Assignment | What is Going On? | Reflective Question
September 3, 2026 10:08 AM
In the reflection, provide detailed information as to the what of the matter, resisting the temptation to analyze or synthesize yet, but simply naming what you see/sense/observe. Engage at least 2 other peers on Forum.
Discussion (24)
The matter at hand this week explores Osmer's pratical theology through a case study of Mary Jo and I know Mary Jo all too well. My board is generational and deeply attached to certain ways of doing things. So I just always go along with whatever they want to do.
Hi everyone this assignment truly requires some deep reflection of myself
It definitely illustrates similar challenges that my congregation faces. I think Mary Jo.may be on my board of trustees as well!
Osmer reflects upon one of his first assignments out of divinity school where he pastors a church in the rural mountain community of eastern Tennessee. He leads a congregation that is predominantly older members with intention on growing the flock. An incident occurs in the changing of the congregational dynamic as new members begin to attend. Mary Jo a long time member of the church as well as its treasurer moves a child's swing-set away ftom a designated picnic area and to a new location without any consultation with the body of the church through its members, the board or the congregation's leadership. This action triggers the offense of many of the church members requiring pastoral response.
I loved this example, as it made so clear the importance of each of the four tasks of practical theological interpretation. I wish he had also provided an example from further along in his pastoral care (which he probably does later in the book). As I reflected on "what is" in a few different challenges in my church, I was struck by the interconnectivity that Osmer discusses near the end of this reading. I can tell a story of what happened in terms of what one person did (like Mary Jo in his story), but then I quickly become caught up in all of the other vantage points and experiences, such that I'm not sure everyone in my church would be able to describe something as visible as physically moving a play structure in the same way. I appreciated the clarity of the four steps he outlines, and at the same time, I find myself stuck trying to accurately describe "what is" from anything other than my own, limited vantage point.
Well said, This resonates with me in a lot of areas. I think that we get a bit caught up in formalities rather than seeing and meeting the needs. This causes a trigger in most people because it isn't the normal way to do things.
The "what" in my own congregation that I reflected on as I made my way through this week's readings is that our church has experienced a near collapse of our children and youth programs since the pandemic. Many people in our congregation, including me, have lots of ideas about why this has happened or what we should do in response, but there is not wide agreement about the "what" of the situation other than the fact that the children are gone. Working to describe what is going on through the lenses of interconnection and alterity (a word I did not know until this week!) was both helpful and challenging. :)
I agree that understanding this descriptive-empirical method to get to the "what" of the matter is a simple yet critical way to backwards map something that is occuring, before looking to offer a solution. It highlights cause and effect more clearly. I hope this method helps you and your congregation.
What is Going On? Mary Jo, a kupuna (elder) of the church, requires respect and did not want her late husband to memorialize the picnic area, but she still removed the swing set next to it with her own money. The backlash came when the rest of the congregation had to do the extra work of removing all the concrete from the swing set and moving it back to the picnic area. She then resigned her treasurer position and the church altogether.
When I was young in church, I had so many new ideas about church. I was very fortunate to have a loving aunty who took very good care of me. I kept telling her my new ideas and I always got the same answer, It would not pass the kupuna (elderly) of the church. Now Iʻm a kupuna of that same church. I learned to respect the elderly.
Your testimony and the example used in our reading offer me additional insight into how I need to be mindful of the type of leadership style I have as a younger leader in my congregation. Every voice matters in the workings of our individual churches, and as society changes and new tools are introduced, we have to work to blend our needs and not isolate any one group's thoughts or inclinations.
Frank, we deal with the same challenge, which my experience has revealed is in most churches, especially older congregations that have evolved through time. As you shared about the kupuna in your church. My experience is the same, but we must move forward together in order to flourish and not become stagnant, leading to death. A church that does not understand God is always doing something new is one who is already perishing. So we must stay the helm and focus on God's moving ministries. We love our elderly and youth, but let not that love blind us to our duty to God's purposes. I hear you loud and clear. Thanks Frank.
I'm a member of a somewhat elderly church. The respect and care that I have for our congregation goes beyond compare and respect. It's a reciprocation of the care that was show to me throughout my life. A true eye opener of protocol, familiarity and respect.
From the case study Osmer provides with Mary Jo, I observe that he took the time to understand Mary Jo and looked at the event from start to finish, as well as the historical context, to paint a broader picture of the actions Mary Jo took when the swing set was set up. Broadly speaking, I also observe that this church community may not have been in communication with each other on a regular basis, from a leadership perspective regarding decision-making, based on how reactionary Mary Jo was.
good perspective on our story. very common situation when dealing with change within any church organization because people are different and have their own biases, opinions. and beliefs. This situation is intrinsic in the church family history.
Hello everyone, I apologize for being late to the conversation. I have read all of the comments and viewpoints, and I want to interject mine as well.
My grandmother and grandfather were one of the couples at my church that "ran the show". They well off families made up the church council and really set traditions in place for the next generation to follow. I completely know some of the Mary Jo's in our church and sad to say some of them are the oldest members of the congregation and the hardest to follow and understand. In today's our church is not even a 3rd of the congregation it used to be. We have a new pastor that most folks have issue with, and we have not young people at all, not one. Everything has a "remember why this is here and who paid for it" feel. And Mary Jo is very present.
One thing that this story brought up for me that is very pertinent is that I have to listen, learn the "Why" and base those questions to the right people for some information collection.
For this case study it seems that Osmer really wanted to understand and get to know Mary Jo's way of making decision as well as learning why she did what she did. I can only fathom that the congregation members of this community were not communicating with each other, because if so, someone could have told the pastors why Mary Jo was so offended and offended to the degree of quitting the church. I wonder if she consulted God before she quit?
Creating a space for positive dialog takes getting people to agree that it is to everyone's benefit to work together, even though sometimes it seems impossible.
Hi everyone, since I am playing catch-up this week after being out last week, I will keep this short, but hopefully I add to our discussion. Well, most can all attest that we all have a Mary Jo in our church, some maybe more. Osmer sought to get the facts so he could best understand what was going on and then how to proceed from where he was. When dealing with people, especially in a volatile situation, we first must gather credible facts.