Clergy address synod priority … Transforming ministry
By Geoffrey Hall
Mainline Christian denominations of today all struggle with how the Church can and should live out the priority of the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At least part of the answer has to do with what our 2009 Diocesan Synod (and others) are calling “transformational ministry.” How do Christians live in such a way as to proclaim the Gospel and make 
disciples? The Rev Dr. Ed White, consultant with the Alban Institute was the keynote speaker at the Transforming Ministry 2009 Clergy Conference in August. He offered some insight.
Equipping our leaders for ministry in our current context is a high priority for us and was reflected in the resolutions of the June meeting of Synod. The clergy conference topic and leadership was chosen to be a first effort follow-up on what Diocesan Synod is saying needs to happen among us. Ministry that transforms actually addresses several of the priorities including renewing our Anglican identity, equipping our leaders and being responsible stewards of the message and call of Jesus to the Church.
Three session presentations — Personal Transformation, Congregational Transformation, and Transforming the World — guided consideration of some new approaches that are as old as the Church. Dr. White believes and teaches that transforming the Church has as much to do with recapturing what used to be priorities as it does with shiny new and ingenious programmes. That transformation always “begins with me.”
“Church members of these times,” said Dr. White, “are predominantly the character of the elder brother in the Parable of the Prodigal Son.” Faithful members of the church — who have kept the lights on, followed the rules, contributed as asked and done everything “right” — look at the (increasing) numbers outside of the Christian fellowship as spendthrift prodigals. Its hard for us to forgive an irresponsible prodigal. The transformation of the Church and its ministry depends on returning to the original message entrusted to the Church: forgiveness, grace and true biblical hospitality. The Gospel really does teach that it's
not about us.
The business of the Church needs to be that of disciple-making, while the majority of us are in the membership business. The kind of Church we are part of depends on what business we think we are in. As the Church continues to operate using an attraction model of proclaiming Good News, the more biblical model used by Jesus himself is incarnational – the Church going to people rather than people going to church. In Borderland Churches, recommended to the clergy as preparatory reading for the conference, author Gary Nelson describes in great detail the change of Church culture necessary if the Church in the 21st century intends to meet its missional challenge. The people in the borderlands are much more than just prospects, rather they are those for whom the Church exists.
Well trained by the world and North American consumerism, it may even be human nature for us to be overly consumed with concern about the stuff of the church – stained glass, cemeteries, memorials and buildings. It’s the nature of faith to look beyond to what the "stuff "is all about. When we fail to see “things” in their proper perspective, what is important is lost and we shouldn’t be surprised when the result is the disregard of those around us and a lack of success in effective proclamation. “Those Christians really are out of touch and more concerned about themselves than about me!”
If, in fact, we know who we are (understand our Anglican identity) and attend to that which the Gospel teaches and commands (proclamation by way of our very lives) we will find ourselves transformed and find that we are equipped to be leaders in our church, in our diocese and in our parishes and beyond. Although it's not rocket science it is still very difficult for us to do. But who said being an Anglican Christian in the Diocese of Fredericton was supposed to be a walk in the park? Has it ever been so? Let’s pray for one another that we’ll live into the vision being expressed in fresh new ways as we embark once again on the journey of faith as members of the Christian community of Anglicans in the Diocese of Fredericton.
The Ven. Geoffrey Hall is currently Executive Assistant to the Bishop of Fredericton, Secretary of the Synod, Diocesan Archdeacon and Territorial Archdeacon of Fredericton.
Diocesan Communications
29 September 2009
