this coming year.
Our culture of violence, be it urban gun violence or war in the Middle East, are factors that beckon us as followers of the Prince of Peace to address. Partnerships in such arenas include engagement and challenges around interfaith dialogues, expanding alliances with faith communities in urban setting that are not from our member denominations, and exploring with area education institutions opportunities of learning that will bring about peace with justice in our world.
Evangelical pastor, Rick Warren in calling for a second reformation, writes that “The first Reformation led by Martin Luther was about ‘belief’; the second will be about ‘deeds’. It is about what the Church should be doing in the world.” While Warren’s observation has much merit, it is still important for Christendom to be intentional in its quest for unity to address the theological issues that divide us, our beliefs.
The Council’s significant engagement in the faith and order dialogue has been unique to state ecumenical councils. Here the issues that we face in seeking unity are most challenging. Issues of Church ecclesiology, full communion, ordination of women, questions of human sexuality, and our understanding of marriage will continue to be of critical importance.
We have the opportunity to continue to make a contribution to national and world ecumenical bodies that seek to affirm our Lord’s Prayer “that they may be one”. John 17:21. The Council’s unique position of its past contributions provides new opportunities through its Commission on Christian Unity working in partnership with area Seminaries, the B.T.I., and noted area ecumenists.
Finally, as we move forward. 2008 will be the occasion for the Council, through its Board of Directors, to engage in a strategic planning process. This process will enable us at this time of transition of executive leadership and the changing ecumenical environment to discern the future direction and vision the Council must take if it is to continue to be a healthy and vibrant organization that contributes to the unity of our Church.