Digging up Revitalization/Church Planting
Hi All,
As I recall a few weeks ago Bret asked me to comment on my thoughts concerning the qualifications of the next Church Planting/Revitalization Denominational leader. I've pondered that request and even thought that in my position I should not respond. Bret did touch a nerve close to home, for me, concerning both Church Planting and Revitalization.
As I thought through this I have decided to give my view of what is needed at the General Conference level for someone desiring to be the Church Planting/Church Revitalization person.
I see the Church Plant/Revitalization position as a waste of conference money.
From my experience in both areas the leadership of the denomination has no real voice or no real authority, the church appointed leadership of each church does. The church I was entrusted to revitalized was moving forward, an increase in giving of 10,000 per year from the first year I was there, 6 new Christians were brought into the kingdom, 8 were baptized and 15 were presented as new members into the church.
Yet when a few of the old guard grumbled to the conference, I needed to give in to some areas that they wanted turned back to the way they were. Even though I pleaded my case knowing this would cause a negative movement backwards, I was instructed that I needed to give in. The Church controls the conference and the conference controls the pastor. The snow ball was starting to roll. The next meeting resulted in even more grumbling to which I resigned from the church and now a church that was once 38 and growing is now 18 and stalled.
The congregation holds all the control and really only wants a Chaplin to take them to where they want to go, be it status quo or fulfilling the great commission the congregation leads and the pastor follows.
so why waste money for someone that has no more authority only suggestions, don't we already have Google?
Church Planting at the denominational level is not much better. Each Regional conference has its own way of planting and philosophy for planting, not that this in and of itself is bad, but what can someone do here, if again, they have no authority to make changes? Is there no reason to bring a unity to the entire denomination with the way we plant churches? From my experience there is no template for funding, training, or equipping in church planting so we can measure and refine church planting so it is more successful in the future.
So my final stance is not what are the qualifications of a head of church planting/revitalization, but why would the CGGC want to waste money on a position that is not necessary?
This is my final post being a part of the CGGC. Though I've grown up and been part of the CGGC for almost 42 years it is time for me to move on. John C. Maxwell once said the the ability of any organization is only as capable as the leaders of that organization. (the law of the lid) I see there is more then keeping old cranky Christians happy and content with what is. My desire is to see everyone experience the love and forgiveness that I myself have received from God through Jesus Christ. I've willingly surrendered my credentials to the Churches of God in order to pursue what I know God has called me to do. "Love Him, Love Others and Serve the World" so that the world may know and experience the greatness of God.
I wish everyone the strength and power to fulfill the calling on their lives to Go and Make Disciples of All Nations. May God bless your ministry and the CGGC. But I cannot continue wasting the time God has given me fighting about whether we should let those kinds of people in our church, it isn't our church anyway! I'm tired of fighting the "Worship Wars" because "we like the old hymns who cares what everyone else likes, they don't come here anyway."
The Harvest is plentiful but the workers are... lazy?
posted by Momentum Church at 10:20 PM
9 Comments:
Rob,
I am saddened by your post in many respects. I certainly feel for you and the struggles you have been through. May God bless you as you continue to follow his will for your life.
I happen to think this shows a need that many of our churches DO have for a revitalization person at the conference level though. Not only someone to offer guidance and resources for our church leaders, but in some cases to actually come in and have balls enough to tell a church they are wrong. Someone to actually back up and support our pastors/church leaders. Of course, by the same token, there may be times they need to confront the pastor/church leaders as well. I think it's unfair and unwise to expect this from all people at the Regional or National level though. Perhaps this could have helped your situation - I don't know.
At any rate, may God's peace and blessings be with you.
My high school tennis coach called me "Bert" - at least "Bret" has the letters in the right order.
I realized that I never answered Bill's question from a few weeks ago. Indian Head is the largest church in the Allegheny Region (it's also my home church). That is the latest church that is undergoing a pastoral transition on that region.
They are in the early stages of looking for a new ARC Director. This was just published in the monthly newsletter:
"The Allegheny Region Conference Search Committee (Pastor Dean Hay, Pastor Jim Montincue, Mrs. Karen Rhodes, Pastor Doug Show, and Pastor Ben Tobias) is beginning the process of searching for a new Allegheny Region Conference Director. The first phase of this search is to identify potential persons for this position. We are asking for your help with this first phase. If you, or someone you know, would consider God's call to this work, we ask you to please contact Pastor Doug Show at 724-537-4859. Please remember to keep the ARC Administrative Council and the Search Committee in your prayers as we begin this process of searching for a new Regional Director."
My question is does the polity of the CGGC invite regional and denomational officers? While there are many reactions to Rob's post, my initial reaction was that question. I don't have the answer, but some of the challenges may be found in the very way our churches are structured.
This is obviously an emotional time for Rob and for the church. Though I may not have said so in the guidelines, this is not a place for public grievances to be aired.
We do not know the specifics of the situation and wouldn't unless we talked with the church leaders and the regional leaders of this situation and that is not at all the place of this blog. So we will be reminded not to come to judgment here.
The question is whether this is a parting shot or a warning shot. Let's assume it is a warning shot, that this isn't the way we want these situations to end.
Who hasn't heard this same story repeated in their region? Congregation wants one thing. Pastor wants another. Pastor doesn't feel supported by the denomination. Devastation.
The problem could be in any number of areas -- pastor selection, pastor placement, church expectations, lack of coaching, lack of regional/denominational vision to give the church and pastor general expectations.
If I were to give advice to Regions, particularly my Region,
I would suggest three key issues that should overarch all else.
1. Start assessing pastors and placements with more rigor. This is beyond testing for doctrinal standard, but seeing if a pastor is "a fit" for said church.
2. Start providing quality coaching for the pastors who would desire it, especially young pastors. This coaching could come from proven pastors within the Region or from quality coaching from without. A few sessions with an outside coach has already helped me immensely.
3. Start providing local opportunities for the pastor and his/her leaders to be taught about key issues of discipleship and overall health and give that group an opportunity to talk about how to implement that lesson. For example, the CGGC made "The Present Future" book of the year a few years ago, but you were on your own to figure out how to implement it and up a creek to figure out to introduce it to your church leadership.
These are obvious issues for the General Conference level Church Planting/Revitalization person but with distinct knowledge that he/she can't implement it. It would have to be implemented through key people in each Region. And Regional budgets would have to be restructured to provide such help. And Regional leaders & Directors would have to sign on to the effort.
"Bert's" question is important: "Does the polity of the CGGC invite regional and denomational officers?" I assume "Bret" is asking, "Can a regional/denominational officer actually accomplish this through our current Regional systems?"
I'm not sure we can go any farther here than to ask the question Brent.
Brian,
You have spoken well. So much so that I would say that you have achieved the role of Sage, at least on this blog.
As I have mentioned before, I serve on the ERC Commission on Church Renewal. There is a healthy ongoing tension among our Commission members over the question of who is at fault in the kind of situation Rob describes. Some on the Commission seem predisposed to nearly always blame the pastor, others to always blame the congregation and still others to assume there is middle ground.
I think there has been a predisposition in the past among Conference leaders to coddle congregations because Conference leaders know that congregational financial support fuels the work of the Conferences and General Conference. (As a well known radio personality often says, "Follow the money.") That approach is extremely pragmatic, but not essentially spiritual and, in the long term, I believe, frought with peril.
I wholeheartly embrace my good friend Brian's three suggestions focusing on how we place and equip our pastors. And, I would add to that the general suggestion that we also present our congregations the challenge of repentance as Jesus did in five of the seven letters to the Churches in Revelation 2 and 3.
I believe that the new Director of Church Development needs to be empowered to create a new culture in the General Conference. Paradigms are shifting rapidly.
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First I want to say I'm Sorry Brent for not getting your name right.
Brian, my post was wasn't a public grievance, sorry if it came a cross that way. I was only illustrating the difficulty that I and many Pastors I know have experienced in the way things are.
Brian, yes this was a warning not a parting shot in any way.(I can see how it could be taken that way) I hold no ill feelings to the denomination or anyone in the denomination in any way, I hope this is clear.
Brian your words are well put and my hope would be that they are heeded and used to build up the CGGC. I would add one more thought to the 3rd bullet point though. If the denomination is going to recommend a book or a directional change they need to do it unapologetically. If I need to unpack this let me know.
Blessings to you all and to the CGGC.
Rob, I also am saddened by your post because I read in it a lot of pain and frustration and you will be in my prayers.
Brian, thank for your response. I have printed them out for further discussion by some of the commissions (though some have been touched on already on Church and Pastor in the ERC)
Reading the other reflections on the new positions I wonder if I may be the ideal candidate. I am an outsider. I can be comfortable in a variety of worship styles. And if worst comes to worse I am also old enough that if I get into any confict I can retire.
Thanks Rob for the clarification. That shows grace and maturity. Blessings to you and your family through this transition.
Lew,
Did I catch a hint of sarcasm in your post when you wrote, "And if worst comes to worse I am also old enough that if I get into any confict I can retire."
Don't underestimate the value of this. I recall one pastor accusing a conference director (and long time friend) of giving him poor counsel on his church's situation so the Director could take over as pastor. This was untrue, but it destroyed a good relationship.
Perhaps you should get your resume ready...
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