Pastor's Pen: Energy, Intelligence, Imagination, and Love

Each February, the First Presbyterian Church of Norwalk, Ohio, ordains and/or installs new elders and deacons. Those elders and deacons take nine ordination vows. Among those vows, our leaders declare that Jesus is Lord, accept the Bible as God’s Word, and promise to love their neighbors. These vows seem natural and fitting for someone who will serve as a Christian leader. There is another vow that might give an elder or deacon pause: “Will you pray for and seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love?” This question is unique to the Presbyterian Church USA and is less than 60 years old. Where the other vows call us to believe and serve, this vow describes how we live out that calling.

ENERGY

Laziness is not allowed for our Christian leaders. Scripture repeatedly assumes effort: “Running the race,” “keeping watch,” or “bearing one another’s burdens.” The life of faith is active. That being said, a leader should avoid burnout. To maintain their energy levels, leaders need to find opportunities for rest and Sabbath.

INTELLIGENCE

The Christian leader must resist a shallow or ignorant faith. Presbyterians have always insisted that loving God includes loving God with the mind. Of course, leaders should have knowledge about the Scriptures and the faith, but not just those areas. They should be curious and willing to apply what they have learned over a lifetime to the church and her ministries.

IMAGINATION

The Christian leader cannot be satisfied with the way things are. Imagination asks how does the good news of Jesus Christ apply here, now, and among these people? Invariably, we will meet resistance to our efforts. Leaders will employ imagination to problem-solve and find workarounds. Our God is a creative God, and imagination allows us to be creative as well.

LOVE

Without love, the Christian leader is lost. Love refuses to reduce people to problems or projects. Love abides even when things get difficult. Love holds the rest together. Energy without love becomes unfocused. Intelligence without love becomes arrogance. Imagination without love becomes self-indulgence.

Finally, the elder or deacon does not take this vow alone. The Christian leader serves with other leaders who take the same vow. There will be days in which the leader is lacking in one or more of these qualities. When that happens, we lean on each other.

On February 15, as we ordain and install the next class of elders and deacons, listen for the question, but let it become our daily challenge. Let us pray for and serve each other with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love.

Grace & Peace,

James Hodsden