Some of you may or may not know this, but I am a voting member in next week’s ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Because of that, I received about 500 pages worth of the Pre-Assembly Report in the mail a few weeks ago. It’s filled with reports from churchwide officers and offices, recommendations for action, information about procedures, the ELCA Constitution and Continuing Resolutions, and on and on. As a voting member of this assembly, I am quite conflicted.
My gut instinct says that this is not the way the church is supposed to operate. The church is not stacks of paper dictated by Robert’s Rule of Order where the majority always gets their way. And yet, on the other hand, when you are talking about coordinating efforts between massive groups of people, is there really any other way? When missional activities involve millions of dollars and millions of people, doesn’t that necessitate a slow-moving bureaucracy?
For example, one of the great things we are considering is our participation in a serious effort to fight malaria in Africa, an effort that spans across churches other than the ELCA and requires a commitment of tens of millions of dollars. Obviously, to make any significant dent in this disease across a whole continent requires a massive undertaking. I’m not sure that a bunch of independent local churches could coordinate this sort of large-scale initiative. Perhaps I’m wrong.
So, I am going into this assembly with an open mind. While my instincts tell me this is not the way a church should be structured, I am open to being proved wrong. This will be an interesting adventure in ecclesiology.
What about you? Is denominational bureaucracy a two-edged sword? Is there an alternative, especially as it relates to large-scale efforts?
I once spent a day listening to Willow Creek staff talk about their church and ministry. They ALL complained about the slowness of bureaucracy that comes from the size and scale of their ministry.
There college ministry director said, “Some churches are like super nimble ninjas. And ours is like a huge giant wrecking ball.” They move slowly. Frustratingly slow, but when they’re lined up in the right direction, they can do a lot of damage.
Makes sense, when Willow Creek started working on reaching unchurched, they nailed it. When they decided to support aids in Africa, they raise millions and millions for the cause.
So, I understand the frustration with bureaucracy and I can see when it’s beneficial.
That being said, please don’t sign me up for a position in a massive bureaucracy.
it is a necessary evil to have to tend to the business of the church, it begins in the first book of Acts and continues throughout the books of the New Testament and beyond. This one small event, though historic, is no different and not directly reflective on the love shown in our home congregations for the body of Christ.
Just to say, if this is your first assembly, you are in for an eye opening event. May the Spirit guide you in your endeavor.
Brian, thanks for your perspective. Yes, it is my first churchwide assembly. My eyes will be wide open the whole time!