Don't put the infrequent attender and uninvolved member on council in the hopes of getting him more involved in church. Making an uncommitted member a church leader could be detrimental to your ministry.
Indeed, Kathy! There should be a different church order option for pastors who must separate for purposes that do not connote or denote a "divorce" of anykind. Perhaps a leave of absence could allow for a church to search for a new pastor or a pastor to receive a call from another church. As it stands a leave of absence requires the pastor to return to the same church. The Acts of Synod shouldn't be required to report that synodical delegates have heard "weighty reasons" for an Art. 17 when the pastor (with the blessing of his or her council) is going back to school or training for a different sort of ministry (e.g. chaplaincy, church planting, pastoral counseling). The real meaning of the non-divorce Art. 17 isn't reported in the Acts of Synod. So, the stigma sticks... and stinks!
I acknowledge the fact that there are irate bloggers who have commented on this. However there have also been valid criticisms and concerns regarding this decision. Having an opinion and voicing a concern does not mean "flaunting our more-orthodox-than-thou attitude" nor does it have to be classified as hate speech. Passionate disagreement can be a good thing and we would do well to have the debate without judging the attitudes and motives of those who voice their passionate points of view. I wish we would spend more of our energies talking about the atonement and what the Bible says about it.
Posted in: Top 10 Ways to Recruit New Council Members
Don't put the infrequent attender and uninvolved member on council in the hopes of getting him more involved in church. Making an uncommitted member a church leader could be detrimental to your ministry.
Posted in: The Article 17 Flag
Indeed, Kathy! There should be a different church order option for pastors who must separate for purposes that do not connote or denote a "divorce" of anykind. Perhaps a leave of absence could allow for a church to search for a new pastor or a pastor to receive a call from another church. As it stands a leave of absence requires the pastor to return to the same church. The Acts of Synod shouldn't be required to report that synodical delegates have heard "weighty reasons" for an Art. 17 when the pastor (with the blessing of his or her council) is going back to school or training for a different sort of ministry (e.g. chaplaincy, church planting, pastoral counseling). The real meaning of the non-divorce Art. 17 isn't reported in the Acts of Synod. So, the stigma sticks... and stinks!
Posted in: Orthodoxy and In Christ Alone
I acknowledge the fact that there are irate bloggers who have commented on this. However there have also been valid criticisms and concerns regarding this decision. Having an opinion and voicing a concern does not mean "flaunting our more-orthodox-than-thou attitude" nor does it have to be classified as hate speech. Passionate disagreement can be a good thing and we would do well to have the debate without judging the attitudes and motives of those who voice their passionate points of view. I wish we would spend more of our energies talking about the atonement and what the Bible says about it.