Examining Our Unity

Some recent comments following my "Level the Dome" post have focused on the issue of unity.

Andy asked the question: "Could someone please share with me some concrete examples of Unity in this movement?" The implication is that we are not practicing what we preach when it comes to unity.

I know of many examples within the Church of God where unity is being lived out, but we must honestly acknowledge that there are also serious problems. The buzz word that we have heard coming out of Anderson, especially in the last six years, is "reconciliation". This is a blatant admission that not all is well among us. The most obvious example are the walls that have separated our African-American brothers and sisters from the rest of the movement.

A case can be made that we have a had less than stellar track record at living this, one of our distinguishing doctrines. In fact, it is almost embarassing to admit our struggles in this area. And, of course, before we can "reach our hands in fellowship to every blood-washed one" outside of our movement, we must address our internal unity. There is work to be done to build stronger bridges with not only our large African-American constituency, but also with Hispanics among us, the German churches in North America that were alienated during and following World War II, and churches on the geographic fringes outside of the Midwest.

The fact is, there is much more diversity in the Church of God than we are often willing to admit. Apart from some of the obvious racial and cultural differences, there is also a certain degree of theological latitude in our movement. Unfortunately, however, we have not tolerated internal or external theological differences very well. We have often bought into rigid doctrinal purity at the expense of the unity of fellowship we desire, but find elusive. In reality, we call people to unity in Christ, but only if they come on our doctrinal terms.

For a movement with roots in Wesleyan-holiness it is tragic that we have veered from our orthopraxic orientation, and towards a Calivinist-evangelical fixation on orthodoxy.

I don't want to be too hard on us, but we must face this issue of unity head on. We don't need more doctrinal ink spent describing the unity of the church. It's time we started to live it both inside and outside our circles.

Blogrolls

You may have noticed that on my blog site main page I have been keeping a "blogroll" of Church of God bloggers. As far as I know this is the only attempt to create a comprehensive list of Church of God blogs.

Take time to look through some of these blogs, and subscribe to ones that might interest you. In addition, please notify me of any other Church of God blogs so that this list can grow. I know there are others out there (because I've heard about them), although some are not yet in RSS or Atom format.

In addition, I now have a "Church of God podcasts" blogroll. Yes, we have our first congregation making their sermons available in a feed format: Cornwall Church in Bellingham, WA (Pastor Bob Marvel)!

The advantage of podcasting is that besides the convenience of being notified through a feed, with the use of special software you can easily download these audio files onto a personal listening device (i.e. iPod or MP3 player). Again, please notify me of other Church of God podcasts you are aware of.

Level the dome

I don't want to completely leave the discussion concerning our mission, but I briefly want to take a slight diversion and comment on the Warner Auditorium dilemma facing the Church of God. This might seem to be trivial issue, but for me the decision we make on this will have lasting influence on our movement.

In short, I am convinced that it is time to level the dome.

At the General Assembly in Anderson this year we were informed of the options that were being considered to deal with the problem of asbestos insulation in Warner Auditorium. If I have my facts straight, the least expensive option is to have the asbestos removed and to level the structure. All for around $800,000. To renovate, expand or even rebuild would mean even more money, heading into the millions of dollars.

Just from the perspective of stewardship I cannot see spending any more money than necessary on a building that we use only one week a year (and rent out for only a handful of other events). The new Kardatzke Wellness Center served well as a replacement location this year for the North American Convention, especially considering the last minute preparations required to make everything work. Why do we need a new shrine?

Certainly "Anderson Campmeeting" has been an important occasion for drawing the Church of God together. When the dome was built in 1962 it may have seemed appropriate to maintain the centrality of Anderson for this event and other aspects of our movement. But, today is a different story.

If we are going to take our mission seriously in this new century it is important that we move away from a Anderson-centric model, and towards a church movement focused on our core, the local congregations. Moving the North American Convention around the continent would be a tremendous symbolic act affirming that we are not just a Midwestern United States denomination, but a continent-wide fellowship that is united in mission but diverse in culture and approach.

Certainly the large power and population concentration around central Indiana will resist any change from status quo. Having always lived on the geographic fringes of our movement, I see first hand how disconnected people distant from Anderson are to the rest of the Church of God.

As I and others have already indicated, this year's North American Convention offers hope that a new missional wind is blowing across our movement. In that spirit, let's level the dome and allow ourselves to see new ways of functioning together for the Kingdom.

Mission and leadership

Some excellent comments were left on my post "Mission as Program?".

Randy made the point that "It may have to start with a program for some to see that it isn't just a program" and that the role of leaders in this case is to "lead in such a way that we can help the mindset to change in our people".

mojclessme (Ken) carefully questioned my bottom-up versus top-down comparison, stating that "i think that the role of leadership is to lead the body into the mission of Christ. further, i don't think the body naturally finds themselves in the mission of Christ without leadership".

Points well taken.

Leadership is often a missing element. North American church culture is predominately devoid of active mission, and this will not change without the proactive leadership of women and men who can point in new directions and model it through their own examples.

I do not want to create a false dichotomy between top-down and bottom-up. It's not really an either/or situation. Leadership should create the vision and set the pace. If it is good leadership people will be challenged, mobilized and equipped to enter mission, and ultimately take the initiative to exercise their gifts. In this way, mission will begin to erupt from the grassroots.

Unfortunately, however, most leadership development (even within the Church of God) is not mission oriented. That's a whole new discussion ...

When?

One further reflection on Andy's question: "WHEN are we going to see the 'the church' do any of this?". Here's a quote quoted on a blog entitled Backyard Missionaries:

“Jesus said he wanted us to be in the world but not of it. The problem is that we have succeeded in neither. We are not in the world, but instead find ourselves in a church subculture removed from it. And inside that subculture we have become worldly.”

Jim Thwaites - Renegotiating the Church Contract P.96

Something needs to change first!

Mission as program?

I appreciate the growing number of people engaging in this conversation regarding the mission of the church.

I've been reflecting on some examples that you have shared (and that I am hearing elsewhere), and am attempting to correspond them with "The Engagement Matrix" from Leadership Network that I referenced two days ago.

Andy's comment got me thinking further:

"WHEN are we going to see the 'the church' do any of this? ... WHEN will we stop characterizing individuals in mission, [and] start to see the character of the church in mission[?]"

My question pertains to the matter of the role of the church (versus individuals) in mission: How do we mobilize the church into mission without just creating another program?

Unfortunately, the North American church is program-driven. While I admire attempts made to get our congregations outside of the church, how do we avoid the danger of just appearing (both internally and externally) to just deliver another program that is somewhat impersonal?

I am not against "programs" per se, as often some level of organization and coordination is required to make things happen. My real concern is that church programs are often driven from the top-down. You know, the pastor or some committee calls people to join together for some project.

Andy makes a valid rhetorical statement. Mission is not just individuals acting independently in touching the world (although this is certainly part of it). God's people, the church, working together have a much more profound impact.

In my thinking the church's mission must come from the bottom. Instead of an edict from leadership, mission should be driven by those who are directly aware of the needs around them and want to gather their brothers and sisters together to make a difference.

In my congregation we have been trying to initiate mission through our cell groups. One of the key pillars of these groups is regular engagement in mission. They determine the need. They decide who, where and when. We still have a ways to go to break some people out of old mindsets, but it has been exciting to see some of our groups take the challenge. For example, one group volunteered to serve at our local soup kitchen. When it comes from the bottom there tends to be more ownership and passion, more than could ever be generated through a programmatic approach.

What do you think?

Mission continued ...

The North American Convention has certainly got a number of people talking about our mission.

The question, of course, is: HOW do we move to a mission mindset and mission action?

Let me offer a few additional places to continue exploring this:

1. The latest issue of Leadership Network "Advance", an e-mail newsletter (why don't they have an RSS feed yet?!) featured a brief, but interesting article that outlined a model for understanding and measuring an externally focused church.

2. Ken Oldham shared an example of what his church is beginning to do in a post entitled "out we go".

3. I encourage you to follow "from the Bradlands", the blog of Brad Kunkel a Church of God pastor here in Central California. Without knowing Brad, his very transparent weekly journal might not make much sense, but here's some background. Brad was called to take over leadership of a newly planted church in our region, but after many changes and searching they decided to move away from the "typical" church planting model (which wasn't really working anyways) and instead take more of a missional approach to ministry. God led them to a very difficult town, Del Ray, where they are actively working to engage directly with the many people in need of God's love. Brad has a tremendous heart for ministry, and I believe there is much we can learn from following and praying for his work.

Death of the Church

I got your attention, didn't I?

Before you move on to something else, be assured that this is NOT a negative rant.

Death of the Church is an exceptional book that I read on my vacation. The title has tremendous shock effect, probably scaring many away from reading it (explaining why it never became a best-seller). Yet, this book is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand the cultural shifts happening around us, and the needed response by the church. It's not Church of God specific, but it applies to us as much as anyone. It sure has inspired me!

The subtitle of the book provides a better clue as to where the author, Mike Regele, is headed: "The Church has a choice: to die as a result of its resistance to change or to die in order to live." Regele is optimistic about the future of the church, but not today's institutions. By laying out a well-documented picture of life in America, he points out how the institutional church is facing death. The question is, however, will it die by design or default. Ultimately, "the death that the institutional church is facing is like the death each of us must face each day in our pilgrimage. Christ calls us to put to death those things in our lives that inhibit us from becoming all God intends for us to be." (p. 239)

Certainly there are many books out there describing the need for change in the church. What sets this book apart is its rich tapestry of historical and social analysis.

The book has two minor weaknesses. First, it is already dated (1995) and doesn't reflect some recent forces shaping our culture, but you will discover that not to be a hindrance. Second, the book just briefly touches on the "how to" aspect that many desire. Nevertheless, Regele gives us enough to ponder and leaves us wanting to begin the journey of discovering the solutions for ourselves.

LINK

More on Mission

Ken Oldham wins the prize for being the first person mentioned twice in one week on my blog!

mojclessme (Ken) commented on my "Reflections on the NAC" post of a few days ago (read it here: http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7271575&postID=112077286151264174), and I couldn't resist responding. What got my attention is:

"the missional choice should be central to our value system. the other issues of the church of God, Holiness, Unity, or any of the other 5 vision statements should also stem from the original purpose of the church commissioned by Christ and empowerd by the Spirit: Reach the Lost."

I wonder if mission is truly central to our value system. As I stated, I am hopeful that we are becoming more missional, but I am not convinced that this is at the core of who we are as a movement.

Our DNA was constructed as a "reformation" movement. Our genesis was in calling Christians out of denominations and into holiness with the goal of uniting them as God's true church. "Reaching the Lost" was certainly acknowledged, taught and even practiced, but as a secondary concern. Over the years we have struggled to resolve the tension of our original passion and the Great Commission.

This must change.

We must make the missional choice. But, it will mean turning our eyes away from ourselves and onto God, whose eyes are on the world in which we live.

Once we make this choice we can move beyond our doctrinal and organizational fixations. Our distinctives and vision can then be re-interpreted from a new starting point as we strive to engage our society with the Good News.

Baker parable

Here's an excellent parable, also inspired by this year's NAC. From the blog of Ken Oldham: http://servelovepray.blogspot.com/2005/07/baker-parable.html

Reflections on the NAC

A good place to start discussing Church of God issues is to reflect on the North American Convention in Anderson which ended last week. Having always lived on the geographic fringes of this movement, I don't make it to Anderson every year, and even this year I was unable to take in the entire convention due to some family obligations. Nevertheless, I dohave some observations to share.

This year's event exceeded my expectations. To be honest, most years I make the pilgrimage to Indiana with some reluctance. I believe we are far too Anderson-centric, and that the Church of God tends to be overly influenced by Midwestern Evangelical culture, and therefore has had a difficult time expressing itself in other contexts. Maybe I noticed it more because of being absent for a few years, but I detected some significant changes in 2005. Sure, not meeting in the "dome" shook things up (and I will get back to that topic in the next few days), but I sensed shifts in attitudes and perspectives that left me feeling hopeful for our future.

Apart from the meaningful interactions I had with friends and past acquaintances, I was especially challenged by Reggie McNeal's message on Monday evening which complemented the conferences he led for pastors earlier in the day. (Watch it online if you missed it at www.chog.org - NOTE: a higher quality video and audio version will be available next week). Entitled "Mission or Refuge: Your Choice", McNeal delivered a powerful call for the missional church, couched in language readily understood by those in attendance. I believe that he was serious when he said that as a reformation movement the Church of God can have a major impact on the larger North American church. But, we have a choice to make. Will we retreat into refuge, or will we recover our mission? McNeal went on to demonstrate that our mission is not centered in the church, but takes place when we recog nize where God is already at work in the world. As he reminded us during his conference, being missional is a matter of being turned to culture versus being stuck in maintenance mode.

Making the missional choice is not something that can be mandated from Anderson to the congregations. But, based on the conversations I am engaged in, I sense a growing awareness of and commitment toward being an incarnational church within this complex, post-Christian society in which we find ourselves. Many are making the missional choice, and our movement and world can be deeply impacted by it.

Introduction

To help you get to know me better, here are some brief biographical points:

- I am married for over 23 years to Kathy, and we have three sons: Luke (21), Jonathan (19), Andrew (almost 17)

- Although now living in the U.S., we are Canadians, eh?

- For over three years I have been Pastor of Central Community Church, a Church of God congregation in Hanford, California.

- Prior to Hanford, for twenty years I was involved in a variety of church ministries in Alberta (i.e. western Canadian province), including Associate Pastor, Senior Pastor, church planter, college professor (at Gardner College), and Area Administrator for Western Canada.

- I did my undergraduate work at Gardner College (Canadian College of the Church of God) and Athabasca University, and obtained my seminary degree at what is now Taylor Seminary in Edmonton.

- I am third generation Church of God through both of my parents.

- While church planting I worked bi-vocationally as a computer Network Analyst, and am passionate about harnessing technology for effective use in the church.

- My diversional hobby: I collect cereal boxes, with over 1200 nostalgic boxes in my collection.

Welcome to CHOG Blog

Welcome to my blog devoted to issues concerning the Church of God.

While I am hardly a leading spokesperson for our movement, or even an expert, I am passionate about engaging in dialogue that will strengthen us as we face many challenges in a shifting culture.

My intent is to provide a range of thoughts and reflections that will get us thinking about our theology, practice, and communication. Sometimes my ideas may appear to be critical and perhaps even controversial, but it is important to understand my heart is ultimately to be a positive force, not a negative one. Note, however, that if you are looking for simple, regurgitations of Church of God platitudes this may not be the place for you.

This is a personal blog. But, you are encouraged to participate in several ways. First, please leave comments on anything that gets your attention. Second, inform me if you have a blog so that I may track it, include it in my list for others, and possibly reference posts that intrigue me. Third, once Blogger has "trackback" capabilities (which I hope will be soon) please trackback any references to my blog on your blog.

For those of you who do not know me, I plan on posting some biographical information about myself within the next day or so.

My prayer is that this blog will be of value to you and to our movement.

Coming Soon!

Watch for the official launch of CHOG Blog on July 5, 2005!

 

Get ready by subscribing now with your Blog reader.