Sorry, just a few other questions. What are the funding streams that are used in the planting process? Is it from the denomination or is it primarily from the local churches/networks? Do they have any sort of training for the churches or networks that enter into the process as parents? Thanks.
Thanks for this thread, it's very interesting, especially your last point. If you are ever able to post links to any published studies/etc about it, that would be great.
This is a great reminder and I just wanted to give it a "bump" to help keep it in people's radar. I especially wanted to point out your recommendation to bring overtures of support to classis and synod concerning the report. You folks have done great work on an important issue that has literally been discussed for something like a century. Bavink, Kuyper, Wm. Heyns all talked about making deacons part of the broader assemblies. It has come up before Synod before but the pushback was always that it wasn't the traditional way of understanding the office. Hopefully the tipping point will take place this summer.
Let's not make this the "sleeper" at synod that's not discussed until Friday afternoon. Let's give it the time and the attention that it deserves. Semper Reformanda! (steps off of soapbox).
“I am young in years,
and you are old;
that is why I was fearful,
not daring to tell you what I know.
7 I thought, ‘Age should speak;
advanced years should teach wisdom.’
8 But it is the spirit[b] in a person,
the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
9 It is not only the old[c] who are wise,
not only the aged who understand what is right."
As I once heard someone say "People tell me that they've been a Christian for twenty years, when they've really been a Christian for only one year, and they've just been repeating themselves for the last 19."
Broken record plug...the books of John Collins, who over the last several years has made the case that the diakon- family of words carries with it the idea that diakonia also carries with it the idea of "bridgebuilder" or "ambassador"...once again, something that we all are for the kingdom of God.
I remember studying the development of the office of Evangelist in seminary. It took almost forty years and a lot of soul searching for our denomination to come to the conclusion that biblically, there was another office. Since then it's changed a lot! (or ceased to exist?)
Looked at in the light of wider tradition, I wonder if the office of ministry associate/commissioned pastor that we've developed is similar to what some denominations(not our own) would call a permanent deacon. If we want to give this office more bibllical/theological clarity, I wonder if we should see it in that light.
I think that one way that classical renewal can take place is through ensuring that the home missions committee of the classis is healthy and that it includes as part of its mandate the support and revitalization of established churches in the classis. One way we are exploring this is by creating a Natural Church Development "scholarship" that churches can make use of...in time we hope it will give us an objective baseline to focus renewal efforts.
These are the three questions that we are currently using for mutual censure:
1. In your opinion, are the office-bearers of our church carrying out their duties to the best of their abilities?
2. In your opinion, are the various programs and ministries of our church being maintained faithfully, and is the church fulfilling the Great Commission through them?
3. Do you have any ideas about how our church ministies or church leadership can be encouraged or developed?
These are put in the agenda which is sent out a few days in advance, and we go around the room at the end of a meeting prior to communion (6x a year) asking each officebearer to answer the questions. As John notes, it can be a great time not only for correction but also for encouragement.
In the chuch where I serve, each month there is an element of the elders meeting called "Service and Sermon Discussion". I present some of the themes that I have preached on in the last month, those that I am considering preaching on in the month to come, and open up the discussion for elders comments, questions, and thoughts. This is also a good time to get an on the ground impression from the elders of where the people of our congregation are at. It was intimidating the first times I did it but I find it helpful.
Posted in: Three Marks of a Mature Church?
Larry,
Sorry, just a few other questions. What are the funding streams that are used in the planting process? Is it from the denomination or is it primarily from the local churches/networks? Do they have any sort of training for the churches or networks that enter into the process as parents? Thanks.
Posted in: Three Marks of a Mature Church?
Larry,
Thanks for this thread, it's very interesting, especially your last point. If you are ever able to post links to any published studies/etc about it, that would be great.
Posted in: Diakonia Remixed Report To Synod
Melissa,
This is a great reminder and I just wanted to give it a "bump" to help keep it in people's radar. I especially wanted to point out your recommendation to bring overtures of support to classis and synod concerning the report. You folks have done great work on an important issue that has literally been discussed for something like a century. Bavink, Kuyper, Wm. Heyns all talked about making deacons part of the broader assemblies. It has come up before Synod before but the pushback was always that it wasn't the traditional way of understanding the office. Hopefully the tipping point will take place this summer.
Let's not make this the "sleeper" at synod that's not discussed until Friday afternoon. Let's give it the time and the attention that it deserves. Semper Reformanda! (steps off of soapbox).
Posted in: How Young Is Too Young For Council?
Some interesting words from Job 32:
“I am young in years,
and you are old;
that is why I was fearful,
not daring to tell you what I know.
7 I thought, ‘Age should speak;
advanced years should teach wisdom.’
8 But it is the spirit[b] in a person,
the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
9 It is not only the old[c] who are wise,
not only the aged who understand what is right."
Posted in: How Young Is Too Young For Council?
As I once heard someone say "People tell me that they've been a Christian for twenty years, when they've really been a Christian for only one year, and they've just been repeating themselves for the last 19."
Posted in: Church is Boring!
Just for fun, let's look at it from a different angle.
Theologically, boredom is often the manifestation of the deadly sin of sloth.
Good book on this "Still Bored in a Culture of Entertainment: Recovering Passion and Wonder" by Richard Winter.
Posted in: Everyone's A Deacon!
Thanks, Melissa!
Broken record plug...the books of John Collins, who over the last several years has made the case that the diakon- family of words carries with it the idea that diakonia also carries with it the idea of "bridgebuilder" or "ambassador"...once again, something that we all are for the kingdom of God.
Posted in: Commissioned Pastors: A Rose By Another Name?
I remember studying the development of the office of Evangelist in seminary. It took almost forty years and a lot of soul searching for our denomination to come to the conclusion that biblically, there was another office. Since then it's changed a lot! (or ceased to exist?)
Looked at in the light of wider tradition, I wonder if the office of ministry associate/commissioned pastor that we've developed is similar to what some denominations(not our own) would call a permanent deacon. If we want to give this office more bibllical/theological clarity, I wonder if we should see it in that light.
Posted in: Classis: Diagnosing and Prescribing
I think that one way that classical renewal can take place is through ensuring that the home missions committee of the classis is healthy and that it includes as part of its mandate the support and revitalization of established churches in the classis. One way we are exploring this is by creating a Natural Church Development "scholarship" that churches can make use of...in time we hope it will give us an objective baseline to focus renewal efforts.
Posted in: How Do You Keep Peace in the Council Room?
No problem, Todd, that would be fine. We've found it allows for discussion that's both respectful and honest.
Posted in: How Do You Keep Peace in the Council Room?
These are the three questions that we are currently using for mutual censure:
1. In your opinion, are the office-bearers of our church carrying out their duties to the best of their abilities?
2. In your opinion, are the various programs and ministries of our church being maintained faithfully, and is the church fulfilling the Great Commission through them?
3. Do you have any ideas about how our church ministies or church leadership can be encouraged or developed?
These are put in the agenda which is sent out a few days in advance, and we go around the room at the end of a meeting prior to communion (6x a year) asking each officebearer to answer the questions. As John notes, it can be a great time not only for correction but also for encouragement.
Posted in: So How Good are the Sermons in the CRC?
In the chuch where I serve, each month there is an element of the elders meeting called "Service and Sermon Discussion". I present some of the themes that I have preached on in the last month, those that I am considering preaching on in the month to come, and open up the discussion for elders comments, questions, and thoughts. This is also a good time to get an on the ground impression from the elders of where the people of our congregation are at. It was intimidating the first times I did it but I find it helpful.