Zion Lutheran Church is a democracy. Democracy is a Christian value. We are equally sinners of Christ’s own redeeming, each of us given “a manifestation of the Holy Spirit for the common good,” and yet none of us knows fully the mind of Christ. We need each other. In the Bible, God’s people draw straws or roll dice to seek God’s will. We prayerfully engage in democracy.

In a democracy like Zion’s, your real power is not having a vote. You do have a vote, and that right to vote is and should be sacred. But your real power as a citizen of a democracy is that you can work together with people of common goals and passions to create change. Your real power is everything in between the voting.

The Quad Cities Tenant’s Alliance (QCTA) is exercising that real power—holding forums, meeting with city council members, knocking on doors, getting training, having meetings—for the sake of a rent abatement ordinance. This ordinance isn’t even on the city council agenda yet. City council isn’t close to voting on it, but the QCTA is exercising their real power to make Davenport a place with just housing laws.

Zion’s listening campaign was always about this real power and seeking in a democratic way the leading of God’s Spirit. Now the next step is mobilizing Zion to go in the direction we sense God inviting us to go.

Last time Zion did a listening campaign, the listening team took responsibility for doing something about the top themes it heard. That worked okay, but there were problems. Most importantly, it took you out of the action. Things were happening but you didn’t know what the team was working on or why. The team itself felt overwhelmed. Live and learn!

This time, the listening team is bringing the themes back to you, because they are yours. They heard them from you. So you get to decide which 3-5 themes out of the top 9 are most important to work on now. You get to be part of deciding what to do and then doing it.

  • Support Zion People Through Life's Challenges
  • Excite and Engage Young People
  • Make Zion as Inviting as We are Welcoming
  • Develop a Vision for Zion's Sustainability
  • Energize Worship and Music
  • Heal Wounds from Zion's Past
  • Foster Intergenerational Relationships
  • Improve Communication about Zion Programs/Activities
  • Connect with Neighbors

Which do you feel called to take action on? What has God given you to invest in the effort?

On Sunday, August 18, between worship at Zion and the annual potluck picnic at Zion, every Zion person of confirmation age and older will get to participate in a “Kingdom Caucus.” Like a caucus for a candidate for office, except for our 9 themes. A caucus for God’s Kingdom.

What’s a Kingdom Caucus? Imagine the Fellowship Hall. Each theme will have a table with a sign. You sit at the table for the theme that you think is most important, that you most want to invest yourself in doing something about. If at least 4 others sit with you, the 5 or more of you will start brainstorming and prioritizing what you want to do. (Four or fewer? You’ll be invited to join another table, your second choice.)

Then, after some 20 minutes of discussion and planning, one from your table (maybe you) will stand and make a case to everyone else about why this theme should be a top Zion priority. When every “viable” table has spoken, you’ll get three stickers, representing your three votes. Put your stickers on the sign or signs of the themes you want Zion to work on—three stickers on one sign, or two on one and one on another, or one on three—up to you!

Then we’ll tally votes. The 3-5 themes getting the most votes will be Zion’s new top priorities. The teams that will plan and take action will have already been formed, at least partially, by whoever sat at the table. Before we start the potluck picnic, we’ll set dates, times, and locations for each of the next action team meetings.

You probably have questions. Ask them now! If you have a question, someone else probably has that same question too. I’ll use your questions to create a one-page Kingdom Caucus guide, so we can make the most of the time we’ll have on Sunday, August 18.

As I anticipate this Kingdom Caucus, a hymn keeps ringing in my ears. It’s an interpretation of Mary’s song, Jesus’ mother, which she sang at Elizabeth’s house. Mary sang God’s praises for lifting up the lowly, pulling down the mighty, and doing such great things by choosing little Mary.

God has also chosen you. Us. Caucus for Christ’s Kingdom.

Though I am small, my God, my all, you work great things in me… your justice tears every tyrant from his throne… Wipe away all tears for the dawn draws near and the world is about to turn.

Rory Cooney, “Canticle of the Turning,” ELW #723

Pastor Clark Olson-Smith

 

Ministries
Listening