I am an Executive Search Consultant with the Rukes Search Group, as well as a retired CRCNA pastor. I have had the privilege of serving congregations in both the RCA and CRCNA. When I am not working, I am hanging out with my family or reading a book or fishing in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan or serving as the Commissioner of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League or playing piano.
Erin, thank you for your comment. I concur with the temptation but have not been able to identify its root cause. Maybe it is an aversion to risk. I say that because shepherding people can be difficult.
John, thanks for your comments. I am sure there are a few pastors who may be tempted by sloth. I don't know many and that hasn't been my experience. Unfortunately, the temptation of success, as well my people-pleasing tendencies, has resulted in the opposite problem: a disregard of a biblical pattern of work and rest.
Just ran across these words from a sermon on the Holy Spirit by A.W. Tozer: There is more of God in Augustine's Confessions than there is in all of the books written in fundamental circles in the last fifty years. If I were on an island and I could have a pile of all the fundamental, full-gospel literature written in the last fifty years, or have Augustine's Confessions, I would give up all the rest to keep the one book because God is in that book.
Thanks Bev. You raise some good points about the relationship between the organism (the local church) and the organization (the denomination).
As you note, the denomination is a human construct that, we trusts, helps the local church join with God in his mission to seek and save the lost by making disciples, even among the least of these. But as a human construct, I find helpful and even necessary to, at least, protect churches from pastors and pastors from churches. Congregations, like individual Christ-followers, benefit from accountability, don't you think?
Thanks for your response. It confirms that the crcna is taking the repair option discussed in part 1. I hope the efforts are successful. As I noted in part 1, I lean towards the reform option though it is nothing more than an idea, though the ECO suggest that it may work.
Darren, I hope I did not suggest that "repair" was a judgment, and hence fair or unfair. The reject, repair, reform triad is simply a typology that helps us interpret history. As types they do not describe reality, they simply approximate it. And institutional responses can be a mix but seem to land in one of the three categories. For me, the primary indicator that one has taken the repair option is that efforts are made to repair or, as you put it, reform current structures. The reform option tends to operated from ground zero and builds up from there (ECO or ARC as examples). Again, they are simply typologies that help us understand the ecclesiastical landscape we live in. While I have a preference, I meant no moral judgment to those who choose the reject option or the repair option.
Thanks much for taking the time to weigh in on this important conversation.
Thank you, Eric, for your post. In my initial post I noted that the fundamental purpose of most denominations has been "to do more together." With your comment, and that of Doug, I more clearly see that such a purpose may produce denominational advocacy groups, such as the Office of Social Justice (CRCNA). Perhaps it is my own insecurities, but these groups feel patronizing and paternalistic to those of us in the trenches serving local congregations. Plus, and more importantly, the very existence of advocacy groups at a denominational level suggests that the prophetic function of the church lies with the denomination and not within the local church which has been gifted by the Spirit with the prophetic.
But I will add that when I served as a pastor of a local CRCNA congregation, the denomination supplanted the ministry of my congregation, and the congregation would have loved to do more but couldn't because of ministry shares. Just two days ago, I received two personal phone calls from CRCNA pastors who, while thanking me for starting this conversation, shared the same experience.
On a similar note, I find broad support from CRCNA pastors, including this one, for the work of World Renew. Your agency meets congregations in their context, walks alongside of them, and provides opportunities to extend their witness. Keep up the good work.
Darren, thank you for your contribution to this conversation. You encouraged me to do "some double checking and write in such a way as to how you see your hopes and dreams being realized in the context of the CRCNA." I found that suggestion interesting and. perhaps, telling. Here's what I mean: I am a pastor in the field, serving local congregations (from several denominations, including the CRCNA) where I am not seeing the denomination serve the mission of the local church. But I am to do research to be convinced that the denomination is, in fact, advancing the mission of the local church?
I am reminded of a basic principle that love is determined by the beloved, not the lover. The wife who tells her husband, "I don't think you love me." And he offers a litany of things he does that he perceives as loving. The problem being that she doesn't perceive those same acts as loving. To remedy the problem, the husband must ask his wife, "How can I love you?" In other words, he must do far less communicating and far more listening -- and then respond accordingly.
I wonder is that dynamic exists between congregations and their denominations. Could that explain the thread-like connection between the two? The denomination may think it is supporting the mission of the local church but the local congregation is not feeling that support. The denomination ramps up its communication to convince the congregation that it is supporting her, when the remedy is for the denomination to listen to its congregations. Perhaps it is time for denominational officials to sit down with each congregation and ask, "How can we help you better fulfill your mission?" (An opportunity that has never been afforded the congregations I have served.) And, then, respond accordingly.
Wendy, I am helped by the distinction between the church gathered (the local church) and the church scattered (individuals living in obedience to Christ in their homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, and world). In this scenario, the scattered Christians are attached to the Church gathered because they serve while under the spiritual authority or covering of the local church. At this very moment, for example, we blog as scattered Christians. If, God forbid, our blog got nasty, our local congregations would/should hold us accountable for our behavior. Granted, such action doesn't happen as often as, perhaps, it should.
Posted in: 3 Persistent Pastoral Temptations
Erin, thank you for your comment. I concur with the temptation but have not been able to identify its root cause. Maybe it is an aversion to risk. I say that because shepherding people can be difficult.
Posted in: 3 Persistent Pastoral Temptations
John, thanks for your comments. I am sure there are a few pastors who may be tempted by sloth. I don't know many and that hasn't been my experience. Unfortunately, the temptation of success, as well my people-pleasing tendencies, has resulted in the opposite problem: a disregard of a biblical pattern of work and rest.
Posted in: Confessions
Just ran across these words from a sermon on the Holy Spirit by A.W. Tozer: There is more of God in Augustine's Confessions than there is in all of the books written in fundamental circles in the last fifty years. If I were on an island and I could have a pile of all the fundamental, full-gospel literature written in the last fifty years, or have Augustine's Confessions, I would give up all the rest to keep the one book because God is in that book.
Posted in: Five Steps to Denominational Renewal - Part 2
Thanks Bev. You raise some good points about the relationship between the organism (the local church) and the organization (the denomination).
As you note, the denomination is a human construct that, we trusts, helps the local church join with God in his mission to seek and save the lost by making disciples, even among the least of these. But as a human construct, I find helpful and even necessary to, at least, protect churches from pastors and pastors from churches. Congregations, like individual Christ-followers, benefit from accountability, don't you think?
Posted in: Five Steps to Denominational Renewal - Part 2
Thanks
And your last comment seems to me right on.
Posted in: Five Steps to Denominational Renewal - Part 2
Thanks for your response. It confirms that the crcna is taking the repair option discussed in part 1. I hope the efforts are successful. As I noted in part 1, I lean towards the reform option though it is nothing more than an idea, though the ECO suggest that it may work.
Posted in: Five Steps to Denominational Renewal - Part 2
Darren, I hope I did not suggest that "repair" was a judgment, and hence fair or unfair. The reject, repair, reform triad is simply a typology that helps us interpret history. As types they do not describe reality, they simply approximate it. And institutional responses can be a mix but seem to land in one of the three categories. For me, the primary indicator that one has taken the repair option is that efforts are made to repair or, as you put it, reform current structures. The reform option tends to operated from ground zero and builds up from there (ECO or ARC as examples). Again, they are simply typologies that help us understand the ecclesiastical landscape we live in. While I have a preference, I meant no moral judgment to those who choose the reject option or the repair option.
Thanks much for taking the time to weigh in on this important conversation.
Posted in: Five Steps to Denominational Renewal - Part 2
Thank you, Eric, for your post. In my initial post I noted that the fundamental purpose of most denominations has been "to do more together." With your comment, and that of Doug, I more clearly see that such a purpose may produce denominational advocacy groups, such as the Office of Social Justice (CRCNA). Perhaps it is my own insecurities, but these groups feel patronizing and paternalistic to those of us in the trenches serving local congregations. Plus, and more importantly, the very existence of advocacy groups at a denominational level suggests that the prophetic function of the church lies with the denomination and not within the local church which has been gifted by the Spirit with the prophetic.
Posted in: Five Steps to Denominational Renewal - Part 2
Me, too ... Still working on it, Wendy!
But I will add that when I served as a pastor of a local CRCNA congregation, the denomination supplanted the ministry of my congregation, and the congregation would have loved to do more but couldn't because of ministry shares. Just two days ago, I received two personal phone calls from CRCNA pastors who, while thanking me for starting this conversation, shared the same experience.
On a similar note, I find broad support from CRCNA pastors, including this one, for the work of World Renew. Your agency meets congregations in their context, walks alongside of them, and provides opportunities to extend their witness. Keep up the good work.
Posted in: Five Steps to Denominational Renewal - Part 2
Amen on the need for more listening and fewer surveys.
Posted in: Five Steps to Denominational Renewal - Part 2
Darren, thank you for your contribution to this conversation. You encouraged me to do "some double checking and write in such a way as to how you see your hopes and dreams being realized in the context of the CRCNA." I found that suggestion interesting and. perhaps, telling. Here's what I mean: I am a pastor in the field, serving local congregations (from several denominations, including the CRCNA) where I am not seeing the denomination serve the mission of the local church. But I am to do research to be convinced that the denomination is, in fact, advancing the mission of the local church?
I am reminded of a basic principle that love is determined by the beloved, not the lover. The wife who tells her husband, "I don't think you love me." And he offers a litany of things he does that he perceives as loving. The problem being that she doesn't perceive those same acts as loving. To remedy the problem, the husband must ask his wife, "How can I love you?" In other words, he must do far less communicating and far more listening -- and then respond accordingly.
I wonder is that dynamic exists between congregations and their denominations. Could that explain the thread-like connection between the two? The denomination may think it is supporting the mission of the local church but the local congregation is not feeling that support. The denomination ramps up its communication to convince the congregation that it is supporting her, when the remedy is for the denomination to listen to its congregations. Perhaps it is time for denominational officials to sit down with each congregation and ask, "How can we help you better fulfill your mission?" (An opportunity that has never been afforded the congregations I have served.) And, then, respond accordingly.
Posted in: Five Steps to Denominational Renewal - Part 2
Wendy, I am helped by the distinction between the church gathered (the local church) and the church scattered (individuals living in obedience to Christ in their homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, and world). In this scenario, the scattered Christians are attached to the Church gathered because they serve while under the spiritual authority or covering of the local church. At this very moment, for example, we blog as scattered Christians. If, God forbid, our blog got nasty, our local congregations would/should hold us accountable for our behavior. Granted, such action doesn't happen as often as, perhaps, it should.