Some Baptist associations stumble. They lose focus. Vision about their future is missing. They become cautious, afraid to take risks. They figuratively look down at their feet. Their steps are clumsy.
Without focus they lose a spirit of positive intentionality about actions that enable them to make Kingdom progress in response to God’s leadership. Some associations stumble backward. Others stumble forward.
They view their member congregations as having more problems than opportunities. They spend more time putting out fires than building fires under congregations that have great Kingdom potential.
They see congregations and their pastors and staff as having struggles that need fixes rather than opportunities to embrace.
Facing important decisions
Stumbling associations are the most crucial of all associations because they often have wonderful potential but lack focus and proactive missional actions. Their congregations search for ministry services from other denominational entities and even from other denominations and parachurch organizations.
Stumbling associations blow an uncertain trumpet. They are confused as to whether they are a family of congregations or a network of pastors. There is uncertainty about whether their programs empower the organization of the association or the spiritual strategic journey of congregations.
They must blow a certain trumpet. As much as one-fourth of all associations are stumbling and have great potential.
Needing clarity
Stumbling associations need clarity about their mission and vision. They are not always clear about where they are headed regarding God’s future for them in their context. Being embraced by and living into an empowering vision from God eludes them.
Second, in considering whether they are faithful, effective and innovative, they are definitely faithful to the gospel, to their member congregations and to the denominational program.
Their effectiveness depends on who is defining it. Management of their programs, ministries and activities, plus financial and facilities resources, is their focus.
But effectiveness in these areas can still mean they are plateaued or declining as an association and failing to innovatively penetrate their context with the gospel.
Third, determining they are truly helping congregations make numerical growth and qualitative Kingdom progress may be a tough assessment for them. They fail to use their relationships with congregations to challenge them regarding Kingdom progress.
Fourth, one sign of stumbling is that congregations are unclear about how their associational relationship adds value to them in their ever-changing context. This can happen when the congregations see the association as only a conduit for the programs of the denomination.
When congregations begin to realize the association does not provide anything unique to their context, they go directly to the source and bypass the association.
Backward or forward?
Associations stumble backward when they do not have anything unique to offer to their family of congregations. If this is the case, they may try harder to do something right to prove their worth and value.
Associations stumble forward when they broker programs, ministries and activities that fit the unique needs of congregations in their context. The challenge may be that their denomination and parachurch groups choose not to work with churches in partnership with the association.
Strategies for serving
Stumbling associations lack the insights and information they need to address the opportunities and challenges they face. The approaches that work to empower soaring and strong associations — convening and coaching — will not work for them.
First, they need knowledgeable and experienced consultants who understand the mission, values and vision of associations that empower some to thrive and others to die.
Second, they also need new content for programs, ministries and activities that is contextually relevant to their situation. Each associational situation will have some characteristics common to other stumbling associations.
Third, Stumbling associations need case studies of associations that have become daring after once being cautious and that have become strong in their character and nature. They should visit on-site with some of these associations.
Let’s talk
I am hosting several free videoconferences. We dialogue about the associational typology of soaring, strong, stumbling, struggling and spiritless Baptist associations.
I only ask you to complete brief feedback forms I send you so I can improve the typology, making it helpful to all associations. I invite associational leaders to collaborate with me.
To get the link to these videoconferences, send your request to BullardJournal@gmail.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE — George Bullard spent 45 years in denominational ministry. He served on the staff of three associations, was a key staff person working with associations in two state conventions and served on the association missions division staff of the former Home Mission Board of the SBC. He retired in June 2022 as director of Columbia Metro Baptist Association in South Carolina. He has led strategic planning processes in more than 100 associations and has written extensively in this area. Bullard now serves as a strategic thinking mentor for Christian leaders through his ForthTelling Innovation ministry and a correspondent for The Baptist Paper.
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