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Brian Frick is the Associate for Camp and Conferences Ministries with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He has been involved in camp and conference ministry since high school. For the past ten years, Brian has served as program director of Johnsonburg Center in New Jersey, Westminster Woods in California, and Heartland Center in Missouri.

Camp and conference ministry compliments and partners with other ministry aspects of our church to foster faith development and reflection. As our communities and our church changes, our ministries need to grow and adapt with creative and emergent programming and leadership to meet new realities.

These blogs entries, though varied, are intended to spur thought and conversation around the opportunities and challenges before us.

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June 12, 2009

Inside, outside....us and them

Brian Frick

I'm writing from the Big Tent.  Wonderful gathering!

The worship was wonderful and diverse.  Rev. Dr. Ann Carter Florence's sermon was inspiring.  Filled with allusions to church unity and views of who is "in and out", "welcomed or not" and the idea that every time someone says, "Jesus, we just don't have enough..room, food, etc" Jesus turns it on it's head!  Changes the rules!  She used Mark's Gospel passage about the lowering of the cripple man trough the ceiling into a crowded room where Jesus was so he might be healed (used the ceiling because "there was no more room" in the room and the door was blocked.  Jesus of course made room for more.

This was in stark contrast to a conversation I had earlier yesterday just before worship where "the family struggle" was highlighted once again.  Amazing how many times this conversation, who's in and out.  Who's "running" GAC and the PCUSA and how evangelists are now at the table.

I love the fact that we are a big tent and that evangelists/conservatives and liberals/progressives, if they so label themselves, have a seat at the table and are invited into and valued in leadership.

What I can no longer stomach is the few that keep using labels in their speech.  So many of them don't know they are doing it because they have lived on one "side" or the other for so long - it's just a part of who they are.  "Now we are at GA!  I had my congregation pray for ME as I went to GA.  My congregation continues to be shocked that I could work with THEM at GA.  I'm going into the BELLY OF THE BEAST."

This is honestly to be less of a rant than an observation.

There are many many more at GAC that don't have that debate over and over and over.  They don't let the labels stop them from doing the work of God they are called to.  To spreading the Good News and serving congregations across this country.

I have great friends who we could label each other as being on different SIDES.  We choose not to.  We work together, pray together and do the work we are called to do.

That's the future.  Those who are gnashing their teeth, are going to continue to.  Those who have risen above that, are moving our church into a new light, a new future, and inclusive, diverse BIG TENT.

That's why I continue to stay here and love my work and the people I work with.  God is birthing something new.  I feel passionately that camp and conference centers have a role to play in that something new and I work for that - not for a family arguement that does nothing for spreading the Good News.

For the first time in my life, I can embrace the fact that I too am an evangelist.  I am open and welcoming and non-judging.  I come from a progressive church upbringing and have an open and welcoming view of our theology and call in this world - but I am an evangelist. 

An evangelist is one who welcomes one in the name of Jesus to walk with them and to embrace and embody the Good News Jesus brought.  We don't need to be on the left or right, the conservative or the liberal "camp" to do so and claim the name. 

I'm an evangelist and if you are serious about what you are about as a follower of Christ - I invite you to claim the same and rise above the fray to respond to God's call to you.