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Focus on your task

Acts-celerater Posts: 536 **9/11/17 10:44 am**

A group of pastors banned together a few years ago and fought until we gutted the ability for our denominational leaders to focus on ministry by cutting their budget by 33%.

We survived. Now if we can each simply focus on our task of winning souls and making disciples, the rest will take care of itself.

In the last 16 years I have been pastoring, a member of the Council of 18 has never called to ask my opinion on a matter nor have I offered it to them. For that, I thank them.

While this may seem like a simple approach, I just want to take care of the flock that God has entrusted to me during this season in my life.

A change on the Council of 18 would not make a single difference in my church, life or ministry. I fully trust the leadership team that WE CHOSE in Nashville and have confidence in their abilities. Next year in Orlando we will do it again...

Re: Focus on your task

Member Posts: 45 **9/11/17 6:52 pm**

Re: Focus on your task

Golf Cart Mafia Capo Famiglia Posts: 4508 **9/11/17 11:09 pm**

the Toyota Way

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1274 **9/12/17 8:31 am**

21stcenturyministry quote: "This thing is simple economics if I had a factory and I went to all the workers making the decisions instead of allowing the market to determine direction I would loose my business. The pastors are in the market they are the market they are our metrics of success or failure we need to listen to them make them feel valued or were not going to have an office in Cleveland anymore if it keeps getting worse. That's why at the Orlando general assembly we need to become #Pastor focused."

21centuryministry: What you described about having a factory and going to the workers to make the decisions is exactly what Toyota does and as a result has become very successful. The hospital that I work at is implementing this process to improve patient care and customer satisfaction.
When this system is fully implemented the people on the line make the decisions. "if we move this line over here, we can...." "If we add a supply of boxes here, we can....." the people on the line are empowered to make these decisions and the job of leadership is to give the people on the line the tools they need to be successful.
I love the CoG with all my heart but as a pastor, I will admit when it comes to growing my church, "the system" has been more of a hindrance than a help. I am faithful on reporting, I am faithful on sending in monies each month, I support state functions, I do whatever my leadership asks me to do...I have no problem with doing this as I am a servant. Our church is steadily growing, we just purchased a 1 million dollar building without any financial assistance from the CoG but I still followed all the CoG rules in purchasing this building.
It's really hard as a pastor to explain to your congregation that the CoG will not help or underwrite your church in buying a building when they know we have been sending in money faithfully for almost 10 years now.
I really wish our leadership would look at other management styles
when it comes to running this great denomination. We front line people need our leadership to check on us and make sure we have what we need to continue fighting on the front line.

Member Posts: 45 **9/12/17 3:27 pm**

So how can this pass general assembly? If it did pass this GA Will the decision of a lead pastors only council of 18 go in effect by 2018 general assembly or will it be placed in effect 2020 general assembly.

Rules for council of 18

Must be currently serving lead pastor in good standing with rank of ordained bishop.

Anything else needs to be in the motion??

I Have no dog in this hunt but

Acts-celerater Posts: 935 **9/12/17 3:38 pm**

Your discussion is interesting. I post the following only as an fyi. As most of you are aware I am AG and though I Have disagreements with our direction etc our form of government works pretty well. Our General And District Councils exist solely to serve ouf pastors And churches as a resource center not a controlling center, especially since tbe bulk of our nearly 14000 churches are sovereign. Notice the last few paragraphs Where our mission statement clarifies the organization exists to serve tbe pastors/churches.

OUR SYSTEM OF LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY

DISTRICT AND GENERAL COUNCIL FUNCTIONS
Each assembly operates its ministries under both a district and national structure. The 67 districts basically follow state boundaries or are set according to specific language groups. Districts oversee the ministries in their areas, such as camps and outreaches, as well as provide ministry opportunities and avenues of fellowship for ministers and constituents. Districts also recommend ministers for national credentialing. They are authorized to lead, solving matters of leadership and direction for local assemblies. They operate as a type of regional leadership between the local church and the national Fellowship.

The national church is called "The General Council of the Assemblies of God." In keeping with the original intention of the founding body, the Assemblies of God is considered a cooperative fellowship instead of a denomination. As a result the national headquarters operation exists primarily as a service organization - providing educational curriculum, organizing the missions programs, credentialing ministers, overseeing the church's colleges and seminary, producing communication channels for the churched and non-churched publics, and providing leadership for many national programs and ministries of the Assemblies of God (Acts 16:4, 5; Hebrews 13:17).

Re: I Have no dog in this hunt but

Member Posts: 45 **9/12/17 4:15 pm**