Retired pastor living in Arizona. Besides being a pastor, I also worked in mediation for businesses, divorce and custody cases. I am the former Deputy Director of Maricopa County Family Court Conciliation Services. During my ministry in CHandler, AZ ( a church plant) I belonged to many community boards including hospitals, schools, social service agencies, etc. I am a past president of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce.
Posted in: How Helpful are Disagreements?
My next "Blog" will be on mediation. I am trained in both General and Family Mediation and firmly believe that part of Pastor Counseling Courses should include a course on Mediation as it applies to both the church in general and counseling of family conflicts as well.
Posted in: Are We ignoring Elders at Synod?
Many of the elders that served on the Councils of the churches I served kept well informed by reading such publications as "The Banner" etc. Also, unless things have changed seminary did very little to help students prepare for administration tasks such as chairing meeting. I have been a past chairmen (president) of organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Catholic Social Services as a member who had a term limit. Running a meeting and knowing everything about the organization are two different things that are necessarily related.
Posted in: Are We ignoring Elders at Synod?
Thanks, Good Stuff!!!!
Posted in: Are We Promoting Individualism or Community?
Steve, you make a valid point(s), but I think we need to strike a balance. The Bible is filled with the concept of "fellowship, community". It is also reminds us to seek sound doctrine, to remember history, and recounts the ones who were faithful in the past. I believe knowing what the reformation is all about enriches my personal faith, reading the Catechism question and answer 1 enriches my faith, reading the past theologians, and authors such as C.S. Lewis enriches my faith. If your past was one in which you lacked the ability to spread the Gospel in Word and Deed then you ought to find ways to build up what you consider a shortcoming of the past but not at the expense of sound theology and community building.
My point is that today spirituality is nebulous and undefined with no knowledge of the past.
Al
Posted in: Church: Institute, Organism, or Something Else?
They are all part of the church as Institute. When they go out and do things like welfare programs, education, etc. they are the organism. Good article appreciate the subject.
Posted in: Where Have All the Tulips Gone?
Thanks for the response. I agree with your comments about "Tulip" but my real point is, "Are we teaching our confessions to our members both young and old?" Glad to hear that you are preaching it!
Posted in: Church is Boring!
Maybe I did not make it very "clear" but my point is that the church is more than worship - it is about "communion of the saints". It is about serving as well as being served. It is about interaction. I think the person who critiqued the church as boring in her book only looked at worship because as a former attendee of a church see was part of a mega church here in Scottsdale, AZ which I am familiar with and she only attended worship services with no emphasis on the interaction of "communion of the saints". Church was boring because she lacked participation in the church. Having been a past president of a Chamber of Commerce, I encountered people with the same complaint about the Chamber but much had to do with it being their fault for lack of interaction and serving.
Posted in: Check Out the Music
I am a bit surprised that we did not receive more comments on "consistory supervision" of music, words, worship service in general. They seem to delegate without oversight.
One last try at "untameable". It means to me no control - God is controled by his own righteousness in which he wants us to be righteous as he is righteous. Love our neighbor as he loves us, etc.
Posted in: Check Out the Music
I am just pointing out what the church order states. I don't think you need to know music to check out the words of a song.
Posted in: Check Out the Music
Thank you for your response and information.
Posted in: Check Out the Music
If I am not mistaken the Synodical delgations from each classis begins at the local level delegating to Classis and then delegating elders to Synod. So Elders at Synod make the final decision. Prior to that happening the proposed Hymnal is asked to be reviewed by the churches for feedback. So the whole process still places emphasis on "elder supervision and approval".
I mentioned in an earlier comment I was not completely against the word "untameable" but I still maintain it is not the best word to describe God. However to each his own interpretation of the word as used in the song.
Posted in: Check Out the Music
Thanks for all the feedback. Coming up next my "take" on Church Discipline.