After all these years, I think that many people misunderstand my take on who and what is at the top of the CGGC mountain.
Lawrence's article prompted a response which, as I look back on it, allows me a chance to clarify my take on many things that lead to the bottom line that numerical decline and spiritual decay have been taking place in the CGGC for generations...and continues to this day.
What follows is a paragraph from Lawrence's article (in bold), then the text of my reply (in italics).
As you will see, I explain that I actually have a great deal of respect for the people on our mountaintop.
In truth, I've said that many times. My sense, though, is that even my most supportive readers either don't pick up on that, or, perhaps, don't believe it because I am almost always so passionately opposed to what they do.
Anyway, here's the relevant paragraph from Lawrence, then my reply.
If you haven't read it on the CGGC blog, I hope you will read Lawrence's full article.
At another time, I may add more commentary but, for now, this is it.
Thanks, as always, to Mike Martin, blog moderator, who always publishes my comments, no matter what their content.
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In my view from the chair, we have the right team in place for this season of CGGC ministry. Let me tell you what I saw: I saw CGGC Staff members willing to resign their positions if that’s what it takes to move into uncharted territory. I saw a group of men and women in passionate dialogue over issues of race, gender, and next-gen values. I saw an Executive Director whose heart is full of hope for the future but also whose heart breaks for those who resist the necessary changes to go there. I saw a Seminary President willing to make hard institutional changes in order to meet the challenges of theological education. I saw a University President give a glowing report on the progress of the University of Findlay and its valued partnership with the CGGC. I saw a UF Campus Pastor report on an ever-growing ministry with UF students. I saw our Global Reach Directors excited about expanding field opportunities accompanied by deep concern over the spiritual battles raging in certain parts of our global communities. I saw Regional Directors give some of the most positive reports I have ever heard about new churches, new initiatives, and new life. I saw incredible hope for our future together!
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Lawrence,
Thank you for sharing this optimistic view of the prospects of the CGGC. Thank you, also, for your personal commitment to the future of our body. We are all blessed by the gifts and passion you bring.
However, in regard to the statement, “In my view from the chair, we have the right team in place for this season of CGGC ministry,” I’m not certain what the definition of “team” is.
If, by that term, you are referring only to the people who hold staff positions and who serve as Regional Directors and are elected members of General Conference Administrators Council, I agree with you.
While I have often pointed out that the CGGC continues to decline numerically and decay spiritually, I have always thought that the people who hold these positions are people of character and integrity who sincerely love the Lord.
In all of my many years in the body, we’ve always had good people in those positions. Always!
Yet, as much as I share your assessment of the character and integrity of the people in positions of institutional authority in our body, today’s group isn’t, in my opinion, superior to the men and women whom they’ve replaced.
Good people who genuinely love the Lord has never been our problem.
Nevertheless, for several generations, we’ve been in steady decline.
Clearly, having good people in positions of institutional authority in an(d) of itself doesn’t make a good team.
If, on the other hand, by team, you mean the people as well as the positions they fill, I disagree.
Our current institutional structure is based on a business model which, I believe, still describes the General Conference Executive Director as our “Chief Executive Officer.”
Our current structure came from the same mindset that produced the “More and Better Disciples: 35,000 in Worship by 2000” program, which defined a disciple as someone who contributes to the annual average worship attendance of a church.
As we know, that program failed. And, the numerical decline and spiritual decay of our body has, if anything, increased since then.
There was a time when the Lord was blessing the Church of God so powerfully that the men and women who served it struggled to keep in step with His blessing.
In recent generations, especially under our current institutional model, the Lord has not blessed and the men and women who propose to LEAD us have struggled and, well, failed.
If, by the word team, you mean our good people in the positions they are in, I disagree. In that case, we do not have the right team in place for this season of CGGC ministry.
The history of recent decades makes that clear.
With the recent adoption of our first-ever CGGC Strategic Plan, we actually abandoned a mission connected to our founders’ vision to focus our ministry on what they called, “the New Testament plan.” We now have another statement of mission.
In my opinion, we need to recapture our founders’ innocent and radical commitment to the Word, not replace it and move on from it.
The right team, in my opinion, would be men and women of character and integrity who love the Lord and who submit to the New Testament plan in the way our people once did.
Thank you for your service to our body.
Blessings.
Good morning Bill,
ReplyDeleteI, for one, appreciate the dialog. I am a newcomer to the CGGC, if 15 years involvement is "new". Reading your article initially, I can understand some confusion. You do indeed lift up those in positions of responsibility as good and capable people, which is appreciated. However, later in the article you say, "If, by the word team, you mean our good people in the positions they are in, I disagree. In that case, we do not have the right team in place for this season of CGGC ministry." Some would see this as a contradiction of what was said previously. Perhaps I am wrong, but I am taking the overall tone of the article as saying we have good people, but the structure is faulty. Or are you also saying that even though we have "good" people, they may not be "the right" people, regardless of structure?
Dear Unknown,
ReplyDeleteVery perceptive reading of my response. And, thank you for entering this very important conversation.
If you are familiar with my writing at all, you know that I believe that a substantial part of my calling is to observe Kingdom reality from 40,000 feet in the air.
I'm, unashamedly, an APEST believer and I consider myself to be gifted to be a prophet. I believe that one characteristic of the prophet is to bring a big-picture view to the ministry of the people of God.
Over the years, I have been very careful to limit what I say to what I see from a great distance up in the air.
From this altitude, I see good people of character and integrity who love the Lord holding institutional authority in our body. It is beyond my understanding, however, to judge whether or not we have the right people, regardless of structure.
I have known many of the people who hold positions of institutional authority in our body for many years, and love them deeply, even though they may not often feel the love.
I believe that it will take people whose giftedness is different than mine to answer the questions you ask.
In my opinion, this is how APEST works, this is how the church as the body of Christ must work.
I hope this answer is useful to you. I'm afraid, actually, that it may not be. And for that, I'm sorry, if that's the case.
Thanks again for commenting. Blessings!