NE SYNOD NEWS

April 4, 2023

Dear New England Synod, 

On Saturday the New England Synod Council met and discussed plans for the election of a new bishop in June of 2024. 

While I have previously informed the pastors and deacons, I have yet to formally announce to the synod that I intend to complete my second term as bishop in 2024 but not seek a third six-year term. I will have served in this office for 12 years and will turn 65 next year. 

While it is retirement, I have no intention of moving to Florida, playing golf, and sinking into a comfy couch. I know those who have chosen that option, but that's not for me. Instead, I've got things I want to do. Those include additional writing, time with grandchildren, pursuing stand-up comedy, teaching and possibly serving a congregation again. My list is long and full. 

There will be time for reflections on these past years and opportunities to hand off this synod to my successor. But, for now, the work of being the church and serving as your bishop will continue. We still have nearly a year and a half together. 

Next year, in June of 2024, this synod will gather to elect the fourth bishop of the New England Synod. On Saturday, the Synod Council approved a process that includes the following: 

Development of a Synod Profile (including input from all of you) 

Outline of the 2024 election and pre-identification process Drafting of a Bishop Position Description 

Beginning in early May, you will receive regular communications from leaders of the Synod Council regarding the above items. They have already been working hard on this process and I have complete confidence in their capable leadership. As this election process moves forward, neither I nor the Associates to the bishop will be involved. This is to ensure that we maintain an election process with integrity. This work is led by the Synod Council. 

So keep your attention on communications from the New England Synod in early May for more information. If you know of others in your ministry who want regular updates, you can invite them to subscribe to the general email list.  Just click here.

Blessings on your ministries, 

Bishop James Hazelwood 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice.5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:4-6 

JUNE 10, 2021

Fresh Expressions has a worthwhile article on the challenges and opportunities for the post-pandemic church.  Check it out.  Click here.

Also, I’ve copied it below for your convenience.

By Chris Morton

As vaccination spreads and pandemic restrictions ease, this is the anxious question in the back of many church leader’s minds. Some churches haven’t met in a long time. Others have gathered in limited ways that never really compared to their pre-pandemic participation.

When a Church says “it’s time to regather!” some will respond with excitement, ready to reconnect with friends and worship corporately. Others will feel a sense of dread, unsure if these gatherings will feel safe, either physically or emotionally. Some might not be paying attention at all.

Regathering is difficult for several reasons. There are ever-changing logistics of moving back into unused spaces. Some feel wounded by or distrustful of churches, especially in the U.S., because of how some Christians participated in the hyper-politicization of pandemic, political and social issues over the last year. 

Then there’s the problem of inertia. 

Church members have had over a year to spend their Sundays sleeping in, traveling, crunching, or even visiting other churches. Many may just not feel the need to gather again.

The natural question for Church leaders to ask is “how do we get our people to come back?” 

But regathering also offers opportunities for churches to reimagine their mission and cast a new vision for their congregation after COVID.

What are your neighbors doing on Sunday morning? What about those who live next to your church building?

One tangible sign of the pandemic for many people is the lack of traffic on Sunday mornings. Sadly, the direct neighbors around your church’s meeting space may know very little about you. 

This could be the perfect time to engage your neighborhood in a new way. Announcing your church’s regathering gives you an excuse to send mailers, door hangers, or even knock on doors. At other times you might feel like you need a reason to “bother” people. But now you have one!

Connecting with your neighbors is a chance to get to know them and their needs, not to talk about yourself. As you connect, you can ask questions like:

“What has life been like for you during the pandemic? What would help you today?”
“What are some needs and opportunities you see in the neighborhood? How might our church community help?”
“Is there any way I can pray for you?”

Because organizations of all sorts are going through a sort of re-start, now is the perfect time to begin building relationships with the people you’ve seen around but never met.

The pandemic led even the most traditional local churches to be more innovative. Congregations learned Zoom and Facebook Live, conducted parking lot services, and provided food for hungry neighbors. Forced creativity has helped unengaged church members find new roles and has allowed new people to encounter churches online or in unexpected settings.

Churches now have the opportunity to use what they’ve learned and continue to explore new structures for discipleship and new expressions of Church. 

Are there individuals who have taken on leadership in ways they never did before the pandemic? Consider what their next steps in discipleship and leadership growth could be. 

Have you met new people in your community through your efforts to help with pandemic needs like food or loneliness? Consider how the ministries you’ve launched might mature towards a fuller expression of Church.

Have your online experiences engaged people who cannot attend your church otherwise? Consider how you can move beyond a simple broadcast of your weekend gathering to daily interactions that build a sense of community.

When the pandemic shut down church gatherings, it also closed gyms and movie theatres. People found new ways to exercise, relax and connect. At one point, there was a shortage of bicycles, and sales of camping gear have exploded.

At the same time, the pandemic removed the “social pressure” people felt to go to parties, work in offices, and, yes, attend church on Sunday. While these in-person venues will reopen, there’s no going back. Movies will continue to be released online, outdoor excursions will remain popular, and some businesses may never return to their offices.

One surprise of the pandemic for churches was the new ways it allowed people to engage in new ways. For instance, a small church in rural Texas started using Zoom for their weekend gatherings. A long-time member of their community was blind and found that interacting on Zoom was more accessible to them than in-person gatherings. This person started inviting others from the blind community, and they quickly made up a sizable portion of their gatherings.

Other churches elected to meet in smaller groups as part of backyard gatherings. These churches are rediscovering the foundational nature of home and family life as a central organizing principle. 

When you read about how the Church spread in the book of Acts, it’s interesting that Peter and Paul reached both synagogue-attending Jews and Gentile seekers. When Paul teaches Lydia and her friends who gathered near a river, he doesn’t tell them to come to synagogue on Saturday. Instead, we hear about a church community taking shape in her house.

As restrictions lift, it may be hard to get people out of their pajamas and in a pew on Sunday. What would it be like to bring Church to them?

After over a year apart, it’s easy to let the desire to reconnect and return to “normal” drive decision-making. But the pandemic should also force reflection. Much of what we were doing was ineffective, unsustainable, and even worked against our health and vitality.

What if the pandemic is giving you a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reevaluate everything? Was a particular ministry dragging down the rest of your church? Was your worship style inaccessible to the people you hope to reach? Tired of the color of the carpet? There will never be an easier time to address these questions.

At the same time, churches have central ideals and important stories worth remembering. Time causes every organization to drift from its mission. As you regather, you have the opportunity to cast a new vision—or recast an old one—of who God has called your church to be.

The COVID-19 pandemic is (Lord willing) a once-in-a-lifetime experience! We know we can’t return to the way life was before, and that’s probably okay.