September 9, 2026

            I officiated a wedding this last weekend. In many ceremonies we have the familiar “I do.” It is universally accepted. Yet, I find it interesting that we say, “I do” when the reality is “we do.” A person enters this covenant partnership as an individual and exits as a couple. It is the movement from “I” to “we.”

            The life of the church shares in this covenant making movement. We too move from “I” to “we” as we desire to witness the beloved kin-dom of one another in community. It is not just a grammar thing. It should be a strategic decision in recognizing that we do not do ministry in a silo or alone.

“I” can be a declaration of individuality, a statement on personal effort. “I” creates ownership. This is not to throw shade that we each bring unique contributions to the table; it is that collectively we are united as a “we.” The “we” prioritizes communal effort and harmony over individual recognition.

            “We” has inclusive power. It is about unity and collaboration and the effort of the community gathered. “We” includes the diversity of voices coming together to create or sustain a common goal (ministry).  “We” builds bridges, and fosters an environment of respect with an outcome of unity.

            I am not advocating the obliteration of “I,” it can be a “both/and” situation. Many individuals comfortably settle into an “I” mentality; and we need to be more intentional in the “we;” where we celebrate the community effort of our witness in the world. Balance is crucial. We need awareness of over inserting our individual achievements so as not to alienate the community impact of “we.”

            The use of “I” and “we” is more than linguistic gymnastics; it is a reflection of our values and our vision. “We” unites us in our desire to belong. In this current climate (literal and social) let us work together to proclaim a united “we.” When we claim pronouns are important, let us not forget the “we.” 

So very often, we affirm ourselves and our ministry by responding not with only “I do;” but “with God’s help, I will.” An ever-present reminder that we are never alone in our journey…may is be so.