Questions to ask a church

As reported on The Fishermen, http://thefishermen.us/?p=332. 41 questions to ask a church.

A. Theological Questions

1. What is the church’s statement of faith and how did the church devise it?

2. What has been the most vexed theological question the church has faced? Has there ever been a church split over theology or practice? Why?

3. On the wider scene, what theological trends and strands of false teaching would the elders at Ballymoney be particularly concerned about at the moment?

4. What are the key functions/roles of an elder at Ballymoney?

5. What is the elder’s relationship to the pastor? (For example, is the pastor an elder? Do the elders perceive themselves as, in some way, subordinate?)

6. What would the church’s position be on the role of women?

7. What is the church’s position on the function of charismatic gifts?

8. Is there a different kind of membership for someone differing on secondary issues? Would it ever be considered?

9. What kind of church government structure is practiced? How does it work out in practice?

B. Ministry-Philosophy Questions

10. What is the process of being baptised and becoming a church member? How is baptism and membership encouraged?

11. What are the expectations laid upon church members?

12. How does the church practice church discipline? (What sort of discipline has been practiced in the past?)

13. Do the elders have any plans for expansion of the building or church planting?

14. What, if anything, would the elders want to see change or develop in the future? (each elder might want to answer individually!)

15. Do the church members generally (and happily) follow the lead of the eldership?

16. Can the elders give evidence of an openness to growing in their role? (by eg. reading resources on eldership, attending conferences, having a weekend away with pastor, etc)

17. In what ways (if at all) do you think my young age might affect my reception both in the church and among the eldership?

18. What would be the minimum and maximum expectations be of the frequency of the pastor’s preaching? (ie. is one Sunday evening off in preaching a month the minimum acceptable; on the other hand, would preaching every service without fail be deemed unhelpful)

19. What items in the current services are non-negotiable? What other items are deemed acceptable and have been featured in the past? Is the pastor responsible for putting together all orders of service?

20. Is the current practice of communion (format, timing, gap between service and communion) set in stone?

21. What sorts of things do the Ballymoney elders feel the pastor should not be doing with his time?

22. What are the congregational/eldership expectations (these two may be different) regarding pastoral visitation?

23. How often are business meetings conducted? Does the pastor moderate this? Are they productive and generally positive? What is typically discussed?

24. Does the church have a yearly budget and if so, how is it put together?

25. What is the church’s attitude and approach to missionaries?

26. Who is responsible for the website and library and how easy would it be for the pastor to make a significant input into each of these areas? (Note: I believe these resources would have some relation to my teaching function as a pastor)

27. Has the church ever had Fellowship Groups? If so, what is the leadership’s feeling about their significance?

28. What are the leadership’s views concerning counselling?

29. How would you sum up the spiritual health of the congregation in qualitative terms (against measurements like prayer, heart for evangelism, love for one another)?

30. What kind of impact have ‘the troubles’ and its aftermath had on the Ballymoney congregation?

31. Pardoning the expression, are there any ‘sacred cows’ in the church?

32. Would the congregation consider adding an additional paid staff member at any point?

C. Personal Questions

33. Would the elders have any objection to the pastor working from a church office? (my preferred place for sermon prep)

34. What is the view of the elders regarding the pastor resourcing himself? (conferences; the odd retreat to read & plan, etc)

35. Are there any expenses for things?

36. What is the rationale regarding days off and holidays?

37. Is there any scope for ‘preaching away’ from Ballymoney? (Note: I would be very cautious about doing much of this, especially early on, however)

38. Do you think it would be relatively easy for a young family to settle into the church/town? What challenges might Nicki and the children face?

39. What role would the pastor’s wife be expected to have in the church?

40. What are the schools like in Ballymoney?

41. How easy might it be to buy an affordable house in the Ballymoney area?

The original edition of this list: http://unashamedworkman.wordpress.com/2009/08/27/41-questions-to-ask-a-potential-church/.

Church Membership?

This is the first in a small series of posts on church membership.

I am not convinced that church “membership”, as implemented by most churches I have attended or visited through my life, is a Biblically-valid stance to take.

Certainly we are not to forsake the gathering of ourselves together. And in order to be a vital part of the bride of Christ, we need to be engaged with a local manifestation of that body.

But does that mean that a church can or should offer, let alone require, membership?

From observing many churches, membership is a formal process whereby a given professing Christian applies to become a part of a local church. They [generally] must agree to the church’s constitution and confession of faith. They [typically] must meet with the elder(s) in an interview who will probe their background, why they want to join this church, and then be submitted to the congregation to consider.

Once the consideration period is over, the new member generally reads their testimony in front of the congregation, and then is voted-upon for reception into membership by the current members.

Various churches have differing standards over aspects of this process: how old must the applicant be, what type of background they have, how new are they to the church, etc.

My question is why is there such a formal process of joining a church? Yes, I understand that if you are not a “part” of a church, church discipline doesn’t make much sense. I do not see any direct evidence that the early church practiced a “membership” process – though some of that may just be based on the relative lack of mobility amongst first-century people. Or it could be related to the likelihood that a given city or area might only have one church because they stood out so much from the surrounding society. And certainly, claiming to be a Christian in the first century AD was not something to be taken lightly.

We also see Paul commending certain people from one city to brethren in a different city to be accepted by their gathering if/when they come. We see in 1 Corinthians Paul calling-on the church to put away from their midst the sinning brother. We also see in 2 Corinthians Paul now urging the church to take him back if he’s truly repented.

If I am a member of a church, and I decide for whatever reasons to move to a different area, or find my convictions no longer lining-up well with the church I had been attending, I believe it is my responsibility as a Christian to find a body of believers with whom I can more readily identify and cooperate with. My duty as a Christian is first to my King and His work, and secondly to the local body I work with.

I’m not suggesting that if you don’t get along with somebody in the congregation that that’s grounds for just moving-on. Nor do I think it is a good idea to try to be engaged with more than one or two churches at a time. But I cannot see how the formal practice of membership is a healthy add-on to the Christian life.

It seems that the church as a whole has taken lessons from other organizations whereby you must join to be a part – such as the Elks or Freemasons. Joining the church happens when a person is converted and baptized. Once I was converted, I became a member of the universal body of Christ. My attachment to a local representation of that body took a while because the church I was in had draconian policies which had to be fulfilled before someone could be baptized and become a member. Such policies turned-off many of the people I grew-up with form wanting to join that specific church.

I’ve attended other churches that had completely no concept of membership or belonging… and I can see the issues with that, too. I do believe it’s important to belong to a church. But the concept of membership needs to be re-examined.

The joy of giving

When I was a kid, I recall it being somewhat exciting and fun to drop a couple coins in the offering plate at church.

Now it’s not so interesting. Most churches I’ve been to seem to have an undue focus on money; certainly there should be some focus, as the Apostle Paul directed the Corinthians to give according to their determination and set that aside to help the saints in Jerusalem who were in need. Certainly running a church costs money – pastors need to be recompensed for their work, utilities need to be paid, maintenance done on the building(s), etc.

And of course we should be funding the expansion of the Kingdom of God across the world through missionaries, translation work, helping those in need, etc.

But why is it that giving is such a focus in so many churches? Is it because the people in the church don’t feel a need to help others, and need to be constantly reminded? Is it because there’s a focus on 10% as a Biblical minimum, and then more should be given on top of that?

What happened to the phrasing of Paul to the Corinthians? “I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.” “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor 8:8 & 9:7)

Go back and read the rest of those two chapters. Paul is commending the saints of Macedonia in their generosity as a spur to the Corinthians to keep to their commitment to the Jerusalem church.

2 Cor 9:10-11 (“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.”) is often used as a spur for people to give to the church – almost as a get-rich-quick scheme by the church’s leaders, ‘give to us, and God will give you more’. But that quote is taken out of the context of the larger flow of Paul’s direction and commendation on giving.

Of course, not every church is like this. And even fewer pastors.

But I want to know why the views of so many church-goers that I have met is that the gospel is a thin cover for asking for more money.

Is it true that people don’t like giving from their funds/time/things/skills? Based on reports that periodically are published in newspapers, Americans are the most generous people on the planet – as a per capita view of donations. Do people make donations just to get the tax break? Certainly some people do that – why else would you ask for a receipt from Goodwill when dropping-off clothes?

What should be the REAL incentive to the Christian’s giving? Should it be that we want to put things down on our spiritual balance sheet that God will notice, and maybe bump-up our spot in heaven from near the noisy ice machine? Should it be because we expect to see a physical return on that investment – such as if we put in $20 this Sunday, we’ll find $50 on the sidewalk? Should we be looking to have the best church building in the county? The best music group? State-of-the-art computer equipment to simulcast sermons across the world?

Or should we be giving of our means because that’s what God did when He saved us by sending His Son? Should we be taking from our time, money, and effort to try to reach the lost? I won’t give to support anything that isn’t directly related to reaching more sinners.

If they are being used for activities that aren’t in line with reaching the lost, then I can spend that time/money/energy better elsewhere.

But if they’re going directly to reaching sinners, I’ll participate every chance I get.

The Challenge of Moses

I attended the Metropolitan Tabernacle this past Sunday. For perhaps only the second time in my life was I in a church that had a mix of ages, colors, ethnic backgrounds, etc that I think really will represent how Heaven will look.

The sermon was on Deuteronomy 32:1-4, “Give ear, ye heavens, and I will speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain; My speech shall distil as the dew, As the small rain upon the tender grass, And as the showers upon the herb. For I will proclaim the name of Jehovah: Ascribe ye greatness unto our God. The Rock, his work is perfect; For all his ways are justice: A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, Just and right is he.”

At the end of his long and varied life – 40 years of being raised as a prince in Egypt, 40 years as a shepherd, and 40 years as the earthly head of Israel – Moses had this to say: “I will proclaim the name of Jehovah: Ascribe ye greatness unto our God. The Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice: A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, Just and right is He.”

After 120-plus years of walking the earth, Moses was still praising his God – THE God, the God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the one true, living God.

His confidence even in the final moments of his life was that he would proclaim the name of God. In 120 years he could not look back and see anything more worthy of comment than that his God was truth and faithful.

I issue a challenge to any who call themselves ‘Christian’ – can you say today that as you look back over your life, God has been truth and faithful to you? Not in the abstract, but in the personal.

If you were to die today, would the last words on your lips be “I will proclaim the name of Jehovah: Ascribe ye greatness unto our God. The Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice: A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, Just and right is He.”?

If not… why?

in memoriam – Cindy Myers

Post Star link

GUILDERLAND, Albany County – Cindy Lee Myers, age 55, of Western Avenue, Guilderland, died suddenly at her residence Monday, Aug. 11, 2008.

Born in Liberty, N.Y., she had been a resident of the capital region for her entire life.

She worked for Albany County Department of Social Services and was the assistant director of the Food Stamp Program, since 1981.

Cindy was a graduate of University at Albany and received a Bachelor’s Degree in the Class of 1975. She was also a published author.

She was predeceased by her parents, Roger W. and Mildred (Neilson) Myers and a brother, Warren Myers.

Cindy is survived by her brother, Joseph N. (Loretta) Myers of Cohoes. Also survived by a niece, Joselynn Myers and a nephew, Warren (Mike) Myers.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 11 a.m. on Friday, at the Albany Baptist Church, 361 Krumkill Road, Slingerland, N.Y.

Friends may call in the Rockefeller Funeral Home, 165 Columbia Turnpike., Rensselaer, N.Y., Thursday, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Interment will be in Gansevoort Cemetery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, that memorial’s be sent to Livingston Manor Fire Department, Livingston Manor, NY 12758 in her memory.

no capes!

Edna: It will be bold! Dramatic!
Bob: Yeah!
Edna: Heroic!
Bob: Yeah. Something classic, like, like Dynaguy. Oh, he had a great look! Oh, the cape and the boots…
Edna: [throws a wadded ball of paper at Bob’s head] No capes!
Bob: Isn’t that my decision?
Edna: Do you remember Thunderhead? Tall, storm powers? Nice man, good with kids.
Bob: Listen, E…
Edna: November 15th of ’58! All was well, another day saved, when… his cape snagged on a missile fin!
Bob: Thunderhead was not the brightest bulb…
Edna: Stratogale! April 23rd, ’57! Cape caught in a jet turbine!
Bob: E, you can’t generalize about these things…
Edna: Metaman, express elevator! Dynaguy, snagged on takeoff! Splashdown, sucked into a vortex!
[shouts]
Edna: No capes!

the new look of WarrenMyers.com

My website has been due for an overhaul for quite a while.

I’m going to be shifting some all of my content from a manually-managed setup to a CMS. This is the first stage of that migration: I’m importing old blog/journal posts that I feel should be carried-over to the new look-and-feel. Please bear with me as these changes happen over the next several days.

Remembering Grandma Frances

Frances Helen Myers, 98, a former Greenwich resident, died Sunday, July 13, 2008, at the Pleasant Valley Nursing Facility in Argyle. Born Nov. 23, 1909, in Schenectady, she was the daughter of Joseph and Katherine Wilday McKinney. Frances was a member of the Centenary United Methodist Church in Greenwich. She enjoyed outdoor activities including hunting and fishing. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Ralph Myers who died in 1969, and a brother, Hermus McKinney. Survivors are a son, Ralph E. Myers of Greenwich; a daughter, Ruth Lesson of Grafton, Va.; a brother, Ralph McKinney of Granville; a sister, Viola Lemery of Kingsman, Ariz.; three grandchildren: Edward Lesson, Jarlyn Ballew, and Laurie Westerfield; six great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 17, 2008, at Flynn Bros., Inc. Funeral Home, 80 Main St., Greenwich, N.Y., with the Rev. Eileen Deming, pastor of Centenary United Church officiating. Interment will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Schuylerville, N.Y. The family suggests memorials in her name be made to Pleasant Valley Activities Fund, 4573 State Route 40, Argyle, NY 12809. Online remembrances can be sent to www.flynnbrosinc.com.