A physicist, a lobbyist, a financial services chairman, a construction contractor, an associate director, a church administrator, a pastor, an insurance claims professional, and a federal civil servant walk into a library.

The physicist is brilliant, contemplative, and calm. The lobbyist is persistent, liberal, and passionate. The financial chairman is delightful, enthusiastic, and conversational. The construction contractor is genuine, talented, and thoughtful. The associate director is strategic, practical, and responsible. The church administrator is serious, knowledgeable, and accountable. The pastor is authentic, wise, and determined. The insurance professional is quiet, contemplative, and insightful. The civil servant is reliable, righteous, and unwavering. (The technology consultant, who was absent that evening, is smart, vulnerable, and resilient.)

These deeply different individuals with radically diverse skills and experiences have two things in common. They comprise Sewickley United Methodist Church’s (SUMC) Leadership Board, and they lead with love.

Meeting in the Church library the evening of April 17th during a rainstorm and fretting way too much about tornado warnings, the Leadership Board analyzed performance metrics, discussed progress of SUMC’s God-sized goals, examined revenues and expenses, and noted the Church’s achievements.

• Our congregation is growing, slowly but steadily.

• We’re connecting with other cultures and marginalized groups by meeting with the Hispanic community and LGBTQ kids from the local school district.

• The Music Ministry is expanding substantially, reaching out to local musicians, increasing space for the choir, recording an album and performing a concert (way to go Leap of Faith!!!), and conducting a community recital.

• Money is tight, but funding is being stretched strategically and prudently.

• As always, God is multiplying our efforts and influence.

Throughout the Board meeting, the Leaders laughed heartily, playfully, and affectionately. How unusual and special it was during the serious proceedings of Board work to witness members demonstrating love, joy, and respect for each other. Be assured, SUMC’s Board is setting the tone for living out the radical love of Jesus in vital ways.

If you want to know more about the Leadership Board and the transformative work of SUMC, come and see us on Sunday, May 5th, at 2:00 p.m. in the Church sanctuary, or reach out to one of us at Church. We’d love to talk with you.

Sincerely,
SUMC’s Leadership Board,
aka, the Motley Crew