Rob Prince's Blog, page 46

There wasn’t a seminary class titled: “Pastoring during a Pandemic 101”

There was not a “Pastoring during a Pandemic 101” class in seminary. Two months ago, I never used the words coronavirus or COVID-19. Two weeks ago, I never heard of social distancing or self-quarantining. Had you told me a week ago, that last Sunday would be the last time I’d eat Donna’s tasty donut in the foreseeable future, I might have rolled into the fetal position shouting, “Why? Oh Why?” If you would have said there’s a toilet paper shortage in America, I would have assumed that one of two things had occurred. Either: 1) teenagers suddenly decided that every youth pastor needed the trees in his/her yard decorated; or 2) everyone in America went on an only White Castle Burger diet.

This is our new reality. What does pastoring a church during a pandemic look like? Here are a few sad observations:

Preaching in a nearly empty sanctuary for a livestream service isn’t as easy as it sounds. I miss having the congregational feedback as I preach. I even miss hearing crickets after a bad joke flops (Have I ever told a good joke?). Now, the whole sermon is like the aftermath of a bad joke.

Caring for the sick and elderly is more difficult. No visitors in the hospitals and nursing homes includes clergy. We can’t pray with folks before they are wheeled into surgery. We can’t visit lonely ones locked up in a facility that in many cases don’t have access to socializing points like Facebook or texting options.

Funerals homes are limiting attendance to 50 mourners with the chairs spread out like they are about to play a dirge version of musical chairs.

I have yet to have a congregant diagnosed with COVID-19, but when (probably not if) that happens, my hands will be tied to calls and messaging. In the moment that I would most want to be by their side, I will be unable to do so.

In other words, in the times when people most need the comfort of the church body, we can’t gather together.

Here are a few good observations from the last few days:

I have a new appreciation for the people I minister alongside. This is new territory for all of us. Our facility crew has been deep cleaning the church (when you return, the church will sparkle). The office staff has been fielding calls and changing plans almost daily. The pastors are creatively thinking of ways to connect with people. Our tech team is working very hard to take our old equipment and make it work for this new day.

I have heard how folks in the congregation are finding ways to help one another. Getting groceries for the elderly. Sharing with others what they have. Talking to their neighbors. Being more prayerful and open about trusting God in the uncertain days. With distractions removed (no sports, school, restaurants, gyms and movie theatres), we are having family dinners again where we can share God’s love and hope with those closest to us.

This scare will end and life will resume back to normal, but when it does I hope we learn a few things. I hope we will continue to help one another. I hope we still look for the lonely ones and get creative in coming alongside of them. I hope we pray just as diligently for Christ’s presence and peace when the world returns to the way it was.

I’ll leave you with these closing words from the Book of Hebrews:

“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21

Can a Pandemic be the Church’s finest hour?

Before Pentecost (after 3 years of Jesus’ teaching, healing, feeding 5,000 people-at-a-time, raising dead folks back to life, and his own and death AND resurrection), there was only a puny 120 believers gathered in the Upper Room. Any church growth expert would tell you— that’s not very good. Then Pentecost happened and 3000 people were saved on the first day. So there were 3,120 believers. Church historians estimate that by AD 100 (or about the time that the last disciple, John, died), there were maybe 25,000 believers. In 67 years give or take, from Jesus’ resurrection to AD 100, only 25,000 believers? Again, that is not particularly impressive.

But guess what happened between the years 100 and 313 (the year Christianity became legal in the Roman Empire)? Christianity went from 25,000 believers to (droll roll please) 20 MILLION!

How in the world did that happen?

There was not a charismatic preacher traveling around collecting hordes of followers (although I am sure that were great preachers proclaiming the Good News). No get-Christianity-quick plans. Instead, many historians point to two horrific plagues as the reason for the growth.

Typically, you would think that a widespread epidemic would hurt church attendance (notice our numbers on Sunday), but historians say that Christianity grew rapidly in the midst of those horrific plagues. At the height of the plagues in the year AD251– 5,000 people were dying every day. It was bad, yet Christianity grew.

Here’s what happened: The plagues came. Everyone fled the cities. Everyone but the sick and Christians. Christians willingly stayed behind to ministered to the sick and the dying. Dionysius, the Bishop of Alexandria wrote how Christians responded to the plague of 250AD. He wrote:

“Christians showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing themselves and thinking only of one another. Heedless of danger they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ.” (Alan Cross, How Early Christians Handled the Plague).

They didn’t ignore the problem. They didn’t imitate the culture and hysterically take off running (or hoarding toilet paper). They didn’t conduct protest rallies to condemn those who caught the plague or the governmental leaders for not doing enough to stop the plague. They were present. They ministered. Some of them died because they became infected. They understood the risks. They could catch something deadly by their actions. But they also knew the rewards– those to whom they were ministering might come to know the love of Jesus. Not everyone died. Some survived and became followers of Jesus. Family members noticed who cared for their loved ones and they too turned to Christ. The church grew in trying times.

Christians behaving like Jesus has always been attractive.

Let it be said of us– that in the midst of this latest pandemic that Christians are: Loving others. Caring for the needy. Refusing to hysterically react in fear. In the midst of global uncertainty, may this be the church’s finest hour!

Election Season Advice: Don’t be a Goober

With great hesitation and with much fear and trembling, I will write the following words regarding the election year that has befallen us. I will freely admit, I hate winter, but I hate election season even more. Here’s why: I have friends on both sides of the political divide and what am about to write applies to both (it applies to all, any, and even none-of-the-above) camps and political parties. It is very theological and deep. Are you ready? Here it is:

Don’t Be a Goober!

This is not reference to chocolate covered peanut candies. Instead it’s saying (more bluntly) don’t be a jerk. Don’t be obnoxious. Don’t be demeaning. Paul’s advice to Timothy is good for all of us in an election year and every year (by the way, this counsel applies to social media too): Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone (2 Timothy 2:23-24)… i.e. don’t be a goober!

Jesus’ selection of disciples is a great example of how we can be.

Have you ever noticed who Jesus chose to be a part of his twelve disciples? Usually we lump all the disciples together and call them “fishermen.” But they weren’t all fishermen. Matthew had been a tax collector. You probably know tax collectors were hated. The aversion didn’t flow simply from a “Boo on the IRS” sentiment. In those days, tax collectors could (and did) overcharged for their services. More to the point, tax collectors were in cahoots with the ruling occupying army. They were collecting taxes for (what many considered) the evil empire of Rome. Think of Matthew as a “Make Rome Great Again” hat wearing government supporter. Then in the same circle of twelve was Simon (not Peter, the other one). He was described as a zealot. Zealots hated everything Rome. They probably didn’t even eat pizza. Think of Simon (not Peter, the other one) as a far, far left “Feel the Bern” t-shirt wearing hippie type (this isn’t totally accurate because this “hippie” Simon would have held a sign that read: Kill Caesar. He would not have been a peacenik.).

Matthew and Simon under normal circumstances would have hated one another. Yet Jesus choose these two polar opposites to be a part of his closest friends. Could it be that Jesus choose a red hat wearing government supporter and a tie-dyed t-shirt wearing kick-the-government-out fanatic to show that His love and transformative work can bring all people together–even people on opposite sides of the political divide?

Listen, we all know there are big differences in the world of politics. People have firm convictions. But can’t we have convictions and kindness too? Must we be quarrelsome? Paul would have argued that followers of the Prince of Peace promote harmony even to the most disagreeable people. Jesus said it even more specifically not only are we to show kindness but we are to “love our enemies.” Let’s do that.

UGH… and this is why we need Lent

Reports are that another religious leader fell this past week. He had been called a saint. Then this. He allegedly had an affair with a woman to whom he was giving “spiritual counsel.”

Ugh!

Again?

No. No. No. Please not again. This time it’s sexual sin. Next time it might be lying or pride or slander or unhinged anger or over-the-top selfishness or greed. You know, the usual suspects.

How can this happen again and again?  When does it stop? Why doesn’t it stop?

Because sin is sin and sin is real and the devil doesn’t stop and temptations don’t stop and cover-ups don’t stop and I know this is a run-on sentence because like sin, our enemy the devil, doesn’t quit he doesn’t stop he’s relentless and until Christians remember this there will be more stories like this until Christians remember that sin is ugly, really ugly and we need to rely on Jesus every minute of every single day and live in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ugh!

Did I already write “Ugh”? I did? Good. Because that’s how I feel right now, “Ugh!”

We don’t like these stories because we know (deep inside us) we know it could be us. We are one stupid, sinful moment away from ruining our lives, our families and damaging the Church of Jesus Christ.

Too often people we love and respect disappoint us. Lord, be my mentor.

Too often we walk too close to the line. Lord, moves us closer to you.

Too often we lose sight of the mission. Lord, give us clear vision.

Too often we believe what others say about us. Lord, help us to be humble.

Too often we think it couldn’t happen to us. Lord, Jesus, remind us that you too were tempted.

Too often we rely on our strength. Lord, I am weak; You are strong.

Too often we think holy people need not confess. Lord, teach us that the most holy people confess more and more.

Too often writers like me write articles like this after something like this has happened and then we forget all about something like this until something like this happens again.

Ugh!

Lord, help me to remember. We need you! I need you. I need to remember that I need you. I need to remember that a part from you I am lost. I need to remember that I am not the sum of my appetites. I need to crave you and only you.

And this is why we need the Lent.

 

 

Valentine’s Day, Singleness and the Church of the Nazarene

Valentine’s Day rolls around every year and for those who aren’t in a relationship it can be a tough day. I have one friend that refers to Valentine’s Day as “Remind-Me-that-I-am-Single Day.” I saw a tweet that went like this:

Roses are Red

Violets are Blue,

My boyfriend cheated on me,

Thanks, Brian.

It doesn’t rhyme but you get the point. Sometimes Valentine’s Day is not a day of cheer and hearts and flowers and chocolates. For many, it’s a day of sadness of what-once-was or a day of loneliness of what-never-was. Sometimes the church contributes to this loneliness and disappointment with our Valentine’s Banquets, Heart shaped reminders and couples only events.

The Church of the Nazarene statement on singleness says,

Singleness among the people of God is to be valued and sustained by the rich fellowship of the church and the communion of the saints. To live as a single person is to engage, as Jesus did, in the intimacy of community, surrounded by friends, welcoming and being welcomed to tables, and expressing faithful witness. (Church of the Nazarene Manual, paragraph 34)

What I like best in the above statement is: “to live as a single person is to engage, as Jesus did…” If I were to ask you, “Did Jesus lived a full and complete life?”  More than likely, all of us would answer, “Yes.” Jesus life was full. He lacked nothing. He completed his mission. But Jesus was single. Jesus was fully human and single from Bethlehem to Golgotha.

Jesus was not a second-class citizen, we would never say that. Jesus accomplished all that the Father had him accomplish. He was blessed and he was single. My point? Singleness is not a curse. Singleness is not a mark of shame. Singleness can and should be embraced in the church community.

What I like second best in the above Manual statement is that singles in the church should be: “surrounded by friends, welcoming and being welcomed to tables, and expressing faithful witness.”  In other words, the church at its best is not excluding our brothers and sisters who are single, but embracing them at our functions. It’s creating a place that is not weird or awkward or uncomfortable for the single person to step into a room of mostly couples. It’s including singles in our dinner invitations and home gatherings. It’s coming alongside our single brothers and sisters and doing our best to be a loving, welcoming, embracing, celebrating community.

This Valentine’s Day let’s celebrate it by showering our loved ones (single or otherwise) with the love of Jesus. Let’s fulfill Jesus words in John 13: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). Let’s make February 14 a day when everyone, everywhere– whatever their relationship status happens to be—know that they are loved!

If I were Czar of the Words we Use

Every year the Merriam-Webster Dictionary people add new words to our vocabulary (last year 640 new words were added including: ‘buzzy,’ ‘gig economy, and ‘garbage time.’). I am not sure where I apply for the position, but I’d like to be the Merriam-Webster Word ELIMINATING Czar. I want to be the guy that eliminate or makes the rules for the words and phrases we use. If elected this position here are a few changes I would make:

IMPEACHMENT: if you must use this word, it can only be used in the following sentence: “Hey tic-tac mints have a new flavor. It’s called impeach-mint. It’s a nice peachy-minty flavor.”

 DIVIDED: This word can only be used to describe a math problem. It can never be applied to people. Even when people disagree over major issues, it must be remembered that we all have been created in the image of God. We have a common bond– a common humanity that should overcome the nastiness and angst that pervades us.

NEWS JUNKIE: I’ve never heard someone say, “I’m a Bible junkie.” If folks spent one tenth of the time in the Bible that they spend watching their favorite news channel, the world would be a better place.

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY: Whether it’s a sport’s figure describing why he signed a contract with another team or a parishioner making excuses for his/her poor tithing record– whenever someone says “It’s not about the money,” it’s ALWAYS about the money.

I’M NOT A RACIST, BUT…:  Almost always the next thing spoken is a racist comment. How about this: Let’s just love people no matter their skin color and treat everyone the way we want to be treated.

BEING FED: This can only be used in a restaurant or a kitchen. As in, “Excuse me Mr. Food server, I ordered my meal 45 minutes ago and I am not being fed.” It cannot be used by a non-Bible-reading-during-the-week-but-exiting-the-church parishioner to his/her weary pastor as in “I’m just not being fed.” Excuse me as I barf the food I was fed.

I DON’T HAVE TIME: Even the busiest people will make time for important tasks. If your kitchen catches on fire while you are reading this, I assure you that you will produce time to put the kitchen fire out. When it comes to our spiritual well-being we need to make time.

IMPOSSIBLE: This word can only be used if someone says that they want to drive their car from California to Japan or referring to the Detroit Lions winning a Super Bowl. It cannot be used when speaking of a person’s potential or God’s ability to transform a person or a situation; (See Luke 18:27)

Bottom line: Our words matter. Our daily prayer should echo David’s prayer: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 NKJV).

Will the Church of the Nazarene Face a Similar Demise as the United Methodists (just a few years later)? Part 2

In my previous blog I asked: Will Article Four (the Nazarene Statement on Holy Scripture) lead the Church of the Nazarene down the same path as the United Methodists?

 Both the Church of the Nazarene and the United Methodist churches have similar statements regarding scripture. The coming United Methodist split is in part because both sides of their divide site scripture as their authority for their particular position in the debate. Common sense leads one to conclude: if it could happen to them, it could happen to us.

Here are a few options to avoid a similar United Methodist schism within the ranks of the Church of the Nazarene:

  Change our position on Holy Scripture.

The easy answer is to move to a more fundamentalist stance toward the Bible. Point out the four or five statements from the Bible regarding homosexuality and declare: “If the Bible says it that settles it for me.”

The problem: Nazarenes are not fundamentalists and most don’t want to be. We don’t believe for example when the Bible talks of “four corners of the earth” that we need to look for four corners on our round planet. The inspired authors of the Bible thought the earth was flat, like a sheet of paper (hence four corners) and were simply stating that God’s love covers all the earth.  All this to say, we don’t believe the Bible is a science book, rather it is a faith book. Its purpose is to bring people into the saving faith of Jesus. We don’t cherry pick verses to build straw man arguments on the topics we deem worthy.

If Fundamentalism isn’t the answer, then how can Nazarenes not follow in the United Methodist footsteps and remain united?

Emphasize the “plenary inspiration” of our statement.

Unlike fundamentalists and those of the opposite end of the spectrum who pick and choose what scriptures to emphasize or eliminate to build their case; Nazarenes moving forward will need to rely on our common plenary inspiration view of scripture.  Our emphasis on looking at the whole scripture from an eagle’s eye view and building our foundational truths from the whole of scripture seem to be the way forward.

We believe the whole of scripture is inspired. We believe that there is a common thread running through the Bible and that all of Scripture leads to Jesus.  As such, we are called to love everyone, everywhere. As it relates to the current United Methodist rift, we must maintain a deep understanding that the whole scripture describes marriage as between a man and a woman and the whole of scripture calls all sex outside of marriage sin. We aren’t cherry picking verses to come to this conclusion, but looking over the full inspiration of the entirety of Scripture to draw this belief.

Be Committed to Loving All

Everyone (heterosexual or homosexual or everyone else) is loved by God. Everyone is created in the image of God, no matter how they identify themselves. But not everyone is called to the married life. Just as Jesus walked on the earth, unmarried, but completely fulfilling God’s purposes, we believe all people can fulfill their purpose in the Lord. Our stance regarding Human Sexuality and marriage does not leave room for judging or holding ill regard toward those walking the path of singleness as Jesus did. Our call is to love, not judge. Build bridges, not walls. All of this done in the whole of scripture’s description of marriage, singleness and sexuality.

A humble North American Church

There seems to be a western Christianity sense of superiority or arrogance rearing its ugly head in the Methodist debate. The last general conference vote to remain true to the Discipline as written was upheld mostly because of African and other world areas refused to conform to the prevailing Western practices and beliefs. Yet, with its anemic numbers and rapid decline, rather than looking at the other world delegates as unenlightened or incapable of discerning biblical truths, the North American church can learn much from our other world area brothers and sisters. A great need for humility from the North American church as it comes to the realization that other world area brothers and sisters have much to teach us (not the other way around).

  Emphasize Unity

Clearly, unity is missing in the United Methodist Church and presently unity (97% voted in favor of the current statement on Human Sexuality and Marriage at the 2017 General Assembly) is what the Nazarenes enjoy. The Nazarene church must do everything possible to remain united. A continued emphasis on the global nature of the church, and a continued (as expensive as it is) regular four-year General Assembly family gathering to bolster that unity is imperative. Unity comes as the church is more international at all levels and listens to all world areas in Biblical interpretation and practices. Meanwhile, thinking of ways to further emphasize and celebrate our unity in a greater measure in all publications and gatherings will help avoid a Methodist type split.

The happenings in the United Methodist church should call all Nazarene to our knees as we pray for our fellow Wesleyans as they seek a path through these troubled waters. It should also call all Nazarenes to work toward greater ways of unity amidst our diverse backgrounds and experiences if Nazarenes wish to avoid the same fate.

 

 

Will the Church of the Nazarene Face a Similar Demise as the United Methodists (just a few years later)? Part 1

As you know, the United Methodist church is spiraling toward a denominational split later this year. The Divided Methodist church seems a more accurate moniker for our brother and sister Wesleyan denomination. Here’s the rub as it relates to the Church of the Nazarene: The United Methodist Articles of Religion regarding scripture and the Church of the Nazarene’s Articles of Faith regarding scripture are similar. Very Similar.

The Methodist statement on Scripture contained in Article Four (“Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation”) and Article Five (“The Holy Bible”) say they following:

  We believe the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for our salvation. It is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide for faith and practice. Whatever is not revealed in or established by the Holy Scriptures is not to be made an article of faith nor is it to be taught as essential to salvation….

 The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the church…

The Nazarene Article of Faith regarding Holy Scripture (article four) states the following:

We believe in the plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, by which we understand the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, given by divine inspiration, inerrantly revealing the will of God concerning us in all things necessary to our salvation, so that whatever is not contained therein is not to be enjoined as an article of faith.

 The Methodists are wordier, but the statements are similar.

What’s the big deal you say?

In the Methodist split that is (probably) coming in May, both sides in the great divide over the LBGTQ questions cite scripture as the basis for their argument. Both believe that they are standing firmly on the Scripture, but they have come to very different conclusions. Their issue ultimately is about the interpretation of scripture as it is expressed in the question of whether to be affirming or not toward homosexual lifestyles. I apologize for this oversimplification of a complex issue, but after all is said and done, it’s mostly about differing interpretation of Scripture.

Do you see the little Nazarene dilemma that could rear its head in the future?

We mostly agree with the Methodists on our theology of Scripture. But currently, Nazarenes are mostly united regarding this issue (97% of the delegates of the 2017 delegates to Nazarene Assembly approved the statement regarding Human Sexuality and Marriage). One can legitimately ask the question: How long will the Church of the Nazarene remain 97% unified regarding human sexuality? How long will it take for someone much smarter than me to stand before a microphone on the floor of the General Assembly and declare, “I know that 97% of Nazarenes voted in 2017 for the statement on Human Sexuality and Marriage, but when I read the Bible I draw a very different conclusion.”

I have heard in discussions both public and private how the Church of the Nazarene generally lags behind by 20 years the United Methodist Church. Will we be debating this question in 20 years?  Is a split in the Church of the Nazarene just as inevitable as the United Methodist church just 20 years in the making? In our social media driven, instant news generation will it be that long before the issue is debated?  Probably not in 2021, but will there be an outcry in 2025 or 2029?

In tomorrow’s blog, I will offer a few options that Nazarene’s might take in avoiding the fate of our United Methodist brothers and sisters.

 

HOW TO STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE (USA/CANADA) BY 2030? Part II: Answering some questions

In my previous blog, I posed the question: What if we thought differently about the future church and ministry in the Church of the Nazarene in the USA/Canada region.

I offered a new scenario of normalized ministry. If indeed you can call it new. Paul, a tent maker (see Acts 18:3), was bi-vocational and still managed to plant a bunch of churches and write a major chunk if the New Testament. Maybe better stated, I asked what if normalizing bi-vocational ministry and the planting of 5,000 house/in-an-operating-business churches by 2030 in the USA/Canada could happen?

Here are some possible answers to a few questions that might have been raised:

What could happen (through this method)?  Many of these churches could grow beyond their house or business meeting place– to that we’d say, “Hallelujah.” But even if that didn’t happen there would be 5000 new house churches or gatherings meeting in a business place averaging 25 people or more for a total of at least 125,000 new Nazarenes.

What else would happen… a smaller, viable, reproducible, faith community where non-Christians meet up with theologically trained pastors on a daily basis all over the country.

What else wouldn’t there be… church buildings to maintain; pastors’ salaries; students’ debt that hinders financial stability of the minister and other expenses that drain a church budget but have produced little or no results (remember for all the money spent last year in churches around the USA/Canada, the church has been in decline… for more than the last decade the church has been in decline).

What’s the worst that could happen?  The coffee shop, thrift store, business venture/house church goes belly up or the pastor has proved to be a goober… then you pull up stakes, sell the building and move to the next small town or to the other side of that same town or urban area and do the same thing,

What’s the next worst thing that could happen?  We burn out our people. Pastoring, running a business or working a job, having a family…. there aren’t enough hours in the day. This problem could be helped with more and better delegation of responsibilities in the local gathering, better support from the District or partnering with more established churches and efficient time management from the pastor.

 

How could the denomination pay for it? If USA/Canada church model must be strengthened to keep the global mission of the church operating then envisioning a way forward to make that happen must be a priority.

The homes/buildings for this new church venture would be purchased from District funds that have been acquired from the sale of other properties.

The college tuition would be covered by an increase in the USA/Canada portion of the WEF funds. Increasing the USA/Canada portion of the WEF funds is necessary if the goal is to strengthen the local churches by providing an educated clergy who are also able to sustain themselves without church budget funds.

If strengthening the USA/Canada church is priority #1 (and it is my contention that it must be for the long-term well-being of the global church) then this should be reflected in the WEF allotment to USA/Canada region. WEF dollars could be spent not only on educating a new hoard of pastors at NTS or NBC but also in bringing in missionaries from other world areas to reach the various ethnic groups in the USA/Canada region.

 

Honestly, what has to happen to start 5000 churches?

More than money or finding pastors—there will need to be some major shifts in thinking.

 A) Church buildings are not necessary for Kingdom growth. This goes against the now debunked theory “If we build it they will come.” No, they won’t. A more accurate moniker is “If they build it, they will have a huge debt and will be unable to invest in ministry.”

B) Pastors must be compensated by the church. No, they don’t. Paul and many more modern tent-makers, show that bi-vocational ministry can be done successfully. The fastest growing church on the district where I serve (Eastern Michigan District) Family Community Church in Goodrich, Michigan, has no paid church staff and averaged 295 people in 2019.

C) The USA/Canada must be strengthened now (yesterday actually). The ship is sinking. If the USA/Canada Church is not strengthened the whole global church will be impacted negatively. The situation is critical and the needs are immediate. Taking our collective heads out of the sand is needed.

D) Who am I kidding? (Take 1). Nazarene churches (and pastors) are too territorial. Too often when an existing Nazarene church is in a town and a church plant is suggested there is major push back. Like it was played out in the old Western slang vernacular that says, “This town ain’t big enough fer the both of us.” But the truth of the matter is that nearly every city could use more churches preaching the message of holiness. We need a more “What’s good for Kingdom” mindset and less worry or contention over territorial boundaries.

E). Who am I kidding (Take 2). There are pastors just like me, who have earned our living off the church for 25+ years and are too old to learn a new trick (i.e. “we ain’t changing” and we aren’t about to open a coffee shop anytime soon). This is the biggest hurdle. I get it. The shift to make bi-vocational ministry the norm, not the exception, will take my generation and the generation behind me to retire.

In the meantime, pastors in my bracket need to cheer on those who are stepping out on faith. Applaud the adventurous, worthy millennials and iPhone generation pastors (OK, Boomer) who will do the hard kingdom work of bringing the church back to the center of ministry again. The ministers who willing serve without pay, in house churches or in various places and build the Kingdom of God in coffee shops, restaurants and public meeting places.

 

We need a new era of evangelism. Probably the old way of Biblical tracts and four spiritual laws isn’t going to have the same effectiveness in USA/Canada. Instead, the Jesus model of moving in and living among the people; the Paul model of being a tent maker and living off their secular work; and, the Stephen model of Kingdom before self is what is needed (and repeated 5,000 times) if the USA/Canada church (and in turn the global church) is going to be strengthened in the coming decade.

 

How to strengthen the Church of the Nazarene (USA/Canada) by 2030? Part 1: The Plan

What if we thought differently about the future church and ministry in the Church of the Nazarene than the way we currently think?

Here are the facts as I see them (Some antidotal. Some not):

Fact 1: A strong USA/Canada church is essential for the good of the global church (currently the USA/Canada funds 94% of the mission of the global church)

Fact 2: The USA/Canada Church has been in decline for over a decade and the coming decade could be worse.

Fact 3: The ONLY way to reverse the trend is to open more churches (5,000 new churches).

Fact 4: Seminary enrollment is down (way down from when I was a student 35 years ago). I haven’t seen the Bible College numbers. If we are opening churches we need trained pastors.

Fact 5: Many of the seminarians/ministry majors who are enrolled, aren’t thrilled about reviving a church in small town U.S.A. or planting a church in an urban area. Many don’t want to pastor a church at all.

Fact 6: Getting a job in small town USA can be difficult.

Fact 7: Finding affordable housing in urban area USA is difficult.

Fact 8: Jesus words in Matthew 9:37 are still true.“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” People in both small town USA and urban area USA need Jesus. We need churches and pastors.

What if we actively tried to change the current reality…

What if the term “bi-vocational pastor” was looked upon as a normal, regular ministry option rather than one inducing sympathy or being viewed as “second rate.”
What if we thought of the bi-vocational pastor as the most honorable pastoral position and held these sacrificial women and men pastors in high regard. Conversely, what if the idea of a “full-time” clergy role was viewed as a somewhat questionable pursuit?
What if seminarians/Bible college students were taught how to open a coffee shop (don’t all ministry students love coffee?) or a thrift store (who doesn’t like a good thrift store/consignment shop?) or some other venture and taught how to play the guitar. Singing has always been a part of Christian worship (Live music > Youtube sing alongs). And what if simultaneously these bi-vocational ministers were taught how to craft a sermon and be a pastor?
What if Acts 2:42 became our model of these house or inside a business space churches? The followers devoted themselves to Biblical teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and to prayer. That’s it.
What if the district leadership could convince the twenty people or so remaining in a dying church that is on hospice care that they could sell their building and open a coffee shop or thrift store. That instead of the lost folks never stepping in their church, those that don’t know Jesus would regularly walk into a coffee shop or thrift store. (Note: this sales job from the district leader might take an act of God to actually happen).
What if we made the Bible college or seminary tuition FREE for those going into (or already doing) pastoral ministry.
What if districts started buying houses for the pastors to live and the house churches to meet.
What if the being trained, guitar playing, coffee making, thrift store operating, theologically sound seminarian or Bible College student with free education and free housing in the apartment above the coffee shop and income from the coffee shop with a steady stream of potential Jesus followers coming to get their coffee or find a bargain– could actually make a difference for Jesus in small town USA. (I know that was a long, run on sentence, I don’t care…). What if all that could happen and…
What if this model was repeated again and again and again all across USA/Canada?

If that model was repeated, say 5000 times in the next decade, then attendance numbers and declining dollars would be dramatically reversed. We would see revival in small town USA and urban areas and everywhere in between.

No doubt, I’ve raised a lot of questions. In tomorrow’s blog post I will attempt to answer some of those questions.