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!

 

North American Convention

Today begins the 120th North American Convention of the Church of God in Anderson. Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend this year. This is especially disappointing since last year's experience was exceptional and rejuvenated my interest in returning again. I am already planning for next year.

 

While I cannot be there in person I am glad to see that live and archived web streaming of the evening services will be available at the NAC 2006 website. This at least allows the rest of us to look in at what is happening, but of course does not substitute for being there in person and taking advantage of other activities and connecting with friends. UPDATE 06/25/06 - Now they have added the morning services as well.

 

I wish that they would also provide web streaming for the General Assembly sessions that begin on Tuesday. Of particular interest this year, the GA will be addressing the future location(s) of the North American Convention. Hopefully, there will be collective wisdom that sees the event move around the country so that more people can experience it. (See my previous comments on this topic HERE).CORRECTION 06/24/06 - In actuality the GA will be only dealing with the future of Warner Auditorium (see report HERE). The recommendation is to sell it along with all the campmeeting property to Anderson University. Warner Auditorium would be demolished, and the Ministries Council would have over $3.4 million available that would free them up for ministry instead of property management. The NAC location will not be directly dealt with this year, although it should, in my opinion. Unfortunately, the report is tending to bias for remaining in Anderson.

 

If anyone reading this is at the NAC, please leave some comments here telling us your impressions of this year's event.

 

Introducing CHOGology

I am pleased to announce that I will be participating in a new blog, CHOGology, which will be driven by two contributors, David Owens and myself. In some ways this new blog will be similar to CHOG Blog because of its emphasis on Church of God issues, but has a unique spin in that it will be more in the form of a dialogue between two writers. Of course, I will maintain this blog as my own personal rant space.

 

I invite you to check out CHOGology and to subscribe to its feed. David and I have already posted some introductory remarks, and soon will begin to engage in some specific topics.

 

Are You Sure You're Right? - Life

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).

 

Moving from the previous chapter on the link between Evangelicalism and American civil religion, Hickson goes on to address a topic that naturally flows from this relationship. Chapter 7 is entitled "Has the Right to Life Gone Overboard?" and specifically reacts to the moral debate surrounding the controversial death of Terry Schiavo in 2005. During this time many Evangelicals were equating this issue with their strong pro-life views.

 

This chapter is more than an abstract argument. Hickson shares his own painful story surrounding the death of his fourteen year-old daughter, and then enters into a discussion on our views of both life and death. From this he also suggests that the Church of God has a somewhat different perspective than Evangelicals, mainly because of our emphasis on divine healing and rejection of bodily materialism.

 

The points Dr. Hickson makes are sound, but at the end of the chapter I am left unsatisfied. In many ways the discussion seems incomplete and not fully developed. I wish he would have devoted more attention to the limited vision of the pro-life movement, especially as it is promoted by Evangelicals. Unfortunately, Evangelicals tend to be inconsistent in their application of valuing life and as such are often not pro-life enough. Abortion seems to get all the attention (and it is a major problem in our society) but unfortunately, apart from highly charged Terry Schiavo case, Evangelicals are typically silent on a broader range of life issues in our world. Tragically, so is the Church of God, even though our heritage would suggest otherwise.

 

Are You Sure You're Right? - Americanism

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).

 

"What's the Difference between Christian Faith and American Religion?" provides a provocative title for chapter 6 of Hickson's book. Here he reveals one of the more sinister aspects of Evangelicalism: the alignment of the Christian church with American nationalism and politics. This has especially become a problem in recent years with the Christian Right's fervent support of the Republican party and its policies.

 

Dr. Hickson points out that the adherence to an American civil religion "runs contrary to the Church of God heritage" (p. 73). He then goes on to explore the influence of the Anabaptist movement on the Church of God, including our early stands on pacifism. Over the years, however, we have become much more diverse in our views on war, and in my thinking, also influenced more by the political aspirations within Evangelicalism.

 

Overall, the relationship with our worldly government is not a clearly demarcated position within our movement. Certainly the roots of many of our early pioneers coupled with our holiness orientation have affected our practice. But, I contend that we are somewhat susceptible at this point. It's easy for us to get dragged into the political wars that our conservative Christian brothers and sisters are waging.

 

Hickson provides some good counsel:

"The Church of God must avoid becoming a political hack for either the Right or the Left. We are called to stand for righteousness and to speak prophetically without becoming entangled with political organizations and agendas" (p. 81)

 

"Holiness requires us to come out from all unrighteousness. Where our government rules in righteousness, we do well to commend its policies. Where our government or a political party is in conflict with God's will, we are constrained to obey the King". (p. 82)

 

What Church of God leaders are reading

Last week I received a packet of books and materials pertaining to the upcoming Strategic Planning Conference of the Church of God in Nashville, July 23-25. I am a registered delegate representing the Central California Association.

 

Delegates are being asked to prepare themselves by reading two books so that we address "the strategic questions facing the Church of God resulting in how the church carries out its strategic goals". Special study guides have also been prepared.

 

For those of you not attending the conference, here are the two books that we are reading. You may want to get ahold of these yourselves so that this dialogue can extend beyond the conference.

 

The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience: Why Are Christians Living Just Like the Rest of the World, by Ronald J. Sider. Excellent book, from what I've already read. Sider soundly attacks the hypocrisy of American Christianity, and emphasizes sanctification and its practical implications. Strong message that should easily resonate with Church of God readers (although why aren't we writing books like this?).

 

Well Connected: Releasing Power, Restoring Hope Through Kingdom Partnerships, by Phill Butler.

 

 

Are You Sure You're Right? - Education

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).

 

I found chapter 5, "Is a Call All That it Takes to Be a Pastor", the most frustrating section of Dr. Hickson' book. While his discussion is valid it is out of place in the book since it has nothing really to do with the relationship between Evangelicals and the Church of God. Instead it reflects one of the author's deepest concerns (as he is a college professor), and I suppose he figured that he should take advantage of his book being published and therefore include this chapter.

 

The point Hickson, is trying to make is that we struggle with the requirements necessary for someone entering into career ministry.

Within the heritage of the Church of God we find a paradox concerning ministerial education. Since the very beginning, leaders in the Church of God have often held ministerial education in low regard. Others established Bible college and liberal-arts colleges with a vision for formal ministerial education. (p. 58)

Apart from the inappropriateness of this chapter within the context of the entire book, Hickson has correctly identified an unresolved tension within our movement. We uphold the ideal of Spirit-directed leadership, and we resist the rigid human structures common to many denominations. But, as a result of our reactionary stances, we hinder ourselves from developing the well-equipped leaders that we desperately require.

 

I, myself, have some very strong opinions about and recommendations for ministry training and preparation, and hope to expand on them someday in a separate blog post. But, for now, I will state that I am somewhat dismayed over the low standards that we have set for those entering career ministry. Unfortunately, we have many pastors that have an inadequate education, minimal leadership skills, and/or a high degree of personal and relational immaturity. Seminary degrees or tougher credentialling standards will not magically make everything better, but these are all components that can contribute to enhancing the process. Ultimately, it may require some new paradigms on how we develop pastors.

 

Are You Sure You're Right? - Women

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).

In his book Jerry Hickson highlights numerous examples of how the culture of Evangelicalism has crept into the Church of God. To demonstrate this point he has focused on particular beliefs with which we have conflict, but now in chapter 4 he illustrates an area where our beliefs have not changed as much as our practice. "Might the Best Man for Your Church Be a Woman?" is all about the issue of women in pastoral ministry.

Dr. Hickson points out that, especially in our first fifty years, the Church of God openly accepted women in ministry. This has clearly distinguished ourselves from much of Evangelicalism, and is another example where we actually are more closely aligned with more "liberal" churches. But, "Since 1940, the Church of God has failed to live up to this heritage as the number of women called to serve as pastors has fallen dramatically" (p. 46) mainly because "Church of God people have been influenced by certain evangelical thinking to betray our heritage in this regard" (p. 47). Hickson goes on to provide a Scriptural outline affirming women in ministry.

It is my observation that this shift is not really the product of a clear change in doctrinal position. I think that most people within our movement still believe that women are eligible for ordained ministry, but in practice are very reluctant to call a woman to be their senior pastor. As Hickson points out, this incongruity is often "because long-standing church tradition so strongly argues for male dominance" (p. 52). This provides a perfect illustration of how holding a correct doctrinal position does not necessarily translate into the right actions and practice.

On the one hand, I am very proud of our position regarding women in ministry. But, on the other hand, I am frustrated that we have succumb to the social and religious (i.e. Evangelical) pressure around us, and have made it extremely difficult for women to exercise fully their spiritual gifts and calling within the church.

This must change.

Slow Change?

I received the May-June 2006 issue of Communion this week. Heading the newsletter for the last several months is Jeannette Flynn's series on cultural change and how it affects us as a church. (You can read my previous postings on this series here: Change of Culture, Our Culture (version 1.0), and Transformational Change?)

 

In this latest installment Flynn provides an overview of how cultural change occurs, pointing out the differences between cultural drift, developmental change, transitional change and transformational change. The latter is the most radical, requiring a shift in assumptions and actions.

 

True enough. I am learning through my own personal experience and observation that slow, gradual change is rarely effective. Jesus' own life and teaching reveals, however, that God is in the business of dramatic, radical change. Often our churches have settled into a comfort zone that closes out this possibility.

 

Flynn is a brilliant person and contributes much to the Church of God. But, the SLOW nature of this discussion is not helping us address and deal with change. In fact, the plodding nature of this discussion actually sends the message that change must be cautious and far from urgent. One article every two months doesn't cut it. Sure she's set up a blog, but apart from an introductory post from December there has been silence from Jeannette.

 

If we are serious about change we need to move beyond a casual conversation and toward engaged dialogue and action. This is necessary for true transformational change.

 

Are You Sure You're Right? - Eschatology

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).

 

Eschatology is another area where the Church of God differs significantly from mainstream American Evangelicalism. After having just refuted Calvinistic determinism, Jerry Hickson now tackles this doctrine in chapter 3, "Do You Have to Be Right or Get Left Behind?".

 

End times teachings can easily lead to much confusion, so it is no wonder that a large proportion of people within the Church of God are unclear as to what they believe. It should also not be a surprise that many have latched on to the immensely popular and hyped speculations in Left Behind and other premillenial-dispensational teachings. Hickson is right (no pun intended) to raise this matter in his book.

 

The Church of God has always held an amillenial view of eschatology. For the average reader, Dr. Hickson takes the time to explain the various perspectives and even provides an historical overview of the development of apocalyptic interpretation and eschatology within our movement. Initially we held a church-historical approach, whereas now "Church of God thinking has progressively moved to the preterist and/or idealist interpretation" (p. 39). Highlighting the Church of God emphasis on the present day Kingdom of God is also a helpful part of the chapter.

 

What I find intriguing is that an amillenial interpretation of Scripture is typically a more "liberal" position, compared to the much more literal orientation of Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism. Church of God folk who would abhor the thought of being labeled left-of-center, often ignore the significance of how our views on such matters as eschatology and women in ministry go against the grain of typical conservatism. This is further evidence that our hermeneutic is not as closely aligned with Evangelicals as we would like to believe. Even though Hickson brings attention to the role of hermeneutics (p. 40), I wish he would have developed this further as it would reveal some of our foundational distinctives that further differentiate us from mainstream conservative Christianity.

 

Overall, Hickson's explanations and analyses in this chapter are quite straightforward and on target.

 

Are You Sure You're Right? - Determinism

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).

 

Moving from the previous chapter on inerrancy, Jerry Hickson heads into safer territory in chapter 2: "Does the Sovereignty of God Preclude Our Free Will?". Because of our Wesleyan-Arminian roots the battle against Calvinism has been a long standing tradition within the Church of God. We have consistently rejected Calvinistic doctrines of predestination and eternal security, and this has set us apart from a large number of Evangelicals.

 

Hickson is right in simplifying this debate down to the issue of determinism (p. 15), and in reminding us that the "Church of God stands among those who find the answer to theodicy in the reality of human free will" (p. 17). The bulk of this chapter is devoted to explain the differences between the Calvinstic and Arminiam perspectives, and includes a survey of the main biblical teachings including some of the more troublesome ones.

 

There is significant value in what Dr. Hickson is doing here. I am convinced that the vast majority of Church of God constituents do not understand these theological underpinings or their implications. This chapter should enable them to deal with these issues with greater clarity, although there are points where the argument gets a little tedious.

 

In truth, however, Calvinism rarely exists in its full-blown form. While logical, most people have trouble reconciling it with the realities and practice of life. As a result, many Evangelicals are "soft" Calvinists, further blurring the lines of distinction with Arminians. And, it doesn't help that few within the Church of God have articulated a comprehensive free-will theology, often leaving the average person in the pew to pick and choose elements from both schools to fit their own presuppositions and reality.

 

A deterministic worldview can have serious implications for how we understand and live our faith. Unfortunately, though, it tends to creep into our theology and affect the way we treat such basic matters as prayer, understanding pain and suffering, and seeking God's will. I believe we should be addresssing this more in our congregations.

 

Are You Sure You're Right? - Inerrancy

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).

 

If Jerry Hickson was wanting to get our attention through his book, he certainly does so in the very first chapter: "Does the Bible Have a Greater Threat than the Thumper?". In keeping with the overall purpose of the book,  revealing the differences between the Church of God and American Evangelicalism, Hickson makes the point that Biblical "Inerrancy is a modern concept foreign to the Bible" (p. 11) and "is a concept that is foreign to Church of God heritage" (p. 12).

 

That ought to go over well.

 

Conservative Christians uphold a high view of Scripture, especially in light of the perceived threat of liberalism. The 70's publication of The Battle for the Bible cemented the concept of inerrancy among evangelicals, and was easily adopted by many within the Church of God as well. On the surface, inerrancy seems to make sense if we accept the inspiration and authority of Scripture. On closer examination, however, there are many problems with this position because of the faulty philosophical and theological foundations on which it is based.

 

In my view, inerrancy is really part of the bigger issues of epistemology and hermeneutics. Dr. Hickson seems to understand this, pointing out correctly that the doctrine of inerrancy is really a product of modern rationalism (pp. 4f). Fundamentalism, and Evangelicalism which developed out of it, have deep roots in the modern worldview, especially as result of their work in defending themselves against liberalism. Since Are You Sure You're Right? is written to a general audience it is difficult to develop this technical discussion without losing most readers. Hickson makes an attempt, but chooses to focus mainly on the symptomatic matter of inerrancy. I'm just not sure everyone will hear him. As I stated in my review, I wish he would have provided more background to the development of the Church of God within broader Christianity prior to entering into this thorny issue.

 

The problem most people will have is that they perceive the questioning of inerrancy as an attack on biblical inspiration and authority. People will mistakenly argue that Hickson must therefore believe that there are "errors" in Scripture with the logical conclusion that Scripture cannot be trusted. This is not the case, unless you require a logical argument to prove the veracity of Scripture, in which case the divine, inspirational nature of Scripture is downplayed and made subservient to the idol of human reason. Hickson makes this bold statement: "We deny the authority of the Bible if we believe inerrancy is the proof of its authority" (p. 3).

 

Without question, the Church of God has typically maintained a high view of Scripture. But, as Hickson points out, early Church of God leaders never really got into the liberal-fundamentalist debates of the early 20th century. Our movement has always held a more dynamic view towards truth, mainly because of our emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit. This has tremendous implications for how we understand both inspiration and interpretation, and differs markedly from the more rational preoccupation of evangelicals. The latter place a much higher emphasis on the importance of faith as the intellectual assent to certain doctrines. The holiness perspective tends to rise above this cold rationalism, placing the focus on the life-changing work of the Spirit as the test of faith, rejecting the notion of air-tight creeds and doctrinal statements. Of course, over the years, because of the creeping influence of Evangelicalism within the Church of God, these distinctions have become confused.

 

As I have previously stated, this chapter will likely be highly controversial within our circles. I hope, however, that people will take the time to read this chapter carefully and enter into constructive dialogue. It is a matter worth exploring, especially in light of our holiness orientation.

 

Review: Are You Sure You're Right?

This spring Warner Press is publishing several new books, including a couple that provide self-examination and reflection for the Church of God. My intent is to use this blog as a place to discuss these writings and to provoke dialogue that hopefully will be helpful to us all.

 

When I first heard that Jerry Hickson was writing this book I was excited since it is a topic that has long been on my mind. It's just that I've never had the courage to put my own thoughts down on paper. I'm glad that someone has taken the risk to engage this important, yet potentially controversial, matter.

 

Are You Sure You're Right?: Evangelicals and the Church of God (Warner Press, 2006) may not be the best book to come out of our publishing house in recent years, but it may be one of the most important. Dr. Hickson, assistant professor of Christian ministry at Warner Pacific College, strives to challenge the commonly held notions that the Church of God is part of American Evangelicalism. He identifies and explains some of the differences between current evangelical and Church of God teachings, and does so with doctrinal discussion, historical context, and references to other Church of God authors.

 

Specifically, Hickson addresses eight points where the Church of God takes a divergent position from most evangelicals: the inerrancy of Scripture, Calvinistic determinism, premillenial eschatology, the ordination of women, the place of pastoral education, allegiance to American civil religion, the right to life, and Christian unity. A common theme throughout the book is that "Despite all the ways in which we agree, the Church of God does not fit well in the evangelical stream of Christianity" (p. xii).

 

This message will obviously be unsettling to many people within the Church of God. Because of struggling with our self-identity as movement it has been convenient for us to become closely aligned with this large, popular branch of Christian conservatism. It has got to the point that for many of our leaders and constituents the distinctions are blurred or seemingly non-existent. This book should awaken us to these changes and hopefully spur us on to rediscover our unique heritage and distinctives.

 

Still, Are You Sure You're Right? will generate considerable controversy. Warner Press as much as admits it by statements on the book's cover and in the Publisher's Preface (p. vii). I admire the risk that is being taken in publishing this book as this in itself bodes well for our movement. But, I am afraid that many will misunderstand what Dr. Hickson is saying and probably label him as a "liberal", or just simply ignore his insights.

 

It doesn't help that Hickson begins his discussion with probably the most sensitive issue: The fundamentalist and evangelical position on the inerrancy of Scripture. Since many Church of God folk buy into this tenet, there is an uphill battle right from page one in gaining their ear. A careful look at history and theology confirms what Dr. Hickson is saying, but I suspect many will tune him out at this early stage before reading the entire book with an open and honest mind. I wish, instead, that he would have begun the book by outlining the historical development and context of the Church of God within American Christianity. The fact is most people do not understand our own history, let alone the underlying assumptions and biases within Evangelicalism. He deals with some of these issues in the two appendices, but again it is likely that many will miss these observations due to their defensiveness over what they've already read.

 

There are other important insights that can be gleaned by the open-minded reader. For example, the last chapter, "Can We All Get Along?", is very helpful, as is chapter four on gender. Unfortunately, however, some other chapters (such as the ones on pastoral education and right-to-life) seem out of place or underdeveloped.

 

Despite the obstacles confronting this book, I hope that people will read it as this type of discussion is long overdue within the Church of God. We have been good at looking inward, but for the first time in a long time we have a book that attempts to describe and confront our relationship with the larger church. Again, I commend both Jerry Hickson and Warner Press for providing this opportunity to probe into these issues.

 

In short, this is a must read.

 

Over the next couple of weeks I will devote individual posts to each of the chapters in the book. Hopefully a constructive dialogue can ensue that will better enable us to rediscover our own identity and become a strong, alternative voice within the confused world of modern Christianity.

 

The Stresses of Ministry

I am very grateful for the opportunity I had recently for a vacation. We all need times to get away from our normal routines and experience some refreshment and rejuvenation.

 

Maybe it's just because I was in this altered state, but upon reflection I notice that I've been hearing alot about stressed-out pastors recently. Over the past month I have had numerous opportunities to talk with other ministers first-hand, and also to hear stories of colleagues that are going through difficult times in their personal lives and careers. This includes pastors that are leaving their churches (or even pastoral ministry altogether) because of the overbearing frustrations that they are experiencing; and spouses of pastors who are discouraged and angry because of what is going around them.

 

It's difficult to know exactly what is going in all these situations, and much too easy to make simplistic analyses and prescriptions. But, I am concerned about the health of our pastoral leadership as I know that there are many who are struggling and close to drowning in the churches they are currently in.

 

This all raises questions in my mind about a number of issues:

• How adequate are the support systems available for pastors and families?
• Is our polity and structure part of the problem or the solution?
• Are we doing enough in screening and training those entering into career ministry?
• What really is our theology concerning pastoral leadership?
• What are we doing to help congregations function in healthy ways?
• Why aren't we holding churches more accountable when they mistreat their leaders?
• What can we do to help our churches explore new and better models for pastoral compensation?

We need to pray for those around us who are hurting. We also need to get involved providing support and working proactively to change our structures for the sake of our leaders.

 

Survey of Goals and Values

You probably thought I dropped off the face of the earth! As previously mentioned my personal life has been very hectic lately with moving, and over the past week or so I took a much needed vacation. I hope over the next few weeks to share some of my reflections that emerged during this time.

 

While checking through my bursting inbox I discovered a survey from Chruch of God Ministries on "Goals and Values". While not explicitly stated, it appears that only pastors are being invited to participate in this survey, with the results to be shared at the Strategic Planning Conference in August in Nashville (which I am planning to attend and hopefully provide daily blog updates).

 

I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback and contribute to the formation of data that can help our movement understand itself. If you have received a survey invitation I encourage you to complete it.

 

My only frustration is that the survey itself is not put together very well (which, unfortunately, is far too common among surveys). Some of the questions are worded in a convoluted manner (e.g. #15 and #19) or provide narrow response choices (e.g. #12), and #17 in the online version isn't setup correctly (i.e. if you accidentally make a choice you can't change it! - so be careful). Also, apart from an open ended response opportunity on the bottom that allows us to share our pet concerns, I think there are many other questions that could have been asked on such topics as movement health, theology, and leadership issues.

 

Nevertheless, I look forward to eventually seeing the results and discussing them on this blog.