Personal from Ministerial and Member Services
Although we would have much preferred our 25th General Conference of Elders meeting to be in person with many ministers and wives around the world joining us here in Cincinnati, we are grateful for the technology to still reach out around the world with our online conference.
You may follow this link and listen to the entire report: https://youtu.be/5O9D5TSQsxE
Last year was my first year as Operation Manager and I gave nine primary goals for all of us who are a part of MMS. Some of the goals involve the ministry more directly than others, but I believe it is important that all of us are working together to achieve these goals. Knowing all the goals will help us all pray for God's direction and involvement to help us reach those goals. I have added a 10th goal this year. Most of the 10 goals are ongoing goals that we will want to focus upon continually.
1. Elder relationships: Personally develop close relationships with all pastors and elders. Together we want God to be pleased with our relationships in the ministry and our service to His children and called-out ones.
It is important that we all represent God in a way that is pleasing to Him. Each minister has an obligation to respect his fellow-laborers in the ministry who God has called to serve Him. As ministers, we need to reflect Christ's character and love in our relationships with one another in the ministry.
2. Member engagement: Encourage all pastors to be helpers of our members' joy, and to involve all members in service wherever possible. Encourage church congregations around the world to become more warm and inviting to new attendees.
Those of us in the ministry realize that we are to help our brethren see God more fully by setting a proper example and by reflecting God's character in how we interact with them. By producing the fruit of God's Spirit in our lives, we show ourselves trustworthy.
It is our desire to encourage and to allow our members to serve within our congregations, as they believe God is leading them to serve. As ministers, we appreciate those who are willing to volunteer and make their willingness to serve known.
Although our congregations around the world are mostly warm and inviting, we can always improve in expressing God's love more genuinely and in a balanced godly manner. We should be friendly and warm to new attendees, but sensitive to what we say and careful not to overwhelm them.
3. Connection with local congregations: Visit as many church areas as feasible with the intent to meet as many members as possible and to cultivate a relationship of mutual trust and openness.
I greatly enjoyed a number of visits to various local congregations from coast to coast in 2019, before it was necessary to curtail those visits due to the pandemic. I had to cancel a number of visits in 2020, but hope to resume those visits as soon as feasible. I was just invited to join a small group of members from the Macon, Georgia, congregation and I look forward to joining them on an online meeting this Friday evening! There are many ways to make connections these days!
Also, we encourage others from the home office and the Council of Elders to make visits to local congregations, as we truly have the desire to cultivate a relationship of mutual trust and openness between the Council of Elders, administration and members. Our international senior pastors who serve around the world also strive to make visits to the congregations they serve as often as practical and feasible.
4. Assessment & growth: Survey every congregation to help pastors and elders improve in their service to our local congregations.
The recent congregational survey is proving to be very valuable in gaining input from our members. Our goal is to prayerfully consider that input and consider ways in which we may be more pleasing to God and Christ and of greater, more Christ-like service to our beloved brethren.
The survey has also allowed me to address a variety of topics in the eNews and in other ways that will prove helpful to all of us.
5. Self-evaluation: Implement annual pastoral and elder self-evaluations, in collaboration with regional pastors and pastors.
We understand the need in the ministry to take an accounting of our service, so in the past ministers have completed a self-evaluation form designed specifically for the ministry and have reviewed it with their regional pastor. We have reinstituted that practice and are considering ways to appropriately share input from the congregational survey.
We will also be asking all elders who are not pastors to complete a self-evaluation form. Their pastor will review the evaluation with them. Elders are a very important part of the ministry and provide a tremendous amount of service in our local congregations. We greatly appreciate their valuable service.
6. Ministerial development: Improve regional ministerial conferences and ministerial education, including Leadership Workshops, Pastoral Development Program, all programs and online training.
We in MMS are always working to improve our ministerial conferences, education, workshops, online training, etc. Much time and effort goes into planning for and developing these programs. We have recently implemented a more interactive approach to some of our presentations and we plan to continue to do so where it will be more effective. It is also our desire to use the abilities, skills and research of all elders—not simply those who currently work at the home office—as we become aware of and need such gifts. Elders, please let us know if you have something you might be able to contribute, as it will surely be considered.
7. International help: Respond to international requests and needs for training and help. Work more closely with Senior Pastors who serve various regions internationally.
Several countries around the world have a more autonomous but associated relationship with UCGIA and do much of their own administration and training, but we are certainly willing to help with training when requested. Our Senior Pastors who live in the United States and serve congregations both here and abroad also provide a valuable service in leading and aiding brethren in many countries around the world.
Aaron Dean is our International Advisor and works closely with many of our Senior Pastors. President Kubik has also been very involved in serving around the world. Darris McNeely and Steve Myers have also provided valuable training in other countries. We want to develop more men to help serve our brethren outside the United States.
8. Mentoring: Encourage all pastors to mentor men in their congregations for greater service and some for possible use in the ministry, with the understanding that it is God who will make their calling evident.
I am personally confident that God will provide effective pastors, as we need them, and have already seen His hand in doing so. We have many very dedicated and faithful elders and younger men who are willing to answer God's call to the ministry and to greater service. We are asking our pastors to be mindful of those whom God may be calling to the ministry and to provide valuable mentoring for them.
9. Conflict resolution: Endeavor to head off conflicts in the early stages—point everyone involved to follow Matthew 18 carefully.
It is our goal to resolve conflicts more quickly in the future by addressing them at the earliest stage possible, and that includes conflict among ministers. Following Matthew 18, where it is applicable, really does work when it is done in love and humility with the desire to truly please God and follow biblical principles of faithfulness, love, respect, forgiveness and mercy.
10. Speaking development: Develop an ongoing Speaker Development and Training Program to improve the overall quality and effectiveness of our messages. Solicit input and involvement from pastors and elders.
The congregational survey helped me to realize that a greater emphasis needs to be placed on improving the quality of the messages given every Sabbath at services—from the most seasoned pastor to the man giving a sermonette for the very first time. This Speaker Development and Training Program is in its infancy and I am open to entertaining various ideas and ways to be more effective communicators of God's truth and ways. I see this as an ongoing program that will have many facets. I have asked the elders for their input and contributions and members are also welcome to share ideas with me along these lines.
Let us all work together to accomplish these goals and, as a result, become more pleasing to God and of greater service to His children.
Wishing you all a very inspiring Sabbath and a very profitable weekend!
