Is there such a reality as anonymity in the church? Anonymity is generally recognized as the notion of not having a name. Each congregation, of course, has a name; however, is that name readily and widely known in the larger community? Is the name of Jesus share with faith and enthusiasm?

Let me suggest that there is such a thing as anonymity in the church. This anonymity has to do with the fact that the names of some local churches are often obscure or not known by the general public.

What is the name of your local church? Is the name of your church known to the community? These are pertinent questions as we take a brief look at anonymity in the church.

First, too often the name of a local church is not placed in a prominent place on the church building, or it is on a small faded sign that is difficult to read. It is important for the name of a church to be placed in a highly visible location on the church’s property. Also, it is very helpful for there to be directional signs in the church’s neighborhood that will assist a visitor in finding the church.

Second, far too many church phones do not have an answering device or service. When there is such a service, often the service does not invite the caller to worship with the congregation at the regular worship service. It would be helpful for a caller to be able to know the name of the church, hear the time(s) for worship and gain directions to the church. The provision of this kind of information is inviting and encouraging. Does your church provide this kind of information for a caller who might be searching for a church home?

Third, how can an inquiring visitor find out about your church? Quite often an inquiring church visitor will look for an informational presence on the web. Does your church have web site that is inviting and informative about the church’s worship services and ministries? Does your church invite visitors through an ad in the local newspaper, or radio/television spots? Does your church have a listing in the yellow pages of the phone book? If your answers to these questions is no, then your congregation might be engaged in anonymity either by default or conscious decision making.

Fourth, there are times when our clergy engage in anonymity by keeping an extremely “low profile” in the community. A pastor should be known in the community as a spiritual leader associated with a particular church. Pastors are known by their spiritual leadership and their acts of ministry in the congregation and in the general community. Clergy are called to a ministry of presence, not a ministry of anonymity.

Finally, the laity too are called to a ministry of presence. Jesus wants his pilgrim disciples to let their light shine and not hide it under a bushel. There is no place for anonymity among lay people. Laity practice a ministry of presence when they tell their friends and neighbors about their church, and invite these folk to worship with them. They practice a ministry of presence when they witness to the name of Jesus.

Jesus, himself, practiced a ministry of presence, not anonymity. Is there anonymity in your church? Does the congregation practice a ministry of presence in your church?

February is designated as Black History Month, and African American History is remembered and celebrated in a variety of ways. The Civil Rights struggle marked a dynamic era in that history. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the drum major for justice, and he led numerous civil rights demonstrations. Another crucial dynamic in the civil rights struggle was the many court cases that were adjudicated during those turbulent years.

One such court case was Browder versus Gayle which in a significant way changed the posture of relationships between blacks and whites in America and the world. It has been observed by some historians that few people know about the case and still fewer know about the plaintiffs. In Browder v. Gayle the attorneys for the plaintiffs contended that the segregation laws governing Montgomery’s [Alabama] city buses violated the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

It is interesting to note who was not a plaintiff in this case. Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, and became the icon of the Montgomery bus boycott was not a plaintiff. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was the president of the Montgomery Improvement Association, was not a plaintiff. The attorneys ruled out Rosa Parks for inclusion among the plaintiffs because her case was still under appeal. Martin Luther King, of course, who did not ride the public buses, had not experienced any mistreatment on the buses.

There were four women, however, who had experienced mistreatment on the buses and they became the plaintiffs in Browder vs. Gayle. These four women were Aurelia Browder, Claudette Colvin, Susie McDonald, and Mary Louise Smith. The case was named after the plaintiff, Aurelia Browder, whose last name came first alphabetically, and W.A. “Tacky” Gayle, the mayor of Montgomery. This was a crucial civil rights law suit.

Rosa Parks had been arrested on December 1, 1955. Claudette Colvin, however, was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery bus on March 2, 1955. She was a fifteen year old teenager at the time of her arrest. When the police dragged her off the bus, she shouted: “It’s my constitutional right.” Claudette was not celebrated in the community as Rosa Parks was celebrated in her defiant act that occurred nine months later. Subsequently Claudette was found guilty of the charges levied against her. She became an awesome witness in the Browder vs. Gayle case.

The Browder vs. Gayle decision, favorable to the plaintiffs, was announced on June 19, 1956. The city appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Court upheld the original decision on November 13, 1956. This decision ended legal segregation on the buses.

As people of faith, we are well aware that the Court’s decision has not ended racial prejudice in America. We have the continuing task of working together, therefore, to overcome prejudice in all of its ugly forms in the church and in the community.

Let us teach our children to love one another. Remember too, that Claudette Colvin, a teenager, acted on the basis of what her parents, her elders and her church had taught her.

As a United Methodist, I am an enthusiastic supporter of the United Methodist Committee on Relief [UMCOR]. UMCOR is the disaster relief agency of the UMC. It responds to emergencies in various places around the world, as well as in the United States.

Perhaps the American Red Cross is the most widely known relief agency in the world. The Red Cross might be better known than UMCOR from the perspective of public media and popular recognition. UMCOR’s record of excellence, however, ranks on a par with that of the Red Cross.

It is important to realize that UMCOR is more than a relief agency; it is a ministry of the United Methodist Church. This ministry is lodged under the umbrella of the General Board of Global Ministries, the mission agency of the UMC.

UMCOR practices a ministry of presence. I encountered this reality in a personal way while serving as the resident bishop of the New York Area in the aftermath of 911. The UMCOR staff made it clear to the leadership of the New York Conference that they would be present with us in New York for the long haul. In the practice of a ministry of presence, UMCOR strives to be present with people impacted by a disaster in the short term and the long term. The result of this practice often means that UMCOR workers are present in disaster areas long after other agencies have packed their bags and moved on to other arenas.

I also found this to be the case when the West Virginia Conference Cabinet work team visited Biloxi, Mississippi in July of 2008, three years after Hurricane Katrina had struck in August of 2008. UMCOR still had an office, near the local United Methodist Church, where they were continuing to do case management. UMCOR was maintaining a presence at that time because there was a need to do ministry among the people of Biloxi who still needed a helping hand.

The people of West Virginia are familiar with the ministry and mission work of UMCOR. When the state was hit hard by flooding, UMCOR was present with us.

In the midst of the recent earthquake in Haiti, UMCOR was about the ministry of presence. Several UMCOR staff members were in the nation grappling with the matter of appropriate relief steps in a nation gripped by poverty. While strategizing for a ministry of presence by UMCOR, Rev. Sam Dixon, the leader of UMCOR, died in the rubble of the Montana hotel which was devastated by the earthquake. Rev. Clinton Rabb also died as a result of injuries sustained in the earthquake. These two faithful servants lost their life while practicing a ministry of presence in Haiti. The UMC mourns the loss of these two dedicated UMCOR workers.

UMCOR is providing relief in Haiti on behalf of all United Methodist folk; they are able to engage in this ministry because of the monetary gifts that are given by UM people and other friends. Any person can contribute to UMCOR by going to umcor.com, and donating to the Haiti Emergency. In this way, one is able to help in making a difference through a ministry of presence.

Oh God of Sojourner Truth, Harriett Tubman, Frederick Douglas, Medgar Evers and Rosa Parks, we gather here today as members of several West Virginia faith communities. We have come to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., a drum major for justice and a prophet among us.

As we tarry here, we are mindful of our neighbors in Haiti. We pray for the people there and commend them to your care, many of whom are homeless, or injured, or hungry, or thirsty and hopeless. We pray for those people, civilian and military, who have mounted a massive relief effort there. We pray for the government of Haiti.

Gracious God, we also are mindful of people around the world who are hurting. Comfort them we pray, and provide for them a future with hope.

We pray for those men and women who are in military service. Please place your arms of safety around them. We plead for peace and ask that you would guide our President Barack Obama as he strives to bring an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We thank you for Martin Luther King, Jr. who cried out for justice and peace when it was unpopular to do such a thing. We thank you for the Prince of Peace who taught us to love one another. We thank you for the freedom to celebrate the life and teaching of your servant, Martin Luther King, Jr.

God of grace, please enable the tables that we have gathered around to be a place for initiating lasting fellowship and creative community. May the food provided for us be a source of strength for our bodies. We thank you for food to eat, mindful of the fact that many people have little or nothing to eat. May our souls be energized by the presence of your Holy Spirit. AMEN

[A prayer offered at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast sponsored by the West Virginia Council of Churches - January 18, 2010]

I just returned home to West Virginia from Israel on Thursday, January 14, 2010. While tarrying in Jerusalem, I heard the news about the devastating earthquakes in Haiti. The television images were difficult to watch because of the terrible destruction and loss of life. So, I prayed.

While in Jerusalem I prayed for the people of Haiti. I thought about Jesus and the disinherited people of the world, among them the people of Haiti. There has been a staggering loss of life. Those who survived the quakes are in need of resources – food, water, shelter, health care, rescue teams and equipment. Many nations are responding to this human crisis.

I invite you first to be in prayer for the people of Haiti:

God of all creation, we turn our hearts and our cry to you in the midst of the devastation in Haiti, our neighbor to the south. The people of Haiti seemingly are a disinherited people, but we know that they are your people, our brothers and sisters. We know that you love them even as you love us.

Oh God, the storms of life are raging in Haiti. We ask that you will stand by the people of Haiti in the midst of crisis. Grant them courage to know that Jesus will bring calm to this storm, just as he calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee.

We pray for the people who have died and their families. We pray for the injured and the dying. We pray for the homeless. We pray that this day, gracious God that you will provide the bread of faith, hope and love for the people of Haiti. We pray for all relief workers.

Enable the hands of Haiti’s neighbors to be helping hands in the provision of the resources need in the massive relief effort. Amen

I am asking the churches of the West Virginia Annual Conference to receive offerings for Haiti over the next few weeks. Gifts marked “Haiti Disaster 2010” can be sent to the Conference Treasurer, or individuals may send gifts directly to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) {UMCOR.com} Let us give not out of our wealth, but out of our understanding of what it means to experience a disaster. Let us give generously.

Note: For detailed information about current events in Haiti, go to UMC.org.

I heard a quip the other day that was very funny to me. It was so funny that I want to share it with you. Before I tell you the quip, let me paint the context for the poignant one word exclamation that came forth from Denise, who is my niece.

On Sunday, October 25, 2009, Old St. George’s United Methodist Church in Philadelphia, PA, was the venue where the members of Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church joined in a combined worship service with the members of Old St. George’s UMC. This was an historic moment because the first members of Mother Bethel had walked out of St. George’s more than two centuries ago to protest a segregated main sanctuary.

In the 1780’s Richard Allen and Absalom Jones became the first lay preachers of African-American descent at St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church. They were licensed by Francis Asbury, the first Methodist bishop in America. Subsequently, an increasing number of African-Americans were brought into the fold by these two lay preachers. A balcony was added to the sanctuary to accommodate the people in 1792. This balcony provided segregated seating.

During a Sunday morning worship service, Absalom Jones was forcibly moved by a church trustee from the place where he was kneeling in prayer. Rather than sit in a segregated balcony, Richard Allen and Jones led the African-Americans in walking out. Allen then started Mother Bethel Church.

Now let’s fast forward to that Sunday morning in October 2009. My niece arrived a little late. A Mother Bethel usher told her that since there were no more seats on the main level; she would have to go up to the balcony.

Denise exclaimed: “Again!?”

A St. George’s usher immediately said, wait. She wanted to find a seat for her; but, Denise decided to sit in the balcony, because the sanctuary was full.

Her quip was ironically funny.

Suzy Day in her article [UMNS, 10/27/2009] about the service reported that Bethel pastor, Rev. Alfred Day, said, “in church and community there are still people pushed into balconies or as far to the edges as we can push them.”

There is still work to do to overcome racism, discrimination and division in our churches and in our society.We are yet following the Star!

Each year when we enter into the Advent season of the Christian year, we anticipate the coming of the Christmas event. Advent 2009 brought with it an air of expectancy and hope. After our waiting, Christmas day came upon us. We celebrated and exchanged gifts with family and friends.

There are times, in the midst of all the exchanges of gifts, when we forget that our most precious gift is Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Gift of Love, gave his life for each one of us. There is no greater gift.

Quite often our Christmas gifts that we receive come with a “gift receipt”, so that the gift recipient can return/exchange the gift if deemed appropriate. Jesus already has paid the price for us by sacrificing his love and this sacrifice does not come with a “gift receipt.” We cannot exchange the gift of salvation on a whim. We simply must claim the Gift.

Well, Christmas 2009 is over. Perhaps you already have taken down your Christmas decorations. The New Year 2010 has started. It is time to move on and live into a new decade.

Howard Thurman reminds us that now is the time to do “The Work of Christmas” during 2010. Thurman’s poem is titled “The Work of Christmas” [“The Mood of Christmas” by Howard Thurman] and I invite you to ponder the words of this compelling poem:

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.

Let’s get on with the work [ministry and mission] of Christmas, and do it in the wonderful name of Jesus.

The New Year 2010 has started. The old year has passed away. God has granted us the privilege and the opportunity to participate in God’s fresh beginnings at the start of a new year.

On this first day of the New Year, I am praying for God’s fresh beginnings to be manifested in our lives. I am grateful that God has granted all of us a fresh start.
Life is a journey and it is time for us to begin anew.

There is an old hymn written by Frances R. Havergal (1836-1879). I share it with you as a prayer for our journey:

Another year is dawning, Dear Master, let it be;
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace;
Another year of gladness, in the shining of Thy face.

Another year of progress, another year of praise;
Another year of proving, Thy presence all the days.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love;
Another year of training, for holier work above.

Another year is dawning, dear Master, let it be,
On earth, or else in heaven, another year for Thee!

As we pray this hymn as a prayer, let us strive to keep God at the center of our lives and the main focus in our congregations.

This New Year provides a wonderful opportunity for us to share with others our most precious Gift, Jesus Christ. Now that the Christmas celebration is over, let us not put Jesus on a shelf in some darkened closet. Every time that we have the opportunity, let us share Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, so that all people might have the opportunity to walk in the light. This is the joy of a new year with Christ.

As the year’s end approaches, one cannot help but reflect on the past. We read articles or watch television programs about the year in review. Some pundits will analyze what happened a decade ago. That has its place.

Many times, we have a tendency to review all of our experiences during the past year. This is okay as long as we don’t start feeling sorry for ourselves. What has 2009 been like for you? Perhaps you have experienced joyful times as well as some personal crisis. To be sure, God has been with us in the midst of all our experiences.

It might be more useful for us not to dwell too long on the past year. There comes a time when we need to set it aside, and begin now to prepare for the New Year, 2010. The New Year is upon us.

I am mindful of a passage of scripture which is couched in Isaiah:

The Lord says, “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” [43:18-19]

We need to be careful about what we hold on to from the past. It is comforting to hold on to what is comfortable, the old, and the familiar.

When we hold on to the old things, we may miss the new thing that God desires for us. God has given us the promise through Jesus Christ that we are becoming new creations in Christ. Now that is Good News.

In the New Year, God will be planting new possibilities in us as pilgrim disciples and in our worshipping congregations. Get ready, because you will have new desires. Be prepared, because God will grant us hope that does not disappoint us.

It is comforting and encouraging knowing that hope does not disappoint us “because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy
Spirit that has been given to us” [Romans 5:5].

God’s New Year is upon us and I pray that it will be freighted with God’s possibilities for you and the congregation of which you are a part.

It is Christmas Day, December 25, 2009.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Each year at Christmas time, I turn to the poems of Howard Thurman in his book titled, “The Mood of Christmas.” There are many wonderful writings in this volume that lift the reader’s spirit.

On this Christmas Day, I share with you Thurman’s poem titled, “Christmas Returns”:

Christmas returns, as it always does, with its assurance that life is good.
It is the time of lift to the spirit,
When the mind feels its way into the commonplace,
And senses the wonder of simple things: an evergreen tree,
Familiar carols, merry laughter.
It is the time of illumination,
When candles burn, and old dreams
Find their youth again.
It is the time of pause,
When forgotten joys come back to mind, and past
dedications renew their claim.
It is the time of harvest for the heart,
When faith reaches out to mantle all high endeavor,
And love whispers its magic word to everything that breathes.
Christmas returns, as it always does, with its assurance that life is good.

On this Christmas Day, I pray that you and I will experience God’s joy and know that life is good. May it be so.