Life as an Area Administrator

There hasn't been activity on this blog for quite some time, much to my personal frustration. It's not for a lack of things to write, but mainly a matter of time, or lack of it. And, I've had some technical challenges that haven't helped.

I hope to get back to more regular posting and even to finish my mini-series on diversity, but this is probably an opportune time to reflect on my new life as the Area Administrator for the Pacific Northwest Association of the Church of God, a position that began for me on November 1st.

The whole concept of an Area Administrator is somewhat strange for the Church of God. Our anti-denominational, autonomy-worshipping polity does not seem to lend itself to having leadership positions outside of the local congregation. But, increasingly over the past 127 years we have begun to see that there is a legitimate need for regional and national leadership to both assist local churches and to facilitate accountability. Not that we are completely comfortable with these developments. In fact, we haven't quite figured out how to incorporate these extra layers of structure within our theology and practice. This is revealed in the active evolution of these structures and wide diversity of their implementation across the continent. No one can even agree what the title of the regional leadership position should be, as almost every district has struggled to find its own expression. Apart from the jokes to the contrary, the one title we're not comfortable using is "Bishop".

So, what does an Area Administrator do? It really depends on the state or region. Here in our district (comprised of Washington, northern Idaho, and northeastern Oregon) we are still trying to figure that out too. Our area has had this position in place for several decades already, but we have been going through massive organizational shifts. One of my major responsibilities will be to help our district work through these issues and to discover a new vision of ministry cooperation and effectiveness.

Over the past three months my primary focus has been to make personal contact with as many pastors and congregations as possible. I am convinced that establishing a good relationship with our 48 churches and their leaders is the basis on which our future work will be based. Making these connections is especially challenging considering the vast geographic expanse of our region. I have already racked up almost 5000 miles of driving and a significant number of frequent flyer points.

Overall, I am thoroughly enjoying my new job. We have a tremendous district with many gifted people and healthy churches. We also have much work to do in strengthening our organization and some of the struggling churches that are part of our association.

Probably the biggest challenge is living without my family. My wife and sons are still in California finishing out the school year and waiting for me to determine where we will live (as I have been given the freedom to find a new office location). We keep in touch daily and make frequent visits back and forth, but life has been far from "normal".

From time to time I will provide some further reflections on my work and the role that district organizations play within the Church of God. Stay tuned.

Christmas

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

Merry Christmas!

Lloyd

Regional diversity

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ethnic diversity

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

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

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

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

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

So what do we do with all this ethnic diversity?

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

But, is this realistic?

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

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

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

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

Church of God and diversity

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

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

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

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

ONEvoice! at the Tipping Point

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

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

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

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

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

Getting into SHAPE

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

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

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

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

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

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

Review - Preaching the Story

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is a good buy for preachers and teachers.

In the Pacific Northwest

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

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

Transition - waiting

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

ONEvoice! promotion

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Seeing the Story - discussion

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

 

Financial accountability

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

 

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

 

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

 

There are many lessons to be learned here.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Transition - resignation

Continuing my transition saga...

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Viewpoint on our children and postmodernism

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Transition - courtship

My transition story continues ...

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

High Church of God birthrate?

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

 

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

 

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

 

Transition - searching

Continuing on my transition journey...

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Transition - decision

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Strategic Planning Council - Day three

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

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

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

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

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

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