Spare Change

More about "Focus"

Posted by Bryan

The emergent leader discussion continues over at Lifeway's bulletin board. Here's my latest:

Will, I agree with your caution not to assume the worst in our leaders. I (and I think most would agree) that we have godly men in leadership who only want God's best. I think that's why Dr. Draper's opened up this forum. But I also believe that there is a recognition that the generation in leadership is moving into a reconstruction phase after a long, serious battle over the integrity of our denomination. By virtue of that battle, wagons have been circled and ranks have been closed for a time. Now, we ask and opine on how to open those back up, to welcome the next generation of God's leaders.

Marty, you have framed the issue as "will those who have led through the theological resurgence be involved in the missional resurgence?" I think your question rightly implies an acknowledgment that we have a new generation of ministers who are largely separated from denominational issues because they are instead focused on God's mission, independent of denominational matters or influence. Where I'm concerned is the apparent disconnect in the understanding that the denomination, its CP strategy, and its agencies all exist to assist in accomplishing the mission.

In that, we look at these intertwined issues of involvement, inclusion, discipleship, and leadership from two perspectives. From the denominational leadership perspective, the challenge is to exist, develop, and lead in a way that it continues to be relevant and representative of the saints who gather under it's umbrella. It's the idea of "are you really leading if nobody's following?"

On the other hand, we have the very real issue of the emerging not contributing to the perpetuity of the denomination, while still identifying with it. As Dr. Draper said in his most recent BP article, we need bridge builders.

So while we can talk or type day and night "around" the issue, the reality is we are best served to focus on discussing matters that, when we (individually and collectively, on either end of this bridge to be built) walk away from this forum, we do so with concrete steps of action that can be taken.

So I go back to "service."

From the "established leadership" side (and I really hate labels, for they're always inadequate and/or inaccurate), service is going to be embodied in two primary manifestations:



1. Contextualization of denomination strategies and resources to meet the specialized needs of the local church. Our agency leaders and representatives must adopt some ideological terminology when serving our churches.


• How can I serve/help you?


• How may I help you use this resource/strategy to accomplish your church's purpose?


• May I work with you to connect you with other churches in your association/state?

Our best denominational work is done when our agencies and leaders serve as highly relational inspirers, motivators, resource brokers, facilitators, consultants, and encouragers. The least effective work is done when these folks come across as highly denominatinal organizers, directors, administrators, managers, salesmen, or dogmatics.

2. Identification, enlistment, development, and deployment of emergent leaders from across the denominational landscape. Perhaps it was necessary for leadership to be guarded during the decades when our doctrine was under fire. On the other side of that, though, many qualified leaders are emerging by serving on fields that might have been overlooked in the past, in deference to the pulpiteer, denominational loyalist, or sterling theologian. I can tell you that my generation is looking for our denomination to offer some "under 40" leaders who are clothed in humiliity, eager to serve, and prepared for partnership. Our young leaders don't have to helm the ship today, for there is much respect for the current stewards of those responsibilities. What emergent generations do need, though, is the hope and belief that we have a voice, that it's not being filtered, and their generation will be discipled to one day (soon) assume leadership responsibility.

From the "emergent side," I think we can start with a couple of simple steps:



1. Honor, acknowledge, and implement the right steps of the generation that has gone before us and desires to serve alongside us.


2. Focus on the basics, with grace seasoning every effort. Evangelize passionately. Minister liberally. Pray fervently. Disciple without compromise. Fellowship joyfully. If the established generation does "it" differently, don't condemn or criticize. Either do it your own way and pray that both efforts bear fruit, or seek to partner and learn.


3. Make ourselves available to the denomination. The neglected child of the SBC is the association. Yet it possesses the strongest potential for effectiveness in the mission. We should seek out opportunities to extend our service beyond our local congregations to the association, the state, and beyond. In such service, apart from titles, opportunities to lead will arise, and God will anoint and appoint as He sees fit.

Okay, there's enough here to chew on and push back on. I don't pretend to have it all figured out. Mine are opinions in development and I'm eager to see the conversation continue, toward the realization of the worthy goals for which this forum was created.

Go on over to read the other voices.