Denominational Work
On last week The American Baptist Western District Association met for it's Annual Session. Unfortunately, due to the fact that the University's Summer Session was closing the same time last week, I was unable to attend. I have frequently struggled with this dilemma since I've been in school. I have wanted to participate but have been fixated on finishing my degree. It has especially been a struggle due to the fact that, on the District level, my father (biological and ministerial) is the moderator. I am the District Congress Vice President and Youth Convention Director. On the state level, I hold the Third Vice President of Congress. These "connections" and responsibilities have made for a great burden when I am not able to attend and/or be a part.
Now here comes the "whammy." I know it will not be well accepted and/or politically correct to express for some, however I don't know how I feel about the current standing of most denominational work. Now, I must rush to say that I realize and understand the purpose for which it was constructed is above reproach. The aim of our associations and conventions, in principle, are something that I believe anyone would have to agree is noteworthy. But, I can't help but express my feeling that there is a "falling short" at this point in the "work." Though the word of God and His commission and commandment are certain and sure, it would appear there has been a dichotomy in how culturally relevant these entities strive to be. In other words... I realize that the message will NEVER change, however our methods seem to be prehistoric.
As a pastor, it is getting increasingly more difficult to convince people (in my congregation and abroad) that we should patronize and participate in the associations, Congresses, and conventions. Those faithful few (the company of committed) that try their best to comply and support the work being that I usually announce and insist, usually end up thinking "what was the point?" Now, I find myself in a constant dilemma. I really don't feel motivated to insist that they come anymore because, when they do, the time doesn't seem to be used efficiently. Now, I will be the first to say that there are exceptions to the rule. For example, the Southern Baptists and BGCT are entities that are constantly making a difference in ministries, missions, etc. When we, as a church, are constantly trying to figure out which bill to pay this week and which one can hold off another... It becomes a great deal of strain to go to the "sessions" and fork over hundreds of dollars, that could be going toward the survival of the church. Especially when I go and there are no representatives or "delegates" present from my congregation other than my wife, children, and a few of the "senior saints."
What is my point??? Well, to be honest, I am still working and praying that out. I just thought I would use the blog to vent my general frustrations. Would love to hear what you think...
Labels: Associations, Congress, Conventions
posted by Pastor Kevin Lanier Pullam @ 4:53 AM
6 comments
6 Comments:
I feel the same way as you Pastor. This is a dilemma that we will sooner or later have to make a decision that is in the best interest of the congregation that we are called to serve.
I feel the same way as you Pastor. This is a dilemma that we will sooner or later have to make a decision that is in the best interest of the congregation that we are called to serve.
Kevin,
I know all too well about the conventions and associations. I agree the the premise on which these entities were established is great, however at this time they seem to fall short of many expectations and ideas on what should be going on. In this area we were part of the St. John Landmark Baptist District Assoiciation. Notice I say were, I think it has dissolved all together. I am torm between two opinions as to the demise and shortcomings. Here's what I mean. On one hand I could say that the meetings are traditional, outdated, irrelavant and boring to most Christians today. On the other hand my heart tells me that there is not anything wrong with the program rather the people who attend. You see I believe so many people are looking for so much more when God is there all the time. We are so used to being cheered to and cheered at that if it's quiet and still we can't even see the Salvation of the Lord. If it's not elaborate we think its simply, silly and futile. Don't get me wrong some of the curriculum and courses need updating but the basic premise is still good. This world is ever changing but HIS word remains the same and it is by HIS word that we will be changed. One method will never reach the masses so we must compromise for the greater good of the organization.
Hugs,
Connye
This is a good post. I think all of us in ministry should find what works best for us. What is good for one may not be good for another. I have discovered that affiliations (local and national) do have their place. Smaller congregations can probably benefit greatly from these organizations. As a Pastor, I am committed to finding those organizations that I see producing. Smaller congregations are usually unable to make a significant impact upon a particular group. But being a part of an organization that does (i.e. - BGCT, SBCT, etc.), can expand that church's influence. What I DID appreciate about the associations in my formative years was the amazing impact the competitions had upon my thinking and diligence in the word. For instance (and this is not arrogance), it is difficult for me not to find ANY passage of scripture in less than 5 seconds. I do it instinctively. I learned this through our associations and conventions. It has its place. I think it is losing it's priority and focus in membership; but I will enjoy having more time to commit to this as well when I finish my studies. I think it is a major benefit and can pay dividends if apart of the right group. Unfortunately, there are groups that don't produce. I must say, I have benefited greatly from even scholarships of associatons and conventions. So - there ARE some who are making a difference.
I can relate to all that you have said. Many of the questions asked by those sitting on the sidelines have had an ongoing debate especially by recent generations, and I understand why. I agree with Connye and Kraig's comments for the most part. But I am of an older generation and have seen these organizations serve us in addition to obvious ministries of foreign mission etc. that we couldn't do alone or as an individual church. It also served to equip the churchmen who (in those days) didn't have the means to cultivate the spiritual and intellectual mind on a higher level and also being challenged to present yourself intellectually before your peers. In a time when the average person couldn't grace the halls of seminaries to study, and we couldn't go on vacations, to amusement parks, theaters, public swimming pools, and publc parks to picnic. The gathering also served as wholesome fellowship. We didn't have no other resource or opportunity to gather on a larger scale beyond our local church families and what we learned in our Sunday Schools and B.T.U. (Baptist Training Union)
So, what does that have to do with now? What are we to gain today? It's Simple, we still have not arrived. There is STILL power in numbers to achieve what the church is supposed to be doing. We would not have overcome the Civil Rights movement without this mentality of assembling ourselves numerically to do the unthinkable and the impossible. We are losing TRUE Churchmen as we once knew them to be. The same principles of the early Associations and Conventions can still work today for the good of churches and it's parishioners. We have lost the support that we need to become a greater organization with new minds, better minds, committed minds. With this kind of support there is nothing we can't do for the cause of Christ. Most of our churches are not Mega Churches but with the forces of all of us together we can do marvolous things to edify.
So, if the history is told to the new generation and the goals that our Congresses and Conventions are trying to achieve with a unwavering passion, maybe we will have a committed people to serve with new ideas and vision. I pray that our 125 plus years of trying to maintain our own religious organization does not die but rise up with new vision and support.
There is so much more I could say. Sorry for using so much space. My family of long winded preachers is rubbing off on me. Be Blessed.
vlpSongbird
Interesting blog relating to denominational work as well as some very interesting and thoughtful comments.
I have a lot to say about this so it mat be a little lenghty.
First of all let me say that I both agree and disagree.
I do agree that methods must change in order to serve the "present age" and I do agreee that the intent and mission of the original founders is still intact.
I do not agree that these entities are no longer culturally relevant.
In fact I am on the opposite side of this point. I believe they are more relevant now than ever.
Now, let me share the real problem as I see it. And, believe me, I speak as a voice of experience and can feel every emotion that has been expressed by some of the pastors in their comments.
Well, here goes.
I firmly believe that no organization is or will be any better that the people involved in it and the work that dedicated people put into it and invest in it.
The generations that preceded us poured their hearts, souls, minds, spirits and resources into the demominational work and many of us benefited greatly from their labors of love and their many sacrifices. They left the work in our hands and, unfortunately, it seems that we fumbled or dropped the ball. Their focus was on "what can I do and what can I give to make this organization or work better, not just for me but for future generations? It was all about "what can I do for it, not what can it do for me. But now, in most circles, it is all about what can it do for me? Well, the answer to that question goes back to what a person is willing to invest in the organization. And I do not mean only finance. Finace was a minor factor in those that preceded us. They did not have much money to invest but they invested themselves.
Why are we falling short these days? I tell you why. Becasue the great minds that benefited from these so called feeble groups have for the most part abandoned them and left them to fend for themselves. The attitude is, "when you get it together and have somthing to offer, then I will come." Unfortunately, this is not going to happen. It is pretty clear that the intent and desire of the founding fathers was that those that they invested in would return and invest in, expand and broaden the work they started.
Unfortunately, this reflects a pattern in our culture.
We need look no further than the demise of Bishop College.
I am not a Bishop College graduate having graduated from what is now Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi. But, like most preacher/pastors I grew up knowing about the greatness of Bishop College and was blessed to see, hear and know some of its many preachers and, belive me, Bishop produced some of this nations greatest and most prominent preachers. Now, Bishop was founded and sustained by small groups of committed and dedicated Christian folks. Before the age of mega churches, etc. These simple,God fearing men and women made the sacrifice to keep the doors open and keep the school operating.
But, low and behold, in this "present age" so to speak, in the age where hundreds of Bishop graduates were pastoring in some of the largest and richest pulpits in this nation, after having benefited from all that Bishop College had of offer and all it had invested in them, well, the school was lost and closed. Why? Because it was abandoned by the very people it had invested in.
We are at the point now where most if not all of our denominational work in our culture is on the "endagered species list" and will soon fade into non-existence if those who have reaped benefits from them do not answer the call.
A great preacher, Dr. Manuel Scott, once shared with me and group of other young preachers that we should "never forget or fail to invest in the people and institutions that invested in us". I have never forgotten those words and I pray that I never will. I do not knock Southern Baptist and I admire greatly their work and the church where I pastor is dualy aligned and a part of this work too, but the key to their success is that they continue to invest in the institutions and organizations that helped them. As those brothers move out into various fields of ministry they do not fail to reach back and invest in and help those groups that helped them. They use their education, their minds, their energy and their resources to make it better, to retool, to change the methods, etc. Why do you think private colleges like Baylor, Southern Methodist, etc. continue to grow and thrive? Because those alumni who graduate and go on to be successful don't fail to reach back and invest in those institutions who invested in them. I so admire Bill Cosby and his wife. Whether you agree with them or not or even like them or not it is a fact that they have and continue to invest in the Colleges and instutions that invested in them. They have given millions to Spellman and other schools.
Either in the original blog or one of the comments it was related how much the individual benefited from the competitive activities in their formative years and how much it helps them even today. Now, in my humble and feeble opinion, this alone is enough to motivate and inspire a person to "not forget those who helped you." Listen folks, our denominational work is dying. Not for lack of mission, not for lack of relevance, not for lack of need. No, it is dying for lack of people who care, people who are willing to make the sacrifice, and people who will major on "what can I render?"
At this point there are a few warriors left who are trying and struggling with all that is in them to keep the dreams, work, and aspirations of previous generations alive and moving.
Again, our groups can only produce based on who participates in those groups.
As for me, I am one of those warriors. Why do I do it? Why do I make the sacrifice? Why do I encourage the people I pastor to participate? Why do I continue to struggle with the work? Is it becaue I have to? No! Is it discouraging sometimes? Yes! Is it frustrating at times? Yes! So, why do I do it? Because I am totally convinced and convicted that God did not bring the work this far to leave it to die now. And I do it because I remember so very well the great sacrifices that prior generations made on my behalf. I remember how they (H.C. Dilworth, P.S. Wilkinson, and others) were such a great blessing to my life and how much they loved and sacrificed for the work and how they prayed for its' future becasue they knew that they were moving off the scene.
I never shall forget the sacrifices that my wife and I made to take our children to some of the denominational work. Times were really tuff and money was really tight and there were times that we barley made it but, by the grace of God we did. And we can and do say today without any hesitation whatsover, "it was worth it." It was worth every penney, every minute of our time, every mile we drove, every creature comfort we sacrificed. Yes, it was worth it. Many parents our age just did not see the point in investing in this "stuff" as they called it and would instead use their resources to go to some recreational place instead. And we were often criticized for spending money on the "stuff" But, I repeat, it was worth it; God blessed it and prospered it and, I am a living witness when I look at the lives of my children and even my extended family, nieces, nephews, etc. who also participated in denominational work as children, It was worth it and even today continues to pay great dividends in their lives.
So, should they give something back, in my opinion, yes, do they have to, no they don't. Will they see instant benefits, probably not. Will God bless it, oh, yes He will. Will it pay off, yes, it will.
Is the work still relevant? Yes it is. To say it is not would literally be to say that God has changed and we all know that He has not changed. What worked and benefited me as a child, well, He is still the same God, what worked and benefited my children many years later, well, He is stil the same God, what is benefiting my grandchildren even now, still the same God. Will work in the future? Yes it will! Will it work without people? Well, I think we all know the answer to that one. It does take people. Ordinary, committed and dedicated people.
District, State, National? They will only be as good as we make them be. Listen folks, the work was left in our hands. They did the best they could with what they had. I mean, with all of the technology, education, etc. that we now have at our disposal, it is a shame and a sin that we are not using what God blessed us with to make this work better.
In closing I simply repeat the words of the beloved Dr. Manuel Scott that I witnessed him speak to a small group of us young,(very young then) preachers: "never forget or fail to invest in those people or institutions that invested in you."
God bless you all. I could go on but I will save some for posting on my own blog at a later date.
Well, one more thing. (you know, the Baptist preacher in me had to make one more point).
I can say as a Moderator and State Convention Vice President in denominational that what we desperately need is "help." We desperately need somebody to "come over to Macedonia" and help us. As it relates to denominational work in the African American experience we are in effect "fighting for our very lives" but our arms are growing mighty weary and we need to have a Moses like experience. Somebody needs to help "raise the arms!" God bless you all.
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