Last week I was in Houston, Texas at the annual gathering of Regional Pastors and Overseers.
Confused yet?
"Regional Pastors and Overseers" is the new phrase our association came up with to better describe our current roles within the North American Church of God. This will replace the meaningless "Area Administrator" moniker that we have used for several decades and provides a more accurate reflection of the type of work we do within our respective regions. Certainly, individual RPO's will still use their official titles as designated by their state or district, but this new designation is a intended to be a general description that can used to describe us as a group.
The real issue here, however, is not the titles we use. The bigger shift that is occurring across our movement concerns the role that regional organizations have alongside individual congregations and Church of God Ministries. This was an important part of our discussions last week, and will continue both among districts, RPO's and across the North American church as a whole.
The reality is that our structures our still evolving. For a movement that largely treats organization with suspicion, if not contempt, we are still trying to figure what the optimal structure looks like. We're not there yet, but I am at least encouraged that we are willing to explore this issue with an openness to continually make changes as necessary to serve better the common ministry that we share.
Confused yet?
"Regional Pastors and Overseers" is the new phrase our association came up with to better describe our current roles within the North American Church of God. This will replace the meaningless "Area Administrator" moniker that we have used for several decades and provides a more accurate reflection of the type of work we do within our respective regions. Certainly, individual RPO's will still use their official titles as designated by their state or district, but this new designation is a intended to be a general description that can used to describe us as a group.
The real issue here, however, is not the titles we use. The bigger shift that is occurring across our movement concerns the role that regional organizations have alongside individual congregations and Church of God Ministries. This was an important part of our discussions last week, and will continue both among districts, RPO's and across the North American church as a whole.
The reality is that our structures our still evolving. For a movement that largely treats organization with suspicion, if not contempt, we are still trying to figure what the optimal structure looks like. We're not there yet, but I am at least encouraged that we are willing to explore this issue with an openness to continually make changes as necessary to serve better the common ministry that we share.
4 comments:
A State Minister is NOT a Regional Minister, unless it is otherwise than a state. The term is confusing and suggestive of another bureaucratic layer that we DO NOT need. As for "Overseer", we have that in Michigan and I totally reject the concept. Such terms set too much precedent for something expected but is not yet realized ... like those who insist on using the term Bishop.
This is a conversation among leaders in which the laity and congregations obviously have no part and no say todate.This term, as well as the concept, must be reconsidered unless we want some wholesale rejection of the system. An overseer by definition is a person who watches over and directs the work of others. THAT IS CONTRARY TO THE HISTORIC CONCEPT OF OUR GRASS ROOTS POLITY AND CONGREGATIONAL CONTROL. It is my firm belief the State Ministers have tried to incorporate an additional level of control here that is contrary to our common understanding. It sounds harmless enough in that we remain a voluntary Association, but it injects a verbal concept which will result in eventual control, which will be stringently resisted. I strongly recommend revisiting this issue and changing the nomenclature.
I agree Wayne. The concept of leadership at the district, state, or national level in the Church of God has always been that of servant leaders. They do not oversee the ministry as much as they serve the local churches and help them to succeed in ministry. I don't think the people who chose that title were trying to change the nature of their work from servants to rulers, but, over generations that can easily happen because function tends to follow title.
I am 26 years old. As I see and hear things going on it leads me to believe that we will no longer be able to recognize the Church of God movement when I get to be 50 or 60 years old. Prime example?? State ministers vote themselves a name change. Overseers??? You may say the name is harmless and just better reflects the job. But if the term "overseers" better reflects the position then we better start to discuss whether the state minister position is functioning the way it was intended.
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