I think that Francis Chan has a pretty good series/DVD on the Holy Spirit based on his book "The Forgotten God". I've heard that it can lead to good discussions on where we as a church do or don't leave "spaces", so to speak, for the Spirit to work. (Not like we tend to be over-planners or anything) Hope it works for you!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that the term "inactive member" didn't exist in the CRC before 1998. When it was introduced it was not as a "real" membership catagory but as a financial one, only for the purpose of ministry shares reporting. The thought being that while someone was placed in "inactive" status, something was being done concurrently with their membership using the already established categories.
I discovered a few years ago that Handel has 20+ oratorios besides the Messiah, which I used to listen to (religiously?), many on such biblical characters as Saul, Nabal, Gideon, Sampson, Athalia, as well as ones on Judas Maccabeus and Israel in Egypt. I find them very helpful in getting my head in the right place when writing.
One interesting one might be "Entering the World of the Small Church" by Anthony G. Pappas, put out by Alban Institute. This would be helpful whether your rural church is small or not. Pappas makes the point that entering into a rural church can be somewhat like a missionary or anthropologist entering a tribally structured society. It's a little out of the box--makes you look at things with fresh eyes.
Before challenging the congregation, it might be helpful for the diaconate to do a giving pattern analysis over the last five years to see what the annual giving patterns might be for the church. These can fluctuate greatly (but regularly over time) from season to season. Often much more than 1 /12th of the budget comes in in December.
Another thought would be to switch to an annual pledge process in which each member is encouraged to pledge their giving for the year. Such a practice can help "detox" the conversation with those who are not giving, opening up an opportunity for understanding the reasons why they are not giving.
I have found the works of Kennon Callahan to be very helpful as well as the ones that Ron noted above. "Effective Church Finances" and "Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church" are two helpful ones. He makes the note that there are essentially five different motivations for giving....compassion, community, challenge, reasonability and commitment. The important thing is that studies have shown that while "challenge" and "commitment" are usually the main motivators for those in leadership, the motivators that work best in the congregation are "compassion" and "community". It's like Gary Smalley's love languages. If the leadership tries to speak to the congregation using the "stewardship language" that connects with themselves first, they will run into a motivational disconnect.
There are not many books on specifically rural ministry, however, if you do a search on amazon for smaller churches, you would come across many books which are applicable to rural ministry, whatever the size of your own church may be. A very good one along these lines is "Small, Strong Congregations" by Kennon Callahan.
The Natural Church Development process, in which many of our home missions representatives would be familar with, is also helpful, and doesn't differentiate between rural/urban large/small churches. Instead, it simply focuses on improving several "quality characteristics" of healthy churches.
Also, I can't think of it's exact title now, but there is a good conference in Illinois for "Town and Country" churches and pastors, focusing specifically on the challenges and opportunities of rural ministry.
Found the link. Do a search for "Rural Home Missionary Association". The keynote speaker at their conference this year is Mark Dever. Previous years keynotes have been Calvin Miller, HB London and Henry Blackaby. They also offer certification and specific training in town and country ministry. Hope this helps.
"Nor does unity result from agreement about a narrow set of beliefs."
Actually, it does. Let's put aside for a moment the loaded word "narrow", or perhaps exchange it with the word "specific." Does unity result from agreement about a specific set of beliefs? How about the Apostles Creed? The Heidelberg Catechism or our other confessions? Or, to another degree, our church order?
I respect the work that you all do and appreciate the loving spirit behind these words, but this statement coming from ministry leadership of a *confessional church* is a little troubling.
This issue is in its own way a referendum on the 1975 synodical statement and the categories that it laid out. Though that statement noted that Synod's pronouncements are equally authoritative, though differing in use and function, the term "pastoral advice" seems to have taken on a different meaning as the years have gone on. (Similarly, unfortunately, to how many people interpret our own "pastoral advice"--as something they can take or leave.)
My question is, were these categories meant to be mutually exclusive? Simply because something was originally stated as pastoral advice, can't it occupy more than one category? And doesn't a Synod have the authority to declare that something that we already hold as authoritative and biding in one category, may function as well in another category? And isn't that essentially what will happen if the study report is adopted by Synod?
I think that Paul Hiebert has written on guilt/shame/fear societies.
I would be interested on further reflection as well, on the shift that seems to be going on within Western society as well, in that it seems that the society is shifting from being a guilt based society to more of a shame based society. With the rise of social media, online activism, "doxing", etc, it seems that shame is much more of an operative power than guilt. I remember from Lew Smedes' book that while guilt is a heavy feeling about what I have done, shame is a heavy feeling about who I am...in some ways even more fundamental and debilitating. I wonder if we are losing ground culturally in part because we continue to use the language of guilt in what is becoming a society of shaming.
Posted in: What are some good study materials for learning about the Holy Spirit?
Hey, Tony!
I think that Francis Chan has a pretty good series/DVD on the Holy Spirit based on his book "The Forgotten God". I've heard that it can lead to good discussions on where we as a church do or don't leave "spaces", so to speak, for the Spirit to work. (Not like we tend to be over-planners or anything) Hope it works for you!
Jeff B.
Posted in: What are people doing about declaring members "inactive" and ministering to them?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that the term "inactive member" didn't exist in the CRC before 1998. When it was introduced it was not as a "real" membership catagory but as a financial one, only for the purpose of ministry shares reporting. The thought being that while someone was placed in "inactive" status, something was being done concurrently with their membership using the already established categories.
Posted in: Do you listen to music when writing sermons?
I discovered a few years ago that Handel has 20+ oratorios besides the Messiah, which I used to listen to (religiously?), many on such biblical characters as Saul, Nabal, Gideon, Sampson, Athalia, as well as ones on Judas Maccabeus and Israel in Egypt. I find them very helpful in getting my head in the right place when writing.
Posted in: Can you recommend any good books about rural church ministry?
Josh,
One interesting one might be "Entering the World of the Small Church" by Anthony G. Pappas, put out by Alban Institute. This would be helpful whether your rural church is small or not. Pappas makes the point that entering into a rural church can be somewhat like a missionary or anthropologist entering a tribally structured society. It's a little out of the box--makes you look at things with fresh eyes.
Posted in: What can you do when your church is not meeting its budget?
Before challenging the congregation, it might be helpful for the diaconate to do a giving pattern analysis over the last five years to see what the annual giving patterns might be for the church. These can fluctuate greatly (but regularly over time) from season to season. Often much more than 1 /12th of the budget comes in in December.
Another thought would be to switch to an annual pledge process in which each member is encouraged to pledge their giving for the year. Such a practice can help "detox" the conversation with those who are not giving, opening up an opportunity for understanding the reasons why they are not giving.
I have found the works of Kennon Callahan to be very helpful as well as the ones that Ron noted above. "Effective Church Finances" and "Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church" are two helpful ones. He makes the note that there are essentially five different motivations for giving....compassion, community, challenge, reasonability and commitment. The important thing is that studies have shown that while "challenge" and "commitment" are usually the main motivators for those in leadership, the motivators that work best in the congregation are "compassion" and "community". It's like Gary Smalley's love languages. If the leadership tries to speak to the congregation using the "stewardship language" that connects with themselves first, they will run into a motivational disconnect.
Posted in: Can you recommend any good books about rural church ministry?
Josh,
There are not many books on specifically rural ministry, however, if you do a search on amazon for smaller churches, you would come across many books which are applicable to rural ministry, whatever the size of your own church may be. A very good one along these lines is "Small, Strong Congregations" by Kennon Callahan.
The Natural Church Development process, in which many of our home missions representatives would be familar with, is also helpful, and doesn't differentiate between rural/urban large/small churches. Instead, it simply focuses on improving several "quality characteristics" of healthy churches.
Also, I can't think of it's exact title now, but there is a good conference in Illinois for "Town and Country" churches and pastors, focusing specifically on the challenges and opportunities of rural ministry.
Posted in: Can you recommend any good books about rural church ministry?
Josh,
Found the link. Do a search for "Rural Home Missionary Association". The keynote speaker at their conference this year is Mark Dever. Previous years keynotes have been Calvin Miller, HB London and Henry Blackaby. They also offer certification and specific training in town and country ministry. Hope this helps.
Posted in: Talking About Human Sexuality With Love
"Nor does unity result from agreement about a narrow set of beliefs."
Actually, it does. Let's put aside for a moment the loaded word "narrow", or perhaps exchange it with the word "specific." Does unity result from agreement about a specific set of beliefs? How about the Apostles Creed? The Heidelberg Catechism or our other confessions? Or, to another degree, our church order?
I respect the work that you all do and appreciate the loving spirit behind these words, but this statement coming from ministry leadership of a *confessional church* is a little troubling.
Posted in: Status Confessionis
Henry,
This issue is in its own way a referendum on the 1975 synodical statement and the categories that it laid out. Though that statement noted that Synod's pronouncements are equally authoritative, though differing in use and function, the term "pastoral advice" seems to have taken on a different meaning as the years have gone on. (Similarly, unfortunately, to how many people interpret our own "pastoral advice"--as something they can take or leave.)
My question is, were these categories meant to be mutually exclusive? Simply because something was originally stated as pastoral advice, can't it occupy more than one category? And doesn't a Synod have the authority to declare that something that we already hold as authoritative and biding in one category, may function as well in another category? And isn't that essentially what will happen if the study report is adopted by Synod?
Posted in: Status Confessionis
Example: Acts of Synod 2021.
Posted in: What Are Some of Your Favorite Worship Songs? Let's Make a Playlist
I recently heard "O Lord My Rock and My Redeemer" by Sovereign Grace Worship and have been listening to it on repeat.
Posted in: Shame and Honor, Guilt and Righteousness
I think that Paul Hiebert has written on guilt/shame/fear societies.
I would be interested on further reflection as well, on the shift that seems to be going on within Western society as well, in that it seems that the society is shifting from being a guilt based society to more of a shame based society. With the rise of social media, online activism, "doxing", etc, it seems that shame is much more of an operative power than guilt. I remember from Lew Smedes' book that while guilt is a heavy feeling about what I have done, shame is a heavy feeling about who I am...in some ways even more fundamental and debilitating. I wonder if we are losing ground culturally in part because we continue to use the language of guilt in what is becoming a society of shaming.