beaconchurches

[chip]

VALLEY FORGE, PA ( ABNS 06/27/08 ) — During the first session of its annual meeting at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in King of Prussia, Pa., the General Board of American Baptist Churches USA was introduced to a proposed new structure for governance designed to bring greater empowerment for mission.

In their joint report, Mary Armacost Hulst, board president, and General Secretary A. Roy Medley, described how the changes under consideration would support the current mission goals of the American Baptist mission partners — National Ministries, International Ministries, the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board, and the General Secretary’s Office. However, the new structure would also implement changes that allow the denomination to “be more nimble” in responding quickly to mission opportunities, Medley reported. Hulst said, “Structure is the larger tool enabling the mission of local churches.”

If the new structure is adopted, ways of doing mission that bring healing to hurting people, are sensitive to cultural differences, and seek justice for all would continue, fulfilling the denomination’s essential mission to be the hands of Christ “blessing the world” and the feet of Christ “walking to do good.” Hulst said hallmarks that would remain are the denomination’s commitment to local churches and the high value placed on representation and diversity.

In other reporting, Budget Review Officer James R. Ratliff said the auditors were pleased with the audit process and gave an unqualified opinion on the 2007 financials. Last year was good financially for American Baptist Churches USA. Mission support has gone up in some areas, while other areas have seen a decline.

One anticipated financial advantage is the internal purchase of the Mission Center building. The acting treasurer and associate general secretary for finance, Lloyd Hamblin, indicated that the purchase could be finalized by late July at the earliest. The transfer of the property to the American Baptist mission partners will result in creation of an endowment fund to help balance the budget.

Medley also reported that the denomination has acted on the statement issued on the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., which says American Baptists need to “seize the moment now to be a witness and agent of Christ’s reconciliation and peace.” The intercultural team of National Ministries made recommendations and provided resources for congregations, available at the National Ministries website.

Medley said, “We are growing in our competency for dealing with diversity,” due to the efforts of the denomination to gain expertise in handling this issue.

[RET]

In other reporting, Budget Review Officer James R. Ratliff said the auditors were pleased with the audit process and gave an unqualified opinion on the 2007 financials. Last year was good financially for American Baptist Churches USA. Mission support has gone up in some areas, while other areas have seen a decline.

What the heck does this mean?

"gave an unqualified opinion" - And what was that opinion?

"last year was good financially" - What is meant by 'good'? Actual increase? Better than projected?

"Mission support has gone up in some areas, while other areas have seen a decline." - What areas experienced an increase, and by how much? Where were the declines, and by how much?

<>< Ron Troup

[ehart]

One anticipated financial advantage is the internal purchase of the Mission Center building. The acting treasurer and associate general secretary for finance, Lloyd Hamblin, indicated that the purchase could be finalized by late July at the earliest. The transfer of the property to the American Baptist mission partners will result in creation of an endowment fund to help balance the budget.

I want this explained. Is this like robbing Peter to pay Paul? How is this going to help balance the budget? How do you create an endowment by selling your own property to yourself?

Medley also reported that the denomination has acted on the statement issued on the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., which says American Baptists need to “seize the moment now to be a witness and agent of Christ’s reconciliation and peace.” The intercultural team of National Ministries made recommendations and provided resources for congregations, available at the National Ministries website.

What's the deal with this? Seize the moment to reconcile? Sounds like a euphemism for "let's all just love each other and get along." Can I gag now?

I'll agree with reconciliation as long as we are reconciling with God on His terms. This doesn't sound like that's the goal especially when it's followed with this:

Medley said, “We are growing in our competency for dealing with diversity,” due to the efforts of the denomination to gain expertise in handling this issue.

It sounds more like what we really want is a better understanding of each other so we can just get along as in "the more diverse we are in our culture and beliefs, the better we'll all like each other."

That's not what church, Christianity and being followers of Jesus is suppose to be about.

And after having read John MacArthur's The Truth War, I want to know when soul-winning is going to be mentioned in one of these board meetings--you know, THE GREAT COMMISSION????? Maybe someone in Valley Forge has heard of it?

[artjaggard]

"gave an unqualified opinion" - And what was that opinion?

"last year was good financially" - What is meant by 'good'? Actual increase? Better than projected?

Hi folks,
Sorry to be gone so long,
The language is standard accounting language.
The good financial year means that the accounting showed accurately what the profit or loss was.
An unqualified opinion means that standard accounting procedure was followed without any exceptions (which would have qualified the report.)

[RET]

The language is standard accounting language.
The good financial year means that the accounting showed accurately what the profit or loss was.
An unqualified opinion means that standard accounting procedure was followed without any exceptions (which would have qualified the report.)

This is what I thought; and I find it misleading for a press release. For the person in the street, it sounds like things are rosy; but in actuality, it doesn't say a thing about the real conditions.

Art - Good to hear from you.

<>< Ron Troup

[JonKershner]

Thank you ehart. I was thinking the same thing. In all the talk about ministry and mission justice was mentioned, healing for the hurting was mentioned, diversity was mentioned, and being culturally sensitive was mentioned, but the non-social aspects of the gospel (like calling people to repentance, forgiveness of sin, or the Lordship of Christ) were conspicuously absent. Yes, we are to be the hands and feet of Christ. What we too often forget is that we are also to be the voice of Christ, and salt and light to the world. Jesus sent us to heal, set the captives free, and proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. He also sent us to preach the gospel to every creature and baptize those who turn to Him in faith.

I could understand if this were a secular news article about the financial condition of the convention. I would not expect the secular media to get it. But this document was generated internally. ABNS may have been better served by simply mentioning the financial situation and giving us more info on that. Instead, they went into how the data will help us spread the gospel, and demonstrated that the convention leadership's understanding of the gospel is lopsided to the point that many of us find it difficult to recognize.

To me, this is yet another example of what happens when we agree about how Jesus would have us treat other people, but we intentionally disagree about what Jesus would have us say to them. At my very first Biennial two decades or so ago I could not shake the feeling that the ABC-USA actually worshiped diversity despite our claims to worship Christ. Now I find yet another document that strengthens that position.

P.S.--With all the discussion here about the language of the press release (and the discussion has been spot-on), it is no wonder that the media don't pick these press releases up and run them. They seem designed to redirect and obfuscate--a lot of words, no real information.

[ehart]

Jon, I believe you're right. I believe the "powers that be" do worship diversity and I believe they will answer for it.

Art, that probably is standard accounting speak. Not being an accountant, I couldn't say.

I read the article to my husband who called it "double-speak" to which I agreed. It is nothing but double-speak. I also noted that Queen Elizabeth I of England has been revered for 450 years and only managed to stay alive during the reigns of her father, brother and sister because she was adept at double-speak. Unfortunately, as head of the Church of England, she incorporated this double-speak into church doctine and the prayerbook.

[JonKershner]

I want this explained. Is this like robbing Peter to pay Paul?

I had a thought this afternoon. I don't understand the sale of the Valley Forge headquarters either, but I suspect that if the Office of the General Secretary (OGS) sells the complex to the boards it will fix the money drain on the OGS. I understand that National Ministries is pretty well endowed, so it may be able to stand up under its share of the debt. Likewise the Ministers' and Missionaries' Benefits Board (MMBB) is very heavily invested and is the only mission partner with a guaranteed monthly income. MMBB can probably easily handle the new debt. My concern is for International Ministries which is struggling to do gospel work with very limited funding. If IM gets hit with this debt it may (will?) significantly negatively impact our mission outreach and the one area of our life and mission together most of us can still support.

[chip]

Jon wrote:

I don't understand the sale of the Valley Forge headquarters either

Tithes and offerings (in that order) are the most blessed investments. I worry when institutions sell property. Those funds are often looked at as a surplus of revenue rather than a desperate act resulting from years of bad decisions. It could hinder rather than help. Will that sale really help VF restore the “main thing to be the main thing”?

Like you and Eheart, I also worry about the language in these press releases. The message does send a message. There seems to be no attempt to throw a bone to traditional evangelicals who have been present throughout ABC history. It's ok to love diversity, social justice, and reconciliation; those are all good things. You would think after the PSW exodus they would mention the witness of the gospel (in the traditional evangelical sense). Welcoming & Affirming folk along with the social gospel crowd have had such a loud voice organizationally. I just see no attempt to appease traditional evangelicals. It's a shame. So many local churches have a high regard for the witness of the word. They are some of the most reproductive and fruitful people too. Unfortunately, in many churches, apostasy isn't just for breakfast anymore. `My prayer and life-yearning is to see the ABC develop a balance between the social gospel and the evangelical witness, a balance between works and deeds. Again, I see no attempt toward balance, just kowtowing toward unbalanced religious constituencies.
chip.

[artjaggard]

Again, I see no attempt toward balance, just kowtowing toward unbalanced religious constituencies.
chip.

Hi Chip,
Actually the sale (sort of) of the building will perpetuate a system that most people in ABC recognize to be dysfunctional. The only major place where there is a different opinion is within the donut, and even there quite a number whisper the same thing under their breath.
There is however a growing body of people within ABC that are committed to the Kingdom instead of the system. The excitement, joy, growth and success is so encouraging. The new day really has begun to dawn.
Art

[DMcFadden]

View the sale of the headquarters as a homeowner cashing out equity to accomplish other worthwhile purposes. It is a win-win for all of the partners.

The mission boards have money invested in equities, bonds, and presumably cash equivalents. They take some of their investment money and put it into a real estate investment (i.e., the Mission Center). If the real estate market rebounds, they have unrealized gains to report as growth in their investment portfolio, particularly at a time when the market is down about 20% from its high (= definition of a classic bear market).

Meanwhile, the influx of cash allows OGS to function in perpetuity on its investment income. Up until now OGS was cash poor. Now, courtesy of the program boards, they will have an endowment too. And, if push really came to shove, they could always relocate the significantly downsized operations to utilize surplus church property somewhere in the east. The program boards would be free to sell the land, presumably at a profit.

What does this mean? In Denver, Paul Borden openly predicted the implosion of the ABC within 3-5 years. I think we can safely say that this move (along with a reduced cost for the "representative process" due to a drastically downsized board) will allow VF to extend its lifetime indefinitely.

They used to say that only the cockroach would survive an all-out nuclear war. Well, the ABC may have almost as good survival prospects.

[artjaggard]

If the real estate market rebounds,

On the other hand, if we have talk of thousands of banks failing, GM declaring bankrupcy and double digit unemployment, (all in today's news), we may be on the brink of a cultural implosion that makes the investment in the donut a very bad move for everyone except the office of the OGS.
This could actually break the back of the institutions that invest in a piece of realestate that has very limited value in a depressed economy.

In times of deflation, (which we are in at least as measured by real estate and the stock market), (not by commodities and cost of living), cash and liquid assets are king. Investments like the donut are ways to lose money and lots of it and fast.

So the question is, are we on the brink of 1979 or 1929?

It's a real gamble.