"Diversity within unity'' emerged as a key theme of the international directors conference in Palm Springs, California, June 10-13. I want to share with you some of the points raised during the conference because they will be reflected in the way we do a number of things in the future. The six international directors, and representatives attending the conference with them, worked with me and other church leaders to address core values and diversity in expression and approach.
I explained to the directors that the fact that we are doing something a certain way in the United States doesn't necessarily make that practice a universal policy. God does not call us to be "yellow pencils'' or to be in the same cookie-cutter shape. The Holy Spirit gives us a variety of gifts, and not all "gift mixes'' are the same. Each country, region or people group, just as each individual person, is given spiritual gifts as it pleases the Lord, which means that each group can add its own special spice to the work of God in the world.
Certainly, there are some issues on which uniformity is appropriate. Yet it is good to consider an important difference
between uniformity and unity: Uniformity does not take into account our individual distinctions. Unity, on the other hand, allows our diversity to be a strength that helps maximize our collective effectiveness.
What is important is that we are uniform and unified in the core, essential issues and are humbly devoted to the Lord. From this foundation of strength, we can remain unified in the things we do and in the way we do them because our actions flow from the same internal, Spirit-led commitments, values and vision.
For example, in the United States we are changing our approach to the use of media for evangelism. We have established a separate ministry so that we can pursue a cross-denominational media ministry that will ultimately be financially self-supporting through subscriptions, product sales and paid advertising.
We do not expect every international region to follow that approach. In some regions a similar cross-denominational, commercial publication may work well. In others, a publication that is clearly identified with our own denominational fellowship may be more appropriate. Such a publication may be free, or it may carry a subscription price, depending on regional circumstances.
Some areas may see fit to change the name of the magazine they use in their areas. Other regions may decide not to use a magazine at all, or indeed any form of mass media.
All regions need to assess their particular needs and make appropriate decisions regarding how best to spread the gospel. Our mission is to proclaim Christ and make disciples. This does not require our walking in "lock step'' methods all around the world.
The same principle applies to our approach to the worship service. Worship styles are fundamentally a matter of culture. That means that the outward form of the worship service does not need to be the same everywhere.
The key to the worship service is that a suitable environment is created in which people can come into the presence of God in the context of the body of Christ. Worship is a meeting between God and his people.
Robert Logan puts it well when he explains that the worship service should take people through a process of active response to God--helping them recognize who he is, what he is like, who we are and what we are like in relation to him, the change he desires to make in our lives, and our proper response to his will for our lives (Logan, Beyond Church Growth, page 77).
And this should be done in a way that is culturally relevant. In other words, the goal of worship, leading people to meet God, is best attained in the context of their particular cultural expectations.
Why we worship and what happens to us when we do are the substance of worship. How we worship, or the form, is rooted in our culture. If we first understand why we worship God, then we can adapt the form so that it is culturally relevant.
This means that although it is essential that the substance of worship be the same everywhere, the form of worship will inevitably vary from region to region and even from congregation to congregation.
Certain forms of expression are more comfortable, expressive or appealing in some areas than others. Resources also vary from place to place, allowing some to enjoy worship styles that are not feasible in other places.
We do not need an identical worship form in all our congregations. What we need is to provide an environment in every congregation that allows a congregation to express its worship and praise to God in a way that is meaningful to them as they experience and share his forgiving grace and empowering love. Because our congregations come from different cultures, we will naturally gravitate toward varying worship environments.
Cultural, doctrinal and administrative factors are three of the major issues the church worldwide has to balance appropriately in its attempts to properly and effectively proclaim the gospel around the world and feed an increasingly diverse international flock.
Doctrinal issues are not the only ones where there is potential for mixed messages or misunderstandings. Administrative and procedural methods also need to be varied and tailored appropriately in different cultural contexts.
One area in which this will be addressed is regional publication of The Worldwide News. Most of our regions have the capacity to take the material in The Worldwide News and edit it according to local circumstances. Some are already producing regular Regional News inserts.
Mike Feazell and I encouraged the development of regional editions of The Worldwide News, meaning that regional offices can delete unnecessary articles and supplement or edit material to make it regionally appropriate.
I was pleased and encouraged by the sense of worldwide unity and the clear desire of the regional leaders to serve the churches in their regions sensitively and respectfully. It's encouraging to see us growing more confident in our true identity in Jesus Christ- -an identity that allows us to be led by the Holy Spirit to be expressive in our God-given uniqueness and diversity while being united in the central and fundamental foundation of our faith in the grace of God.
The conference concluded with ordinations of James Henderson (James and Shirley live in Kenya, where James serves as coordinator of the East and West African region) and Robert Klynsmith (Bob and Debbie live in Cape Town, where Bob coordinates the Southern African region) as pastors and Charles Albrecht (Charles and Susie work in the Church Administration office in Pasadena) as an elder.
Let's join together in lifting each other to God in prayer. Let's ask our heavenly Father to grant continuing understanding, trust and vision as we interact to advance his kingdom.
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