Yesterday, I attended the ‘listening’ event for Kansas East Conference. These events are being held throughout the South Central Jurisdiction with the purpose being to gain input on how to realign the Bishops within the jurisdiction. Prior to this meeting, the College of Bishops had already obtained input from the Jurisdictional level and posted the results of that process at http://www.churchleadership.com/research. (Another statistical source is the U.S. Congregational Membership: County Reports by the American Associatin of Religion Data Archives.)
During yesterday’s event, each table of participants was asked to discuss what they felt should be the most important principle to guide the decision making process. Below are the highlights from these discussions:
- Bishop’s role should primarily be that of a visionary enabling him/her to help church plan for future
- Technology could be utilized to help overcome challenges of geography
- May need to look at rural ministry differently
- Need to approach decision by asking everyone throughout jurisdiction to change and utilize concept of shared sacrifice
- Need to consider decline of small churches in next 20 years and what impact that may have
- Need to figure out how to develop relationships over long distances without requiring travel
- Need to take theological approach — what does God want us to do?
- What’s the purpose of a conference?
- Utilize house churches to reach rural areas
- Realignment provides more exposure to people of differing cultures
- Utilize technology to develop relationships
- People and policies within church need to support the use of technology
- Geography may become an issue — length of travel time
- Will this decrease the access of youth to the Bishop?
- Is the current cultural divide separating communities within the older generations as compared to younger generations?
- What would Jesus do? We are the living body of Christ.
As I sat listening yesterday, my primary concern was how this would affect my small rural church. After reflecting on this, I now realize that my feelings yesterday were selfish and that the decision should focus on what would position the church to assist areas of growth. Once those areas of growth are identified determine how to use them to assist the areas of decline so that all regions can be a viable vibrant church doing God’s work.
