Christmas

Despite all the hustle and bustle around us, even in the church, may everyone experience the full meaning and joy found in the coming of our Savior.

Merry Christmas!

Lloyd

Regional diversity

Continuing on a discussion on diversity in the Church of God ...

Talking about ethnic and racial diversity was fairly straightforward and obvious. For the most part we accept that reality, although I still remain convinced that we don't know how to deal with it appropriately. But, there are other aspects of our diversity that we may be less willing to admit, at least as far as their significance is concerned. Our regional diversity is one such dimension.

I know that some of my comments could be easily misunderstood, but stick with me through this.

For the most part, the Church of God in North America is a Midwestern U.S. phenomenon, with our origins steeped in the socio-religious climate of the region. Not only is this the geographical birthplace of our movement, but the Midwest culture continues to influence and direct us. Our values, worldview, religious perspectives, politics, and socio-economic structures represent this cultural milieu. (There are indications, however, that this trend is gradually shifting).

Let me be clear: I have nothing against the Midwest or its inhabitants. The cultural and ideological framework of this region is not necessarily wrong or bad. But, the reality is that the Church of God is not just limited to that section of the continent. As one who has always lived at the geographic fringes of our movement, I have been long aware of the disconnect that exists with our center. Some of the discontent with “Anderson”, as our headquarters and symbolic center, is really an outgrowth of this reality.

In recent years I have ministered on the West Coast, in wacky California and now in highly secular Washington state, although over the years I have frequently spent time in the Midwest visiting family and attending numerous church-related events. To me, it is more apparent than ever that the differences between these two regions are more than just surface distinctions.

Yet, it is amusing, if not tragic, to watch Church of God congregations and ministers on the West Coast attempt to copy Midwestern styles and programs. It is not uncommon out here to visit a congregation and feel like you've just stepped into rural Ohio, etc. This type of emulation happens because of pastors who have moved here, or because of mimicking the peculiar Church of God style (i.e. language, organization, worship, even architecture) that is common in the Midwest. In most cases, this insensitivity to the local culture has caused numerous problems, mostly in that we have congregations unable to find culturally appropriate ways to minister within their contexts.

For years it has been apparent that copying the programs and styles from other locations is fraught with many problems, if not futile and dangerous. For example, we have seen hundreds of churches copy the success of mega churches like Willow Creek, only to find that what works in upper middle-class, suburban Chicago doesn't necessarily work in rural Nebraska, etc.. Or, similarly the southern California culture behind Saddleback is not easily transferred to Kentucky. Sure, there are basic principles that can be applied elsewhere, but they need to be translated accordingly.

Contextualization of the gospel is hard work. We expect foreign missionaries to find ways to make the gospel relevant, but are oblivious and sometimes resistant to the same need within our society. Yes, at the core people are similar in many ways and share a common need for God, but beyond this there are significant differences that must be taken seriously.

What does all this mean to the Church of God? First, we must put aside any mistaken dreams of a consistent, “cookie-cutter” identity across the Church of God. While there are common elements uniting us (i.e. our heritage, doctrine, cooperative ministries), how we express ourselves will vary according the region in which particular congregations find themselves.

Second, we need to find ways to decentralize our movement's resources and leadership. This is already beginning to happen, as Ron Duncan is leading us to shift greater emphasis to our state/district organizations. Moving around the North American Convention would also contribute to this objective.

Third, we should celebrate the unique aspects of church life that have evolved across the Church of God, both in North America and around the world. As missional people we should see our diversity as a natural consequence of being faithful to spreading the gospel to all creation.

Ethnic diversity

On the subject of "Church of God and Diversity" ...

The Church of God began with a strong, inclusive message. As we called people out of the confusion of denominational Babel, people of all backgrounds were welcomed to join our reformation movement. We valued and started to live out a new Christian unity. With the door open, people of many ethnic and racial groups joined us, and foreign missions were quickly initiated.

But, as we lost our “evening light” vision and we began to institutionalize, our differences became more pronounced. The most obvious division occurred in relation to our African American constituency. There are many reasons for this, mostly sociological and political. While the Church of God has been miles of ahead of many denominations in terms of inclusion of African Americans, all is not well. There continues to be a cry for reconciliation because of some historical and structural matters that have fractured the relationship. Strides are being made, but more work is yet to be done to overcome the misunderstandings of the past.

Certainly there are other examples of ethnic diversity in our history. There has always been a strong German contingent in our movement. Several of our earliest pioneers were of German descent, and some of the earliest foreign work was done in German speaking areas of Europe. During the extensive periods of immigration last century, a number of strong Church of God congregations in the U.S. and Canada were established by Germans who brought their reformation movement faith with them. But, during the political tensions with Germany our relationship with these churches was strained as well. Over time many of these churches become increasingly isolated from their English counterparts, with many of them completely separating from “Anderson” (a reality that is still in effect today).

I suspect that our next biggest challenge will be with the increasing number of Hispanic churches that are cropping up across the U.S. The unique culture of these people and churches are a dramatic contrast to the more typical North American church. As their influence grows we will continue to face many challenges as to how to best integrate them into our larger movement.

So what do we do with all this ethnic diversity?

The idealists among us are tempted to assert that these differences shouldn't really matter as far the church is concerned. We worship the same Lord and find our unity in Him, and therefore we should be able to work through any challenges that all this diversity brings.

But, is this realistic?

I take the position that it is not wrong to acknowledge, respect, and even encourage our ethnic diversities within the Church of God. In fact, we should celebrate the ways God has worked within each ethnic community. And, it is unrealistic to assume that we can all meld together into one big, relatively uniform movement. Our ethnic groups find it natural to be together because they share a common cultural heritage and ethos, and will not integrate easily. Yet, we tend to desire a more homogenous movement - which is not necessarily the right goal.

We will continue to struggle with our ethnic diversity as long as we expect everyone to join together in the same style of worship services, the same congregations, and/or under the same national governance. Striving for these goals will only lead to frustration.

We must work to find our unity beyond common worship, congregations, or organizational structures. Probably the best path forward is to find our unity through our common mission. In this way we demonstrate our unity in Christ. It is through cooperation for the sake of mission that we can build bridges between our various segments, while still encouraging unique cultural expressions.

As our society becomes more pluralistic the challenges of ethnic diversity will only increase. We must, therefore, find new ways to practice unity in the midst of this diversity.

Church of God and diversity

Over the next week or so I will post several messages probing into a topic that's been hot on my radar in recent weeks. For several months now I have participated in numerous discussions that have included probing examinations into the diversity within our movement, and the challenges we face in practicing our unity in the midst of it.

More and more I am convinced that the Church of God is actually quite diverse in its composition, in fact, to a greater extent than we often acknowledge or admit. We have a good deal of ethnic and racial diversity, and theologically we cover a much wider spectrum than perhaps we are even comfortable with.

Yet, we struggle with our diversity because we are faced with two opposing pressures. First, is our firm conviction of Christian unity and its importance for the church. But, on the other hand, there are powerful forces at work among us trying to bring about homogeneity and conformity in both our theology and our culture. The resulting tension of all this has caused us some discomfort, and it is imperative that we work to resolve it.

Maybe I'm biting off more than I can chew, but I hope you stick with me through this discussion and provide feedback and your own comments.

ONEvoice! at the Tipping Point

Recently a news story at chog.org highlighted the current state of affairs at ONEvoice!

Joseph Allison, Coordinator of Communications and Publications (and CHOG Blog reader!), has bluntly stated, "ONEvoice! magazine is at a tipping point ... The campaign will likely determine whether the magazine succeeds.”

The campaign Allison refers to is the recent subscription blitz that is underway across Church of God congregations (on which I have previously posted). Their goal is to obtain 3000 new subscriptions, the largest ever for the publication.

The same story revealed that the current subscription rate is around 2100. On average, that's less than one copy per congregation! I am astounded that our churches and pastors have not been more supportive, especially with all the whining that occurred during the years we were without a national magazine. I know there are some historical factors that come into play, relative cost may be another issue, and the supposed lack of explicit doctrinal teaching bothers some (I will have more to say on this one in the near future); but, certainly the number of subscriptions should be higher.

I remain convinced that the current campaign is an excellent one, and I sincerely hope the larger church responds to it. We need ONEvoice! I say this not only because I am a contributor, but because I believe that it is an important tool for our ongoing communication and identity.

Getting into SHAPE

Life in my new work in the Pacific Northwest is sure keeping me busy, including an incredible amount of travel in the past few weeks.

One of the highlights of my recent activity has been attending the SHAPE National Regional Directors' Meeting in Arizona. While I have briefly referenced SHAPE before, it is still a fairly obscure concept in the Church of God because of its current regional implementation. Now that I am leader in one of the regions I am quickly being submersed in this ministry.

In short, SHAPE (Sustaining Health and Pastoral Excellence) is a ministry initiative between Church of God Ministries and six regions in the U.S. designed to strengthen and support pastors. (More information, including an informative video, can be viewed at their website: http://shape.chog.org). In some ways SHAPE is still under development, as we try to find the most effective way to accomplish the critical objectives. Major funding to make this possible is provided by the Lilly Endowment.

What impresses me most about SHAPE is that this is not just another "program" conceived in Anderson and promoted across the church. Past endeavors of this nature have often had limited success and have often left a somewhat skeptical view in the church toward "Anderson". SHAPE is completely different. First, it is a true partnership with regions, and therefore is much more responsive and in-touch with the needs of pastors and congregations. Second, the leadership is deeply committed and passionate about the need for strengthening our ministers, who are increasingly facing many pressures and challenges. And, third, SHAPE is designed around life-change and community-building, and therefore is an ongoing, dynamic system that cannot be reduced to simple formulas or events.

One of the themes that was expressed over and over again at our retreat is the common vision to see SHAPE "transform the culture" of the Church of God from one of independence to true interdependence. We admitted that in a few years, as it evolves, we may no longer even call it "SHAPE" and that it might look different on the surface than it does now. But, there is a strong resolve to see SHAPE have a profound, almost subversive, effect on how we function. From this we hope to see increased leadership development, congregational life, and Kingdom expansion.

Spending time with these SHAPE-pumped people was very inspiring, and the vision is truly contagious. If you are able to join a SHAPE cluster in your region, take advantage of the opportunity. It can literally change your ministry and your life.

Review - Preaching the Story

With all that has happened in recent months it occured to me that I never did post my review of Jeffrey Frymire's new book, Preaching the Story: How to Communicate God's Word Through Narrative Sermons (Warner Press, 2006). This is one of several noteworthy books published this year by Warner. I have previously reviewed Are You Sure You're Right? and What's Right with the Church of God.

First, I must disclose that I know Jeff personally. He was a pastoral colleague in central California, and I had the opportunity to work closely with him on the Executive Comittee of our regional association. He truly is an exceptional communicator and story-teller, and is well-qualified to write this book. Since leaving his church in Fresno this summer he has begun Ph.D. studies in practical theology (with an emphasis in homiletics) at Fuller Theological Seminary. You many interested in keeping up with him at his blog.

One of the unique aspects of this book, compared to the others published by Warner Press this year, is that it is not Church of God specific. In fact, they deliberately chose to market this book beyond our own circles to the larger Christian community. The book is relevant to the growing number of preachers who are increasingly discovering the importance of story-telling in their communications.

Frymire begins his book by asserting that "We are the last generation to experience preaching in its current form" (p. 1). In the past preaching dealt primarily with propositional truth, but we now "live in a culture that is more affected by story than be technology" (p. 7).

But this book is more than an abstract discussion of story-telling in a post-modern world. Preaching the Story is a "how-to" book, outlining a number of helpful steps for preachers to go through as they adapt to this approach. Preaching in series might be a good, basic starting point for some.

What impressed me most about this book is that it is NOT a book about telling stories in general; but instead emphasizes the teaching of Scripture through its own narratives. This is not just telling cute stories and illustrations - the purpose is to better communicate the biblical narrative itself. Frymire provides a basic outline of how to better grasp and communicate the biblical context. For example, there is a chapter on focusing on characters. The book is full of ideas, tips, and gives its own illustrations.

Most preachers will be able to discover one or more practical considerations that can be used to enhance their own preaching. I especially found the final chapter, "Barriers in Preaching" interesting. While less instructional, he provides an interesting discussion on our traditions and church architecture that often prevent us from effectively engaging our congregations.

The only real shortcoming to Preaching the Story is the lack of detail and length. Unfortunately, Frymire was limited by the book size imposed by Warner Press. Hopefully after his doctoral studies he will be able to build on this and share more to enhance our preaching.

This is a good buy for preachers and teachers.

In the Pacific Northwest

As previously mentioned I haven't been very active in the blogosphere in recent weeks. On November 1st (literally the next day following my last day as pastor in Hanford, California) I boarded a plane for Seattle and began my new adventure. And, it has been very busy, with considerable travel already and more upcoming in the next two weeks. I will offer more reflections on this phase of my transition in coming weeks.

Nevertheless, now that I am here (and I have consistent Internet access) I plan on getting back to blogging. There is much to be said.

Transition - waiting

Over the past few months I have occasionally shared some reflections on the ministry transition that I am currently going through. One week from today I will begin my new position as the Area Administrator for the Pacific Northwest Association of the Church of God. Yet, for another seven days at least, I remain the pastor of Central Community Church in Hanford, California.

 

This "in-between" phase is an interesting time. For almost three months since my announced resignation I have been winding down my time in my current congregation and occasionally looking forward to the new opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. 

 

Ninety days is not the norm for a pastor to leave. One month is much more common. While the PNA was anxious for me to come as soon as possible, after prayerful consideration I decided that in this particular case a three month transition was not only appropriate but would be in the best interest of the church that I have served for the last four and one-half years. Since we have a healthy relationship there was no need for me to exit quickly, and if anything the extra time would allow me to ensure that there was a greater sense of continuity and preparation for new pastoral leadership.

 

The greatest danger in a protracted resignation is that the church has a "lame duck" pastor. That is, one who does not have the authority or impetus to lead, or who has lost the conviction and passion to minister in this location.

 

This has not been my experience. I have had many opportunities in the last few months to do some things that needed to be done, and it has been exciting to see some individuals experience significant spiritual growth during the time. The congregation has openly allowed me to continue pastoring them, and has even sought my advice and counsel in the search process (although in this last regard I have been very careful not to unduly influence the process). We have been able to have some very honest discussions about where the church is at and where it needs to head.

 

Yes, there have been times of frustration and impatience. At times the prospect of the new position is dangling out in front of me, and I eagerly anticipate getting started. There is also the stress of making preparations to move, including the packing of all my 2000+ books. And, while this time with my congregation has been overall very positive, there have been a few individuals who have had great trouble dealing with all the changes brought about by my resignation and have made life a little more difficult for themselves and others.

 

One of the questions that other pastors have asked me is: "So, what do you preach for three months once you've announced your resignation?" For the most part, not much different than before. Perhaps I have sensed a little more freedom to speak more frankly on some matters, but basically I have stuck to my preaching plan that I had established for this year. Of course, this coming Sunday (i.e. my final sermon) will be much more specific to my leaving.

 

Very soon the waiting will be over, and a whole new phase in my life will begin. That will require another post in a few weeks.

 

ONEvoice! promotion

I've been relatively quiet on the blogosphere in the last couple of weeks. Focusing on transition issues has been demanding. Nevertheless, I have a number of items to discuss, and hope to do so in coming days. This will include my continuing transition series. But for now ...

 

Late last week our church received a packet from ONEvoice! magazine for promoting our official publication. The "Bring it Home!" campaign is intended to increase awareness of the magazine and, more importantly, to increase subscriptions.

 

I think this campaign will work, and should easily increase the subscriber base by several multiples. Why am I so optimistic? They've finally made it easy to subscribe. Congregation members just have to fill out the card and leave it at the church. Billing will occur later. So, no need to write a check or fill out credit card information.

 

In the past it has been extremely difficult for me to get our congregation to respond to ONEvoice! promotions. Yesterday's brief mention generated a number of new subscribers. (One could argue that their interest was piqued because I am now a regular contributor to the magazine, but even so the ease of subscription seemed to facilitate the process better than before).

 

In case you haven't seen the latest issue (October/November 2006) a number of changes have been implemented to make the periodical more attractive, accessible and meaningful to our constituents. In my opinion, there is still much more that could be done to enhance the publication, but with a dramatic increase in subscriptions the possibility for expansion is more likely.

 

ONEvoice! cannot be considered the only vehicle for communication and dissemination within the Church of God, but it has the potential to be an even more important one than it is now. I will be interested to hear how this latest campaign is received across the church.

 

Seeing the Story - discussion

Beginning with the latest issue (October/November 2006) of ONEvoice! magazine I am a regular columnist. This is a big leap for me, and I'm sure that it will take a few articles before I get into the "groove" of this type of writing. I certainly do not want to presume that my column will exude any great profundities, nevertheless I want to provide an opportunity for feedback and discussion on what I write for our North American publication. I want to encourage a conversation.

 

In my first article, "Seeing the Story", I make the case for a more deliberate reading of Scripture from the perspective of the larger, over-arching Story that provides context for the many smaller fragments. We tend to read the Bible in small bites and chunks, and often fail to see the bigger picture of God's work and plan throughout.

 

My concern for writing this is that I observe many Christians who have little or no awareness of the grand narrative in which Scripture was written and of which we continue to be part. Much of this is a result of our modern epistemology:

Adopting the scientific worldview around us, we have tended to pull out our microscopes to analyze the Bible as an abstract object, all the while failing to see the larger, living drama of God's interaction with his people. We have systematized our beliefs into doctrines and theologies, but when we fail to understand these within the larger Story, our teachings can become sterile and inert. (EXTRAvoice! page 2)

I also tried to provide some initial ideas as to how we can reverse this trend. Admittedly, however, this is difficult. It's one thing to acknowledge the larger picture of salvation history, but quite another to shape our individual and corporate lives around it. Nevertheless, I believe that we must pay greater attention to this emphasis. At a theological level it likely means seeing ourselves as people of the Story. On a practical level it will require a shift in how we do Bible study, corporate worship, and preaching.

 

I would be interested to hear your reflections on this topic, and to learn how you are working to make this happen in your life and congregation.

 

Financial accountability

The Louisville Kentucky Courier-Journal published a story today about one of our congregations that should make us all stand up and take notice.

 

According to the story (and who knows if they have it 100% right, but I digress...) the North Charlestown [Indiana] Church of God had nearly $163,000 stolen from it by a former church secretary-bookkeeper. Allegedly, she stole this over an eight year period, and was able to do so because have having the ability to sign checks without a second signature.

 

The church apparently tried to bring restitution before reporting the theft (a good move), but once she defaulted on her repayments the authorities were brought in.

 

There are many lessons to be learned here.

 

The obvious one is: Have policies in place to safeguard against individuals stealing money. For example, dual signatures on checks, despite their inconvenience, are essential. Annual outside audits are also necessary.

 

Quite frankly, we have been far too trusting, assuming that no one would ever do this. It is a sad reality of our fallen world, and that these and other even more horrific things occasionally happen in God's communities. Checks and balances are needed, and we must have these throughout, at the national level right down to the local congregations. I know this goes against our anti-organizational stance, and is even relevant in some of the debate going on right now concerning accountability in matters of credentialing.

 

Finding a balance between trust alongside Holy Spirit leadership and working within reasonable organizational structures is difficult. But, it is within these paradoxes that we find ourselves working out our faith and mission.

 

Transition - resignation

Continuing my transition saga...

 

Receiving the call to my new ministry was exciting, but also terrifying. Now I actually had to accept the call, and in doing so end a relationship with my current congregation. I needed to inform them of my decision, and reveal the relationship that had been developing behind the scenes.

 

As I stated at the time, giving my resignation was not easy. I'm not sure it ever is easy for a pastor, unless things have degraded to the point that leaving is nothing more than relief. Nevertheless, I was more and more convinced that this was the right decision, but putting belief into practice is not always easy.

 

Finally the dreaded Sunday came. Just prior to dismissal I had the congregation sit down for a "special announcement". Very carefully I read through a multi-page letter that I composed, explaining my struggle and search for God's will, and encouraging them as a church to move forward. Copies of the letter were made available for everyone before leaving.

 

People were shocked, not expecting that they would be subjected to something like this when they came to church on this particular day. Some were visibly stunned. Some cried. Several stated their support, saying that they were not surprised and saw this as part of God's bigger plan. A few waited for a few days, and either phoned, e-mailed, instant-messaged or dropped by to express their support and feelings.

 

I mentioned to my family prior to resignation Sunday that the congregation's response to my announcement would likely be similar to any grief reaction. People would experience natural feelings like shock, denial, anger, bargaining, etc. and we needed to be sensitive to their processing of all this in the remaining months (and, of course, recognize our own grief feelings). For the most part people have been working through it quite well, although a few individuals have experienced more pain than others.

 

Because of the good relationship I have with the church I decided early on to give 90 days notice, even though I was obligated to provide only 30 days. I sincerely believed (and now affirm) that in our particular case a 3-month transition would be in the best interest of the congregation at this time. They have truly appreciated this.

 

So, what does one do as a resigned pastor for three months? More on that in another post ...

 

On a related note, pray for the church this weekend. They are already candidating someone. I will also comment at a later time on how this impacts the whole transition experience.

 

Viewpoint on our children and postmodernism

I would strongly encourage everyone to listen to this week's CBH Viewpoint broadcast. Jim Lyon begins a series(?) featuring Dan Allender, President of Mars Hill Graduate School in Seattle. Allender's book How Children Raise Their Parents provides the launching pad for their discussion. But this is not just about parenting. Allender makes the point that as parents we learn from our children, and that this can lead to our own spiritual maturity. This episode's discussion brings up the matter of postmodernism, and how listening to our children can help us better know God, as well as our shifting culture.

 

The issues conveyed here have tremendous implications for the church, even beyond just parenting. I'm impressed that Jim Lyon is tackling this in a context and format that can have broad impact across the church.

 

Viewpoint is a tremendous production, and certainly one of the best Christian radio shows anywhere, period. It's a Church of God gem.

 

Viewpoint radio broadcasts can be heard online. While true podcasting is yet to come, there is an RSS/XML feed leading to the download and streaming page.

 

Transition - courtship

My transition story continues ...

 

The roller coaster ride of searching for future direction was coming closer to the end, but there was one more major loop to go through. Being contacted by the Pacific Northwest Association for serious consideration was quite exciting, not only because it was a breakthrough in my search but because it was an area of ministry in which I am gifted, and have passion and experience. While pastoral ministry is still close to my heart (as I believe that it is through the local church where ministry ultimately takes place), I know that I have much to contribute at the district level to better equip congregations and leaders do their important work.

 

But, perhaps I was getting ahead of myself. They were interested in me, but we were still at an early stage in our fledgling courtship. We still needed to have some serious discussions. They needed to check out my references. And, I had to learn more about the association and the expectations for this position.

 

All of these things we did. The process was good, and we were all convinced that this relationship was of God.

 

But, the most unnerving part of all this was not the intense discussions or seeking God's confirmation. It was conducting this courtship in secrecy from my congregation. Everything had to be done clandestinely, and our entire family was regularly reminded to be very careful not to accidentally leak anything. It would be devastating for the church and my ministry with this group.

 

I felt like I was cheating. Here I was working with my church as if everything was normal, and behind the scenes I was "seeing someone else". I remember the day I made a whirlwind one-day trip to and from Seattle for my interview. It was all done as inconspicuously as possible. Hopefully no one would face a major emergency expecting me to interrupt my day off. If so, how would I explain myself?

 

I don't want to over-dramatize it all, but conducting a search while still in the midst of ministry is not an easy thing to do. I believe what made this especially difficult for me is my love for the congregation I pastor. As stated in a previous post, there was no pressure for me to leave. I love this church and the people. My guilt for cheating was not just because I am conscientious. It was because I really care for this congregation and don't want to hurt them.

 

By mid-July the new courtship with the PNA was close to reaching a point of decision. My wife and I traveled to Washington for the district Family Camp, at which time I would be presented before a special called meeting of the district ministers and delegates. Up to this point I had dealt with the Search Committee, but now I was being taken home to "meet the parents". They would grill me on all the matters of importance for them, leading to a ratification vote. In the end the vote was around 93% and the ball was now in my court to accept the calling.

 

But that would mean resignation. More on that in a future post ...

 

High Church of God birthrate?

While all the details aren't readily available to me, it appears that according to a study presented at the Assocation of the Sociology of Religion there might be a direct relationship between conservative religious groups and the fertility rate among their members. Mormons and Mennonites had the highest rates, with Church of God (Anderson, IN), Church of The Nazarene, and Pentecostal groups also high. Liberal denominations like the Episcopal Church and Unitarians had the lowest rates. The study's author, Conrad Hackett of Princeton University, suggests it may be because of church's "natalist culture". He finds evidence of this in a correlation with the percentage of women who have a bachelor's degree.

 

Accurate. Likely. Useless information. Perhaps. But interesting nonetheless.

 

LINK to a story and commentary from The Henry Institute of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

 

Transition - searching

Continuing on my transition journey...

 

With the decision clarified as to whether I was to stay at or leave my present congregation, the natural next step was determining where I was to go next. That was not clear. And, in many ways having a new calling would be a further confirmation that leaving was the right thing to do. If God wants me to move on I was convinced that a new ministry would be open for me.

 

So, the search process began. To be honest, my investigation of opportunities began without too much vigor. Perhaps it was my continuing struggle with the whole notion of leaving, but my search was never an aggressive pursuit.

 

Things have changed in the 6-7 years since I last went through this. Church of God Ministries now has their own version of "monster.com", providing a much more effective way for churches and ministers to connect with each other. Even just e-mail itself has revolutionized things. Nevertheless, the whole process is still somewhat awkward and far from as effective as it should be. (Also, see Church of God blogger Dustin Sells' reflections on "The Hiring Process in Churches", part 2, part 3, part 4).

 

In the end I only applied at a few churches and, of course, for the position I eventually accepted. In most cases, I had some very positive responses from the search committees. With one church in particular I ended up having some very serious discussions. However, there was a point in the process where it appeared that all doors were closed, and that a move might not be as imminent as I originally anticipated. Even the Area Administator position in the Pacific Northwest Association appeared out of the picture based on what was conveyed to me.

 

The entire search process is often a roller coaster ride. At times there is an enthusiastic optimism concerning some of the opportunties, but when things don't go as expected it is very easy to feel dejected and frustrated. It was very important throughout to remain spiritually grounded and to trust God's leading. I was praying a lot.

 

The emotional ups and downs can be exhausting, especially if it drags on. Fortunately I was not sensing desperation, but my heart goes out to ministers who have tighter time frames to find a new church. My last search experience was way too long, and I certainly did not want to go through that again.

 

It was at one of those low points that I got a call from the PNA asking if I was still interested in their position. They had come to a realization that their own search was not going as expected, and that after going back to square one and re-examining the applications my name was coming to the forefront.

 

A new courtship was about to begin. More in my next post...

 

Transition - decision

It was suggested to me that I share some personal reflections on the process I have been going through in my own life, having recently resigned from my church and looking forward to a new role beginning in November. Over the next week or so I will do that.

 

Pastoral transition is rarely easy. Not only for the congregation but for the minister. In secular vocations the decision to leave one job for another is usually less complicated. Advancement, more money, or better working conditions typically make the choice straightforward. Although seeking God's will should be part of all decision-making, the context of spiritual community places greater pressure on ministers to get it right.

 

I'm sure all pastors have experienced the stress of deciding when it is best to resign and move on to a new call. In recent months a couple of other Church of God bloggers (Jeffrey Frymire and Ken DeMaere) have shared some of their resignation experiences. For me, the inkling that a transition was possible began several months ago. It was becoming more and more apparent that I was no longer the good fit with this church as I was almost six years ago when we first came in contact with each other. Since becoming their pastor we have had many tremendous times together, and the church has experienced signficant transformation. A large proportion of the people are new, and the ministry focus and direction of the church has changed dramatically. For pastors who have struggled getting their church to make even the smallest change, my situation might be perceived as ideal. It has been good. These are wonderful people. We love the city. Our family is somewhat settled here. On the surface there were no apparent reasons to leave. In fact, we fought against any notion of leaving.

 

But, as I looked at the situation honestly I began to see that with all the changes we have gone through the church needed a pastor with different gifts and strengths to lead them to the next level of their growth and development. I remain convinced that I was the right person for them at the time and with the issues they were facing, but I could sense that my time here was like Moses leading the children of Israel through the wilderness. A Joshua was now required to take them to the Promised Land.

 

Confirming this insight meant much prayer, long discussions with my wife, consultation with individuals I trust, and even a few restless nights. God speaks to us in a number of ways, and it became clear from all directions that my hunches were more than just that. Naturally, a big concern is that such a decision is being made on purely emotional grounds or for selfish reasons. I was also somewhat frustrated with the fact that I was not living up to one of my values: long pastorates. Nevertheless, all indications were that I had been used of God in this location and that my staying was likely not in the best long-term interest of this congregation that I love.

 

Once this decision to leave was arrived at, I tentatively began the next phase of the transition journey. The question now was: "OK, God, if you want me to leave, where am I to go?" More on that in my next post.

 

Strategic Planning Council - Day three

We had three hours Friday to wrap up our time together. Our morning would include another breakout group, and a closing session to tie everything up. The latter objective seemed to be reached, although I initially had my doubts. After all breakout groups had shared their reflections on Ron Duncan's framework (see Day One), it was his turn to reply back to the conference. Each attendee was also asked to submit a written statement, indicating the unique, personal commitment to the next steps they would take, followed by a meaningful act of anointing of each delegate.

The ultimate question everyone reading this is asking (and I myself asked) is: So what are the real results that will come as a result of our gathering in Nashville?

Of course, this is not the final step in the lengthy, ongoing process in which we find ourselves. The cumulative results of all that happened in the last two days will need to be compiled and digested. That will begin immediately and hopefully lead to more concrete actions.

Admittedly it can be frustrating for those of us who are impatient with seemingly never-ending consultations, meetings, and discussions. We must eventually move beyond conferences to action. And, there was a point after Thursday's grueling day that I wondered whether anything significant could come out of this jumbled collection of disparate ideas and visions. In truth, we really needed an additional day to adequately complete our task.

Yet, it was apparent by the time we were done at noon, our accomplishment was more significant than we might have initially realized. The real outcome of this Strategic Planning Conference will likely not be measured by the tangible conclusions we arrived at, but by the intangible results that we experienced. What was apparent to me and to everyone I talked to is that there is a new spirit of cooperation and hope within the Church of God in North America. We were openly discussing core issues related to our being, identity and mission. There are new attitudes being expressed, and relationships restored and strengthened. While we still have obstacles to overcome, structures to refine, opportunities to take advantage of, and pockets of discontent to deal with, there is a growing willingness to put our doctrine of unity into practice at least through our own internal cooperation. Dr. Duncan's positive spirit and servant heart are making it easier to trust his leadership and to follow the vision with which he is challenging us.

In short, there were significant strides made these last few days.

Communication in the Church of God

From the analysis report of the recent Church of God survey by Deodandum Marketing Communications:

"Individuals seemed to spend a lot of time talking about communication and how to improve it. But, for a movement its size, the Church of God seems to have more vehicles to communicate, and spend more time and money on communication in person, electronically, and in print, than many other movements or denominations that are much larger. Perhaps it isn't a failure to communicate so much as an inability to listen to, or to accept the legitimacy and efficacy of what is being communicated, or the authority of those communicating."

Strategic Planning Council - Day two

Today was a solid work day at the SPC. From 9:00am (actually 7:30 for me because of an additional, unrelated breakfast meeting) to after 9:00pm we were in some sort of meeting. There were a few small breaks (one lasting almost 45 minutes!) but every minute seemed to be taken up, even meal times involved assigned discussions.

Our work today was centered around participation in small breakout groups, with periodic reporting back to the larger group. I can't say that anything earth-shattering took place, although some passionate and thoughtful discussions and presentations were noticed. Obviously the big task will be compiling all of these ideas following the Conference.

Time to get to bed in order to be ready for our wrap-up tomorrow and long trip back home.

Strategic Planning Council - Day one

My trek to Nashville began with waking at 2:45am in order to catch a 6:00am flight. I arrived mid-afternoon, but had little time for rest before activities began at dinner, followed by an evening general session. So Wednesday was a long day for me. Looking at our jam-packed agenda, it appears that the next two days will likely feel just as long.

The Strategic Planning Conference is comprised of not quite 150 leaders from across North America, representing state/regional delegates and national leaders. The purpose of this gathering is part of a multi-year process of determining how the Church of God can be more focused and effective in its ministries, particularly within our North American organization.

Wednesday's opening session was to set the pace for all that we will grapple with over the coming two days. Crammed into a relatively small hotel ballroom we began our evening under the musical leadership of Jay Rouse. Ray Rood, our facilitator, was introduced. He works for a change management consulting firm, and has had connections recently with Warner Pacific College. Quoting organizational expert Bob Quinn, Rood briefly challenged us with the observation that all organizations are moving along one of two paths, either deep transformational change or a slow death. The choice we make will depend on sufficient leadership.

The bulk of the session was a presentation by Ron Duncan. He stated that he believes “this is a watershed event in the life of the Church of God” and that radical transformation is needed. We have faced three major crises and one major reorganization with the last twenty-five years, and on top of that significant canes have been occurring in our culture. In Duncan's view, from this Conference we must “build a solid foundation for a flexible ministry future in which we resource the local congregation”. There are three building blocks that will make this happen:

1. Restoration of key relationships among Church of God leaders.
2. Return to the basics of the New Testament church.
3. Renewal of collaborative ministries.

Duncan elaborated on these three building blocks, drawing upon results from the recent church-wide survey that was conducted and his own observations. Much of the work of Conference delegates over the remaining two days will be to build on these ideas and provide working answers to the questions that arise out of them.

Obviously there is more detail here than I can share in this post, but hopefully it will provide an overview of the nature of our gathering. I sense a strong spirit among those in attendance, and am impressed with the age diversity of delegates (although less impressed with the gender breakdown).

Please continue to pray for us at the Conference.

Update

I've been silent here for the last couple of weeks, with other matters requiring more attention than blogging. Of course, there's all the transition stuff going on around me, but I was able to take a much-needed five day vacation with my wife as well.

 

Tomorrow (Wednesday) I head to Nashville for the Strategic Planning Council of the Church of God. I plan (depending on Internet access) to provide a daily update on this blog for those of you curious and concerned about our discussions.

 

Review: What's Right with the Church of God?

This year Warner Press published several new books, including a couple that provide self-examination and reflection for the Church of God. Previously, I have already reviewed Jerry Hickson's Are You Sure You're Right?

 

When I first heard about its upcoming release, I knew I wanted to read What's Right with the Church of God: A Challenge to Ministry Leaders (Warner Press, 2006). The title alone intrigued me, since it appeared to provide a positive look at our movement, hopefully without resorting to idealistic, self-absorption. I was looking forward to reading the book.

 

After completing J. Thomas Pelt's work I was left confused.  In fact, I struggle to even say for sure what the book is really about. The back cover says it's about "what we should celebrate ... and what we should change", but the real thrust of the writing seems to go in other directions.

 

This is not to say that it is a bad book. Pelt is senior pastor of First Church of God in Ashland, Kentucky, and by all accounts he leads a thriving, growing congregation. Without question Pelt is passionate about the church and loves our movement. He really does want to challenge us as leaders, as congregations and even collectively to "heed the dreams God has given us and be willing to make things happen, even if it means blazing a new trail and going by a different route than we have used before." (p. 109). The book is full of his own observations on ministry and suggestions as to how we can revitalize it. There are a wide range of chapter topics, including: "Traditionalism", "Methodology Matters", "Reckless Autonomy", and even "Where Would Jesus Hold Campmeeting?". It's a potpourri collection of reflections, ideas and admonitions. There are some valid points throughout. Lacking, however, is a consistent thread or clear purpose to bring them all together.

 

The book reflects a pastor's heart (as Pelt confesses in the Preface). I've never met the author, but from his writing style he appears to be a real go-getter. A no-nonsense, "let's get it done" kind of guy. This is probably why the book seems to energetically bounce around all over the place, and the arguments are sometimes simplistic and even abrupt.

 

I guess my biggest problem with the book goes back to the title. If the book was billed as a writing of a pastor sharing his experiences and counsel to help congregations and their leaders I would have found it easier to digest. I was expecting something more.

 

From CHOG Blog to ONEvoice!

CHOG Blog readers may be interested to learn that I have been asked to provide a regular column for ONEvoice! magazine, with the first installment to appear this fall. I will be taking over the CLOSERlook column which is designed to explore "doctrinal topics related to polity and theology from a fresh perspective that should be both challenging and relevant to today's church." This is one of a number of changes that are supposed to be coming to ONEvoice! later this year.

 

While I am looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to the larger church in this manner, it is a daunting responsibility. It's one thing to write opinionized rants on my blog; but another to provide something more substantive to a broader audience. I hope that I can meet the challenge and that my writing will be helpful and constructive.

 

I submitted my first column for yesterday's submission deadline despite having very little time to come up with something since being asked. I'm not completely satisfied with my first attempt, but I'm looking forward to some of the topics I want to explore in subsequent issues.

 

I just hope that they don't require one of those full-body photos to accompany the column!

 

Kurt Johnston on us and the Church

Last week at IYC Kurt Johnston, Junior High Pastor at Saddleback, was the speaker at the Youth Ministry Institute for leaders (which I attended). On his blog he offers some brief perceptions on the Church of God and our convention. Even though he calls us a "denomination", he understands the "Big Body of Christ".

 

Transition

Yesterday I did one of those most dreaded things: I announced to my congregation that I am resigning as their pastor.

 

What made this especially difficult is that this is a good church, we love the people, and there are no problems making it necessary for us to leave. Nevertheless, it was becoming more and more apparent that they need a different type of leadership to reflect the changed nature of the congregation. God has confirmed to me that I am no longer the best person for them. Yet, in light of our good relationship and to assist them with a healthy transition period I have given them ninety days notice of my departure.

 

On November 1st I will begin a new role, that of Area Administrator for the Pacific Northwest Assocation of the Church of God. This is an exciting opportunity that has recently opened up for me, and fits well with my gifts and extensive experience in district-related ministry. I look forward to working with approximately fifty churches in northern Idaho, northeastern Oregon, and most of Washington. There are some tremendous leaders and churches in this region, and all face the challenge of living in perhaps the most secularized part of the United States.

 

I would appreciate your prayers for my family and me as we face changes brought on by all of this.

 

And, despite those who jokingly suggest I am going to "the dark side", I plan on continuing to blog. In fact, I am committed to working even harder to seeing Church of God congregations and leaders strengthened in order to be more effective for the mission to which God has called us.

 

Our witness in Anaheim

Following the North American Convention in June I posted on our "witness in Anderson" based on the blog of a local resident.

 

We also need to be aware of the impact, both positive and negative, of our youth this past week in Anaheim. As I mentioned, on Thursday over 5000 of us went out on mission projects around Orange County. I know that we made a significant contribution to the people in the areas visited, and that our witness was strong.

 

But, not all is positive. The most disappointing aspect of IYC this year was the general behavior of the youth in the hotels and convention area. I suppose that this is nothing new, and is likely to some degree whenever you put that many teenagers together in one place. But, this year seemed worse than I can remember in recent conventions. The hotel hallways were busy, loud thoroughfares and gathering places late into the night (and early into the mornings). Excessive trash was evident. And, there were some isolated incidents that involved security and even the police.

 

What really brought this home to me (apart from the noise outside my door) was when I checked out of the hotel Friday morning. Adjacent to me along the Hilton's registration counter was a couple there to complain to hotel management about their disruptive experiences the night before. I made a point to talk to them after, offering my apologies on behalf of the throngs of us staying in the hotel. They seemed to be understanding of the realities of adolescent energy, and were more upset with the hotel for placing them among us than they were at the youth or the church. Nevertheless, is the kind of impression we are wanting to make as "grace agents"?

 

I know that the IYC staff went to great lengths to drill delegates and leaders on hotel etiquette and general behavior. But, obviously it didn't sink in. In many ways, I blame adults accompanying the students for not keeping closer tabs on their groups. And, all of this confirms some of the increasing suspicions concerning the lack of difference between most Christian youth and their unchurched counterparts. Certainly many present were providing a strong, consistent witness to hotel workers and guests, but the actions of a few have the potential to negate that which is positive.

 

IYC - Day four

Why does it have to end so soon?

 

Today concluded the 2006 International Youth Convention. In fact, it wasn't even a full day. Apart from checking out of the hotel and saying our good-byes, there was only a morning service on the agenda. Chris Tomlin was back. The message, focused on "purpose", was brought by Phil Jackson, a pastor at the House Covenant Church in Chicago, a renowned hip-hop church. A large number of youth committed themselves to full-time ministry by the end of the morning.

 

Like always IYC was a tremendous event, even for an "old" guy like me. The youth from our church really enjoyed the week, and most were spiritually challenged by the whole experience. I can't say that it was the "best" of all the IYC's I've attended, but I am nevertheless impressed by the exceptional work that the Youth Ministry Team and Andy Stephenson put into making this event a significant opportunity for Church of God youth.

 

See you in San Antonio in 2008!

 

IYC - Day three

Today is "mission project" day at IYC. Recent conventions have included a mission component which gives youth a real life experience in putting their faith into practice within the world. At 7am our group was scheduled to line-up to wait for a bus that would take us to our yet to be revealed location. "Impact Orange County" placed youth at variety of locations, including parks, schools, and to assist in the launching of a new church plant. Our bus took us to Wallace R. Davis Elementary School in Santa Ana, a school serving an underprileged and needy neighborhood. We were with over 100 IYC "Grace Agents" who descended on the property to spruce it up both on the outside and the inside. For over an hour and a half we picked up trash, swept up dirt and cleaned up rooms. The staff present where overwhelmed with our invasion. Before leaving they took the time to describe the community and the unique needs of the school, and strongly expressed their gratitude for the work we performed, which otherwise would not get done. I was especially impacted by the comment that they've had many church groups come around who just want to "talk" (i.e. preach) at them, but we were actually putting our faith into action. Before leaving they allowed us to pray for the school and the staff present.After an afternoon of free time, we reconvened in the arena for the evening service. Tonight's theme was on community, and featured speaker David Edwards. Chris Tomlin made a return appearance to IYC for the first time in four years, and led with his intensive worship style. The evening was capped off with the traditional "silent walk" (this goes back at least 30 years since my first experience with it) that led to a big "parking lot" behind the convention center and across the street from Disney and their evening fireworks display. Each group had the opportunity to build their community experience by celebrating communion.

IYC - Day two

Wednesday was "conference" day at IYC, with a full slate of options for high school students, college age individuals, and YMI (Youth Ministry Institute) for youth workers.

At dinner I enjoyed a special meal for Senior Pastors hosted by Ronald Duncan and our colleges. A relatively small event, but a valuable time for networking. And, a decent meal compared to the regular convention fare.

The evening service focused on the healing aspect of grace. Music was led by a fresh, original worship artist, Jami Smith. The message was a powerful story delivered by Debbie Morris, a victim of a vicious attack by the culprit featured in the movie, Dead Man Walking.

Got to get to bed. Our service project begins at 7am!

IYC - Day one

Apart from the unusually hot, humid weather it's great to be in Anaheim. And, I don't mean all the Disney kitsch (although I do confess to visiting the tourist mecca Monday). It's time for IYC! Maybe it's because it only takes place every two years, or because of all the youthful enthusiasm around here, but there's great anticipation leading up to the International Youth Convention. For example, the video countdown at the keynote service contributes to the excitement. And then when it finally starts everything is dramatic, even youth ministry team leader Andy Stephenson entered the Anaheim Convention Center arena in a Hummer! David Crowder, a return favorite from IYC 2004, provided his energetic brand of music. The highlight for me was to hear Erwin McManus, pastor of Mosaic church in Los Angeles. He did a masterful job of addressing youth, telling them that "grace equals crazy love".This year's IYC is a little smaller than normal, with only around 5000 registrants (this is not the Midwest!). The arena setting for the services is a nice change, providing a more intimate environment than at recent IYC's.Now that I'm back in my room, unwinding from the late night David Crowder concert, I can get ready for a good night's sleep and full day tomorrow.One last note. I had the privilege to meet fellow blogger Randy Bennett at Starbucks. Meeting people and connecting with friends is another great reason to come to these events!

Off to IYC

Within a few days thousands of youth and their leaders will be converging on Anaheim for the 2006 International Youth Convention of the Church of God. I have the privilege of accompanying youth from my congregation.

 

Despite my delusions I am no longer classified as a "youth", but I love IYC and attend at every opportunity (in fact, this will be my 10th IYC!). IYC, in my opinion, is the finest event the Church of God puts on at this scale and level.

 

When I can find a spare moment after hanging out with our youth, I will attempt to post my observations on this blog. Watch for them, hopefully beginning Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

 

(NOTE: If any CHOG Blog readers will be in Anaheim next week contact me by leaving a message at the Hilton Anaheim where I will be staying. I'd love to meet you!)

 

Supporting Pastors

A couple of months ago I posted on "The Stresses of Ministry", indicating that I have come in contact with a number of pastors who are not only feeling stressed, but in some cases even ready to leave their church or ministry altogether. I'm sure there have been always been extra challenges facing those in vocational ministry, but it still is a valid concern for us to address in the Church of God.

 

There are no simplistic solutions, but let me share some of the key ideas that I have been thinking about in recent months:

 

1. Relational Support. It is far too easy for our pastors to be isolated, not only geographically, but also relationally. Sure, sometimes it's his/her fault for not taking advantage of meaningful connections that are available. The recent experimentation with SHAPE in some regions has been positive, and could provide an on-going mechanism for all ministers once expanded across North America. Of course, programs like this will only work if people participate. Would it be too radical for our polity to require all credentialed ministers to demonstrate that they are involved in some sort of formal support system?

 

2. Increased Education and Training. This topic can be controversial in our circles, especially if one were to suggest a minimum level of education required for ordination. Certainly the new Credentials Manual takes this position, but at the same time provides many alternative tracks, thereby lessening the recommendation of a seminary education. True, a seminary education does not guarantee the development of a good pastor, but apart from one it is difficult for someone to obtain the substantive theological education and professional training that is needed in many of the complex contexts in which we expect pastors to minister. Having said all of this, I also recognize that requiring more education is in itself an incomplete solution. As a church (both local and national) we must step up to the plate and provide greater funding to make it possible for those called to ministry to get the best preparation possible without imposing an unbearable financial burden on them. (NOTE: I still have more to say on education in the Church of God, but that will have to wait for another post).

 

3. Appropriate Compensation. I'm sure every pastor believes that he or she is not paid what they are really worth, and most congregations feel that they are unable to pay any more because of the limited financial resources available. Obviously there are bigger issues at stake here, including stewardship, and our preponderance of congregations heavily invested in building assets often at the detriment of long-term cash flow sustainability. Nevertheless, we must raise the bar on compensation for our pastors. The Board of Pensions has provided a great service to the church by developing some very helpful guidelines that should be taken more seriously. For those congregations that cannot meet these standards, there should be a greater openness to exploring different models of pastoral service (e.g. bi-vocational and multi-charge pastorates) or leveraging their abundant capital assets.

 

4. Accountability.  We cringe at this word in the Church of God. I am the last person who would ever call for a top-down structure that imposes itself on our congregations and leaders, but we all must be willing to accept the biblical models of accountability and interdependence if we are to remain healthy. These must be based more on covenants than pronouncements. Ministers must be willing to be personally accountable, and this is best accomplished through strong relationships (see #1 above). Congregations must also be willing to be taken to task for their organizational and relational dysfunctionalities, because often it is the Pastor who bears the brunt of them.

 

I'm sure there is more that can be said regarding the building and maintaining of healthy, effective pastors. I'd love to read some of your comments on the matter.

 

One year of CHOG Blog

Since I didn't want to interrupt the interview series with Jerry Hickson my first year anniversary celebration of CHOG Blog has been slightly delayed. Just over 12 months ago I began this blogging journey. And, compared to the many thousands of blogs that have been launched since but have died due to lack of activity, I'm still around.

 

Now, one year and over 100 posts later, I reflect on the whole experience.

 

Obviously blogging is still at its infancy. The technology has opened up some incredible new opportunities for the interchange of ideas, but there are some limitations. And, only a small proportion of the online population is really participating in it. Nevertheless, it has been impressive to see the rapid growth of Church of God blogs and bloggers. Last year there were just a handful on my blogroll. Today I list over 60 blogs, podcasts and feeds. I'm sure by next year there will be many more.

 

The reason I devote myself to this endeavor is that I sincerely believe that we need more dialogue within the Church of God. Unfortunately we have not always honored healthy discussion. Now it is possible for passionate individuals to express their thoughts, perceptions and feelings, and to be connected with others doing the same. I am convinced that these networks of conversation ultimately strengthen us, both individually and corporately.

 

Thank you for reading my posts, and for taking the time to leave comments occasionally, even if you haven't always agreed with me.

 

I believe that God will continue to bless us as we further engage with one another over the meaning and living of our faith, and as we encourage each other to fully participate in God's mission.

 

Jerry Hickson interview - part 6

Below is the final installment of an exclusive CHOG Blog interview with Dr. Jerry Hickson, author of Are You Sure You're Right? (Click HERE for more information on the book, including my review and critiques).

 

Q. I appreciate you expending the time and effort to write this much needed book. You've indicated that another book is under development that will include a discussion on our relationship with postmodernism. Can you share any tidbits to whet our appetities?

 

I'll answer that question and offer you a bonus!  I originally wrote nine chapters for this book.  The total went over the amount of pages budgeted.  So the editor asked that the original last chapter be held back for publishing later.  This chapter was on postmoderinism.  I am arguing that the Church of God is far better positioned than the evangelical movement to engage postmodernism in conversation.  This is because evangelicalism is wholly committed to the modern, or Enlightenment paradigm with its passion for propositional truth.  The Church of God, on the other hand, has always valued experience over doctrine.  Since postmoderns value experience, we have at least one point of common ground from which we can discuss the other issues. We may release this chapter as the seed of another book (in which case, I will need some help from others who really understand postmodernism.  Lloyd, do you know anyone like that?); or we may release it in an alternative format, perhaps something electronic.

 

Beyond that, let me mention that I am pondering a sequel.  In this book, I addressed the threat to the Church of God from the right wing.  I am developing the framework for a book that addresses the threat from the liberals.  I think I will call it "Have We Any Faith Left?"

 

Jerry Hickson interveiw - part 5

Below is part five of an exclusive CHOG Blog interview with Dr. Jerry Hickson, author of Are You Sure You're Right? (Click HERE for more information on the book, including my review and critiques).

 

Q. You devoted one chapter of your book to the matter of higher education. As a professor at a Church of God college, what role do you see our colleges and seminary having in helping us grapple with our movement's place within the larger spheres of both Christianity and society as a whole?

 

I can say that I do think I have such a place and I think I speak for my colleagues as well. I am not sure how many outside the academe see such a place.

 

Being in the "ivory tower" can isolate a professor and can cause him or her to lose touch with the realities of ministry.  But that can be overcome by maintaining involvement with a local congregation and continuing to participate in ministry at every opportunity.  Those who are on the field can "lose sight of the forest for the trees." 

 

I would hope that a person like myself can devote more attention to the changes in ministry methodology, culture, and academic discovery. Of course, we invest these into our full time students as they pursue their degrees.  We are eager to be of service to more mature servants as well, through continuing education, conferences, or writing.  I really believe I am here to serve the church.

 

I also see this as a mutual relationship.  I regularly invite working ministers into my class to teach my students about ministry. I have a hard time accepting the either/or equation that pits formal education against practical mentoring.  We really do need each other.

 

Jerry Hickson interview - part 4

Below is part four of an exclusive CHOG Blog interview with Dr. Jerry Hickson, author of Are You Sure You're Right? (Click HERE for more information on the book, including my review and critiques).

 

Q. But, do you think our people really care whether or not we have a distinct identity or are in  lock-step alignment with Evangelicals? Obviously your book can get people thinking about this, but how else can we change this apathy?

 

Maybe they don't care.  I don't know how to change apathy.  I probably don't care about it, either!

 

Some react negatively thinking that I am assuming some posture of superiority or trying to tell other people what they have to believe.  I just think there is something precious in our heritage that I would hate to see lost.  There have been things in our heritage that needed to be lost, too!  But the message of the Church of God is a unique combination of holiness and unity that should be properly expressed for the benefit of all. 

 

An underlying issue is the need to maintain paradox.  Modernist evangelicals tend to simplify everything to one side of the equation.  The message of the ChOG serves to maintain the equilibrium.  I had written a chapter about engaging postmodernism, but that will come out later in another work.  Instead of falling in together in a right-wing groupthink, I would hope we could find the balance of truth that is biblical.

 

Jerry Hickson interview - part 3

Below is part three of an exclusive CHOG Blog interview with Dr. Jerry Hickson, author of Are You Sure You're Right? (Click HERE for more information on the book, including my review and critiques).

 

Q. You say that the Church of God is losing its identity. Do you think that our fragile self-identity is the reason we have latched on to the much more visible Evangelicals, or has our close affinity with Evangelicalism simply eroded our own movement awareness and distinctives?

 

Or does our passion for inclusion overwhelm our doctrinal commitments?  I don't really know. The truth probably contains some of each.

 

For decades, we have evolved through a process of disowning things we used to believe.  Since 1930, our confidence about church-historical interpretation has eroded.  We no longer hold as tightly to the old way of thinking about divine healing.  We have modified our definitions of holiness.  It is not hard to understand that some of us wonder what we believe any more.  Our self-identity is further battered by the revelations of failures and misconduct among some of our leaders.  Then there is our size itself: we have never been of great number and many of us worship in small congregations. 

 

At the same time, evangelicalism has experienced rapid growth in numbers and social power.  Movements like Promise Keepers preach the Church of God message with more impact than we ever dreamed. So much of what evangelicals are doing is good.  So why not hitch our wagon with success?  Never mind Jerry's nit-picking about fine points of doctrine! 

 

The third option has merit, IMHO.  The pillars of the Church of God have always been holiness and unity.  "We reach out hands in fellowship to every bloodwashed one."  Discussion of doctrinal distinctives (like holiness?) make some uneasy for fear we will make some uncomfortable. But our forefathers never hestitated to preach the truth as they understood it even while practicing unity.

 

I would also restate the semantic issue.  I say that the Church of God is not evangelical.  But that statement can only be defended using a restricted definition.  With at least two broader definitions, the Church of God is most certainly among the evangelicals.  We wrestled with this issue, wondering if we should use another word in place of "evangelical."  I came to the conclusion that no other word would speak to the issues I am addressing.  "Fundamentalists" was so lacking we nearly eliminated it from the discussion.  The best way out as I could tell was to use "evangelical" while repeatedly underlining the specific connotation intended. Last Sunday, I was leading a discussion of whether "evangelical" is a positive or negative word.  Many church people have no idea what loathsome connotations are attached to that word by a lot of people within and without the Church. 

 

The bottom line is that people of the Church of God are increasingly looking everywhere but to  the Church of God to define their faith.  This is evidenced in our preference for any curicula but Warner Press, in our lack of support for CBH, in our support of any missionaries but our own, in our enrollment in any college but our own, in our attending spiritual renewal conferences from all quarters while attendance at national and state campmeetings and conventions dwindles, shall I go on?  I am exaggerating, but not much. 

 

Jerry Hickson interview - part 2

Below is part two of an exclusive CHOG Blog interview with Dr. Jerry Hickson, author of Are You Sure You're Right? (Click HERE for more information on the book, including my review and critiques).

 

Q. So, what prompted you to write this book?

 

The wisecrack answer is "Go read the Introduction."  (pause for laugh track)  Each chapter is the result of a thought process I have reflected on for years.  I kept notes in the back of my Bible on topics on which I would like to write if given the opportunity.  A charge from my department chair helped to bring them together into a single project.  I believe the Church of God is losing its identity.  Our passion for unity is causing many of us to set aside other things we have believed to become like evangelical Christians.  While we have much in common with evangelicals, the holiness movement from which we come has its own distinctives.  I was encouraged by a positive response from Warner Press that this book should be part of our centennial celebration as we mark 100 years of Church of God ministry based in Anderson, Ind.  It is also the 125th anniversary of the founding of the movement.  Since my book calls the Church of God back to her own heritage, the timing was perfect.  I was working on another book that in the long run will be more important to me.  But the old adage says, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."  So I set aside the other book to write the one for which I have a publisher. Other issues that make the book timely are the war in Iraq, the Terri Schiavo case (just a year earlier), the popularity of the Left Behind series, my role at Warner Pacific College, and the increase of women preparing for ministry.  I thought I was making a bold move and anticipated a hostile response from those committed to the ultra-right.  To my relief, the response so far indicates that I am speaking for many, if not most in the Church of God. I still don't expect that anyone will agree with me at every point.  That is the beauty of the Church of God.  We try not to major on minors.

 

Jerry Hickson interview - part 1

Below is part one of an exclusive CHOG Blog interview with Dr. Jerry Hickson, author of Are You Sure You're Right? (Click HERE for more information on the book, including my review and critiques).

 

Q. Your book has been available for a couple of months now, and I'm sure you've received considerable feedback from across the church. What has been the response, and what have you learned from the entire experience so far?

 

I have been gratified by the response so far.  Almost all response has been positive.  The most negative response I have heard was a response to your blog, and I question whether he understands the Church of God.  He seems to have read a different version of Strege's book!

 

I expected to catch quite a bit of flak, especially from the right wing.  The inerrancy issue is a hot button, as are the issues discussed in chapter six and seven.  I had some retort over chapter two in a Sunday School class last weekend, but anyone who knows the Church of God recognizes that Calvinism is foreign to the Church of God. Likewise, the issue of women in ministry should only be objectionable to persons with non-Church of God backgrounds.  I am pleased with the affirmations I am receiving.  I welcome dialogue with anyone who thinks I missed the mark.  I hope they will be kind.

 

I learned a lot about the publishing process. One chapter on postmodernism did not make the final cut and may be released later in another format.

 

Are You Sure You're Right? - links

Over the past number of weeks I have provided a chapter-by-chapter review and critique of Jerry Hickson's new book, Are You Sure You're Right?: Evangelicals and the Church of God (Warner Press, 2006). I have done so because I believe it provides the starting point for some important discussion that needs to take place within our movement.

 

In the next few days watch for an exclusive interview that I will be conducting with Jerry. And, soon I hope to have a review for two other recently published Warner Press books: What's Right with the Church of God? by J. Thomas Pelt, and Preaching the Story by Jeffrey Frymire.

 

In the meantime, for the sake of convenience, I am providing a link summary of my posts concerning Hickson's book:

 

Review

Chapter 1 (Inerrancy)

Chapter 2 (Determinism)

Chapter 3 (Eschatology)

Chapter 4 (Women)

Chapter 5 (Education)

Chapter 6 (Americanism)

Chapter 7 (Life)

Chapter 8 (Unity)

 

Are You Sure You're Right? - Unity

This post is part of a series based on chapters from the new Church of God book by Jerry Hickson, Are You Sure You're Right? (For more information see my review).

 

The last chapter in Dr. Hickson's book is, in my opinion, one of the best, and is a fitting conclusion to his entire discussion. Here, in "Can We All Get Along?", he addresses the roots and implications of our teachings on unity.

 

Certainly the emphasis of unity is not unique to the Church of God, and there have been many others that have practiced it better than us. Hickson encourages us to recover this core doctrine in a manner that differs from what is typical elsewhere in Christianity, especially among Fundamentalists and Evangelicals. A major difference is that because of our holiness orientation we view unity as much more than uniform assent to certain beliefs. He states, "Whereas some Christian traditions define Christian identity in terms of commonly held doctrines, the Church of God has always defined Christian identity in more experiential terms". (p. 98)

 

Hickson points out that at one time we were open to dialoguing with groups that differed from us in many ways, such as liberals. Yet, as Evangelicalism gained in prominence we identified more with their values and perspectives, resulting in an increased "polarization of theological convictions" (p. 106). And, of course, we find it difficult to practice unity even within our own movement, as is evident in the alienating divisions among us in race, geography, and ministry style.

 

As I see it, Christian unity is one of the true tests of our doctrinal integrity, not just in belief or rhetoric but in practice. We still have a way to go.

 

Passion

"I believe compassion for the needy is a precursor to passion for the spiritually lost. ... We will never gain passion for the lost until we personalize the lost."

 

- Ronald Duncan at the North American Convention of the Church of God, June 28, 2006

Our witness in Anderson

Here's what one resident of Anderson thinks of our North American Convention:

... the Church of God is in town. Anderson (for some odd reason) happens to be the world headquarters for the Church of God and every summer in June they have this huge, week long convention where members from all over the world come to Anderson and crowd our resturaunts and drive horribly down our streets. The only people who tolerate them being in town are store owners because business goes up. Sorry, I just needed to rant.

 

Growth

"What you and I have to worry about with the challenges, with the fragileness, with the things that we're facing in the Church of God Reformation Movement - all we need to worry about is: Are we growing as He designed?"

 

- Jeannette Flynn at the North American Convention of the Church of God, June 26, 2006

General Assembly day one

Through the power of webstreaming I was able to watch the first day of proceedings of the General Assembly in Anderson. (Archived video is available HERE).

 

For the most part it was standard General Assembly fare, like the annoyance of reading written reports that were distributed in advance. Some highlights included Ronald Duncan's direct report, and the discussion and resolution surrounding the future of Warner Auditorium.

 

There was also some minimal discussion concerning the location of the North American Convention. For more on this issue check out CHOGology where I elaborate on my position, followed by David Owens'.

 

Sanctification

"[Sanctification is] to have the heart and the will so skewed by God's grace that we always choose God's will. And when we do the full surrender to the Holy Spirit he allows the will to be strong enough to choose his will all the time. ... It has to do with how we live, and think, and plan, and behave. That is holiness."

 

- James Earl Massey at the North American Convention of the Church of God, June 25, 2006

Reformation

"A reformation is in a terrible, perilous time when the reformers can no longer be reformed." 

 

- Arlo Newell at the North American Convention of the Church of God, June 24, 2006

NAC video

Here's an update on yesterday's post concerning video of the North American Convention:

 

1. Streaming video was NOT available for last night's (Friday) service, much to my frustration. No explanation was provided, although it appears to me that because it was a multimedia presentation sponsored by Anderson University (and there was no preachin') it is not part of their video streaming and archiving. More clarity would have been appreciated.

 

2. A link is prominently placed on the main www.chog.org page for the live streaming of the remaining evening services.

 

3. And good news! Yesterday I suggested that the General Assembly should be webcasted as well. I received an e-mail today that it will be beginning Tuesday morning at 8:00am (EDT) at http://churchofgod.chog.org . This is a tremendous step for the Church of God and should bring greater awareness of the workings of the GA to the larger constituency. One problem, however. Living on the west coast I'll have to get up at 5am!