Wednesday, June 10, 2009

SouthGate re-structuring...

Scripture has a way of connecting with us in different ways and places throughout our lives. Indeed we want to make sure that our lives ‘line up’ with scripture. That is also true of how we organize our church. In the first years of our being together SouthGate has explored several different structures.

In the beginning we were a congregation of First Baptist Church – not organizationally different in our relationship with the traditional Sunday morning service than the evening service. Our difference was that we met a different location rather than a different time. In this beginning phase I (Jeff) was on staff as FBC’s Pastor of ESL & International Ministries and Juli was the Pastor of Family and Children’s Ministries. As the SouthGate congregation grew this changed and the church council recognized a need for us to develop a leadership team that was more focused on the needs and opportunities of the SouthGate congregation – this was more in line with relationship between the traditional service and the Spanish congregation.

The next big change was during last summer when we became an autonomous church plant. This was an exciting time – not unlike a young adult moving out from their parents’ home. We received recognition under the provincial government’s Societies Act last April and earlier this year we became a registered charity in the eyes of the federal government. This was not an easy task and we managed to get through it in a relatively short period of time when talking with other churches going through the same process.

As of May 1st we have once again adjusted the look of our structure. And as with the earlier changes, we first want to make sure that this is not just change for change’s sake but rather that it is change to bring us more in line with our God-given mission and biblical mandate. We may consult organizational books or models, but the final say is found in analyzing our decisions through a screen of scripture.

The new model is best embodied in the scriptural example of Priscilla and Aquila. With that in mind I want to take time to look at these leaders in the early church. This married couple is mentioned by name in several places in the New Testament (Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Timothy) and their influence is felt throughout many other passages.

They were a Jewish couple that was among the people expelled from Rome by the Emperor Claudius. They set up a home and business in the city of Corinth – where they meet Paul (acts 18:2-3). Paul ends up living with them and works as a tentmaker alongside them as well. They eventually leave Corinth and minister with Paul as he heads to Syria.

Some of the things that jump out from this couple are that they regularly ‘stick their necks out’ in an effort to spread the Good News. They are known as powerful teachers and dedicated workers. They are also known as gentle coaches and mentors – the most well known example is how they take Apollos (a young but commanding teacher) aside and disciple him in a way that gives him a better understanding of the Gospel (Acts 18:24-28).

Following Emperor Claudius’ death they return to Rome but their commitment to the church takes them on to ministry in Asia. They eventually die as martyrs for the cause of Christ.

Priscilla is an interesting person, especially when seen in the context of Roman society. It is clear that she is a leader within the church – a fact underscored by the fact that her name is mentioned before her husband’s in five of the seven appearances (not the usual format of the time). In fact there are some scholars that suggest she may be the un-named author of the Book of Hebrews (others suggest Paul, Luke or even Apollos).

Aquila is not to be seen as hiding behind Priscilla, living in her shadow, or being a Walter Mitty character (Sorry if that is a missed analogy for some – but that is what Wikipedia and Google are for ;-). He was a leader in his own right. In fact church tradition holds that the reason they leave Rome for a second time is because Paul makes Aquila one the first bishops in Asia.

What does this have to do with SouthGate and the new staffing arrangement passed at our Annual General Meeting for me to go to 2/3 time and Juli to take on a 1/3 role? Well, in short, it is the inspiration for the new changes. We recognize that it is not the norm or even common for a married couple to be called into ministry in the way that Aquila and Priscilla were. However, Juli and I have always felt that we were one of those rare couples that see these early church leaders as a template for our own ministry (even down to the concept of Tent-making but that’s another blog entry).

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