Pastors and staff members are not the key to building a deep, meaningful, interdependent fellowship in the family of congregations in a Baptist association.
They may be the catalysts of deeper spiritual relationships. They can broker experiences that nurture fellowship. But a different group empowers grassroots fellowship.
The key to deep, meaningful fellowship is having long-term lay leaders in congregations who are dedicated to the vitality and vibrancy of a Christian witness within the entire associational context.
A subset includes church staff members who were residents within the association and were then recruited to serve in staff positions with member congregations.
Much of the networking of lay leaders takes place underground and is not visible to pastors or the associational staff leaders. It happens during the week and away from church gatherings.
Associational mission strategists tend to come from pastorates or from church or denominational staff. Thus, they may believe the key to deep, meaningful fellowship is people like them.
It is not.
“Discerning next” involves three key actions. First, a deeper spiritual relationship with God must be fostered within the fellowship of member congregations. This remarkable, family-like spiritual connection is crucial for courageous Kingdom progress. (See my previous column.)
Second, member congregations must cultivate a meaningful, interdependent fellowship. This fellowship should clearly reflect a sense of being one family on a shared mission rather than a disjointed assortment of congregations.
Third, a deep understanding of the association’s past, present and future contextual ministry should be cultivated. The context should be seen as a missions field populated by individuals with diverse demographic characteristics. (More about this factor will be discussed in the next column.)
Meaningful, interdependent fellowship is the second fundamental action to “discern next” during 2025.
Why lay leaders?
Lay leaders typically know the associational context and culture better than pastors and staff who migrated into the area. They know the backstory, or what author Malcolm Gladwell calls the “overstory.”
Lifelong friends and business colleagues within the association are represented by lay leaders in each church.
Lay leaders are around the association longer. Pastors and church staff generally are around for less time. Lay leaders can explain the long-term culture and the ways to address barriers to more prophetic ministry.
However, lay leaders do not necessarily consider their value in this way. They need actions that nudge them to speak up.
If associational leaders have not been cultivating relationships with lay leaders in member congregations, then lay leaders may not be ready to embrace a prophetic ministry for the association.
Associations where this is the case may not “discern next” during 2025.
Convening
Many associations hold relational gatherings for pastors and staff members. How many also host relational gatherings for key lay leaders? Do associational staff members even know more than a few in the typical congregation?
Associations where lay leaders are ready and willing to engage in bold Great Commission and great commandment ministry cultivate this valuable leadership resource.
Lay leaders are regularly convened for prayer, dialogue, understanding the various networks of relationships and talking about the trends in the associational area. They can fill in appropriate understandings of the history and culture of the area that impact the open missional doors of opportunity.
Pastors or staff members must bring these lay leaders together to convey their experiences and help form prayer groups consisting of lay leaders from various parts of the association.
Who are these lay leaders?
These lay leaders are real estate agents specializing in commercial and residential properties who can help anticipate where new congregations are now and will be needed in years to come.
They can also be city council members or county commissioners who know the yet-announced trends for the area. When appropriate, they can share how congregations might plug in with Christ-centered ministries.
Medical staff understand health trends, and social workers recognize family and household patterns.
Elementary school teachers see the shifts in demographics early since the parents are often from households with younger children.
First responders know the issues and locations of dysfunction in the associational context and can recommend touch points for ministries.
Professional counselors and mental health staff know the hopes and hurts of numerous people.
Go find them. Realize the ones you already know. Convene them for Kingdom conversations.
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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