The Downtown Presbyterian Church

2003 Pastor’s Annual Report

Sisters & Brothers:

Peace and grace to all of you in our Lord Jesus Christ. The God who made an eternal covenant with Abraham, who liberated the Israelites from their enslavement, who sent us Jesus and raised him from the dead, by whose grace The Downtown Presbyterian Church was founded, has seen us safely through another year of life and ministry together. Like every year of live it had high and low points, ups and downs, joys and sorrows. But every step along the way we know that the sojourning God was with us.

Obviously, a major issue in 2003 was the congregation’s decision to dissolve our relationship with our Associate Pastor, Rev. Linda White. This was not an easy decision for anyone, including me, and came only after much prayer and conversation. The closeness of the vote reflected the dearness of Linda to this congregation.

But we believe that God works through the will of the people. The Holy Spirit guides us as individuals and as a congregation. While all of us mourn the loss of Linda’s presence with us, we all rejoice that our Presbyterian process led us through this difficult time and safely out the other side. Once the decision was reached the congregation closed ranks and moved on, secure in the knowledge that all things work together for those who love the Lord. God is surely doing wonderful things in Linda’s life and in the ministry of her life, just as God is doing wonderful things in and through us.

Our signature ministry, the ministry to the homeless and urban poor, is ever evolving and expanding. The Sunday breakfast, which began as a simple trial during Lent, is now thriving. Every Sunday volunteers begin arriving at 7:30 to put the water on and cut the bread for a hearty breakfast of grits, cinnamon toast and coffee. Anywhere from 60 to over 90 hungry people show up for nourishment and a place to be calm and still from 8:30 to 9:30. While most are men, there are always women and frequently infants at this breakfast. Over 30% of our congregation and friends have participated. Now we are getting calls from other churches and local service clubs asking if they can help. Clearly, God is using us not just to minister to the poor but to others as well.

Our Wednesday lunch continues to thrive. Numbers go up and down depending on the season, the weather and the time of the month, but we almost always have 175-225 guests for lunch. School groups have come, other churches have sent volunteers, even some businesses have stepped in to help support this ministry.

Of course, we also provide tremendous financial assistance with bus tickets, help with prescription medicines and acquiring birth certificates and state ID cards. The Pastor’s Discretionary Fund is averaging about 25 checks per month for assistance.

And as many of you have noticed the homeless are increasingly becoming a part of our larger life and ministry. Several of them are now finding their way to Sunday School in the morning. They come for worship and praise God in their own way. Albeit, their way can be a little distracting sometimes but we praise God that they feel comfortable enough with us that the feel like they can relax and be themselves.

The Tuesday Brown Bag Bible Study, a long-time ministry, continues to thrive. People come and go as jobs and commitments require, but every week 6-15 people gather for conversation and Bible study. We share our lives, we share our faith, we share our lunches and in the process we share the joy of being part of the Body of Christ together.

One of our newest ventures, the Taizé Tuesday service, after less than 6 months of ministry is beginning to find its feet. Every week we have had both regulars and first-timers. We have also received some very favorable publicity in the press. This time of calm and meditation, punctuated with Scripture, refrains and antiphonal prayer, has proven very meaningful to the regulars. We look forward to God helping it grow.

If you watched closely you noticed some new faces in worship. The largest number probably came when 1^st Presbyterian sent 100 6^th graders and sponsors one Sunday, but that was certainly atypical. Nevertheless, in the latter half of 2003 we averaged 80 adults and 10 children for a total of 90 people in worship on Sunday morning. For a congregation our size, that’s a very fine number and we should be proud of it. We said farewell to our sister Mamie Stroud, who passed into the eternal life of Jesus, and regretted the loss of 6 others. Perhaps not coincidentally, we added 6 new members to our congregation: Julie Lee, John Coble, Amanda Mathaei, Pam Pfaff, Trevor Henderson and Jenna Henderson (née Galbreth).

We rejoice that ours is a congregation where a diverse people can come together and be united as brothers and sisters in Christ.

For me as your pastor, 2003 was very busy. Most of it was spent doing what I enjoy most: preaching, visiting, teaching and just generally serving God as your pastor. In 2003 I preached 30 Sunday sermons, made 164 visits, 26 hospital visits and served home communion 17 times. You might be interested to know that I average about 200 miles per month on church business.

Some of the things I do that you may not see are preparing for and leading the Tuesday Bible study, preparing for and leading the Taizé Tuesday service, leading Chapel at the Wednesday lunch and being a pastoral presence for the homeless on Wednesday and Sunday. I personally care for the homeless and others who come to our door during the week. Every week I send an e-mail devotional along with a notice of those who need special prayers and what is coming up in our life together. I moderate monthly session meetings, attend quarterly meetings of the officers of the corporation and attend session committee meetings when I can. I also attend meetings of the Covenant Association and take part in activities sponsored by the Downtown Partnership. Just so I won’t lose my edge, I also take part in a pastor’s Bible study on Mondays with other Presbyterian pastors. As well as helping each other with the coming Sunday’s Scriptures, we support each other and provide advice and counsel.

Doubtless, 2004 will be much like 2003. There will be highs and lows, things we agree on and things we disagree on. This is the nature of life in community. It is the nature of life in Christ. The good news is that undoubtedly the God who blessed us this past year will bless us in this new year. The God who opened us to new possibilities of ministry last year will open us to new possibilities this year. The God who provided our hope and solidarity last year will hold us close to one another and to Jesus in this new year. Thanks be to God.

As for me, I feel settled and very much at home here in Nashville and at The Downtown Presbyterian Church. I am looking forward to another year of doing what I really enjoy: preaching for you, praying with you and for you, mourning with you, rejoicing with you, sharing your lives and hopes and dreams. In short, I am looking forward to another year of being your pastor.

May God bless our year together.