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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

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division in the local churchDivision in the local church

By Ken Blue

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:10.

I know of nothing that causes strife and division in the local church like voting and giving undue attention to the church constitution. There are churches that cannot make a decision without first consulting the constitution to see if it is permissible and then voting to see how many will oppose it. Growing churches cannot function when hamstrung with policies which require a vote on every decision.

Why not plan the entire year with your leadership; then build the budget around those plans? Having done that let the membership review it. Tell them to contact the deacons if they have questions. The pastor and staff should not be contacted about budget matters. Finally, have a Victory and Vision Banquet where the budget is approved, but not discussed. Once the budget is approved, move forward in freedom to accomplish the ministry goals that have been set.

The pastor should also have liberty to appoint men and women to fill all needed ministry positions. It is unwise to vote on these people.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The fewer things a church votes on, the less division it will have.[/pullquote]

The fewer things a church votes on, the less division it will have. There are four things, if voted on, that will allow the church work to go forward. These are: 1. Vote on the annual budget. 2. Vote on any change in the constitution. 3. Vote on the purchase of property or building new buildings. 4. Vote on the hiring of a new pastor. The pastor should take the leadership in all these matters; otherwise there will be much ado about nothing.

PLANNING YOUR MINISTRY

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PLANNING YOUR MINISTRY # 1

planning

It is a fact that most pastors and churches never create plans extending beyond next Sunday’s sermon. They have no written annual plans for outreach, maturity, worship, buildings or missions. One reason is the pastor may not understand its value. Another might be fear or laziness. You may wonder why one would be fearful to establish a plan. The answer is simple; if you plan, you might fail. Thus, the safest course of action is not to act or plan.

October is a good time to hold the planning session for your church. The date, time, place and who will attend should be put on your calendar months prior to the scheduled date. The pastor must spend some time alone looking at his purpose statement and asking himself some questions about it. Each question must be prefaced with “What do we need to do to…” The answers should be written down for his personal guidance at the planning meeting. This is pre-planning.

Prior to the meeting, an agenda should be created and distributed to all who attend. The time to be granted on each item must be listed. The moderator should ensure that the meeting stays on course and adheres to the allotted time. 

Write the question on the board, and then the moderator should ask, “What do we need to do to…” Answers should be written on the whiteboard under the question. The only response allowed to each idea is, “good, write that down. Now, what else do we need to do…?”  Do not allow any discussion or comments on the ideas until the team has run out of suggestions, if you do, you will squelch the meeting and people will stop giving ideas. Follow this procedure with all major ministry questions. This is the brainstorming of the session.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]A clear plan not only gives direction, it liberates and gives purpose.[/pullquote]

Once all the ideas are in on each ministry, decide which ideas the church should turn into ministry goals. Once this has been done on the major ministries, set dates on when each idea will be implemented and completed. Also, determine who will be responsible for that goal and what the expense will be. This gives ownership and responsibility for each goal. Review points should be set to determine progress.

A clear plan of how you are to achieve each goal, not only gives direction, it liberates and gives purpose. I want to challenge each pastor to schedule a planning session for his ministry. It will be one of the most helpful things you can do. So, start planning to plan.

HOW TO STAY FOCUSED IN THE MINISTRY

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THE USE OF THE PURPOSE STATEMENT

purpose statementBy Ken Blue
The most difficult task in the ministry is keeping the church on target and focused on its stated purpose. Like a ship or a plane without a rudder, a church will begin to drift if navigational controls are not built in and monitored.

Once you are clear on your purpose, and are able to state it in a simple sentence, it becomes your Northern Star to guide, and keep you on course. Let me give you a few purposes statements. See if you can determine what each organization is about. 1. Focus On The Family. 2. Child Evangelism. 3. Bringing Families From Spiritual Infancy To Spiritual Maturity. 4. The Church With A Heart. 5. Youth For Christ. 6. Campus Crusade.

Once you have figure out what your church is going to do, state in no uncertain terms what you believe God wants you to do. The purpose statement should be on your letterhead and your church bulletin, and it must not be vague. Everyone in your church should be keep informed about what you are aiming at. The purpose statement should be the bull’s-eye on the target. Sad to say, the reason many pastors have no purpose statement or they make it vague, is so they cannot fail or be accountable.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The reason many pastors have no purpose statement is so they cannot fail or be accountable.[/pullquote]

Next, you need to determine what objectives you must establish to move toward your Northern Star. Your objectives must be consistent with your purpose statement; otherwise your statement means nothing. You will notice the lines coming back from the shaft of the arrow. Your objectives should be written on each line. It is best not to have more than seven objectives.

Keep in mind that an objective and a goal are not the same. Objectives are the ministries you must implement to carry the church toward its purpose. For example, if you choose number 3 as a purpose for your church, one of your objectives would be to win families to Christ and the church. Objectives are ongoing and will continue till Jesus comes. Whereas, goal are the measurable activities you will use to work at your objectives. Each one of the lines on the shaft of the arrow tells you what you ought to be about to accomplish your purpose for existence.

Once you have done the above, you will have a clear picture of who you are, what you must do and how to go about it. The most difficult part of planning is not how to do what you want; the most difficult is to determine what your church will do. Once the what is established, the how, comes relatively easy. To stay focused, put your planning arrow in a place where you can see it. When you seem to be in a fog or get off course, get the arrow out and view it like you would a roadmap to get back on track. Let it be your guide and you will stay focused.

(Pastor Blue has a complete seminar on the planning process. For a PAL ministry in your church, contact him.)

THE POWER OF A PURPOSE STATEMENT

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THE POWER OF A PURPOSE STATEMENT

PURPOSE STATEMENT

As a young preacher I attended Dr. Jack Hyles’ Pastor School on several occasions. Each year he reiterated their purpose statement by saying First Baptist is “The Church With A Heart.” He would spend the rest of the evening marching each of their ministries across the platform, illustrating their purpose. It took me some time to fully understand that action. But, I finally came to the place where I got it. Because they had a heart for all people, the church was committed to identifying all classes and groups and then developing a strategy to reach them for Christ.

I am convinced that every church should determine its true purpose; create a statement and then let that statement become their northern star to direct them. This should not be hastily done. One should take several days or weeks to think this matter through. If done properly, this becomes the hub around which all your ministry activities will revolve.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]I am convinced that every church should determine its purpose so that all future planning knows what direction to go.[/pullquote]

Your purpose statement should state what your ministry will be about. Most Christians have heard of Focus on the Family. That purpose statement tells you where their effort and finances will focus. At Open Door Baptist we created the following purpose statement: “Open Door exist to bring families from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity.” That purpose statement tells us exactly what our emphases and efforts will be. Every ministry should be started and structured with the whole family in mind.

Once a statement has been accepted it should be dissected and each part developed with action verbs to accomplish the purpose. All future planning should be done to move the church toward your purpose or northern star; as you do, you will begin to experience the power of a purpose statement.

Many churches create a purpose statement and then put it in a drawer, and  forget it. That is a sign the leadership is not serious, and has a fear of failure. The purpose statement should be on every piece of literature, and posted where everyone sees it. It must be your guiding star. How many people really know what your purpose is? That will tell you how your are doing.

WHO IS THE LEADER OF YOUR CHURCH?

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tug of war

By Ken Blue

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” Romans 16:17.

Pastor, if you are the leader of your church, you can expect attacks from every direction, for every cause. Jesus said, “Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.” Matthew 26:31. Please don’t try to help me out by reminding me of the context, and who smites the shepherd. I got it.

The application is universal…smite the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. Remember also, when you are under attack, the destruction of the church is Satan’s goal.

One pastor friend said the source of most problems is “frustrated ambition.” That is, someone wants something, and you are in their way. Another said, the two things a pastor-leader will be accused of most often is “a lack of love for his people, and being a dictator.” It only makes sense, if someone resents you, those would be their attacks.

We hear much today about the “abusive pastor,” or how good churches become cults. An author with the same name as mine has written a book, “Healing Spiritual Abuse: How to Break Free from Bad Church Experience” I confess, I have not read the book, but I have no doubt about its subject content. There are those who have dedicated their entire lives, and ministry, searching land and sea for a pastor who has fallen so they will have something to write about.

The pastor is called to lead the flock. We will confine our remarks to the Pastoral Epistles so we may be true to our subject. In 1 Tim.1:4, Paul tells young Timothy to not allow himself to be drawn into arguments and debates. In verse 18, he is to wage a good war against the Devil. In chapter 3:5, he is to “rule, and care” for the church. In verse 12, he must exercise judgment about the choice of deacons. Sound doctrine must be the heart of his sermons, 4:6. In 4:11, there are things to “command and teach.” In 5:7, he is given a charge by Paul. In verse 11, there are certain people who must be denied the financial care by the church.  In 5:18, he is to set the salary of other pastors who work for him. Chapter 5:20, would be considered abuse in any church today. That’s because the pastors are “wimps.” Chapter 6:4, 5 will be at the heart of most troublemakers. Verse 17 calls for another charge to preach.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]With great responsibility, comes greater accountability.[/pullquote]

The preacher can discover for himself his leadership duties also in 2 Timothy and Titus. Pastors should seek advice in some matters. He must love his people and protect them, and himself. You must be open, and transparent. But, you should not allow anyone to take the leadership away from you. You are accountable to God to “take the oversight” as God leads you. With great responsibility, comes greater accountability.

I will list some things that are not spiritual abuse. Those who think they are, should join a church that doesn’t have any men in it.

  1. It is not abuse for the pastor to take the leadership and oversight of the church. To do otherwise, is a neglected of duty.
  2. It is not abuse to preach the Word of God as you understand it, regardless of who does not like it.
  3. It is not abuse to remove those who cause strife or division.
  4. It is not abuse to set people in place,  that you trust, over ministries.
  5. It is not abuse to have any guest speakers of your choice.
  6. It is not abuse to lead the planning for the church future.
  7. It is not abuse to refuse to abdicate your leadership.
  8. It is not abuse to refuse to allow someone to do something you don’t approve
  9. It is not abuse to choose the music for the church.
  10. It is not abuse to take the leadership of the church. Either you will lead, or some sissy’s wife will.