beaconchurches

VALLEY FORGE, PA ( ABNS 06/27/08 ) —[/ Representatives of the General Executive Council gave a full presentation of the proposed governance structure for American Baptist Churches USA at the morning plenary of the General Board of American Baptist Churches USA.

The new structure eliminates interlocking mission boards but maintains inter-relatedness through a Mission Table and Mission Summit held in conjunction with the denomination’s Biennial Meeting. A notable difference is the process of selecting board members that allows for matching interests with board service and includes an orientation prior to commencing service. The denomination’s commitment to diversity would be reflected in board members being selected from churches of different sizes and locations; across age groups, geographic regions, ethnicities, and economic classes; having differing physical abilities.

A proposed smaller board would reduce the expenses associated with holding meetings and administrating the expansive mission of American Baptist Churches USA. In lieu of representation on a larger board, the Mission Table provides a means by which churches relate to the mission together, expressing their accountability along with their intentions for ministry involvement.

The president of the Board of National Ministries, Annie Marie LaBarbour, said, “I think people have heard each other and presented a divergence of opinion to create the best possible product for this time. It is a platform from which to develop the denomination more thoroughly toward what is right for us in the 21st century. I support this proposal and believe it will support us as we move forward.”

The Rev. Dr. James McJunkin, executive minister of the Philadelphia Baptist Association also voiced his support: “I want to move forward as American Baptists. The structure won’t change what we do, we will. If I’m going to live out my faith through American Baptists I need to be diligent, sincere and intentional — I pledge myself to it.”

While General Secretary A. Roy Medley is certain there will be “tweaking” of the proposed structure, he said “The General Executive Committee worked for the best possible process in making this recommendation.” He commented on the careful balance being struck between autonomy and interdependence. “The current structure has bound us up in some ways. But in moving toward autonomy, we keep the interdependence that we value as well. We’re American Baptists before we’re regions or national boards. We are first and foremost ‘us’.”

Mary Armacost Hulst, president of the General Board, said, “My local church in the new structure would be taken seriously. We would have a very strong voice that is central when we gather together to suggest ideas and implement ideas and vision for the denomination. Actually, representation could be even broader than it is now.” Hulst said the Leadership Pool is a database that will be kept current and used to bring in representation from the local churches. “All of the boards combined would give the representation,” she added.

Dr. Reid Trulson, executive director of International Ministries, called the structure a “federation model” that he believes will position American Baptist Churches USA for the greatest impact in missions in its cultural context. “The central principle we observe in global mission is the need to understand the culture and to take appropriate actions,” Trulson said.

Well, I read this and my heart sank. It seems they still just don't get it. This is just more of the same thing. We are shuffling the deck, but we're still playing with the same cards. The focus is still on diversity instead of the gospel, and autonomy and interdependence instead of dependence on God.

The denomination’s commitment to diversity would be reflected in board members being selected from churches of different sizes and locations; across age groups, geographic regions, ethnicities, and economic classes; having differing physical abilities.

This tells me that now, we will not only be told what gender and ethnicity our representative has to be, our one representative will also have to meet certain age and disability criteria. Are we going to be told what disability they are to have? I honestly and seriously suspect we will. I note that absolutely nowhere is there mentioned any criteria based on Christian character or spiritual maturity, even though these are the only criteria ever mentioned in the Bible. I suppose that, since we claim we are guided by the scripture, a commitment to follow the Bible's teachings is considered a given. I have noted from personal experience, however, that it is not a given.

There is a lot in the article about diversity, cultural sensitivity, and moving into the future. I see no place where God or Christ is mentioned, or where any indication is given that this is where the Holy Spirit, or the mind of Christ if you prefer, is leading us. I know we have paid consultants hundreds of thousands of dollars. Have we stopped to ask our Master? He costs less and, if you stop to listen, He gives much better advice.

I have spent time listening to my Association's representative to the General Board. He has told me about the times of prayer they have together and the sense he has that most of them are genuinely trying to do the right thing and seek God's will. He has also told me that he feels shut out of this whole process and that he has no voice in it. It may be that organizational inertia is driving the ship in spite of the leadership. Still, I am concerned that so many leaders seem so happy about where this seems to be going.

Maybe the reports aren't giving us enough of the story and there is something behind this that is worth getting excited over. Right now, I'm not seeing it. The one ray of hope I see in the article came from the Rev. Dr. James McJunkin:

The structure won’t change what we do, we will. If I’m going to live out my faith through American Baptists I need to be diligent, sincere and intentional — I pledge myself to it.

It's true that the national leadership does not set the agenda for the local church. It is up to us to determine what we do in the name of Christ. We need to be "diligent, sincere, and intentional." Still, the national leadership sees itself as casting a vision for the whole family. Now, they just need to be able to see past the color of the skin of the people sitting around the table to the deeper issues that should hold us together but are driving us apart.

BTW--Not to nitpick Dr. McJunkin, but don't we live out our faith in Christ through the Holy Spirit, and with the other American Baptists?

As I read Jon's commentary, I not only found myself agreeing wholeheartedly but wondering when the ABC is going to recruit my severely autistic son (who is not a member of our church as he has not vocalized a belief in Jesus) to be on the board.

Amen, Jon!!

EH quipped:

As I read Jon's commentary, I not only found myself agreeing wholeheartedly but wondering when the ABC is going to recruit my severely autistic son (who is not a member of our church as he has not vocalized a belief in Jesus) to be on the board.

LOL! Yeah! That is the best, descriptive piece of sarcasm I have ever read. I may use that quote someday when talking about the idiocy of diversity at any cost. Great insight EH!
chip

I shared my quip with my husband last night and he nodded and noted that because of his ecolalia, they could put any words in our son's mouth they wanted--almost. The only problem with the scenario is that his father and I have full custody of him. So, I would guess that legally he couldn't sign anything without Mom and Dad looking at the board with disdain and outrage.

Go ahead and use the quote Chip. I'll probably use it again myself.

Wouldn't it be novel to follow Jon's criteria based on ability rather than disability? Paul's letters speak of criteria for Elders and Deacons for the local church. Shouldn't there be a higher calling for a global denomination?

If the system can't be simplified with an easy to understand flow chart, something that any local leader can explain on a napkin in a diner with a seeker, it won't flourish. The bigger it is the more simple it must be. If it's too complex, people won't buy in. If Traditional Evangelicals don't buy in, it won't reproduce. We multiply like rabbits. A humanistic gospel feeds only the tummy and the ego, rarely the soul. A Messiah that is only human and dead cannot breathe new life into dead men walking. My Messiah was fully God, fully man: was raised from the dead and pours his presence into us humans who ask for his presence. Board members who don't live out that message aid and abet decline. This new system doesn't address that crisis.

I pray leaders are called based on character (hello...MLK???) and also based on how fruitful they are in their own ministry. Possessing a grinding axe ought not to be the only criterion for leadership. We need leaders who will equip both churches and regions to do the work of the ministry. Otherwise dismantle it completely and let new alliances form naturally.

chip.

SCODS didn't fix it; SCORE didn't fix it; the Common Missional Table won't do it either.

Spiritual problems are not rectified by constitutional changes alone. The church is both an organism and an organization. The organizational fixes must be met with an equal commitment to remedy the defects in the corporate culture and the spiritual life of the organism. So far, the assembled wisdom of the collective has been about tinkering with structural balancing efforts, not addressing the spiritual problems plaguing the body of ABC life.

Will tinkering with by-laws eliminate heterodoxy in the denomination? Will it stop the toleration of personal immorality of leaders at regional and national levels? Will it create a better spirit among the leaders of the various regions with their radically different ideas of the mission of the church? Will it inspire pastors of growing churches to want to stay connected to a still scoliotic organization? Will it reverse the aging of the denomination or the hemorrhaging in the annual reports?

Drawing pictures of candles on the wall will not provide the necessary light when the Lord removes the candlestick.

Thanx D.
Your post is a bitter pill that needs to be swallowed. Gabriel said it best to Mary, "Nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37).
chip.