Wesleyan thoughts for a Rainy Tuesday

As most of you know, I grew up in the Baptist church until my Senior year of college.  I made the switch because in discovered I was more Arminian in theology than Calvinist and had experienced some rough pastoral changes in my teenage years.  For me, the Wesleyan church was just a better fit.  Also, when you see Asbury Seminary’s life size statue of John Wesley and realize we would have seen “eye to eye” then it’s a no-brainer for me.  So, after 11 years in the denomination what have I learned?

1.  We are small, tight knit(geographically) denomination.  Sometimes I think we feel like we are the only denomination with struggling churches, older congregations and worship wars.  I will never forget my first accountability group meeting at SWU.  Two upperclassman were talking about graduates and where they were serving.  This was the first time I heard about districts, DS’s, etc. and I was impressed at how they knew so many people in the denomination.  Many times, Baptist churches can be islands and you aren’t aware of what’s going on at other churches.  In the Wesleyan church, you can pretty much find out anything about any church especially in your district.  Many districts have weekly, monthly, and seasonal newsletters that keep track of pastoral changes, growing ministries, changed lives, and stats.  I think we always put the microscope on ourselves and our issues and problems seem larger than life because they’re OUR problems.  Truth be told, every denomination has struggling churches, incompetent and shady ministers, church “bosses”, out of tune pianos and choirs, worship tension, and pew/bench warmers.

2.  It’s quite possible that in 10 years we will have the same number of churches, but different ones.  I have served in three districts now(NC East, South Carolina, and Penn-Jersey) and none of them were shy about closing ineffective churches and planting new ones.  I hope I am wrong and we have 5 times the number of churches we have now and all of them are healthy and making a positive difference in the lives of their community.

3.  Some the people I have respected the most have been pastors and some of the people I have respected the least have been pastors.

4.  Many Senior Pastors who have staff members have no training in staff relationships, did not have a positive experience when they were a staff member, or they have never been a staff member or Sr. Pastor before.  The Denomination, Districts, and Universities need to be proactive in this type of training.

5.  Most pastors are solo and/or bi-vocational.  For many of them, this is a rut they will never get out of.  For others, it is a calling to minister in those situations.  For the rest, it is a period they are in while the church is growing and they anxiously await the opportunity to be full-time at the church with some part-time help.

6.  Many Wesleyan teens go to Wesleyan colleges and wind up leaving the Wesleyan church and even the church period.  You better believe that I will help familes with graduating seniors find them a vibrant church near whatever college they are going to whether it’s Wesleyan or not.  I regret not realizing the importance of parents not only taking college visits with their students, but also college church visits.

7.  Everybody thinks their youth camp is the best.

8.  No matter where you hold a Wesleyan Youth Convention people will complain about travel distance and expenses.  Instead of a Perry Noble throat punch, youth pastors I hear complaining will be told to sell one of their five guitars and pay for a charter bus for their whole group.  Youth pastors who don’t own a guitar can sell one of their computers/laptops/Macbooks.  Or they can do concessions at college football games.

9.  Who was more of a community organizer:  John Wesley, Jesus, or Barack Obama?

10.  Lock-ins are stupid no matter what denomination you’re a part of.  Am I the only one who has noticed that no secular organization does lock-ins?  People have lock-ins sometimes.  They’re called house parties.  For many, college is a very expensive 4 year lock-in.  Who was the great church leader who first said,”Guys, I’ve got a great idea.  Let’s have the kids stay up all night while eating pizza.”  Where did this insane idea originate?  But I know the kids love them so they will probably continue.

Love to everyone.