July 12, 2009
Re: Evaluation of ministry of Mark Robinson
To the Committee on Ministry - St Louis Association:
Thank you for the opportunity to reflect on the Rev. Mark Robinson's ministry as we related to one another in several settings.
At the encouragement of the Committee on Ministry I asked Mark to facilitate a conversation at Eden United Church of Christ around the issues of Gay/Lesbian, Marriage Equality and the presence of a transgendered member in our congregation.
Mark and I met, over lunch and he heard my concerns about my ministry here and what I saw happening at Eden. Mark was thoughtful, supportive, and understanding offering different perspectives and ways I might manage the conflicts. He also agreed to facilitate our forum.
Mark was respectful and led the participants to be so as the members of the congregation expressed intense feelings and opposing opinions; he summarized each person's statement and noted it on newsprint. After each had commented he drew our comments together and made suggestions for further action. We followed up on several of the recommendations that came out of the meeting. It was a good process and has seemed to have helped this congregation move on from the tension of issues around sexual orientation and General Synod. Everyone felt heard, taken seriously and cared for.
Mark attended a Church Council Meeting several weeks later. He named in generalities some of the underlying issues that have made my ministry in this congregation difficult. He did some teaching on conflict resolution. Unfortunately Council did not accept his offer to work with us. Mark and I have met several times one on one and he has continued to be encouraging suggesting strategies I might try. He and I spoke at length during the weeks when I audited his class at Eden Seminary.
Mark taught a January Interim class on "Creative Conflict Resolution" . That class continues to be instrumental in my ministry. I refer to my notes from time to time, use my learnings to curb the effects of potential conflicts and to help me and others to navigate through inevitable conflict.
I have copied here the class evaluation I wrote for the seminary.
I appreciated the Conflict Resolution Class as I learned new tools to respond to conflict in the church. The texts we used came at the information in different ways, one speaking to developmental stages and how they impact relationships and conflict; one speaking to the way we as leaders communicate in the corporate (church) world and one which looked even more closely at how we can communicate using non-violent language.
We were privileged to also receive copies of Mark's workshop material on Healthy Relationships. This material helped us look at how we abuse (often unintentionally) within our own relationships and how to deal with abuse and create shalom. The intersection of these texts with class discussion has caused me to consider new ways of doing pastoral care and working with conflict in my congregation and personal life.
Mark was able throughout the class to address each student where they were, helping each one with our particular conflicts whether those conflicts surfaced in church, contextual ed settings, family life or within the individual. He modeled "an ongoing regard" for each member of the class.
Mark also listened to the needs of class members... so he quickly incorporated into our class an opportunity for meditation helping us to focus ourselves and prepare for class content.
I have experienced Mark's faith in God and his belief that God wills for us shalom. He works at reminding us that all conflict can be resolved (a theological assertion for him). His ministry and support has enabled me to cope with the challenges I have faced. I have appreciated Mark's ministry to me, in my congregation and at the seminary. He offers a unique and valuable ministry to the pastors and churches of our Association. I value our collegial relationship, his ministry, insights and perspectives.
Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 314. 631.8930 (church) or 314.910.9751 (cell)
God's peace,
Rev. Jacoba M. Koppert, pastor
Eden United Church of Christ
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