1 0 • f e a t u r e

J O H N R A C K L E Y

R e f l e c t i o n s

Q u e s t i o n t i m e A c t s 2 : 2 2 -3 6 I F I N D i t d i f f i c u l t t o b e l i e v e b e c a u s e : C h r i s t i a n s a r e t o o c e r t a i n t h e y a r e r i g h t P e o p l e m a y s a y t h i s a s a n e x c u s e . I t w a s s a i d t o m e . I t w a s n o t e v a s i o n . I t w a s g e n u i n e . I c a n u n d e r s t a n d . I f i n d i t d i f f i c u l t t o c o p e w i t h a s s e r t i v e p e o p l e . I c a n f e e l q u i t e i n t i m i d a t e d b y t h e i r c o n f i d e n c e . I t ’ s n o t a l w a y s e a s y t o l e t t h e m b e c o n f i d e n t . S o m e t i m e s I f e e l t h e y a r e b e i n g a r r o g a n t . T h a t ’ s a p e r s o n a l r e s p o n s e t o a c e r t a i n t y p e o f p e r s o n . B u t I f i n d i t a f f e c t s t h e w a y I b e l i e v e a n d t h e w a y I p u t i t . I t h i n k t h a t w a s p a r t o f w h a t m y f r i e n d w a s f e e l i n g w h e n s h e s a i d , ‘ I f i n d i t d i f f i c u l t t o b e l i e v e b e c a u s e C h r i s t i a n s a r e t o o c e r t a i n t h e y a r e r i g h t . ’ S h e h a d t w o i s s u e s : a ) S h e d i d n ’ t t h i n k w h a t w e b e l i e v e a b o u t G o d i s s o m e t h i n g w e c a n b e t o o c e r t a i n a b o u t . b ) S h e d i d n ’ t w a n t t o b e f o r c e d t o j o i n i n w i t h w h a t C h r i s t i a n s b e l i e v e , b u t d i d l i k e o u r c o m p a n y . S o h o w d i d I t r y t o r e s p o n d ? I s u g g e s t e d t h e r e i s a l i n e . A t o n e e n d i s t h e c l e a r -m i n d e d s t a t e m e n t o f b e l i e f i n G o d a n d a t t h e o t h e r , t h e r e i s t h e s e a r c h i n g ‘ o n e d a y I w i l l f i n d y o u ’ a p p r o a c h t o G o d . A i m e e w a s n e a r e r t h a t e n d . W h a t s h e w o u l d s a y i s t h a t , w h e n s h e w a s t o l d t o b e l i e v e t h i s o r t h a t a b o u t o u r f a i t h , s h e f e l t t h a t i t w a s t a k i n g r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a w a y f r o m h e r a n d c o n t r o l l i n g G o d b y o u r b e l i e f s . H e r v i e w s c a r r i e d a w a r n i n g . W h e n w e s t a t e c l e a r l y w h a t w e b e l i e v e w e m u s t n o t g e t t o o c a r r i e d a w a y . F a i t h i s a m y s t e r y . A m y s t e r y i s s o m e t h i n g w e h a v e a n e x p e r i e n c e o f b u t d o n o t f u l l y u n d e r s t a n d . A i m e e w a s w o n d e r i n g w h e t h e r t h e C h r i s t i a n s h a d a n y q u e s t i o n s l e f t . I f i n d t h e r e a r e d i f f e r e n t s o r t s o f q u e s t i o n i n g . T h e r e ’ s q u e s t i o n i n g f o r i t s o w n s a k e – c h i l d l i k e . T h e r e ’ s q u e s t i o n i n g j u s t t o b e d i f f e r e n t – a d o l e s c e n t . T h e r e ’ s q u e s t i o n i n g t o m o v e f o r w a r d – a d u l t . I f i n d t h a t I c a n d r o p i n t o a l l t h r e e t y p e s o f q u e s t i o n i n g a n d h a v e m a d e t w o d i s c o v e r i e s : l W h e n I d o n ’ t k n o w a n a n s w e r I a m c o n t e n t t o l i v e a n d b e l i e v e w i t h t h e q u e s t i o n s u n t i l t h e a n s w e r c o m e s . W h e n i t d o e s n ’ t , I c h e c k t h e q u e s t i o n a n d i f i t c a n ’ t c h a n g e I s t a y w i t h i t . l M y f a i t h i n J e s u s C h r i s t r a i s e s q u e s t i o n s a s w e l l a s a n s w e r s . I m a d e a l i f e t i m e ’ s c o v e n a n t w i t h h i m w h e n I w a s b a p t i s e d a n d h e ’ s r a i s e d q u e s t i o n s f o r m e e v e r s i n c e . A i m e e d i d n ’ t w a n t t o b e f o r c e d t o a g r e e w i t h w h a t C h r i s t i a n s b e l i e v e , b u t s h e d i d l i k e o u r c o m p a n y . I w o n d e r w h a t s h e w o u l d h a v e m a d e o f P e t e r i f s h e h a d h e a r d t h a t s e r m o n a t P e n t e c o s t ? L u k e s t r e s s e s t h e c o n f i d e n c e o f P e t e r . W e k n o w w h y t h i s w a s s o . H e w a s a s s e r t i v e , b u t h i s a c t i o n s b e f o r e J e s u s d i e d s h o w e d h i m i n h i s t r u e c o l o u r s . H e w a s n o t a s s t r o n g a s h e s o u n d e d . H i s c o n f i d e n c e t h e n d i d n o t h a v e d e e p r o o t s . S a v e d

B u t I t h i n k t h e r e i s a n i m p o r t a n t d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n c o n f i d e n c e a n d c e r t a i n t y . A n a t h l e t e c a n b e c o n f i d e n t t h a t t h e y h a v e p r e p a r e d w e l l f o r t h e r a c e . T h e y h a v e t r a i n e d . T h e y h a v e d o n e a l l t h a t i s n e e d e d . B u t i f t h e y a r e c e r t a i n t h a t t h e y w i l l w i n , t h e i r c o n f i d e n c e h a s b e c o m e a r r o g a n c e . P e t e r w a s c o n f i d e n t t h a t h e c o u l d t r u s t J e s u s t h r o u g h h i s e x p e r i e n c e a n d t h e d i s c e r n m e n t h e h a d b e e n g i v e n . T h e A i m e e s o f t h i s w o r l d l o o k f o r h e l p i n d o i n g t h e s a m e . B u t t h e y n e e d t o s e n s e a h u m i l i t y a b o u t u s . T h e y n e e d t o f e e l t h a t w h a t w e b e l i e v e w e h a v e b e e n g i v e n . O u r f a i t h i s n o t a s e l f -c r e a t i o n . I t i s n o t a n i d e a w e h a v e d r e a m t u p a n d w a n t t o i m p r e s s u p o n o t h e r s . T h e t h e o l o g i c a l w o r d f o r t h i s i s o n e w e u s e a l l t h e t i m e b u t w h o s e m e a n i n g w e s o m e t i m e s f o r g e t . T h e w o r d i s G r a c e . A s P a u l w r o t e : ‘ F o r b y g r a c e w e h a v e b e e n s a v e d t h r o u g h f a i t h , a n d t h i s i s n o t o f o u r o w n d o i n g ; i t i s t h e g i f t o f G o d . ’ P e t e r s a i d t h e r i g h t t h i n g a t t h e r i g h t t i m e . T h e p e o p l e w e r e r e a d y f o r w h a t h e s a i d . A i m e e s e e k s a s i m i l a r e x p e r i e n c e f r o m t h e C h u r c h . S h e s e e k s C h r i s t i a n s w h o s p e a k o u t o f t h e i r p r e s e n t e x p e r i e n c e a n d h a v e f o u n d t h e g i f t o f G o d f o r l i v i n g n o w i n t h e p r e s e n t . T h e r e i s a w o r d P a u l u s e d w h i c h A i m e e u n d e r s t a n d s a n d s o m e t i m e s C h r i s t i a n s c a n f o r g e t . I t i s t h e w o r d : s a v e d . A i m e e s e e k s a f a i t h f o r h e r n e e d s . S o d o w e . B u t s o m e t i m e s t o o m u c h f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h o u r f a i t h a n d i t s b e l i e f s c a n m a k e u s f o r g e t t h a t w e h a v e a f a i t h b e c a u s e G o d h a s g i v e n i t t o m e e t o u r n e e d s . S o P a u l w e n t o n t o t a l k a b o u t p e o p l e n e e d i n g t o b e r e c o n c i l e d t o e a c h o t h e r a n d h o w t h a t w a s p o s s i b l e t h r o u g h t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d . A i m e e i s t e a c h i n g a b o u t t h e p r o c l a m a t i o n o f t h e G o s p e l a n d h o w t o b e l i e v e w i t h h u m i l i t y .

T h e R e v d J o h n R a c k l e y i s m i n i s t e r o f M a n v e r s S t r e e t B a p t i s t C h u r c h , B a t h

T H E B a p T i s T T i m E s T h u r s d a y , O c t o b e r 2 5 , 2 0 0 7

W h a t i s b e i n g a s k e d J o h n R a c k l e y a s k s i f o u r c h e r i s h e d a u t o n o m y i s h a m p e r i n g o u r r e a l m i s s i o n

‘ C H R I S T I A N m i n i s t r y i s a s h a r i n g i n t h e m i n i s t r y o f J e s u s C h r i s t , t h r o u g h t h e p o w e r o f t h e H o l y S p i r i t a n d i n r e s p o n s e t o t h e c a l l o f G o d . ’ T h e O r d i n a t i o n S e r v i c e : G a t h e r i n g f o r W o r s h i p ; P a t t e r n s a n d P r a y e r s f o r t h e C o m m u n i t y o f D i s c i p l e s .

I s t h e r e s o m e t h i n g o f a c r i s i s b u i l d i n g f o r t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n o u r d e n o m i n a t i o n a n d i t s m i n i s t e r s ? I b e l i e v e t h a t w e a r e i n a t i m e w h e n t h e r o l e a n d t a s k o f m i n i s t e r s n e e d s t o b e c o m e t h e f o c u s o f a d e n o m i n a t i o n a l d i s c e r n m e n t . A t t h e e n d o f t h e y e a r I w i l l b e a t t e n d i n g t h e i n d u c t i o n s e r v i c e o f a f r i e n d . H i s m i n i s t r y h a s b e e n c o n f i r m e d b y t h e i n v i t a t i o n o f t h e m e m b e r s o f t h a t c h u r c h a n d w i l l b e r e c o g n i s e d b y t h e l o c a l c o m m u n i t y a s w e l l a s t h e r e g i o n a l a s s o c i a t i o n . B u t w h a t w i l l b e e x p e c t e d o f h i m t o d a y ? A n d w h o d e c i d e s t h o s e e x p e c t a t i o n s ? A s B a p t i s t s w e w i s h t o d e c l a r e t h a t a g a t h e r i n g o f b e l i e v e r s e x p r e s s e s h i s m i n i s t r y . W i t h i n t h a t m i n i s t r y t h e r e a r e p e o p l e w h o h a v e s p e c i f i c c a l l i n g s s u c h a s p a s t o r , e v a n g e l i s t , y o u t h s p e c i a l i s t a n d s o o n . C o n f u s i o n s t a r t s w h e n o n e o f t h o s e i s d e s c r i b e d a s a ‘ m i n i s t e r ’ . N o w t o t h e c o n f u s i o n h a s b e e n a d d e d a d r i v e n n e s s p r o v o k e d b y u n e a s e a b o u t t h e r o l e o f c h u r c h e s i n o u r s o c i e t y , d e n o m i n a t i o n a l e c o n o m i c f r a g i l i t y a n d q u e s t i o n s a b o u t t h e s o r t o f c h u r c h t h a t b e s t s e r v e s t h e G o s p e l t o d a y . S o w h a t a b o u t t h o s e e x p e c t a t i o n s ? A t t h e i r h e a r t w i l l b e t h e g i f t s a n d e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e m i n i s t e r w o r k e d o u t f r o m t h e c o n t e x t o f h i s o r h e r o b l i g a t i o n s t o f a m i l y a n d w i t h t h e l o c a l c h u r c h . B u t t h a t l o c a l c h u r c h w i l l h a v e i t s o w n l o c a l l y -s h a p e d h o p e s . I t s m e m b e r s w i l l b e r e m e m b e r i n g p a s t g o o d t i m e s , c h e r i s h e d b u t u n f u l f i l l e d a m b i t i o n s a n d p r e v i o u s m i n i s t e r s , f o r i n s t a n c e . T h e e x p e c t a t i o n s o f t h e l o c a l c h u r c h w i l l w o r k o n t h e c o n f i d e n c e a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e m i n i s t e r f o r g o o d o r i l l . T h e s e d a y s t h e r e a r e e x p e c t a t i o n s t h a t a r i s e f r o m t h e A s s o c i a t i o n s a n d U n i o n . T h e y a r e b e c o m i n g m o r e e x p l i c i t a n d p e r s i s t e n t . B e y o n d t h e m i s t h e p l e t h o r a o f i n v i t a t i o n s f r o m n u m e r o u s a u t h o r s , n e t w o r k s a n d a g e n c i e s t o b e c o m e i n v o l v e d i n m o r e c u l t u r a l l y -r e l e v a n t , m i s s i o n -c e n t r e d e x p r e s s i o n s o f m i n i s t r y a n d c h u r c h . T h e s e e x p e c t a t i o n s c a n t a k e o n t h e f o r c e o f p r e s s u r e s t h a t i f n o t e f f e c t i v e l y c h a n n e l l e d c a n d a m a g e h e a l t h , e r o d e a s e n s e o f d i r e c t i o n a n d l e a d t o l o s s o f f a i t h b o t h f o r t h e l o c a l c h u r c h a n d t h e m i n i s t e r . T h i s i s w h y I a s k w h e t h e r t h e r e i s t h e n e e d f o r a d e n o m i n a t i o n a l t i m e o f d i s c e r n m e n t . I f t h e p r e s s u r e o f t h e l o c a l

c h u r c h o n t h e m i n i s t e r i s t o d o w h a t i t e x p e c t s , t h e p r e s s u r e f r o m o u r s t r u c t u r e s a n d t h e w i d e r s c e n e i s m a k i n g u s s e e k n e w m o d e l s f o r m i n i s t r y . B u t t h e r e i s a c o s t .

O n e o f t h e m o s t p o p u l a r f o r m s o f t h i s p r e s s u r e i s t o d i v i d e m i n i s t r y i n t o ‘ p a s t o r a l ’ o r ‘ m i s s i o n a l ’ . I a m u n e a s y w h e n t h e p a s t o r a l m i n i s t r y i s s e t o v e r a g a i n s t a m i n i s t r y w h i c h i s m i s s i o n -c e n t r e d . I t h o u g h t t h e w o r k o f p a s t o r a l m i n i s t r y w a s t o p r e p a r e t h e w h o l e b o d y o f b e l i e v e r s f o r m i s s i o n . H a s i t b e c o m e s o m e t h i n g e l s e ? I a m f r a n k l y d e p r e s s e d w h e n t h e m i n i s t r y o f t h e p r e a c h e r a n d p a s t o r i s s e e n a s d i s t i n c t f r o m c o m m u n i t y e n g a g e m e n t . A s a m i n i s t e r w h o e x e r c i s e s a p r e a c h i n g , p a s t o r a l a n d c o m m u n i t y o u t r e a c h m i n i s t r y I a m f e d u p w i t h t h e d i m i n i s h m e n t o f t h e f o r m e r t w o i n f a v o u r o f t h e l a t t e r . W h i l e t h e r e m a y b e m i n i s t e r s a n d c h u r c h e s w h o h a v e s e t t l e d f o r c o m f o r t a s w a s s u g g e s t e d i n t h i s p a p e r r e c e n t l y , I j u s t d o n o t t h i n k w e g a i n a n y g r o u n d b y t h i s s o r t o f d i s p a r a g e m e n t . M y f i r s t p a s t o r a t e w a s i n a n a r e a o f w h a t u s e d t o b e c a l l e d s o c i a l n e e d . I t w a s m y p a s t o r a l

W h y i s i t t h a t m i n i s t e r s a r e t o h a v e t h e s p i r i t o f t h e p i o n e e r , a n d n o t o u r d e n o m i n a t i o n ?

c o n c e r n f o r p e o p l e t h a t t o o k m e i n t o t h e c o m m u n i t y t o b e i n v o l v e d i n v a r i o u s w a y s . I r e g a r d e d t h e m i s s i o n a r y c a l l o f G o d t o m e a s p a s t o r a l . I c o u l d n o t d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n t h e g r i e f o f a c h u r c h m e m b e r a n d t h a t o f t h e i r n e i g h b o u r w h o n e v e r c a m e t o a c h u r c h . I h a v e k e p t a f e w o f m y s e r m o n s f r o m t h o s e d a y s . T h e y a r e a w f u l . F o r o n e r e a s o n t h e y d i d n o t l i n k w h a t I w a s d o i n g i n t h e w e e k w i t h S u n d a y . T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h a t p a s t o r a t e t a u g h t m e t o d o t h a t . N o w I r e g a r d a s e r m o n a s a b o u t c o n n e c t i n g G o d a n d l i f e , n o t p e r s o n a l t h e r a p y f o r s e l f a b s o r b e d , c o m f o r t -s e e k i n g b e l i e v e r s . S o I a p p e a l t o t h o s e w h o t r y t o e x p l a i n t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f e x p l o r i n g f r e s h e x p r e s s i o n s o f c h u r c h a n d s o o n - p l e a s e t r y t o d o t h i s w i t h o u t d i s p a r a g i n g w h a t s o m e o f u s s t i l l d o . B u t I a l s o r e c o g n i s e t h a t t h e r e i s a r e s i s t a n c e i n c h u r c h e s a n d t h e i r m e m b e r s . I r e c a l l a m i n i s t e r w h o w a s l e a d i n g h i s c h u r c h i n t o a n e x c i t i n g c o m m u n i t y d e v e l o p m e n t . Y e t i n h i s o w n w o r d s , h e h a d t o d o a t r a d e -o f f .

C u t t i n g o u t s o m a n y v i s i t s t o t h e o l d e r m e m b e r s w o u l d ‘ r e l e a s e ’ o t h e r t i m e f o r h i m t o w h a t h e w a s d o i n g w i t h p e o p l e ‘ b e y o n d t h e c h u r c h ’ . N o t h i n g w a s e x p l i c i t l y s a i d ; h e j u s t f e l t t h a t , h a d h e b e e n s p e n d i n g t i m e w i t h t h e y o u t h g r o u p , t h a t w o u l d h a v e b e e n s u i t a b l e m i s s i o n b u t i t w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n w o r k i n g a l o n g s i d e t h e l o c a l d r u g a b u s e p r e v e n t i o n s c h e m e . W h e n o u r B a p t i s t U n i o n m i s s i o n n e t w o r k c a l l e d o n t h e ‘ m a n y e x c e l l e n t p a s t o r s w h o s e r v e o u r c h u r c h e s d a y b y d a y , t o s e e c o m m u n i t y e n g a g e m e n t a s a v i t a l p a r t o f t h e m i s s i o n c a l l o f C h r i s t ’ w h y d i d t h e y k e e p t h e i r c o m m e n t s t o m i n i s t e r s ? W h y i s i t t h a t m i n i s t e r s o r t h o s e c o m i n g t o o u r c o l l e g e s a r e t o h a v e t h e s p i r i t o f t h e p i o n e e r , a n d n o t o u r d e n o m i n a t i o n ? I f c h u r c h e s a r e n o t p i o n e e r i n g t h e y w i l l n o t p r o v i d e m e m b e r s w h o b e l i e v e t h e y a r e c a l l e d i n t o m i n i s t r y t o b e p i o n e e r s . I w a s t h e m i n i s t e r o f a n e s t a t e c h u r c h f o r m y f i r s t p a s t o r a t e . M a n y , m a n y B a p t i s t s p a s s e d t h e e s t a t e a n d c h u r c h e a c h S u n d a y a n d d u r i n g t h e w e e k t o w o r s h i p a n d w i t n e s s e l s e w h e r e i n t h e c i t y . I t l e f t t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n r e s i g n e d , a n d I f e l t m y s e l f i s o l a t e d f r o m o t h e r m i n i s t e r s t o w h o s e c h u r c h e s t h e y j o u r n e y e d . I a m a l s o a w a r e o f c h u r c h m e m b e r s w h o h a v e m o v e d f r o m t h e i r s u b u r b a n w h i t e m i d d l e c l a s s c h u r c h e s t o b e p a r t o f p i o n e e r i n g s e t -u p s . T h e y a r e e x c e p t i o n a l . S o I h a v e t o q u e s t i o n w h y w e c a n a s k o f m i n i s t e r s w h a t p e o p l e i n o u r c o n g r e g a t i o n s a r e n o t i n s p i r e d o r w i l l i n g t o d o . N o w I m i n i s t e r w i t h a c i t y c e n t r e c h u r c h a n d f a c e t h e s a m e p h e n o m e n o n b u t i n r e v e r s e . A s t h e c e n t r e o f e v e n a s m a l l c i t y l i k e B a t h b e c o m e s m o r e a n o n y m o u s a n d d o m i n a t e d b y S u n d a y t r a d i n g , f e w e r a n d f e w e r p e o p l e w i l l t r a v e l t o o u r c h u r c h u n l e s s t h e y h a v e b e e n a s s o c i a t e d w i t h i t f o r m a n y y e a r s . E v e n l o n g -e s t a b l i s h e d c h u r c h e s , w h e r e p r e a c h i n g a n d p a s t o r a l m i n i s t r y s t i l l c o u n t s , c a n f i n d t h e m s e l v e s n e e d i n g t h e m i n i s t r y o f t h e p i o n e e r . I w o r r y t h a t a s w e a r e r i g h t l y c o n c e r n e d t o e s t a b l i s h C h r i s t i a n m i s s i o n i n n e w a r e a s , w e a r e t u r n i n g o u r b a c k s o n t h e n e e d s o f p l a c e s w h e r e t h e C h u r c h h a s b e e n f o r m a n y y e a r s . I , l i k e o t h e r s , a m d r a w n t o t h e i m a g e o f t h e p i o n e e r . I t h a s e c h o e s o f a l i e n , s o j o u r n e r a n d o t h e r b i b l i c a l i m a g e s o f t h e C h r i s t i a n . I n t h e N e w T e s t a m e n t s u c h i m a g e s a r e u s e d t o d e s c r i b e t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f C h r i s t i a n s t o g e t h e r . S o w h a t w e n e e d i s t o d i s c o v e r a n d b r i n g t o l i f e i s a S p i r i t u a l i t y o f P i o n e e r s T o g e t h e r . F o r w h a t w i l l s u s t a i n t h e m i n i s t e r w i l l a l s o n u r t u r e t h e g a t h e r i n g o f t h e b e l i e v e r s . B u t I t h i n k t h i s n e e d f o r d i s c e r n m e n t g o e s b e y o n d m i s s i o n n e t w o r k a p p e a l s , c o l l e g e c o u r s e s , n e w m i s s i o n a l t r a i n i n g m o d u l e s a n d l o c a l m i n i s t e r s t r y i n g t o n e g o t i a t e t h e i r w a y t h r o u g h t h e c o m p e t i n g e x p e c t a t i o n s o f m e m b e r s a n d c o m m u n i t y . A s B a p t i s t s , w e s e e m t o l a c k c o h e s i o n i n o u r a p p r o a c h t o t h e s e m a t t e r s .

E x p e c t a t i o n s - w h a t a r e t h e i m p l i c a

I n t h e 1 9 9 0 s w e s t a r t e d t o t a l k a b o u t c o v e n a n t a g r e a t d e a l . W h a t d i f f e r e n c e h a s t h a t m a d e t o h o w w e a c t u a l l y a c t a s a B a p t i s t d e n o m i n a t i o n ? I d o n o t t h i n k i t a m o u n t s t o m u c h . I s u g g e s t t h i s l a c k o f c o h e s i o n i s f e d b y t h e B a p t i s t i d o l a t r y o f ‘ a u t o n o m y ’ a n d e v a n g e l i c a l s u s p i c i o n o f ‘ p r e s e n c e ’ m i n i s t r y . T h e a u t o n o m y o f t h e l o c a l c h u r c h i s e n s h r i n e d i n o u r d e c l a r a t i o n o f p r i n c i p l e . B u t i t i s n o t o n l y c h u r c h e s w h o p r i z e a u t o n o m y . S o d o m i n i s t e r s , c o l l e g e s , A s s o c i a t i o n s a n d t h e U n i o n . P e o p l e w i t h m o r e e x p e r i e n c e o f o u r d e n o m i n a t i o n t h a n I , w i l l r e c a l l t i m e s w h e n p l a n s f o r a d i f f e r e n t f u t u r e f o r o u r l i f e t o g e t h e r w e r e t h w a r t e d b y t h e a s s e r t i o n o f o n e o r a n o t h e r ’ s a u t o n o m y . T h e m i s s i o n n e t w o r k s a i d w h a t t h e y s a i d , b u t w h o ’ s l i s t e n i n g ? W h o n e e d s t o l i s t e n ? W i l l a n y t h i n g c h a n g e j u s t b e c a u s e a g r o u p o f p e o p l e s a i d s o m e t h i n g i n D i d c o t ? T h i s i s n o t k n o c k i n g t h e U n i o n . B u t I a m u n c l e a r h o w t h e s t r u c t u r e s a s s i s t t h e c a l l o f t h e p r o p h e t i c t o t h e r e s t o f t h e B a p t i s t f a m i l y , w h e r e v e r i t o r i g i n a t e s . I f e a r t h a t o u r s t r u c t u r e s a t a l l l e v e l s h a v e a b u i l t -i n i n e r t i a a n d a r e t r y i n g t o p r e s e r v e t o o m a n y v e s t e d i n t e r e s t s . S o i f i t i s t h a t i m p o r t a n t f o r m i n i s t e r s a n d c h u r c h e s t o r e c e i v e a w a k e -u p c a l l , d o w e h a v e e n o u g h c o h e s i o n t o l i s t e n t o e a c h o t h e r ? I a m n o t s u r e . I a m n o t s u r e t h a t b e i n g a C h r i s t i a n p r e s e n c e i n a l o c a l i t y c o m e s n a t u r a l l y t o u s . O r p u t t i n g i t a n o t h e r w a y : i t i s n o t e a s y t o h a v e p a r i s h -s t y l e m i n i s t r y a n d a c t a s a p a s t o r o f a l o c a l B a p t i s t c o m m u n i t y . T h i s h a s b e e n e x a c e r b a t e d b y t h e i n c r e a s i n g i n f l u e n c e o f a c e r t a i n e v a n g e l i c a l m i n d s e t u p o n B a p t i s t i d e n t i t y s i n c e t h e 1 9 7 0 s . S i n c e t h a t p e r i o d t h e w i d e r e v a n g e l i c a l w o r l d
THE BAPTIST TIMES Thursday, October 25, 2007

of ministers today?

feature • 11

THE INTERNATIONAL BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY (IBTS) was founded in Switzerland in 1949, initially to train pastors for service in central and southern Europe. IBTS moved to Prague following the collapse of communism and reopened in 1997 in the beautiful historic Sarka Valley of Prague 6. The seminary is wholly owned by the European Baptist Federation (EBF), which has over fifty Baptist Unions in membership throughout Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. IBTS has expanded its mission and ministry since the first years and now offers an exciting range of opportunities for postgraduate theological, historical and mission study. Those who have a graduate qualification in theology may apply for a Master of

Theology or for our Doctoral programme (both validated by the University of Wales). We offer degrees in Applied Theology, Baptist & Anabaptist Studies, Biblical Studies, and Contextual Missiology. IBTS also offers a general advanced study degree of Magister in Theology which is accredited by the Czech Ministry of Education to European Union ‘Bologna’ Standards with full European Credit Transfer. With almost 70,000 volumes, IBTS boasts one of the largest English language theological libraries on continental Europe, and with central European tuition charges we represent English language quality theological education at very good value. For more information, see our web site www.ibts.eu or please contact IBTS Academic Registrar at Registrar@ibts.eu.

ations of pioneer ‘spirituality’?

has been trying to find the right way to reconcile evangelism, mission, and social action. It has been played out in our denomination too. Language has

We need to overhaul how we raise and spend money

changed. Now we talk of values – core values, Kingdom values and incarnational mission. I think this is part of an uneasiness that does not arise so much in other Christian traditions. We struggle with seeing value in the ministry of presence. We need to believe that to belong to a community for however long it takes is important for its own sake. To go to a place which needs long-term care requires a view of ministry which is about ‘being there’. In other Christian traditions such ministry through presence is shouldered by people who are already in community, like religious sisters and those in monastic orders. Perhaps we need to discover our equivalent. For ministry in deprived areas can be very isolating; promises of emotional and spiritual support can drop off, and there is always the finance factor. Iam glad to know that this will be considered at the November Council. But why keep it to certain types of ministry? It is rare for financial issues and the work of the minister,

pioneer or otherwise to be spoken of in the same breath. It seems to be a ‘no-go zone’. There are occasional discrete conversations in our autonomous zones, I imagine – like the local minister’s gathering, or Association trustees and Baptist minister’s fellowship committee - but I am wondering whether this needs to spoken about more openly. Ministers are no more immune to the current experience of housing and income than anyone else in our churches. Churches face increasing costs. For how much longer can we fail to include in the process of accepting the calling and development of ministers what we offer for their financial support and housing needs? I feel inhibited from writing like this because it sounds faithless. I know there has always been self-sacrificial ministry among us. I also know that churches have within them people who are deeply generous. But I am not talking about having riches or even having enough: it is about actually feeling supported as a minister by the denomination when it comes to economic stability, present and future. So as it is near Guy Fawkes night, I am standing back and lighting the blue touchpaper. Here’s my opinion on this issue. The expectations placed on ministers and the need collectively to explore new forms of ministry require an overhaul of how we raise money and spend it. So let ministers be paid a standard living wage which at least reflects the national average for - let’s say, for arguments sake - middle management. Let it be

paid from a central fund which reflects our aim to be in covenant together. In addition let us address the present unjust ministers housing policy which comes from a different era, is a burden on churches and ministers alike and limits those who can become ministers. Pioneers do not worry about not having a house to come back to after their time of exploration. Those days are passing and our denomination can no longer rely on the freelance generosity of Baptists to supply the housing needs of ministers. This would be a challenge to our various autonomies. It questions the way we are set up at present. But what is more important - the way we are, our legal and financial structures, our inherited but time-bound expression of Church, or the needs of the people in our land? Or, dare we believe, the Mission of God?

So in summary let us: · Articulate clearly to each other the various models of ministry that can be explored by churches and ministers · Consider the current expectations that are placed on ministers and churches · Set out to change the way in which finance and housing are provided for those in ministry · Question the reach and range of ‘autonomy’ as a way of interpreting the laws of Christ · Explore a Spirituality of the Pioneer that will nurture both churches and ministers

John Rackley is minister of Manvers St Baptist Church, Bath

  

www.ibts.eu

   

 Baptist & Anabaptist Studies

 Contextual Missiology

 Applied Theology

 Biblical Studies

Taught in English at Central European prices !

Accredited by the Czech Ministry of Education

SS3089 Sov Gold BT Oct 170x128 ART 11/10/07 10:30 Page 1

These schemes are validated and awarded by the University of Wales. For further details regarding the University and its validation services, please log on to www.wales.ac.uk/validation or email validation@wales.ac.uk

it’s your

thought

that counts

sovereign gold

it’s your thought that counts

I find giving to be a real bonus

Ian Butcher

London

When Ian received an unexpected bonus, his thought was to give to others through his Sovereign Gold Account.

When do you think about giving?

Sovereign Gold is one of the fully flexible giving accounts from Stewardship.

A registered charity in England and Wales no. 234714.

Call us on 08452 26 26 27

Download an information pack from www.sovereigngold.org.uk