Presbytery of Northeastern New Jersey Updates
The Presbytery of Northeast New Jersey
Most of my newsletter posts begin with something I've either read or an observation I've made, and I start thinking, "How does this fit with other things I've read or seen before?" and "How does this help me make sense of the world and the work of ministry?"
Let me assure you, I don't write because I think I have everything figured out. In fact, some of my conclusions may be incomplete and may change as I learn something new or as I see the same thing from a different perspective. But that, I think, is part of the process.
Because we are meaning-making creatures. We are constantly taking the experiences of our lives and trying to understand what they mean. We try to connect the dots by telling stories, looking for patterns, and asking questions about what is happening and why it matters.
And I think this is particularly true for those of us in the church. We spend a remarkable amount of our time making meaning. We wrestle with ancient words and stories and try to understand what they might mean for people living in this particular time and place. We watch what is happening in the world and ask what it means for our communities, our neighbors, and our faith. We make meaning when a new family joins the church or when another suddenly stops coming, or when a congregation seems energized and when another seems tired.
Perhaps one of the most important things we can remember is that meaning-making is not the same thing as certainty. We can make meaning without pretending that we have discovered the one final interpretation of everything.
What we can say is, "This is what I see." or "This is what I think is happening." or "This is what I believe this might mean." And we can remain open to the possibility that we might see it differently tomorrow. That humility seems especially important for people like us who stand up regularly and speak about the meaning of faith and the scriptures.
In many ways, that's what these newsletters are for me. They are an ongoing attempt to make meaning out of the things I am reading, hearing, seeing, and experiencing and asking what these things might have to teach me about faith, about the church, about leadership, about people, and about God.
In the end, I don't expect every conclusion to be right, and I don't even expect every question to lead somewhere useful. But I do believe there is value in paying attention, asking questions, making connections, and asking, "What does this mean?"
Steve Huston
Organizing Co-Leader/ Resource Presbyter
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