A PARABLE, A PROVERB, AND BIG NEWS!!
🌱 A Tiny Beginning
Small seeds. Quiet starts. Holy potential.
Most Christians are familiar with Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed. It is a tiny seed that grows into a large bush or tree that even birds can build nests in. He tells the parable in reference to the Kingdom of Heaven. The mustard seed begins in a small way and blossoms into something surprisingly large. Our secular friends would say, “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.”
đź’ˇ An Idea Taking Root
When a small vision begins to grow beyond itself
The mustard seed parable and the secular proverb apply to many things in the Kingdom of Heaven and in a small way, they apply to CRIC as well. True, CRIC has not blossomed into a great tree yet, but it has grown in surprising ways. So what’s the BIG NEWS?
🌍 From Local to Larger
What begins in one place begins to reach beyond it
The CRIC seed began with one small group in one regional body of one denomination. They began working on a better policy to deal with clergy whose addiction or mental health issues interfered with their ministries. They sought guidance from colleagues in other denominations and friends in other vocations. The most help came from other vocations.
🌿 From Seed to Sapling
Structure, support, and steady unfolding
That small local group became national and ecumenical. Two years ago, they organized as a non-profit. Small grants from congregations and a significantly larger one from Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church enabled CRIC to develop a well-defined multi-faceted program to support the policy changes it proposes. The seed has become a sapling. So what’s the BIG NEWS?
🤝 A Community of Gifts
Many voices, many skills, one shared calling
Today, CRIC’s talented ten member board and five associates come from eleven states and seven denominations. These 15 people have a wide variety of talents in ministry, therapy, systems and IT management, finance, communications, and impaired practitioner programming. Currently, CRIC is working with three groups in three states to deliver training experiences to clergy. One has adopted CRIC’s policy recommendations.
🌳 The Big News
The moment growth calls for courage
So, what’s the BIG NEWS? CRIC has been challenged with a $100,000 grant to grow from a sapling into a tree. That growth requires planning. This “Big News” will help CRIC fulfill the parable and the proverb. Surely, this is an idea whose time has come. Look for the April newsletter to learn more about where CRIC’s growth is headed next.
Just Say “No Thanks”
Compassionate Accountability is the newsletter of The Center for the Restoration of Impaired Clergy. You receive it since you indicated an interest in the Center’s work. To stop it, just say “No Thanks.” The newsletter is assembled by Otto Schultz so address your complaints and questions to OttoBSchultz@outlook.com.