The final preparations have been going on all week, and we are finally going to meet our ministerial candidate, Rev. Carlos Martinez, next week. We will put our best selves forward to welcome him. We are going to learn a lot about Rev. Carlos and, perhaps more importantly, we’ll learn a lot about ourselves. Who are we as a congregation and what are we looking for? Who do we want as a leader for the next years in our congregational life?
We are a dynamic congregation, and the answers to these questions are constantly evolving. We’ve changed dramatically over the twenty-two years that I’ve been a member. We’ve changed noticeably since Rev. Peg retired two years ago. During this interim ministry, we’ve become more resilient, more diverse, younger (or maybe as I age everyone just looks younger), more aware of our shortcomings, more determined to unpack our biases and the positions of privilege that hold us back as a congregation, more passionate about making a difference in the world.
So, here we are today on the verge of making a far-reaching decision. We should make that decision with an eye on what will serve us well for who are today and who we will be next year and the years after. I see it as an awesome opportunity to shape where we are headed. I’m excited. I’m nervous. I want to make a good impression, but I’m sure I’ll screw up somewhere during the week. And if we feel this way, what must Rev. Carlos be feeling?
I don’t know where we’re going to end up a week from Sunday, but I trust that we will make a wise decision. As an old school basketball coach, alI I can say is “Let’s Go Team!”