unity@chnts.net
Hello group members, I hope the day finds you well.
I had originally worked up a set of by-laws, constitution, and a set of practices and principles for the proposal, but I realized that I was trying to legislate morality by using the law of the land instead of the word of the Lord. So instead, I simply provide my ideas. At the end of this email is an issue that I do not know how to resolve, but it is very real to me. I hope that this may help your efforts. Again, I apologize for submitting late.
I believe the best solution for now to meet the goals stated on disciplestoday.com is the formation of a missions society. It seems that Europe is well covered, but other areas are not. This mission society would work with the others already recently formed by allowing these mission societies a membership as well as individual churches. Basically, a church can be a member of a smaller mission society (like International Mission Society in Boston) or they can join the mission society that you will form.
Each church or mission society would have a delegate on the board - those delegates would elect officers as needed for administrative purposes. For example, the delegates would elect a president, treasurer, and secretary. They could also elect any other officers as needed. The key for this society is that the positions should not be paid and the delegates would have a limit of two terms of six years. This limit would not include actually being a missionary, just serving on the board of directors. Other missionary societies do both unpaid positions and term limits for delegates (specifically Lutheran Missions of Canada) without creating issues in administration. If there is contention about the salary, the society could reimburse the sponsoring church for half their salary. For example, if Church A sends someone to be a delegate that is a member of their paid staff and he/she is paid $85,000 a year, the society would reimburse Church A for $42,500 a year.
Outside of this, there are a few principles that should be stated in the charter of this missionary society.
* Handle money wisely, do not allow overseas missionaries to live ‘American’ lifestyles.
* Work with other churches, especially groups like Stadia, Let’s Start Talking, and other missionary efforts.
* Do not create a core set of beliefs, encourage each member church to write their own.
* Stop guessing at the number of unsaved in a given country. We’re counting only those that are not members of our churches.
* Clearly state that this mission society has no relation to the ICCMS or ICOC corporations in LA.
* Use means other than expensive conferences to have meetings of the society. In essence limit travel as much as possible, especially travel of foreign missionaries to multiple conferences in the US.
On the last point, I realize that all the technology in the world cannot help a person in a dangerous mission field. They cannot simply be called or faxed or emailed. A coordinated effort of meetings in a neutral location have to be worked out weeks in advance. I am referring to missionaries that live in Europe or other places where they can easily keep in touch by email, phone, and other means. Skype is a computer phone program that is free, its use could substantially reduce phone bills.
In regards to a core set of beliefs, I believe that stating this will only create a group of churches that will fellowship with former ICoC churches, but will not join the society because of the formation of a creed. However, encouraging each member to make their own is a healthy exercise for everyone. I think this would be an exercise of healthy self-assessment.
Now to my dilemma. My hometown does not have one of our churches in it. I would like it to have a church like the one I presently attend, the Omaha Church of Christ. However, the nearest one of our churches to my hometown is not like Omaha. I listen to the sermons of this church and read their bulletin and I hear things that I believe are unbiblical, controlling, and unhealthy. What do I do if they decide to plant a church in my hometown? At this point, I would fight it because I believe if my friends and family were to join this church it will introduce harmful doctrines and practices on them. I do not want a fight, nor do I desire to be disunified with this church. However, I do not know what else to do, that is why I am asking and not telling. It is different than if I moved to the area. In that case, I would attend somewhere else for the sake of my health, the health of my family, and our relationship to God. This situation is different. My instinct is to protect my friends and family from what I perceive to be wrong.
Does unity mean that I reassure myself with Romans 14
and allow this church to do what I perceive as harmful to friends and family? I can let the aspect of the church culture go, though it is difficult, but the other issues are harder, especially when there is no evidence of reteaching certain concepts. I can certainly talk to the leaders there, but I’m still in a difficult place when we disagree about what is harmful and destructive.
I pray for the spirit of wisdom as you consider the many proposals you received. Honestly, I have my reservations about this whole thing. However, I believe that it will be straightforward enough to recognize the spirit of God in whatever the nine of you decide.
In Christ,
John Payne
Omaha, Nebraska