Lay Leaders and the Key to Discerning Next
A perspective for local denominational organizations/judicatories on how they best empower their churches to serve from the base of their local context.
Rundown: Articles on Baptist associations are often applicable to the local denominational organizations/judicatories of various denominations. They may be called associations, districts, classis, synods, and by other names. They are typically organisms more than organizations. Relational more than functional. Regional and national expressions of denominations are more organizational and functional.
(This column appears this week in the digital and print edition of The Baptist Paper. Access the column in the digital edition HERE. The Baptist Paper is a publication of TAB Media. Request a free trial HERE. See all TAB Media columns written by George Bullard HERE.)
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Lay Leaders and the Key to Discerning Next
"This is the fourth in a series of columns that will explain various strategies that could be used to experience the next wave of Kingdom progress." —George Bullard
"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," writes George Bullard.
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. The remarkable family-like spiritual connection is crucial for courageous Kingdom progress. (See my previous column HERE.)
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.
(Continue reading HERE.)
Let me hear from you if you want to talk about this.
So true! An AMS must develop relationships with and between lay leaders if the association is to flourish. In an era of more bivocational or covocational led churches this is an indispensable to strengthening leadership. Thanks for highlighting this truth.