The Gathering CBFNC Newsletter - July–August 2014

The Gathering of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

July/August 2014 • Vol. 19 Issue 4

Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry

nurturing healthy congregations

What makes a

h ealthy church?

I graduated from seminary in 1987. Soon after, my new bride and I moved to Virginia to serve my first full-time pastorate. It was a small congregation located in a rural location.

Yes, we lived in a county seat town, but the town’s population of 200 in a county of 6,000 hardly made it a metropolis!

I had been nurtured and called to ministry in large, fullprogram churches. My last year of seminary, I decided to take a Christian Education course. One of the assignments was to study and review the Baptist Sunday School Board’s literature form. It was a way of reinforcing our knowledge of all of the literature Baptists provided to service an extensive array of church programs and organizations: Sunday School, Discipleship Development (formerly Church Training, Training Union and Baptist Young People’s Union), Church music, WMU, Baptist Men and more.

The church to which I was called had only one of those programs – Sunday School. We didn’t even use any of the literature on the Sunday School form – it came from a publisher I had never before heard of!

Because we had no other programs, we didn’t meet on Sunday night or Wednesday night. We had seven deacons (whether we needed them or not) and few committees which rarely met. Looking back, it was a pastor’s dream, but as a young minister, I thought God had called me to come to this church, rescue it from ignorance, start as many programs as possible, and help it fit the profile of what I had been trained to believe was a healthy church; that is, one that conducted all of the requisite denominational programs.

As you can imagine, the next couple of years weren’t fun for them or for me, and God rescued us both by calling me to another congregation!

What makes a healthy church? For many, it’s all about the 3 Bs: Bodies, Bucks and Buildings. As long as there are people in the pews, dollars in the offering plate, and the fa-

2 • The Gathering – July/August 2014

by Larry Hovis, CBFNC Executive Coordinator cilities aren’t crumbling, some church members and ministers believe their church is healthy.

For many of us “of a certain age” who grew up in strong denominational program churches, the existence of, and active participation in, denominationally designed programs and organizations were an indicator of health.

In my travels to churches around our state and in my conversations with church leaders (lay and clergy), there seems to be a yearning for a deeper and more nuanced conversation about what truly makes a healthy church. While the 3 Bs are important for these leaders, they do not by themselves define congregational health. And while some church programs are useful and helpful, they are seen as means toward a greater end, not ends in and of themselves.

In CBFNC’s recent 20th Anniversary Vision process, we identified “Nurturing Healthy Congregations” as a critical area of focus for the next season of our ministry together.

Here is how we described a vision for this task: We will encourage the flourishing of congregations, which are the primary communities in which followers of Jesus develop practices of faith that express the love of God and neighbor. We recognize a great diversity of congregations. There are established churches, some of which feel significant anxiety about their vitality and do not have a sense of a hopeful future, and others of which are experiencing renewal and growth. There are also new and yet-to-emerge groups of disciples who are exploring new expressions of Christian community. CBFNC will nurture opportunities for mutual learning about the dynamics of healthy congregations, facilitate the discovery and sharing of life-giving innovations, and encourage the thriving of a wide variety of Christian communities.

As a young pastor, I wasn’t aware that in 1983 a United Methodist named Kennon Callahan had written a book entitled, Twelve Keys to an Effective Church, which introduced new thinking about what makes a church healthy. He divided his twelve keys into two sections: six relational keys and six functional keys. Only one key had to do with programs. Callahan was emphatic that the relational keys are much more important than the functional ones. And which key was at the top of his list? “Specific, concrete, missional objectives.” Callahan was way ahead of his time.

What, in your view, makes a healthy church? CBFNC believes that the time has come for our fellowship to devote significant attention and energy to this question. It won’t be a quick conversation, but will over time, I’m confident, bear much fruit.

Our budget needs

more pictures

by Garin Hill, Pastor, Sandy Plains, Shelby

I love Mexican food. It’s the whole experience of Mexican food that I enjoy, really. From the chips and salsa warm-up, to the “every-waiter-in-the-buildinghelps-serve-you” mentality – all of it is spectacular.

Every once in a while, however, I find myself in a Mexican food dilemma: too many choices. The menu seemingly has 894 different combinations from which to choose, and all of them sound appetizing. What does one do in such confusing and dire circumstances? I have developed a strategy, though it requires a bit of subtlety.

I excuse myself from the table for a moment, and on my way back out to the car for “something I forgot,” I take the long way around. I cruise by the tables that have already been served, and I peek at what they ordered.

Does it look appealing? Smell delicious? No, I haven’t gone so far as to sit down with them and take a bite (yet), but I do look!

It’s hard to explain – but for some reason, seeing can make all the difference.

If we have been involved in church for any length of time, we have no doubt had some experience with the wonderful world of church budgets. Contributors. Spenders. Developers. (All of the above.) Wherever we fall on the continuum, whether we realize it or not, if we have a stake in the well-being of the church then we also have a stake in the success of the budget. Now, personally, I bristle a little at hearing this, but it is true: Money – for better or worse – is necessary. But why bristle? We don’t like to talk about money, do we? It’s personal. It comes across as ... grubbing ... or at least we are afraid it comes across that way, and we don’t like to grub. Now this is surely not always the case, but at some level, it’s true.

Are as many “stewardship” sermons preached today as 50 years

ago? 40? 25? Doubtful. And the sincere question that churches across the spectrum are (and should be) asking is: how is the giving/ tithing/money conversation being perceived by those new to the faith, and to the upcoming Millennial generation who, presumably, have heard less about such matters than generations past?

In the end, healthy churches need a new approach to budgets in general, and I contend it begins and flourishes with more pictures.

Now to be sure, pictures can be images, or pictures can be story, but either way, pictures are necessary. All those 894 combinations on the Excel spreadsheet get confusing, and they don’t always do justice to the meaning behind the words. Thank goodness there are people willing to develop them in all their tediousness, but we should seriously consider stepping away from the raw numbers approach in explaining budgets to the average pew-sitter. This involves an entirely new way of communicating – through pictures, spoken or shown. It’s narrative in worship, deacons’ meetings, and on Wednesday night. Photographs in the newsletter. Videos.

Testimonials. Start somewhere, and tell a story about whose life in particular has been changed! It puts a face with a financial gift, and it helps to shift a paradigm in desperate need of change.

In this sense, then, giving money isn’t to fill a nebulous series of numbers, but it becomes tethered to the deep purposes of the Kingdom. We no longer give for “the light bill” or “the education line.” We give so my six-year-old can see the pictures in his teacher’s Bible storybook on Wednesday evenings as she shares of Jesus’ deep love for him. We don’t give to the “nursery budget.” We share what God has given us so young parents can come and fully participate in worship. We don’t give to a number on a paper on the “missions line.” We give so a girl in a wheelchair can now enter her home on the ramp we build. See the difference? I hope so. Because undoubtedly, seeing can make all the difference in the world ...

The Gathering – July/August 2014

•

3

A new way to mission

I have been on over two dozen mission trips. On some of those, I was a teenage participant. On others, I was the trip coordinator. On these trips, our teams did a variety of ministries including choir concerts, Backyard Bible Clubs, door-to-door surveys, medical aid, revival preaching and many others. All of us who lead or participate in mission trips assume we are doing good. We have resources and gifts to share. The people we go to visit have physical and spiritual needs that we are able to address. Leaving the mission site, we realize that we did not meet all the needs of that area, but we feel good that we did something for God and far-away neighbors. Everyone wins.

Maybe. Maybe not. Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert have given the contemporary American church a soulsearching challenge in their book, When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor… and Yourself. When we do not think strategically and theologically about why we are helping someone in need, we could actually be hurting by creating or continuing a cycle of dependence on “foreign aid” by neglecting opportunities to raise up local leadership and/or by ignoring cultural differences, assuming that our “home” culture is the standard by which other cultures should be judged.

Recently, a team representing CBFNC traveled to Barcelona, Spain, to learn from fellow North Carolinians and CBF mission field personnel Matt and Michelle Norman about that culture and about their ministry. Our goals were to experience the disorientation of a different culture, to meet with local persons in that culture, to experiment with discovering community assets, and to bring our learnings back home to our churches and communities. Rather than a “mission trip,” this was an educational experience we are calling a Mission Learning Lab (MLL).

A highlight of the trip was visiting with the locals. We 4 • The Gathering – July/August 2014

by Rick Jordan, CBFNC Church Resources Coordinator

spoke with Marta who was raised an atheist, about her coming to faith in Christ. She is in her year of discipleship with Michelle before the church will baptize her. She was raised in a culture in which church and government persecuted non-Catholics for 400 years, and then was under a dictatorship for more than 40 years in which the church again united with the state in persecuting her region of Spain, Catalonia. As far as her parents are concerned, by becoming a Christian Marta has joined the enemy.

We met with Daniel, pastor of the Baptist church in Cerdanyola. He was raised in this church, went off to school, and returned to pastor this 50-year-old church. He and his wife have led the church for 20 years. Daniel preaches only once or twice a month. “My job is to equip the saints for ministry. If there is someone in the church that can preach well, I should equip them and give them opportunities to preach. It is not clever for a pastor to preach every week and not give other gifted persons this opportunity.”

Part of our orientation included a scavenger hunt of the community surrounding the church. We were to discover the Spanish and Catalonian words for foods such as strawberries, chicken and milk. To do this, we went into markets and stores, meeting persons and asking for their help. They also needed to help us with such questions as: “You are told you may find an item at the Chinese store.

What is that? What is the Pakistani store?”

Normally, a mission team comes into a community to help alleviate needs. We, however, began our trip by walking the neighborhood looking for assets. What schools, medical facilities, businesses, etc. were present that demonstrated the community’s strengths and were possible partners for ministry? It was an hour of thinking in a new way about the community that surrounds a church.

Of course, we did some sight seeing, which is also

common for a mission trip. However, even with this aspect of the trip, we were given ideas to ponder such as, “Write one reason it is so hard to separate culture from the gospel.”

We did some things that might happen on a typical mission trip, such as stocking and distributing food from the church’s food pantry. But more important than how many boxes of food we could put together and get out the door, was the compassion to be shown to each person. The recent economic crisis that affected our nation hit this region even harder; With a current unemployment rate of 26% overall, 54% of persons under the age of 25 are without jobs.

Daniel noted, “Many of the people you will see today are the new poor. Until recently, they were the middle class. A year ago, they would have told you, ‘There is no way I could ever ask for free food.’ But now, they have lost their job, their home, their car and they are here. It is unimaginable, but now they are here.”

This relief ministry for those in immediate crisis is an important witness to this community. Whereas Baptists had been considered a cult, now they are seen as a group of Christians that cares for those in need. When Helping Hurts notes that relief is one of three types of ministries that may be done for the poor. The other two are rehabilitation (getting persons back to where they were in life, or better, before the crisis hit) and development (working with community leaders to create independence and sustainability). As we mature to the other ministries, we move from doing to/for those in crisis to partnering with those in need, empowering them to become active

leaders in changing unjust systems.

Two things stood out for me about this experience. The first had to do with time and continuity. In the US, we are impressed with the age of St. Augustine, FL, or Jamestown, VA, places settled in 1565 and 1607, respectively. In Barcelona, we went to an archeological dig that displayed an advanced Roman civilization from before the time of Christ. As we go to an area to minister, we need to consider that this community was here before we arrived – what has preceded us? How will that affect our ministry?

A second learning for me had to do with the role of the church. In Spain, the church and state have been united. That has caused much pain for minorities and those not affiliated with the officially sanctioned religion. As we go to a different culture to minister, what is the reputation of the church there? How will that affect our ministry? Of course, the community and its history will remain long after we leave. What is a realistic goal for a short-term mission experience? How does our posture affect our witness? (For example, are we coming in as the all-wise rescuers or as the humble partners?)

Our 21st century challenge is to think about and to do missions that are mindful of the ways our “helping” in the past was actually harmful. The MLL is one way CBFNC can help that happen for our local churches. We hope to have three to four MLLs a year. For more information, look on our website for further explanation and an application (www.cbfnc.org).

Raising awareness

by Wanda Kidd, College Ministry Coordinator

of CBFNC Collegiate Ministry

One of the ways that CBFNC is committed to the future is by We are rethinking collegiate ministry. The world has changed investing in collegiate ministry. At the CBFNC General Asand we want to minister to those changes. While we still want sembly we told part of our story through our campus ministers to provide leadership opportunities, discipleship development and you responded in a generous and profound way through the and conversations about vocational call, we know there are other General Assembly offering that supplemented our concerns of students collegiate budget by almost $6,000. That money and families. We are will help us to fund an intern and partner with in partnership with some other collegiate ministries that want to be CareNet through Bap. . . part of the CBFNC family. tist Hospital to equip Not only are individuals catching the proour campus ministers found importance of investing in young leaders, to meet the needs of so are congregations. Several of our CBFNC young adults with churches are designating CBFNC collegiate mental health and ministry in their budgets and that is helping us to socialization issues. grow the ministry on NC campuses. As of today We also are focusing we have a CBFNC presence on the campuses of on reaching out to R a i s i n g A w a r e n e s s a n d F u n d s f o r UNC-CH, UNC-A, WCU, ECU, ASU and Duke. students who have no CBFNC Collegiate Ministry We are also in conversations with churches in Christian reference, the Wilmington, Raleigh, Charlotte and Greensbut are looking for boro area to explore how to best meet the needs of student minis- purpose. It is an exciting time to be the presence of Christ to one try with our limited resources. We hope to see a new ministry in of the largest unreached people groups in the world.

Wilmington this fall and others coming along side of us soon.

Join us as we continue the song of CBFNC collegiate ministry.

TheSongGoesOn

The Gathering – July/August 2014

•

5

Partner churches

C hurches making contributions October 2012 - March 2014

Giving Trends:

2010 through 2014

Undesignated Designated

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

In the 2013-2014 budget year, undesignated gifts totaled $1.39 million and designated gifts exceeded $2.6 million. For the fourth consecutive year, total gifts exceeded $4 million.

CBFNC continues to be gratified by the trust congregations and individuals are placing in us as evidenced by giving of all types. We are taking great care to be good stewards of these resources through the ministries we coordinate and the cultivation of positive relationships with our cherished ministry partners.

To view the 2014-2015 budget, visit www.cbfnc.org.

Churches contributing to CBFNC are listed in bold type. Churches that contribute to CBF National only are listed in regular type.

Designated in blue are churches that participate in the CBFNC Mission Resource Plan, providing financial support for other Baptist ministries through CBFNC. For additional information about the Mission Resource Plan or for more information on partnering with CBFNC, visit www.cbfnc.org. This list does not include churches who partner with CBFNC or CBF in other, non-financial ways.

Earlys............................... Ahoskie First.................................. Ahoskie First.................................. Albemarle Mount Zion...................... Alexis Angier............................... Angier Baptist Fellowship........... Angier Neill’s Creek.................... Angier Olive Chapel ................. Apex Woodhaven...................... Apex First................................ Arden First.................................. Asheboro Oakwood Park................. Asheboro West Asheboro.................. Asheboro Calvary............................. Asheville First.................................. Asheville Grace................................ Asheville Morningside..................... Asheville Connaritsa....................... Aulander First of Smithton............. Belhaven Benson............................ Benson First.................................. Biscoe 6 • The Gathering – July/August 2014

First.................................. Black Mountain First.................................. Bladenboro Lennons Cross Roads..... Bladenboro First.................................. Blowing Rock Boiling Springs............... Boiling Springs First.................................. Boone Boonville.......................... Boonville Mount Moriah Calvert... Brevard First.................................. Bryson City First.................................. Buies Creek Memorial.......................... Buies Creek Bullock............................. Bullock First.................................. Burlington Northside.......................... Burlington First................................ Burnsville First................................ Butner Calypso............................. Calypso Sawyer’s Creek................ Camden Hominy............................. Candler First.................................. Canton First.................................. Carolina Beach

Greenwood Forest........... Cary Westwood......................... Cary Chadbourn....................... Chadbourn Piney Forest...................... Chadbourn Ephesus........................... Chapel Hill HillSong............................ Chapel Hill Lystra............................... Chapel Hill Mount Carmel................. Chapel Hill University....................... Chapel Hill Grace Crossing................ Charlotte Park Road.......................... Charlotte Pritchard Memorial........ Charlotte Providence....................... Charlotte St. John’s.......................... Charlotte Sardis................................ Charlotte Together in Christ Intl. Ministries ........................................ Charlotte First................................. Clarkton First................................ Clayton White Oak........................ Clayton Mosaic.............................. Clayton

Partner Churches

Churches making contributions October 2012 - March 2014

Clemmons First............... Clemmons First................................ Clinton Grove Park...................... Clinton McGill............................... Concord First.................................. Cramerton Cullowhee........................ Cullowhee The Summit..................... Cullowhee First .................................. Denton First.................................. Dobson First.................................. Drexel First.................................. Dunn Westfield........................... Dunn Calvary............................. Durham Durham Memorial.......... Durham Glenn School Road.......... Durham Hope Valley...................... Durham Lowes Grove.................... Durham Mount Hermon................ Durham Temple.............................. Durham Watts Street..................... Durham Yates................................. Durham First................................ Eden Edenton............................ Edenton Blackwell Memorial.......... Elizabeth City First.................................. Elizabeth City Elizabethtown.................. Elizabethtown First.................................. Elkin Carolina Crossing........... Ellerbe Elm City........................... Elm City First.................................. Elon Emerald Isle..................... Emerald Isle Antioch.............................. Enfield Enfield.............................. Enfield Enka................................. Enka Fair Bluff.......................... Fair Bluff First.................................. Fairmont First.................................. Farmville Cedar Falls........................ Fayetteville First.................................. Fayetteville Lafayette.......................... Fayetteville Lake Lynn........................ Fayetteville Mount Pisgah................... Fayetteville Snyder Memorial............ Fayetteville Unity Christian Center... Fayetteville First.................................. Forest City Florence.......................... Forest City Mount Vernon................. Forest City First.................................. Four Oaks Pauline............................ Four Oaks Burningtown.................... Franklin

Centerpoint...................... Franklin Franklinton...................... Franklinton Fremont Missionary ..... Fremont Garland.......................... Garland Aversboro Road............... Garner Covenant.......................... Gastonia First.................................. Gastonia Loray................................ Gastonia New Hope......................... Gastonia Reynoldson...................... Gates First.................................. Goldsboro Rosewood First................ Goldsboro First ................................. Graham College Park.................... Greensboro Faith Community.............. Greensboro First.................................. Greensboro Guilford............................ Greensboro Lindley Park.................... Greensboro Southeast.......................... Greensboro Arlington Boulevard......... Greenville Immanuel....................... Greenville The Memorial.................. Greenville Oakmont.......................... Greenville Pleasant Hill...................... Grover Hallsboro.......................... Hallsboro Flat Rock.......................... Hamptonville First.................................. Henderson Providence....................... Hendersonville First.................................. Hickory Mountain Grove ............. Hickory Viewmont......................... Hickory Hiddenite.......................... Hiddenite Emerywood...................... High Point First................................... High Point Iglesia Bautista Esperanza Viva. .......................................... High Point Parkwood......................... High Point Cane Creek........................ Hillsborough First.................................. Hillsborough Hobbsville........................ Hobbsville First.................................. Huntersville Jackson............................. Jackson First.................................. Jonesville First.................................. Kannapolis First.................................. Kernersville Iglesia Nueva Vision........ Kernersville Main Street...................... Kernersville Union Cross..................... Kernersville Quaker Gap..................... King Spilman Memorial.......... Kinston

Oak Ridge......................... Kittrell Knightdale...................... Knightdale First Reformed.................. Landis First................................ Laurinburg Goshen.............................. Leland North Brunswick Fellowship .......................................... Leland College Avenue................. Lenoir First.................................. Lenoir Churchland...................... Lexington First.................................. Lexington Jersey................................ Lexington First ............................... Liberty Mount Pleasant.............. Liberty First ............................... Lincolnton Bear Swamp..................... Littleton Littleton............................ Littleton Mission............................. Locust Hickory Rock................. Louisburg Louisburg......................... Louisburg First.................................. Lumberton First.................................. Madison Antioch............................. Mamers First.................................. Marion Calvary........................... Mars Hill Mars Hill.......................... Mars Hill First.................................. Marshville First................................... Mayodan New Bessemer.................. McLeansville First.................................. Mebane Mount Adar..................... Mebane Eatons................................ Mocksville First.................................. Mocksville First.................................. Monroe Mill Creek........................ Monroe First................................... Mooresville First................................ Morehead City First.................................. Morganton Calvary............................. Mount Airy First.................................. Mount Airy Flat Rock........................... Mount Airy Piney Grove..................... Mount Airy First.................................. Mount Gilead First................................ Mount Holly First................................ Mount Olive Murfreesboro................... Murfreesboro Rock Creek..................... Nashville First.................................. New Bern First Chin . ...................... New Bern Kendalls........................... New London

The Gathering – July/August 2014

•

7

Partner Churches

Churches making contributions October 2012 - March 2014

First.................................. Newland Trinity............................. Newton First.................................. N. Wilkesboro First................................... Oriental Enon................................. Oxford Hester............................... Oxford Oxford.............................. Oxford Roberts Chapel................ Pendleton Pfafftown.......................... Pfafftown Iglesia Bautista Misionera Roca Fuerte .......................................... Pittsboro Mount Gilead................... Pittsboro Pittsboro........................... Pittsboro Athens Drive.................... Raleigh Christ.............................. Raleigh Crabtree Valley.............. Raleigh First.................................. Raleigh Forest Hills....................... Raleigh The Fountain.................. Raleigh Greystone......................... Raleigh Hayes Barton................... Raleigh Iglesia Bautista La Roca. .......................................... Raleigh Iglesia Nueva Generacion. .......................................... Raleigh Longview.......................... Raleigh Macedonia........................ Raleigh Millbrook......................... Raleigh New Hope......................... Raleigh Pullen Memorial................ Raleigh Ridge Road...................... Raleigh St. John’s . ....................... Raleigh Swift Creek..................... Raleigh Tabernacle........................ Raleigh Triangle............................ Raleigh Trinity............................. Raleigh First.................................. Red Springs Calvary............................. Reidsville First................................ Reidsville Richfield........................... Richfield First.................................. Richlands Rosemary......................... Roanoke Rapids Bethel................................ Robbinsville Dortches........................... Rocky Mount Lakeside........................... Rocky Mount Rileys Creek................... Rocky Point Rolesville.......................... Rolesville Evergreen......................... Rose Hill Rose Hill........................... Rose Hill First.................................. Roseboro First.................................. Rowland 8 • The Gathering – July/August 2014

Lamberth Memorial....... Roxboro Roxboro............................ Roxboro First.................................. Rural Hall Iglesia Cristiana Sin Fronteras .......................................... Rural Hall First.................................. Rutherfordton First................................... Salisbury Ephesus............................. Sanford First.................................. Sanford Flat Springs..................... Sanford Iglesia Bautista Nueva Comienzo . ........................................ Sanford Jonesboro Heights........... Sanford Primera Iglesia Bautista . ........................................ Sanford Double Shoals.................. Shelby Dover................................. Shelby First................................ Shelby Poplar Springs............... Shelby Ross Grove........................ Shelby Zion.................................. Shelby Centro Familiar Cristiano. ........................................ Siler City Rocky River..................... Siler City Nobles Chapel.................. Sims First................................ Smithfield First Christian................... Smithfield Sharon.............................. Smithfield First.................................. Southern Pines Spencer............................. Spindale Ephesus............................ Spring Hope First.................................. Spring Hope Central............................. Spruce Pine First ................................. Spruce Pine First................................ Stanfield First................................ Stantonsburg Broad Street...................... Statesville First.................................. Statesville First.................................. Stoneville Brunswick Islands........... Supply First................................... Swannanoa First.................................. Sylva Olyphic........................... Tabor City Tabor City ..................... Tabor City First.................................. Tarboro Antioch........................... Taylorsville First ............................... Taylorsville First................................ Tryon Round Hill......................... Union Mills Cornerstone..................... Valdese First................................ Valdese

First................................... Wadesboro Falls................................ Wake Forest Heritage............................ Wake Forest Wake Forest..................... Wake Forest Woodland......................... Wake Forest First................................ Wallace Warrenton........................ Warrenton First.................................. Washington First................................ Waynesville First................................ Weaverville Crossroads Fellowship.... Weldon Baptist Tabernacle.......... Wendell Wendell............................ Wendell First................................ West Jefferson Fishing Creek.................. Whitakers First................................ Whiteville Mount Zion...................... Whiteville New Hope....................... Whiteville Wilkesboro....................... Wilkesboro First.................................. Wilmington Masonboro....................... Wilmington Temple.............................. Wilmington Winter Park..................... Wilmington First.................................. Wilson Cashie............................... Windsor Wingate............................ Wingate Ardmore........................... Winston-Salem College Park.................... Winston-Salem Fellowship........................ Winston-Salem First.................................. Winston-Salem Knollwood........................ Winston-Salem Mineral Springs................. Winston-Salem Northwest......................... Winston-Salem Peace Haven..................... Winston-Salem United............................... Winston-Salem Via Faith Community..... Winston-Salem Wake Forest................... Winston-Salem West Side ....................... Winston-Salem Winterville...................... Winterville Winterville Free Will....... Winterville Wise.................................. Wise First.................................. Yadkinville Maplewood...................... Yadkinville Bethlehem........................ Youngsville Youngsville....................... Youngsville Zebulon............................ Zebulon Visit www.cbfnc.org for more information on partnering with CBFNC.

Creating space

for sharing

Everyone was already talking about it — sexuality, that is — we just weren’t talking about it together. In homes, parking lots, restaurants, and at church, the members of First, Raleigh, were talking about sexual orientation, co-habitation, what scripture says and doesn’t say on the subject, and every other subtopic of sexuality. The conversations were scattered and informal which is natural but often leads to speculation and worry. We needed to talk about it as a congregation, but who talks about sex at church?

Seriously.

After much hand-wringing, planning, and prayer, we finally had the discussion — and the building is still standing.

We based our event called “Conversation on Sexuality” on “A [Baptist] Conference on Sexuality and Covenant,” the 2012 CBF event held in Decatur, GA. We were able to replicate a scaled-down version just for our church with great success. The Decatur event was designed to be replicated just as we did, but few churches have done so thus far. More info here: www.thefellowship.info/conference.

We started with these assumptions: n Sexuality

is part of God’s creation and therefore good

n C hurch

members are going to disagree about it

n C hurches

can discuss difficult topics without making decisions or causing harm

n E very

church should tailor the conversation to its character and needs

n

We don’t have all the answers

n T he

church doesn’t have to take a public, monolithic stand on sexuality

n H omosexuality

is the hottest of the hot topics but should be discussed in the larger context of sexuality

With these assumptions in mind, we designed a format intended to build community through the conversation rather than tear the congregation apart. We started each of four Sunday

by Lin Carter, Minister of Education and Outreach at First, Raleigh

evenings with presentations, followed with dinner, and ending with facilitated small-group discussions. The last night we also worshipped together to conclude the series. That was it. No votes, no decisions, not even large group discussion. Once people were convinced that we were simply there to talk and not to make decisions or to make church-wide changes, tensions lowered and the stress level dropped. This created space for honesty, openness, and significant sharing between church members.

Another key to the success of the process was the use of trained facilitators in smallgroup discussions. All conversation happened in groups of 6-10 people in 4 sessions of 45-60 minutes each. Participants were able to look each other in the eye as they talked but no one was forced to share.

All conversation was facilitated by someone with experience in facilitation, either professionally or through church, and each facilitator received training for this specific event.

These two factors helped make the conversations productive and positive rather than harmful or divisive. In the end, many were surprised that the conversation part of the event was as meaningful as addressing the subject matter.

Everyone is already talking about sexuality at your church, too. The only question is, how are they talking about it? Taking initiative in the conversation by formalizing the discussion in a healthy, structured, safe environment actually helps to avoid division in the church. It may seem counterintuitive, but having the difficult discussion can nurture healthy congregations.

You can find Lin Carter’s 2014 General Assembly workshop in our Resource Library at www.cbfnc.org/Resources/ResourceLibrary.aspx.

The Gathering – July/August 2014

•

9

CBFNC Honorary and Memorial Gifts

April-May 2014

Joe & Lalia Turlington, Wendell; Gift to Done in Love Offering in honor of Garrett & Andrew Pait Anonymous gift to Done in Love Offering in honor of their pastor, Jack Glasgow

Your gifts to a CBFNC endowment fund can plant seeds of blessing, hope, and help.

Designate a gift for scholarships, new church starts, or where it is most needed.

Contact Jim Hylton at jhylton@cbfnc.org or (336) 759-3456 for more information.

Stewardship Conferences

CBFNC will offer two identical Stewardship conferences for pastors, staff, and lay leaders on August 14 at United in Winston-Salem, and August 15 at Wake Forest in Wake Forest.

9:30am-3:30pm. Led by Ruben Swint, “The Generosity Guy.” Conference goals: 1) to provide relevant information and strategies to address the issue of plateaued and declining annual contributions and 2) to coach participants in developing a plan unique to their congregation that they can implement in their churches. Visit www.cbfnc.org for more information.

Coordinator Visits Calvary, Asheville Edenton, Edenton Enfield, Enfield First, Biscoe First, Graham First, High Point First, Lenoir First, Morganton First, Mount Olive First, New Bern First, Tryon

April - May 2014

First, Winston-Salem Forest Hills, Raleigh Lafayette, Fayetteville Memorial, Buies Creek The Memorial, Greenville Murfreesboro, Murfreesboro Northwest, Winston-Salem Providence, Charlotte Spilman Memorial, Kinston Viewmont, Hickory Watts Street, Durham

CBFNC ministry coordinators are available to visit your church to speak, preach, teach, consult, lead and minister in ways appropriate to your context. Contact the CBFNC office for more information.

10 • The Gathering – July/August 2014

Oasis Music and Worship Conference July 14-16, 2014 Campbell University, Buies Creek www.cbfnc.org

Ministers on the Move

Compiled by Jack Causey, Ministerial Resources Coordinator

Our encouragement and support go to the following ministers who have recently moved: Eric Bean has been called to First Baptist Church of Hamlet as Minister of Education.

Ray Ammons has been called to First Baptist Church of Clinton as Pastor.

First Baptist Church of Lexington has called Paul Freeman as Minister of Music.

Mason Smith has been called to First Baptist Church of Elon as Pastor.

Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte has called Chris Hughes as Minister of Youth.

Sarah Mears has joined the staff of Wake Forest Baptist Church in Wake Forest as Minister to Children.

David Fitzgerald is now serving on the staff of Ardmore Baptist Church as Minister of Music.

Patricia Greene has been called to First Baptist Church of Rockingham as Associate Pastor to Families.

St. John’s Baptist Church of Charlotte has called Allison Benfield as Minister of Children and Their Families.

Hunter Duncan has been called as Pastor of Churchland Baptist Church in Lexington.

Rhonda Gailes is Pastor of Refuge Church, a new church start in Blowing Rock.

When you make a move or know of someone who has changed places of ministry, let us know at jcausey@cbfnc.org. For assistance to search committees and ministers seeking vocational discernment, visit our reference and referral page on our website at www.cbfnc.org or call 336-759-3456 or 888-822-1944.

July/August 2014

The Gathering of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina

phone: 336.759.3456 • phone: 888.822.1944 • fax: 336.759.3459 • cbfnc@cbfnc.org • www.cbfnc.org

Larry Hovis . ............ Executive Coordinator.................... LHovis@cbfnc.org

Wanda Kidd......... College Ministry Coordinator..... WKidd@cbfnc.org

Ka’thy Gore Chappell.... Leadership Development Coordinator.... KChappell@cbfnc.org

Eddie Hammett ....Church and Clergy Coach.......... EHammett@cbfnc.org

Rick Jordan ............. Church Resources Coordinator.......... RJordan@cbfnc.org

Javier Benitez ......Hispanic Network Leader Coach... Rocafuerte90@hotmail.com

Linda Jones . ........... Missions Coordinator...................... LJones@cbfnc.org

Rebekah Ayers .... Programs Manager................... RAyers@cbfnc.org

Jim Hylton .............. Business Administration Coordinator.... JHylton@cbfnc.org

Sarah Mitchell .... Communications Manager......... SMitchell@cbfnc.org

Jack Causey ............. Ministerial Resources Coordinator...... JCausey@cbfnc.org

Gail McAlister ..... Financial Manager................... GMcalister@cbfnc.org Derek Wilhelm ..... Administrative Assistant.......... DWilhelm@cbfnc.org

Regional Coordinators Region 1 – Western: Gail Coulter . .............

Region 2 – Foothills: David Smith .............

Region 3 – Triad: Bill Leathers .................

Region 4 – South Central: Drag Kimrey ......

coulterig@bellsouth.net davsmith@charter.net wleathers@triad.com dragkimrey@roadrunner.com

CBFNC College Ministers Kelly Brown ........... Western Carolina ... wcucoopstudentfellowship@gmail.com Ashley Mangrum ... UNC Chapel Hill . ....................... amangrum@cbfnc.org Lawrence Powers ... East Carolina................................ lpowers@cbfnc.org Coordinating Council Ray Ammons, Gastonia, Moderator Lisa Rust, Lumberton, Moderator-Elect Marion Horton, Knightdale, Recorder Donna Bissette, Winston-Salem, Past-Moderator Mike Eddinger, Cary, Treasurer Kathy Driver, Raleigh Heather Folliard, Durham Wayne Hill, Wake Forest Jeff Matthis, Sylva Rick Matthews, Winston-Salem Doug Murray, Wilson Mike Queen, Winston-Salem Susan Taylor, Chapel Hill

Endowment Management Board Andrew Barnhill, Wilmington Ron Cava, Henderson Austin Connor, Raleigh Scott Hudgins, Winston-Salem Norman Jameson, Winston-Salem

Region Region Region Region

5 6 7 8

– – – –

North Central: Tom Jackson ......

Capital: Mack Thompson...........

Southeast: Mike Johnson .........

Northeast: Jesse Croom ...........

Curtis Privette.......

Danny Steis . ........

David Stone..........

Chris Towles .........

Faith Formation Ministry Council Stella Perrin, Taylorsville, Chair Katie Fam Roscoe, Southern Pines, Chair-Elect Giles Blankenship, Fayetteville Beth Cockman-Wood, Sanford Brian Harrington, Liberty Kerrie Clayton Jordan, Smithfield Barbara Glasgow, Zebulon Louisa Monroe, Fayetteville Tyler Roach, Morganton Scott Thrailkill, Goldsboro Leadership Development Ministry Council Layne Rogerson, Greenville, Chair Shane Nixon, Mocksville, Chair-Elect Sarah Boberg, Red Springs Jerry Chiles, Raleigh Buddy Corbin, Asheville Jeanell Cox, Durham John Daniels, Waynesville Kheresa Harmon, Shelby Mark Reece, Mount Airy Nathan Rice, Southern Pines

pastortj@aol.com mackthompson1@att.net mike_brenda2414@yahoo.com jmacroom@hotmail.com

Appalachian...................... curtisdprivette@gmail.com Duke University . .................... dannysteis@gmail.com Western North Carolina.....................dstone@unca.edu Wake Forest.................................. towlescj@wfu.edu Missions Ministry Council Blake Dempsey, Nashville, Chair Paula McCosh, Fayetteville, Chair-Elect Elba Benitez, Pittsboro Greg Burriss, Siler City Kent Cranford, Gastonia Allison Gallimore, Oxford Sarah Lamkin, Louisburg Michael Lea, West Jefferson Nate Leonard, Morehead City Christa Warise, Winston-Salem Mike Womble, Wilmington Tiffany Young, Bladenboro

Financial Report: April 2014 Contributions Undesignated - $113,382 Designated - $241,545 May 2014 Contributions Undesignated - $99,273 Designated - $190,300 April 2014 - March 2015 Monthly Undesignated Goal: $123,657

Elevating Preaching — September 22, 2014 — Duke University Divinity School

Preaching Hope

www.cbfnc.org

The Gathering – July/August 2014

•

11

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID WINSTON-SALEM PERMIT NO. 162

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina Bringing Baptists of North Carolina Together for Christ-Centered Ministry 8025 North Point Blvd., Suite 205 Winston-Salem, NC 27106

888-822-1944 www.cbfnc.org

Return Service Requested

Upcoming Events ~ JULY/AUGUST EDITION Oasis Music and Worship Conference July 14-16, 2014 Campbell University, Buies Creek CBFNC Family Day July 29, 2014 Wet-n-Wild Emerald Pointe Waterpark, Greensboro Selah Vie college retreat August 3-6, 2014 Pinnacle Retreat Center in Clayton, GA Stewardship Conferences August 14, 2014 - United, Winston-Salem August 15, 2014 - Wake Forest, Wake Forest

Understanding Adolescents in a Changing Culture September 27-28, 2014 Trinity, Raleigh Youth Fall Retreat with CBF-VA October 3-5, 2014 Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center, Lynchburg, VA Deacon Ministry: Leadership Training for 21st Century World October 11, 2014 United Baptist Church, Winston-Salem November 8, 2014 Viewmont Baptist Church, Hickory

Youth Whitewater Retreat August 30-September 1, 2014 Asheville

Ministers Retreat October 13-15, 2014 St. Francis Springs, Stoneville

Youth Beach retreat September 12-14, 2014 NC Baptist Assembly, Caswell

Western North Carolina Baptist Fellowship Fall Gathering October 19, 2014

Elevating Preaching September 22, 2014 Duke University School of Divinity

New Minister’s Luncheon October 21, 2014 CBFNC offices, Winston-Salem

2014 Children’s Mission Days November 1 - Zebulon, Zebulon November 8 - Zion, Shelby November 15 - Oakmont, Greenville

Coaching opportunities: n

Peer Learning conference calls

n 3

Key Principles in Congregational Coaching webinars

n B uilding

Blocks of Christian Coaching (501)

n C ongregational

Coach Certification free exploration conference call n C oaching

Cohorts conference call series

n E stablishing

a Dynamic Coaching Relationship (502)

n C ongregational

Certification

Coach