This past weekend we had our first pastor’s conference at NewSong. Some 140 pastors and leaders joined with us to have Dr. Gene Getz share rich truths about leading the church. As I awoke this morning I had so many of the insights from this weekend flying around my brain. I figure that it would be helpful to take a moment and crystallize what five insights stood out this weekend. Here they are:
1. Ecclesiology is the key to understanding every other doctrinal tenet.
As he began to talk on Saturday, he made this incredible statement. He believes that all other doctrine can not be understood with a clear and precise ecclesiology. Ecclesiology is the study of the church. Gene said that the New Testament is a story about the church; about Jesus coming to establish the church and the rest of the NT explaining how to grow and sustain its health. If that is true, and I believe it is, then you must interpret scripture with the filter of what the church is.
2. The Bible can bring the like-mindedness that you long for in the church.
Gene believes that we must build a philosophy of ministry by starting with a comprehensive examination of the Biblical story. When that happens in the learning community of church leaders, the principles of church health will surface. By doing it together oneness and unity will be formed. Once the scriptural principles are found, the lens of history can be viewed to determine what has been tried and what works. Finally the lens of culture is consulted. Really you are determining how to express the scriptural principle in today’s culture. By never forget it all starts with a unifying study of the Bible.
3. Women need training just like men do.
I was really convicted of this. In my attempt to motivate men to grow and mature into leaders, I have de-emphasized the need to train and develop the women in our church. Gene really challenged me to help deepen our women and help them reach their leadership potential – especially the wives of elders and pastors.
4. Long term health of a church can happen – as long as the primary leader focuses on the future.
I hate to say it – “speed of the leader (esp. the pastor) – speed of the team (the church)!!! I have avoided such talk in the past but I have also known the reality of the statement. Getz told the story of how he transitioned the church into the hands of his successor. What a testimony of his grace, humility and wisdom. He serves as a model. But as he spoke I also realized of how many horror stories I have heard of pastors leaving churches after great ministries and leaving bad. All their life’s work goes up in smoke amidst disunity, pettiness and carnality. Getz said, “I told the Elders when I need the church, more than it needs me – its time for me to go!” Its that kind of selfless love and humble spirit that allows a church to last generationally!
5. Emergent Church makes the mistake of starting with culture and then trying to find what the Bible says. Seeing that the post modern/emergent church is the latest fad on the scene of evangelical Christianity – I was interested in his position. He told a group of us at dinner on Saturday that the problem with the Emgrent Church is that it starts with culture and then tries to find room for the Bible to fit into is cultural conclusions. It makes the cultural observations the absolutes of the day, instead of surfacing the NT imperatives for church life and structure and wrapping it with relevant forms. God gives us freedom in Christ to try different forms, but if those forms are not fulfilling Biblical functions – they are hollow and meaningless.
Like I said this weekend – Getz is a treasure. If you desire to get copies of all the teaching CDs from the weekend, contact info@newsongfellowship.net and request an order form.