Church

Chapter 4 of The Discipline contains The Constitution of The North American General Conference. Basic Christian doctrines and the basic outline for our governing structure are established here. Appropriately, these things can be changed, but it requires a tremendous amount of work to do so. Allow me to be clear. The general principles established in The Constitution are sound. They establish as thoroughly orthodox and distinguish us as thoroughly entrenched in the holiness movement with a presbyterian form of government. I will not be advocating for any seismic shifts in this area. However, I would offer a few observations.

What are the five foundational values of The Wesleyan Church as evidenced in her history?

In light of the upcoming Fifteenth General Conference of The Wesleyan Church, I have begun a review of The Discipline of The Wesleyan Church 2022, which serves as the seminal definition of Wesleyan belief and polity. My objective in this is to remind myself of the timeless things which have driven our denomination since its inception and to consider how to best pursue them in the next fifty years. Moreover, I intend to document this journey by sharing thoughts, experiences, and dreams along the way, and in so doing, I hope to encourage and even inspire those who will be elected in 2025 to be present at General Conference in 2026 to imagine what could and should be.

In A Church Called Tov, Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer respond to the proliferation of high-profile church scandals by examining the factors which steer church cultures toward toxicity or health. Built upon the assumption that the Church is intended to be an agent for tov, the Hebrew word for “good!”, they first consider some of the warning signs that a church is heading in the wrong direction and then outline the seven foundational elements of a tov culture.

Although it has been four decades since the book was first published, Lyle Shaller’s Growing Plans: Strategies to Increase Your Church’s Membership remains a supremely practical resource for pastors and church leaders seeking to spur their churches to growth. With a chapter dedicated to each of small, middle-sized, large, and new churches, the strategies Schaller prescribes are insightful, and because he focused on timeless principles rather than the latest trend or theory, these strategies are just as relevant today as they were when the first copy came off the press.

In his book, Wrecked & Redeemed: Finding Hope, Freedom, and Acceptance in Christ, Benji Kelley uses his own story of redemption as a springboard to call the church to be and do the things that will be necessary to reach this generation with the Gospel. The major recurring theme is that churches must offer both grace and truth to people who often have no experience with church and lives which are in ruins, and much of the book is given to helping leaders find the balance between these two.

We all need periodic opportunities to leave our normal scenery, company, and routine to meet with God, and we cannot rely on catastrophes. We must therefore plan to take advantages of opportunities for planned disruptions, and church camp should be at the top of our lists.

Let us, therefore, redouble our commitment to loving mothers and children of all ages. Let us renew our love for women who have experienced abortion. Let us rekindle our compassion for families in need of food, diapers, friendship, and more. Let us be known by our love for God, and let us reflect his love for people. Let us be more concerned to be beacons of compassion and hope than we are to celebrate this very minor victory.

Today, there are many churches like Valley West Mall. Once upon a time, they were bustling hives of ministry, but things have changed. There are all sorts of other activities vying for attendance on Sunday mornings. The new megachurch up the road offers better services with less commitment. The congregation lost its mainstays when a couple of key saints moved or passed away. Suddenly, the church is a shadow of what it once was. Fortunately, it need not end this way.

Demographics such as median household income, home ownership, median age, household size, number of children, single householder, etc. can be invaluable in identifying unmet needs and developing ministries to address them. Would the community benefit more from free daycare or a senior center? Could it benefit from a Habitat for Humanity-like ministry, a tutoring program, English-language lessons, or even a citizenship class? Should we worship with a pop, country, hip-hop, or mariachi style of music? Demographics can suggest answers to these questions and more.