A Letter from Lindy Sept 14

Hi Pilgrims,

I will miss you this Sunday as I depart for Shaker Village in Pleasant Grove, KY tomorrow morning (as I write this on Wednesday afternoon). I have shared that I serve on the Board of Trustees for Disciple Divinity House at University of Chicago, the academic institution and scholars community that shaped my theological and ministerial training. Amidst the swirling uncertainty of our time, I am continually heartened when I return to this community. Why? 1) The Trustee Board, many of whom I have known for decades. 2) The Dean, the same person as when I was a student, a quarter of a century ago, and incredibly continues to inspire incoming and former students to this day. 3) The treasure trove of students with whom we congregate over 48 hours , as they give me hope for so many seminal spheres of my life– Church, Denomination, Theological Education–all of which many proclaim on life support.

Without question all three of these sectors are facing incredible challenges. One might even say threat and decline, and yet the way in which each has marked me is something I feel called to pass on to future generations, if even the shape changes with time. Presciently, this is the question that underlies the Board retreat I will attend. With the backdrop of the Shaker community, and a stone’s throw from the founding location of my denomination, Cane Ridge, we will begin shaping the vision, the story, the future that we imagine together. We will ponder a Barbara Brown Taylor quote on rootedness and movement: "the hunger for holiness in terms of a sense of being rooted — grounded in shifting ground — which oddly means that to be, what, to be holy is to keep one’s balance while the earth moves under our feet."

Not only is this true for DDH, but also I think for Pilgrim. The questions we will hold: How do we vision amidst these times? Moving forward in hope. How can we ready ourselves for a future that is beyond our present imaginings? How do we

create space for forms of learning and ministry that we cannot even glimpse now? Which might leave us wondering what draws us together? What do we leave behind? What do we take with us?

All questions worthy of Pilgrim’s exploration as we begin a new program year with new leadership come October 1. September 21 marks our congregational meeting as you have read from our Moderator where we thank with profound gratitude all who have faithfully served and celebrate those Pilgrims who have said yes to the call to lead us forth.

I am excited to welcome these new voices to the various boards and Council, anticipating the gifts they bring to our conversation. I pray we create the space to have these deep conversations, as the Trustee Board is doing this weekend for the community entrusted to its care. I hope you each will lean into this season, process and people as we chart our way forward, trusting the Holy Spirit to come alongside to guide us toward God’s kindom.

grace and peace,

Pastor Lindy

(she/her) why pronouns matter