It's quite possible that as you read this newsletter I'm with folks from across the Church of the Brethren as we gather for our denomination's Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, PA. In preparation for this big event I've been pondering this year's conference theme – Taking Jesus Seriously. It seems pretty straightforward, doesn't it? As Christians shouldn't we all be striving to take Jesus seriously?

What exactly would the alternative be, anyway? Maybe taking Jesus casually? Taking Jesus trivially? What about taking Jesus cheerfully or even humorously?

Don't get me wrong, I think we should be taking Jesus seriously, but we need to be clear about what it is that we mean. 

For me, taking Jesus seriously means actively working to understand and embody his teachings and actions in a way that's deep and intentional, thoughtful and genuine.That doesn't mean we can't also be cheerful and lighthearted along the way. It also doesn't mean that we take ourselves so seriously that we can't recognize when our beliefs and practices are in need of rethinking and transformation.

In the June edition of Messenger,our denomination's monthly magazine, Annual Conference moderator Shawn Flory Replogle calls on the church to rediscover and reclaim “taking Jesus seriously” as a core value and guiding principle. If we are to do so, it is imperative that together we recognize this as a guideline for how we believe, but not necessarily dictating what we believe.

Sharing this kind of core value could prove both incredibly challenging yet also hopeful and unifying as we within the church (both locally, denominationally, and globally) struggle to coexist amidst our different theologies and worldviews.

What might it mean for us to take Jesus (not ourselves) so seriously that we are hospitable to those unlike us while still living in a way that prophetically embodies the good news of Christ, as we have come to understand it? How does this translate into our life together as a church?

Grace and peace,
-Pastor Matt