NAC - Reflections

Now that the North American Convention is over and I am on my way home I have to time to reflect on the last week.

Overall, it was a positive experience. The opportunities for spiritual challenge and to connect with friends overshadowed the seemingly countless number of meetings that are part of my annual trek to Anderson. As I talked with others, it is apparent that virtually everyone else shared similar sentiments: The 2008 NAC is considered to have been a success.

Upon reflection, however, I wonder if perhaps the whole event has become too comfortable. It is a good experience, but hardly one that elicits much passion. The people who attend, many of them diehard fans who return regularly, come because it is an affirming environment. But, the overall trend of declining attendance suggests that for the vast majority of movement adherents this "campmeeting" is not a priority worth the expense and time commitment. The event has lost its drawing power, except for those who make it as an annual pilgrimage.

It is easy to delude ourselves into believing that this is the core, common experience of our movement. That may have been the case in the distant past when this "doctrinal practice" (as Strege would label it) was the primary means to define and unite our movement. In pure numbers and in proportion to our overall constituency fewer people are coming to the North American Convention. We fool ourselves to think that the high level of effort expended for it are in line with its real significance. Certainly, Church of God Ministries probably devotes more attention and activity to the NAC than anything else, but this may be misguided.

At one time in the Church of God, virtually everyone made it their goal to attend "Anderson Campmeeting" as often as possible. It was the "can't miss it" event of the year. But, this is no longer the case for the overwhelming majority. I was particulary aware of this reality when observing the General Assembly attendance and that an extremely small number of influential leaders and pastors were in attendance. The few that were made brief appearances and were hard to track down. Most did not take in the entire convention.

Am I down on the NAC?

Not at all. I happen to believe that corporate gatherings are one important aspect of our common identity and fellowship. But, I remain convinced that as our world has changed, so has our movement. An annual convention in Anderson as it is currently formatted is no longer relevant.

I am sure that the success of Sunday's global service will make it more difficult for many to see my case. The effective leveraging of technology is a positive step forward and has the potential to draw more people together across the Church of God. It was the highlight of this year's event. But, let's not be fooled, over the long run this still does not really address the need for drawing in the growing number of diverse congregations across North America and around the world.

I remain convinced that the proposal I outlined last year is still the best, realistic option available to us. We need more than cosmetic changes of the NAC. I doubt, however, that there is enough political will in the Midwest to relinquish the sacredness of our current format.

I will continue, however, to be a voice from the geographic fringes calling for fresh, new approaches to propel our movement into the future.