Paul, an apostle of Christ, called the apostles of Christ “fools for Christ’s sake” (1 Corinthians 4:10, ESV). April Fools’ Day measures the time I have served Southside Church of Christ, for I began my ministry on that day in 1987. At that time Southside was worn out by several changes in ministers. Based on their experience certain important qualities they sought was someone who honestly intended to labor with them for the long term; someone who could work within their ministry structure; and someone who could bring balance and stability within a very diverse congregation. In the spirit of 1 Corinthians 4, I would be a fool to judge myself by human standards; but that is often how a minister’s work is judged.
Did I have any expectations of the congregation? My experience with the Caribou Church of Christ taught me the importance of partnership, stewardship and synergy. I remember when the ministry brothers of Southside’s minister liaison ministry explained to me the significance of the Memorandum of Understanding. I had no legal training at the time, but did express my concern that a minister’s work was unique. Work of ministry can only be properly valued by a congregation in the context of a functioning partnership that practices stewardship and seeks synergy.
The memorandum concerned me because I already had inside knowledge from a former member and fellow minister that the congregation had suffered from historical power struggles. How can a contract be used to measure the work of upholding the gospel truth and unity in the Spirit when the minister functions as the lightening rod in the midst of power struggles? The brothers assured me that it was not meant to be treated as a literal binding contract, but as the basis for establishing a mutual understanding for mutual protection.
The problem with unwritten mutual understandings is that time moves forward, memories fade, membership changes, leadership changes, power struggles disrupt and damage, and Christian brothers and sisters experience the difference between a fool for Christ’s sake and a good ole boy. I am not a good ole boy, but I do wash feet. As far as ministry is concerned I know the way to a good working relationship between the minister, other church leadership and the whole church, which is a priesthood of believers and body of mutual ministers for Christ’s sake. Any memorandums of understanding, all leadership and business meetings, and all planning and doing of the Lord’s work must be done with partnership, stewardship and synergy.
I intend the word partnership to express all that our brotherhood should be. I intend the word stewardship to express the recognition of God’s calling and mutual service in a bond of peace, respect and brotherly love. I intend the word synergy to express that special quality between fellow workers that is void of jealousy, suspicions, self-will and unfriendly, hidden agendas. When synergy exists the working together is not a sham; but is full of shared vision, supportiveness, standing together as a united spiritual force against evil agendas, getting the work done, serving others and getting them involved without favoritism, eating meals with together with glad and sincere hearts, and friendship – yes, perhaps even lasting friendships.
With goodwill I admonish churches of two dangers in the church’s relationship with their preacher who is a minister, that is, a steward and servant of the Lord Jesus. The first danger is the danger of the romantic perfectionist. These members wrongly place any and all Christians on a pedestal of perfection, especially their leaders. Churches with a membership and leadership of human beings who have imperfections and weaknesses, and a need to be restored and nurtured in a redemptive fellowship, cannot become spiritually healthy in this environment.
The second danger is the danger of the institutional perfectionist. Institutionalism focuses more on the church as an organization rather than as the body of Christ with the Spirit in charge of providing ministries for the upbuilding of the body (1 Corinthians 12). Perfectionism creates the variables of expectations, preferences, judgments and suspicions used to evaluate someone paid by the institution. Historically institutionalism borrows its models for organization and leadership from the successful institutional models in the culture at the time. It is no accident that Roman Catholicism followed the model of the hierarchy of the Roman Empire. It is no accident that churches today look to the business models of the present, since we admire the effectiveness and success of businesses and dislike governmental bureaucracies. Nevertheless in this environment the uniqueness of the church is forgotten; the holiness of the calling to serve God is institutionalized; and paid ministers are judged by the standards of the world – perhaps even treated like every influential member’s employee.
This is nothing new, for Paul struggled against it (Read 1 and 2 Corinthians). I humbly use Paul as an example, realizing that any church member can object, “I know Paul, and you are no Paul.” I concede. Yet I also know Paul, and I know Paul stood up for the calling of ministry in 1 Corinthians 3 and 4. We are fellow workers. There is a synergy in our labor together with God who gives the increase. Each one should be careful how he builds, and God will test the value of the work. The church in the wisdom of this world should not boast in men, but recognize that diversity in ministry is God’s gift, thus making his church rich in Christ.
In the recent years, among fellow ministers, I have witnessed a growing assertion of the authority of the preacher even over the oversight of the elders of a congregation. I have not sought this kind of positional authority and do not believe that it is necessary in order to lead and influence others with the power of the word of God and a godly example. Nevertheless, no ministry in church leadership should be lords in the administration of God’s grace on behalf of God’s flock (See our example: Luke 22:24-27). I take as my inspiration the words of the embattled but persevering Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:24 and 12:19. First: “Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith” (2 Corinthians 1:24, ESV). Second: “It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved” (2 Corinthians 12:19b, ESV). I thank God for my ministry and the great privilege to serve my Lord Jesus for twenty one years at one congregation. I appreciate all the brothers and sisters of Southside and look with hope to the potential for serving Christ and achieving true and meaningful partnership, stewardship and synergy as fools for the sake of Christ.
2 Comments
April 5, 2008 at Saturday, April 5, 2008
2o years! Wew. I pray that you and the congregation enjoy 20 more years of synergy to the glory of God.
April 7, 2008 at Monday, April 7, 2008
Thank you for your encouragement and prayers, Ben. I wrote this blog in a solemn mood of reflection, but also with the hope that the blessing of synergy is on the horizon. Perhaps what I am experiencing is my existential moment. What is on that horizon, a new day or the pot of gold? I am hoping for a new day, for you know that God brings the new day, but the pot of gold is an endless, fruitless pursuit. I have experienced moments of synergy with the congregations in Caribou and Rochester, but not progressive synergy, howbeit with understandable ups and downs. Perhaps it is because I represent the call to leave the sectarian habits of the heart, to reopen the original path of our restoration heritage. Instead however I think it is mostly because some in leadership keep me at arms’ length, because I am not a good ole boy and because I must always, even after 20 years, be the employee. You can understand why I speak of an existential moment, because it is strange to feel this way after raising my children in this congregation. Are we a family without a home congregation and a home town? Yet, hoping against hope, I see a new day, because surely the present leadership will embrace the truth that progressive synergy is only possible when we work together as partners and a stewards for the Lord and his church. We’ve just completed a retreat of brothers in the congregation in which we discussed the concepts of partnership, stewardship and synergy. We discussed the factors of the flesh and spiritual immaturity that prevent or disrupt mutual respect, support, enthusiasm, and zeal for God’s glory. Synergy, or realizing we can be more fruitful working supportively together with the Lord, is really attainable with the present group. I really do believe that; but we have a business meeting next Sunday. For now business meetings mean business as usual until the transforming principles of partnership, stewardship and synergy are truly appreciated and internalized. For now my prayer is an authentic synergy as partners and stewards with even a few together with the Lord; because a few enlightened and determined brothers can make a difference. Thank you again for your encouragement; and please pray for us.