What was Thursday, October 31, 2019?
It was the 502nd Reformation Day, a nobler event redeeming that day from an otherwise nefarious celebration. And what is #NADYEM19? Not MAYHEM backwards, but the 2019 North American Division Year End Meetings. Here are just a few things that have transpired since the 3pm, Thursday afternoon opening.
The Way Forward — Part A (Retention)
A number of profound truths are surfacing in just day two of five. To borrow NAD Executive Secretary Glenward Alexander Bryant’s words, “We need to find a way to stop that bleeding in the church.” Elder Bryant is referring to the steady membership hemorrhage, especially in NAD, the very low member retention rate and revolving back door. Precious souls are leaving at almost higher rates than they are joining the remnant church!
How do we close the back door?
I don’t pretend to have all the easy answers, but observation undeniably reveals that there are, among other issues,
(a) fewer men in the church than women;
(b) many of those departing are youth; and
(c) membership is also decreased by decease. Some of these are premature.
If We Do What Others Do, We Will Get What Others Get
Some say the solution is ordaining a thousand female pastors, introducing new styles of worship that mimic other denominations, abandoning our unfriendly Adventist cultural habits, and throwing more money at the problem (tithe parity). But Elder Bryant’s solution is absolutely correct (my ALL CAPS emphasis added):
Christ's method ALONE will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, “Follow Me.”
There is need of coming close to the people by personal effort. If less time were given to sermonizing, and more time were spent in personal ministry, greater results would be seen. The poor are to be relieved, the sick cared for, the sorrowing and the bereaved comforted, the ignorant instructed, the inexperienced counseled. We are to weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that rejoice. Accompanied by the power of persuasion, the power of prayer, the power of the love of God, this work will not, cannot, be without fruit. – The Ministry of Healing, p. 143, paragraphs 2 and 3.
We often start and stop at only these two profound paragraphs, but I encourage you to continue to read on about our much neglected medical missionary work. This, in fact, would address many of the problems by,
(a) adding more men and women to the church,
(b) fully engaging and retaining our youth, and
(c) reducing the early mortality rate.
Isn’t it time to put into practice “Christ’s method” ALONE instead of all the other failed methods?
The Way Forward – Part B (Fixing the Mess)
So what’s next?
The excitement is building in anticipation of other pressing items, including NAD’s reaction to its responsibility to encourage two of its wayward unions (Columbia and Pacific) to come in line with the rest of the global body on ordination practices, discussion on our church’s new official statement on the sanctity of life which discourages abortion, and tithe parity.
Columbia Union President Elder Dave Weigly may be on to something. For at least 7 years, since 2012, his Union has been putting out their rationale pressing for women’s ordination. Whole issues of their Union magazine, The Columbia Union Visitor have repeatedly been dedicated to propagating only one side of the issue. We have been cautioned, “Beware of one-hand clapping.” Since this is such an important issue, it would be good to revisit, publish and republish both sides of the issue, not only in our Union papers, but also in our denominational periodical, The Journey and Review. I would encourage Editor Bill Knott to regularly feature points and counterpoints in a dedicated section. This will foster openness, honesty, transparency, not to mention boost readership. The TOSC has done a great job of representing both sides of the issue. Both sides have been listening to each other for some time now, and there’s no need to stop listening, even during discipline.
In addition to the TOSC, here are two great resources on both sides of the issue – Women in Ministry and Prove All Things: A Response to Women in Ministry. There are other smaller volumes as well – Women’s Ordination – Does it Matter? by Clint and Gina Wahlen, Questions and Answers About Women’s Ordination by Martin Hanna and Cindy Tutsch, and God’s Role for Women by Doug Bachelor, to name just a few easy reads.
If anyone’s position is correct then certainly it will stand up to biblical scrutiny. Instead of tiring, digging in our heels, concluding dialog and commencing combat, let’s huddle and cooperate.
NAD is correct that ALL women need to be fully engaged in ministry. The world church is saying just that. But not just a thousand women, every man and youth also! This does not require ordination. The problem is confusion over roles and what the Bible actually does teach. There needs to be clarity that although there is some overlap, teaching, preaching, prophesying and pastoring are distinct yet complimentary. Now we need to learn to cooperate and practice love, patience, and discipline.
The way forward may be slow and painful, but it is worth it if we continue with just as much decency and order as determination, honesty, much prayer and study, and most of all love.
Geoff is a layman and proud father of three brilliant sons – Phillip, Sean and Michael. When he is not giving Bible studies, you may find him doing engineering work, installing a satellite dish, tinkering with some technical project, taking a brisk walk, or finally getting some much needed sleep.
Stay tuned for The Way Forward Part C (What We Missed)