Culture Shift

Eric, Charlene & I attended the CCN Satellite Simulcast at Redwood yday, entitled "Culture Shift". It turned out not be about how Christian ministries need to come to terms with the changing mindset of our society -- not that I don't think that's worth discussing.

By the way, I'm thinking we must have arrived at at least "Pre-Post-Post-Modern" by now. What do you think, Pomo?

Instead, it was about stating some rather obvious things about creating a certain life-giving environment in your ministry. Were these guys *paid* to restate these things!? ;) Okay, I'm not opposed to restating basic ideas.

The most notable part to me was the impact of unhealthy relationships on a ministry. The speaker's advice to a leader of a suffering ministry was to give up planning new programs for a while, do a check-up on relationships and do what was necessary to heal them --

-- and do it all before Sunday, because worship would need to be cancelled. "That's according to Jesus (Mt. 5)!" said a grinning Wayne. "Not me. Take it up with him!"

Now I'm not entirely happy with that approach to Christ's commands (though I'm sure I've used it) but

I do recall a ministry conference at which we cancelled Communion because one sub-ministry was in conflict. I don't think (but I don't know) if those conflicts were ever solved and by the next year another sub-ministry also had conflicts unresolved to this day. I'm kind of assuming they have returned to celebrating communion among the survivors anyway. Maybe they offer prayers for the dead.

I, of course, am greatly influenced by Andy James and I remember his
emphasis on the importance of people over programs.

This is not to say that programs should not be reviewed, sometimes dumped or adapted to changing trends etc., but it left me convinced that the main need of every ministry is *good people*, even when equipment, funds and facilities may seem insufficient. If you have good, willing people working in God's enthusiasm, generally speaking) they can make a good time out of little material.

Again generalizing: people will be attracted to this, which will bring funds, equipment etc.
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Re. unhealthy relationships impacting effectiveness:
What if the divorce has already occurred? Eternal ineffectiveness? I know divorced or separated people who get back together. I know of a Christian worker let go for breaking one of the "serious" of the 10 Commandments and then rehired. (Let's not pretend that Evangelicals don't grade sin.) I just don't want to limit the possibilities when God and Grace are available in our circumstances.