John Louk

Each Fall churches look at the budget for the coming year. Often there is a financial campaign, asking church members to make a pledge to God’s kingdom through the local congregation. The pledges, in turn, give an indication of how much money will be available for the church’s budget. In the Fall churches often talk about tithing or proportional giving (giving in proportion to one’s income). Tithing is “the setting aside of one-tenth of one's income for God as is specifically noted in the Bible. Tithing has been the traditional minimum standard of giving for Christians. The United Methodist Church has taken the official position that tithing is the standard for United Methodists, and the practice of tithing is to be actively encouraged in every local church” ( A Dictionary for United Methodists , Alan K. Waltz, © 1991, Abingdon Press). While all of this can be good, there is a problem. It can give the impression that we have to raise money for a budget and therefore that is why we ...

Salem Members met on September 20th to discuss the proposed voluntary buyout of our downtown buildings and property whereby the City of Cedar Rapids would pay Salem $699,127 (the 2008 pre-flood assessed value). While not an official vote, the clear consensus of the meeting was to accept the buyout. Therefore a plan for accepting the buyout and moving forward will be presented for approval to the District Board of Church Location and Building and also to the Bishop and Cabinet. Salem church members will officially vote on the matter at an upcoming Church Conference.

We will gather for a congregational meeting on Sunday following worship (about 12:45 pm). The Leadership Board will provide lunch. The purpose of the meeting is to determine whether we will participate in the voluntary buyout from the city. We will not have an official vote. The official vote will come later at the Charge Conference. We will, however, determine the will of the congregation. If it is to pursue the buyout, then we will seek the approval of the District Building and Location Committee as well as the Bishop and Cabinet. If we receive those approvals, then the congregation will vote at the official meeting of the church, the Charge Conference. (If the process leads us to a Charge Conference vote, it will be held at a time other than our yearly Charge Conference that has already been scheduled for October 11.) At this time, more than 100 persons have indicated they will participate in the congregational meeting. That is a tremendous turnout! Obviously, this is an important ...

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42 NRSV I have received many comments and questions about my last blog on worship. I shared a quote from the middle of the second century from Justin Martyr in his First Apology. It is a description of the normal Sunday worship in the early church. Here is another version of that quote: [1] On the day which is called Sunday, all who live in the cities or in the countryside gather together in one place. [2] And the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read as long as there is time. [3] then, when the reader has finished, the president, in a discourse, admonishes and invites the people to practice these examples of virtue. [4] Then we all stand up together and offer prayers. [5] and, as we mentioned before, when we have finished the prayer, bread is presented, and wine with water (Bard Thompson, ed., Liturgies of the Western Church [Philadelphia: For...

On Sunday, July 26, Rev. Tom Hazelwood was our special guest preacher. Tom is the Assistant General Secretary for disaster response in the United States for UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee On Relief). His presence gave people an opportunity to ask questions and speak with him  directly. It was a good reminder that Salem is not alone. We are part of a larger connectional system that cares deeply about Salem.   Some of you may remember that Tom was with us for worship on my very first Sunday with Salem last year (at Lovely Lane UMC). That was just a few weeks after the flood. He spoke to the congregation that day. Now a year later, he has been back to spend more time with Salem. Tom has written a very kind blog about his visit with us and how impressed he is that, even in the midst of the flood, Salem has remained strongly engaged in mission. C lick here  to read it.

Word is spreading about the possibility of buying out the New Creation UMC property. We need to be sensitive to our brothers and sisters of New Creation as they struggle with a decision to continue. Here is some background information: Salem leaders participated in a conversation November 13, 2008 with New Creation and several other UM congregations. New Creation said their budget was in crisis and they couldn't pay their mortgage. At Annual Conference in June, their pastor suggested we have a conversation about Salem's interest in their property. I spoke with their pastor on July 25, 2009 about their situation as well as Salem's. New Creation has asked for a "viability study" to see if they should continue. They are pushing ahead, but if things don't change by Christmas they will be out of money. The New Creation building is located next to Target at Westdale mall. It is 4,000 sq. ft. and sits on 8.5 acres. It could be a short-term stepping-stone or a permane...

Beginning September 13 our worship service time will change to 11:45 am . This will be temporary (less than 6 months). Kenwood Park has been so gracious in sharing their space with us and allowing us the best of the three time slots for worship this summer. Since our intention is to move on from the Kenwood Park UMC building as soon as possible, however, they need to be able to return to their own schedule. (They will worship at 8:30 am, have Sunday School at 9:30 am, and worship at 10:30 am.) Therefore, 11:45 am is the first opportunity we will have to use the sanctuary on Sunday mornings. While this seems very late for most people, other congregations in our situation usually need to meet on Sunday afternoon or evening. So I am grateful for this time. Our Sunday morning discipleship classes for children and youth will meet from 10:30 - 11:30 am. Adult classes will meet as they determine.