Momentum - May 2007

As Momentum goes online, we are concluding the last of this year’s round of annual meetings in the regional conferences. It has been a joy to meet with pastors and other congregational leaders, and to celebrate God’s goodness as represented in a diversity of conference themes. These ranged from Christian hospitality (the Allegheny Conference), to evangelism (Atlantic, Great Lakes, and Midwest), to the Zambia BIC Church’s fight against HIV/AIDS (Canadian). The Susquehanna and Southeast Conferences spent time “adoring the almighty” and “seeking the heart of God.” And the Great Lakes and Pacific Conferences celebrated their 50-year anniversaries.

The unique personality of each conference has been clearly evident in the annual meetings, yet the family resemblances run strong across our far-flung network of churches. Whether it’s taking our faith to the streets here in North America, reaching out around the globe, or turning our hearts and minds toward God, it is our commitment to being a missional church and churches that bind us together.

Leadership change ahead for Atlantic Conference

After much prayer and consideration, Craig Sider, bishop of the Atlantic Regional Conference of the Brethren in Christ Church, has announced that he will not be available for a third term of service. When he completes his second term as bishop in July 2008, he will have served the Atlantic Conference in this capacity for 12 years and the Southeast Conference for 10 years. Read more>>

A sneak peek at the next issue of Seek

It will be several weeks until the summer issue of Seek reaches mailboxes, but Momentum readers are invited to take an early look at what’s to come>>

Prayer meetings on a global scale

Bishop Rob Patterson, the denomination’s point person for fervent prayer, has identified a number of occasions for prayer that can link Brethren in Christ churches in North America with prayer partners worldwide. Read more>>

More opportunities to serve

Life is full of changes, and so it is with the young staff in our congregational relations/communications team. As Dulcimer, Katie, and Liviu prepare to leave the General Church office for new experiences and directions, the search is on for their replacements>>

A message to congregational leaders about the
Ministry Enrichment Retreat

If you’ve heard your pastor or pastoral team express concern that the registration fee and travel costs associated with this summer’s Ministry Enrichment Retreat are too much for him, her, or them to spend, we hope you’ll let him, her, or them know that they are worth it—and more—to your congregation. Read more>>

Metaphorically speaking

A recent issue of an online newsletter from Duke Divinity School tells how a class of seminarians was asked to use metaphors to describe the congregations where they worshipped or worked as a student pastor or pastoral intern. Among the more positive metaphors that surfaced were “family,” “body,” “garden,” and “field.” But a good number of the students suggested metaphors that connoted death, weakness, impotence, scarcity, and hypocrisy.

The most graphic image came from a student pastor who described his small rural congregation as “road kill.” “It is nearly dead but there is still some quivering life left in it. I don’t know what to do with it. Shall I just drive on by? Do I try to revive it? Do I put it out of its misery? Or, do I call the veterinarian?”

Metaphors are amazingly powerful. The word pictures we use in describing our churches can encourage ministry or stop a congregation in its tracks. Those who have been called to leadership roles in the church have the awesome responsibility of helping to develop compelling, vibrant metaphors of a congregation’s mission and life together.

The good is that the Bible is brimming over with beautiful, life-giving metaphors of the Church: body of Christ, people of God, holy priesthood, new creation, household of God, flock, to name a few. “Road kill” isn’t on God’s list of metaphors.

Share your insights

You receive Momentum because you are a leader in the church within a congregation, a regional conference, the General Church, or all three. You may have asked to be included on the mailing list for Momentum or your name may have been picked up automatically when you entered your current position of leadership. Regardless of how you have come to Momentum, your feedback is important. Please let us hear from you.