church meetings

church meetings are universal--as surely as we gather for worship, there seems to also be a need to gather for business...and the Church in the UK is not different there. so today, i've sat in on much of their "general assembly" meetings with all 5 churches represented (there were only 4 at the time of my last visit, so the addition of the church at Kennington is good news).

and, like our church meetings in the states, there seems to be a continual question of purpose--not just for the meetings, but of the convention, and as a the larger church--what is our purpose? what are we here for? how often then should we meet? why do we need to meet again?

now, to the credit of the Church here in the UK, their meetings were much more mission and outreach focused: questioning the fruit of each congregations activity over the past year and whether or not they had anything to share for the benefit of the others, or any need for which they need help. Sister Theresa asked of my impressions--i told her that we never had individual church reports in our regional meetings, nor did we (and i doubt we would) feel comfortable offering correction, direction, and challenge from the larger Church to our individual congregations! not that this is bad--for there exists a much more family connection between these churches as they have historically birthed, rejoiced, prayed for, and mourned for one another over these past several years.

as for the meetings of this type, and i would agree, the purpose of the convention is for retreat, revival, and advance -- that we retreat away from our regular routines and surroundings that we may have a time to be refreshed, revived, and if necessary to repent. in the course of such activity, it's not to remain in the retreat, but to prepare to advance back out onto individual local church fronts again to carry the Kingdom forward.

Pastor John gave a great and impassioned plea for the larger gathering not to forsake meeting together annually for this purpose. but, an agreement was made that though they should nor forsake the annual meeting, the expense of full retreat and conference center would be every other year--in the even years, they would all gather in London (where 4 of the churches exist). but what about that 5th church, the Birkenhead congregation nearly 6 hours away? well, the other 4 churches would give not to their own convention fees, but to give to support the attendees of that church to be with them by helping with their travel, lodging, and meal expense.

now that's care unprecedented in our Alabama context. we usually just dismiss the fact that many from our furthest churches just won't come because of distance and cost. i venture to say that not once has the thought even crossed any one of our individual minds to supplement someone who is further. no, we think, "it's good that i live close so i can get there easily--too bad they live so far away." how sad for us that we do not know such community that we would sacrifice for a distant brother or sister to have fellowship with us.

the Church does exist for mission--to express the Gospel tangibly through and beyond ourselves that all may be saved. and the Church here wrestled with that as they considered, what is our vision? who is responsible to receive it and pass it on to us? and how can we select that group and have them present the goals for us all to aim for? the discussions were important, and i believe this group is on their way to accomplish this task of articulating how their mission will be accomplished in the next few years.

why all these meetings? the work of the church is organized so all can contribute and all can advance the Kingdom in an agreeable manner--this is good, but the organization of the church should never trump the church as a living expression of the life, love, and purpose of Christ. Pastor Jim spoke to this in the introductory address earlier this morning, and we're eager to hear him continue on this and related topics tonight and through the weekend.

so, more to come...and, once i get the camera back :), i'll attach pictures to these posts...