Diversity in Action

I was attending a summit meeting of leaders from the Southwest Ohio Northern Kentucky Association (SONKA) and the Central Southeast Ohio Association (CSEOA) when I heard a very interesting metaphor for embracing diversity, one of which I had never thought.

Another clergy representative from SONKA made the point that diversity actually makes things better. By mixing different elements, the whole improves. He made the point by saying something like this:

I like Long Island Iced Teas. Now, those particular drinks are a combination of five, potent alcohols, none of which, left to themselves, are very tasty or desirable. A Long Island includes Tequila, Gin, Vodka, White Rum and Triple sec. It is mixed with lemon juice and a splash of cola, over ice. At the face of it, it would seem that a Long Island Iced Tea is bitter and powerful, consumed only by those who seek a quick drunk. But that perception is mistaken. A Long Island is actually quite tasty and refreshing. While I would almost never enjoy any of the elements of the drink by themselves, I really enjoy them when they come together in my favorite adult beverage.

Mixing diverse elements makes the whole better. It does not require that component part become like the others, nor that the component parts cease to have individual function. It is simply this: the whole is improved by combining the component parts. That is a remarkable model for diversity, I think. Human life is improved when we combine the individual, differing components that comprise it.

The summit meeting between SONKA an CSEOA is an example of diversity in action. The summit group is comprised of three or four representatives from each Association. We have met to investigate ways in which we might improve our ministry and mission by working together. Now, I must confess that the two Associations are unique entities. They are organized differently, led differently, staffed differently and they operate differently. But they share a common ministry and mission. Each is called to equip, empower and provide resource to, with and for its member local churches. The question of the summit is simple. How can we better fulfill our mission by sharing the load of Association possibility?

The steering committee has identified two areas wherein we might begin better serving both Associations. The first is a Church and Ministry function. Anyone who has served in the Church and Ministry function is Associations of the United Church of Christ knows that the tasks are wide-ranging and daunting. It is this group that deals with persons in discernment, those who are investigating and in the process of becoming professional ministers. This group also deals with those who are authorized in ministry leadership, those who are licensed or commissioned for specialized and/or ministry that is limited in scope. This group is also responsible for those who qualify as post-ordination, ministry professionals who have the continual need of boundary training and occasional professional review and censure. A working group of three persons from each Association is investigating ways that we might work together to better serve our local churches.

The second area that the steering committee has surfaced is communication technology. Both Associations recognize both the challenges of and potential for communication technologies in, through and with the Associations and their local churches. How can we help one another to best utilize the ever-expanding world of communication technologies? How can we supply and train local churches is use of technology? How can we improve cross-Association communication of opportunities and workshops that one or the other Association is offering.

We are hoping that, as we mix these potent ministries together, we come up with something sweet, something that makes the whole even  better than its component parts.