Satellite Churches?

                 At a recent lunch with a small group of local pastors from a variety of denominations, one of the topics that came up is the growing presence of “satellite churches” in our area. These satellite churches are the smaller branches of a larger “multi-site church,” that is one church meeting in more than one location. Locally, Cape First has satellite churches in Marble Hill and Sikeston. Someone pointed out that it seems silly to worship at “Cape First of Marble Hill” or “Cape First of Sikeston,” but that's besides the point! In one denomination, when small rural churches decide to close, they may be converted into satellite churches of a large Cape church.

Typically, the satellite churches do not have their own preaching pastor. Instead, the sermons of the pastor of the headquarters church are transmitted by video to each of the campuses. The satellite church may have one or more pastors who manage the site, provide pastoral care, and lead youth activities. A worship team of paid musicians provide live music at the Sunday service. These staff are provided by the headquarters church. Members of the satellite are normally encouraged to participate in small group ministries.

Multi-site churches are normally also “megachurches.” Satellite churches bring many of these characteristics of megachurches to smaller communities. “The term megachurch generally refers to any Protestant congregation with a sustained average weekly attendance of 2,000 persons or more in its worship services. Common characteristics of mega-churches include strong charismatic senior ministers, many associate pastors, large staff, robust congregational identity that empowers 100's to 1,000's of weekly volunteers, an identity that draws people from a very large area (sometimes an hour or more) and across parish boundaries, a multitude of programs and ministries organized and maintained by members, high levels of commitment and giving by members, seven-day-a-week activities at the church, contemporary worship, state of the art sound and projection systems, auxiliary support systems such as bookstores, coffee shops, and huge campuses of 30-100 acres.

Nearly all megachurch pastors are male, and are viewed as having considerable personal charisma. The senior minister often has an authoritative style of preaching and administration and is nearly always the singular dominant leader of the church.  Supporting these senior pastors are teams of 5 to 25 associate ministers, and often hundreds of full-time staff.” (Source: Hartford Institute)

As a small church pastor, I unsurprisingly have negative feelings about satellite churches. In an article “10 Ways to Know Someone is Leaving Your Church” by Brian Dodd, number 10 is “A mega church opens a satellite location in your community. This is funny … but true.”

A satellite church looks like a church. There is a building and a parking lot that is full on Sunday morning. But it is really a church?

This is a very difficult question to answer. Are these congregations of believers in Christ members of the true Church, the body of Christ? Part of the answer hinges on what goes on at those churches.  Is the Word of God properly proclaimed? Are the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper properly administered?  It seems possible that from this point of view, a satellite church could be part of the true Church.

Another part of the answer, however, depends on whether these churches meet the Biblical criteria for a church. The Bible does not provide a manual for church organization, but some things are reasonably clear. The churches of the Bible are house churches: “Greet also the church that meets at their house.” “Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.” “Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.” A church building does not make a church.

These house churches were small congregations. Worship at these churches focused around the Lord's Supper. Church members actively participated in worship through preaching, teaching, praying, and prophesying. The churches were linked together through itinerant preachers and exchanges of letters.

The Biblical churches were independent bodies ruled by a council of elders. One of the elders, the pastor, might be given primary preaching and teaching responsibility and be paid for that work. Other members might be appointed deacons and were responsible for the poor and the sick of the congregation and the wider local community. By the standard of the Bible, we would expect a local church to have a pastor (preaching elder), a session (council) of ruling elders, and a diaconate. It is pretty clear that satellite churches do not meet the Biblical standard for a local church. Even more problematical is that their parent churches do not always meet this standard.

What are the implications of moving away from the Biblical model of the local church? In his article “The Multi-Site Church Model,” (http://www.cmaresources.org/article/multi-site-model_n-cole) Neil Cole identifies the following issues:

First, it communicates that church is a worship service with small groups attached.

Second, it seems to elevate the preaching of a sermon to the height of what church is about.

Third, it elevates one personality to the status of church leader in the only role that is not reproducible. This of course seems to communicate to all that this one person is the most important person in the entire church.

Fourth, it places a brand on the churches that are all connected to the network making a name for itself much like a business. Churches begin to carry a brand name more like a business than becoming a connected body of Christ.

Fifthly, it fosters a consumeristic mentality among Christians who can only be attracted by the bigger names and more entertaining speakers.

Finally, it is sometimes an attempt to own the churches in a given area….Basically, there really is a desire to have more followers, and keep the money in one account.

Satellite churches continue the trend towards active paid professional leaders and inactive passive church members.  I was shocked to read an article by a big church pastor who was willing to promise to the little church being taken over as a satellite, that

· If you follow me, I will make your life better.

· If you follow me, I will care about you.

· If you follow me, I will take you where you cannot go on your own.

All this through the power of the Holy Spirit!  I thought we were grown up enough to follow and depend on  Jesus rather than other human beings. How far is this from the Apostle Paul! “One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 12-13). A healthy church develops active members who by serving one another make each other’s lives better, demonstrate care for each other, and encourage each other on the road to the Kingdom of God. Being overly dependent on professional leaders prevents church members from growing to be mature followers of Christ.

I personally believe that the worse characteristic of satellite churches is that they continue the trend of making church member passive consumers of religious products and services. This is about as far as we can get from the Biblical call for a church to be a place where all members of the body serve one another by the gifts of the Spirit. “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” (Romans 12:6-8)

In our lunch time discussion, when I opposed the conversion of small rural congregations into satellite churches, I was asked if I had a better alternative. My answer was that the congregation should close itself down, sell its assets, and give them to a ministry for the poor. In the early church, as John Calvin notes, whatever the Church possessed, either in lands or in money, was the birthright of the poor. Calvin approvingly quotes Ambrose, “He who sent the apostles without gold has also gathered churches without gold. The Church has gold not to keep but to distribute, and give support in necessity.”

In my view, the very idea of satellite churches is too worldly. Big churches would do better to help plant new independent congregations. And for a small church to become a satellite? As always, Jesus said it best.

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26)

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Dan

Salt and Light to Jamaica

            I want to thank the congregation for allowing me to go on the Jamaican Christian Medical Mission  (JCMM) this April, especially the Diaconate, which paid half my airfare. This trip the mission had three clinics: medial, eye, and dental. All three provide quality medical care at no charge to the people who live near Carron Hall, St. Mary, Jamaica. All three clinics worked at full capacity—over one hundred patients—each of the 4 days of the clinic. This was my third trip and my third time working the clinic pharmacy (a storage room in the church). Four days of nonstop pill counting! Although our usual pharmacy crew was unable to make the trip, we had an excellent team, including the 10-year-old daughter of one of doctors. Joci took on any job we gave her, including counting vitamins and making labels, and lifted our spirits with her youthful energy. Although I was “stuck” in the pharmacy during the clinic, I did receive reports that our dental and eye clinics were especially successful this trip.

            Even though the JCMM is a relatively small mission trip, it is still a complex and expensive operation. We were blessed repeatedly with on-time flights, a quick trip through customs, and relatively little holiday traffic on the bus ride up the mountain. As always, the host church, Carron Hall United Church, did a magnificent job of providing us with housing and food. Especially the food, with all the wonderful Jamaican variations on chicken—jerked, barbecued, curried! Inevitably, there were also some problems. The Jamaican government did not approve the qualifications of our audiology team, and we were unable to have a hearing clinic this trip. The medical clinic was understaffed and there were personality conflicts that soured the trip for some mission members. Finally, on our rest and recreation day in Montego Bay, some of team members acquired truly remarkable sunburns!

            For whatever reasons, for many of us on mission, this trip was a time for reflection on changes we have seen in Jamaica, on changes in the medical needs of the population we serve, and on the purpose and future of the JCMM. Jamaica seems more prosperous in some ways, but poorer in others. I am not an expert on Jamaica, but some changes are obvious, most notably the increased number of cars driving the pot holed roads around Carron Hall and common use of cell phones. Crime and fear of crime seems to be greater. All windows on the church and houses have steel bars, everything is carefully padlocked, and the Carron Hall High School is under 24-hour guard. Carron Hall used to be a center for growing bananas for export, but the industry has collapsed due to low prices and hurricane damage, apparently permanently. Jamaica just proudly celebrated the 50^th anniversary of independence from Great Britain, but a crushing national debt to the International Monetary Fund and pervasive government corruption and incompetence clouds the future.

            Turning to health issues, social change has had good and bad consequences. Jamaica has been experimenting with a national health system and many folks from Carron Hall get basic medical care from a government clinic in nearby Highgate town. High blood pressure and high blood sugar are the most common chronic serious health problems for Jamaicans. Most of the people we see at the clinic are already receiving prescription medications for these conditions. However, locals report that the number of people seeking services overwhelms the government clinic and the clinic frequently runs out of free medications. Patients do receive a pharmacy discount card, but often have difficulty affording co-payments. Jamaica also has public hospitals that provide free care, but the doctors in the government health system were on strike during our visit.

            Our medical staff reported that compared to earlier clinics, the Jamaicans seem more aware of the need to get regular health care. However, the increased availability of cars for transit has had a major negative consequence. When we started the clinic more than ten years ago, the Jamaicans at Carron Hall walked everywhere. Now they hitch a ride everywhere, especially the young people. The consequence of this lack of exercise has been more high blood pressure and high blood sugar at younger and younger ages. At the same time, the Jamaican diet remains very high in salt. On the dental side, the habit of chewing sugar cane and the failure to brush teeth regularly still leads to widespread bad dental health. On the vision side, Jamaicans have a high level of cataracts and glaucoma, but little macular degeneration. Cataract surgery is still not available to the population we serve at the clinic.

            Before the trip, I was talking about the mission with someone who went on one of the earlier trips and who continues to support the mission. He stated that the problem with JCMM is that it is “too much medical and not enough Christian.” I think there is some truth to that comment. On the plus side, Pastor Loren Boettcher and I said grace before each meal and presented a Bible reading and devotional each morning after breakfast. In the pharmacy, we had a new helper, William, on the staff of Teen Challenge International of Mid America. William took the prescriptions out to the patients and after he gave them the medication instructions, he offered to pray with them. On Sunday, we attended church at Carron Hall United Church. The new pastor, Carlene Walford, seems to be making a difference in the church. The church has been spruced up and the atmosphere at the church is very positive. The three-hour long service included a tree planting for environmental awareness, Holy Communion, traditional hymns, and a praise team. Jeremy, another Teen Challenge staff member, gave the children's sermon. I delivered the sermon. That morning, as I was going over sermon one last time in my head (no notes!), William came over and asked if he could pray with me for a Holy Spirit filled message. What a blessing!

            On the negative, I do feel that the Christian spirit of the mission has progressively weakened over the three times I have participated. Fewer pastors are going on the mission than in prior years. Some passionately Christian non-medical volunteers who were on the prior two missions I attended were unable to go on mission this time. They were sorely missed. Without them, the trip seemed even more “medical” and even less “Christian.” Although things went well in the dental and eye clinic, in the medical clinic, the “salt” Jesus spoke of seemed in short supply this trip:

Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

Mark 9:50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

            JCMM needs to continue its good work. Carron Hall continues to be medically underserved. We provide a needed addition to local sources of health care, especially in dental and vision, which the Jamaican national health program does not provide. The relationships we have established with the folks at Carron Hall are life changing, for both the Jamaicans and the team. Personally, my preaching at Carron Hall is one of the high points of my year. And the food is so good and Jamaica is so beautiful!

            However, the mission is at a turning point. It does need to become more Christian, if not less medical. The work of fund raising and planning the mission has been borne by a core of volunteers that is shrinking rather than growing. Some of those who have led the mission in the past are approaching burnout. JCMM needs more volunteers willing to be active in planning and fundraising, and needs an infusion of fresh ideas on how to make the mission more effective and harmonious. I have always felt that JCMM is an ideal mission opportunity for members of smaller churches that cannot sponsor their own overseas missions. We need to broaden church support of the mission beyond Evangelical and Emmanuel. We need to creatively expand our relationship with the United Church in Jamaica and look for ways to collaborate with Jamaican medical personnel to provide follow-up care after our visits. These kinds of partnerships might even enable us to bring a cataract surgeon on the mission!

            I appeal to everyone reading this to take a more active role in the JCMM. You do not have to go to Jamaica to get involved in recruitment, fund raising, and planning. Please spread the word that JCMM needs more medical and non-medical volunteers. Please pray that the members of the mission team might receive a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit that they may approach the challenges facing the mission with creativity, power, and love. The JCMM is one of the many ways we can thank God for all he has given us through serving our neighbors. We need to share the time, talents, and love that God has given us. After talking about salt, in the quote given above, Jesus said something even more famous about light:

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Don't hide your light under a bushel! AMEN!

Pastor Dan

 

 

Pastor’s Annual Report

This year, instead of the usual laundry list of activities and attendance statistics, I decided to share my reflections on the role of the pastor.

Works of Service

I recently preached on how Jesus’ miracles were signs that pointed to who he is: Son of God and God. They also revealed his character—someone who always responds to the real needs of those around him. Jesus became a servant to those around him, meeting their needs without regard to his own. The greatest need of those who met Jesus was the need to have their sins forgiven. In response to that need, Jesus died on the cross for them…and for us. In the same way, the things a congregation does—works of service—are the signs of our closeness to Christ. Works of service make us the church, a body unified by faith in Jesus Christ.

Equipping the Church

One of the primary purposes of church leaders is to equip the congregation for those “works of service.”

Ephesians 4:11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

In this passage, Paul does not mention the most common congregational leaders in the Bible, the elders and deacons. The elders (overseers) govern the congregation and the deacons (“waiters”) care for the material needs of congregation members in distress. Instead of these “practical” leaders of the congregation, he mentions those who would be considered “spiritual” leaders. Instead of guiding and serving the congregation, these leaders “equip” the “people for works of service.”

In practice, a pastor functions as both an elder and a deacon. As an elder and deacon, I participate in meetings of the church council and diaconate, although I do not chair the meetings or vote. As a deacon, I visit the sick and the homebound. [I would also add that, simply as a member of the church, I participate in worship, fellowship, and fundraising activities in a variety of ways, including singing, listening at meetings, rolling dumplings, and eating!]

However, the Ephesians passage points to another way in which the pastor leads and congregation. It seems to me that apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers all have the role of transmitting the Gospel, God’s Good News, to the congregation. Apostles, prophets, and evangelists had a historic role in bringing the Gospel to the entire Church through the words, signs, and wonders recorded in the New Testament Book of Acts and the Epistles. Moreover, some of them had a major role in the recording of the New Testament scriptures under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The apostles, prophets, and evangelists delivered to the Church the incomparable riches of Christ in the New Testament. Then it became the job of the pastors and teachers to transmit the Good News to the Congregation. Moreover, they transmit the Good News to the congregation with specific purpose of equipping the congregation for works of service.

To equip is “to furnish for service or action by appropriate provisioning; to dress, array; to make ready; or to prepare.” The original usage was relating to loading a ship for a sea voyage. I would interpret the Ephesians passage to say that the pastors and teachers prepare the congregation to go out into the world do works of service that build up the body of Christ. The elders and deacons keep the congregation going, but the pastors and teachers prepare the congregation to go out into the world in service.

Equipping the Church as Preacher and Teacher

Looking back at 2012, I see that, as your pastor, I am doing some of the things I need to equip you. However, I also see room for continued change and growth. I hope that my Sunday morning preaching and administration of the sacraments equips the congregation for works of service by drawing them closer to the Spirit of Christ, who always said “yes” to real needs. I also hope that my teaching in Sunday school classes, confirmation classes, and Wednesday night programs also equips the congregation to serve.

I realize that I need to ask myself constantly whether I am properly using my developing knowledge of the Bible and reformed theology preparing the congregation for good works. I believe I need to listen more closely to church members to see if my preaching and teaching is actually giving them the Biblical foundation they need to help their neighbors in need. I need to reach out to church members and get honest answers whether the way we present the Good News at Evangelical Church is feeding them spiritually, making them strong for the difficult job of serving a fallen and broken world.

Equipping the Congregation as Encourager

Besides preaching, teaching, and administering the sacraments, I serve as a pastor, an “equipper,” through encouragement and example. I have tried in my role as an ex-officio member of the council and diaconate to encourage EUCC to continue serving our neighbors in whatever ways God has enabled our congregation to serve. I have been a cheerleader and supporter of using our apple butter tradition to reach out to the neighborhoods around us through the Apple Butter Festival. I have encouraged the council to let groups in the community including the Mental Health Coalition (Mental Health First Aid), the Red Cross (blood drives), the Community Caring Council (Missouri Mentoring and Building Stronger Families), and others use our wonderful facilities to the benefit of the community.

However, I believe that I need to be more active and creative in my role as encourager in the year ahead. I think I need to do more to encourage church members to share with the congregation how they serve their neighbors. I know we are all modest and unwilling to brag on ourselves, but there are ways in which I could do more to recognize all the works of service church members have done at nursing homes, in their neighborhoods, and in the community at large. By recognizing what we have done and are doing through daily life and volunteer activities, we can encourage ourselves to new efforts and greater achievements.

Equipping the Congregation as Example

I also am evaluating whether the kind of work I am doing in community provides an example to the congregation that equips members for works of service. I have tried to play out my professional role as pastor in a way that serves the community and builds up the Body of Christ. I have provided my time and talents to Love INC, the Samaritan Regional Clinic, the Sprig of Hope (homeless shelter), the Jamaican Christian Medical Mission, and the Community Caring Council by volunteering and serving on boards of directors. I have also participated in and sometimes led the activities of the Cape Ministerial Alliance and the Downtown Council of Churches. I have to admit that I am involved in some of these activities simply because I cannot say “no” when asked to represent the Church on these boards.

As an individual Christian, God has called me to use my talents and gifts in works of service. However, when I am serving as your pastor I need to choose works of service that are truly useful as examples to the congregation. Does my going to Jamaica truly inspire the congregation to works of service? Are there ways I can make the Jamaican Christian Medical Mission more relevant and meaningful to the congregation? Which, if any, of the boards I serve on provide a meaningful example of service for congregation members? Some boards and committees require only a few hours a month, so this is not necessarily a major issue. However, others require me to make a significant investment in time and energy. Should I be using that time and energy on something more relevant to the congregation?

Working Together

The next few verses of Ephesians 4 help tell us where we need to go from here:

Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

These beautiful words describe the Universal Christian Church, but they also describe the local congregation, even our own Evangelical United Church of Christ, Cape Girardeau. Each of us must do our part to help the body grow towards unity and maturity, as we do the works Christ has prepared for us to do.

As pastor—rather than elder, deacon, or member—my primary role is to equip the congregation by delivering the true Gospel of Jesus Christ through preaching, teaching, and administering the sacraments. I will prayerfully strive to continue to grow in that role. However, I also can help to equip the congregation in the roles of encourager and example. To fulfill those roles better, I need the help of the congregation. As a body, we need to explore why God has placed this congregation here on Ellis Street in the Year of Our Lord 2013. We need to discern the works of service God has prepared for us and I need your help in being more effective in equipping each of you to play your part in those works. Let’s pray, talk, and get to work!

God Bless You and Yours In This New Year!

Pastor Dan

 

Make a Resolution that Christ Will Help You Keep

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

As you may know, I am a member of HealthPoint, one of the excellent fitness centers in our area. Many years ago, I learned that regular exercise is essential to good mental and physical health. I also have fun exercising. By giving exercise a high priority, I usually visit the gym 5 days a week for an hour at a time. I do this year round, except for travel and vacations. Even when I am away from the gym, I try to exercise, at the very least by walking. Exercising is simple part of my routine of living, like taking a shower, or brushing teeth.

If you attend a gym regularly, you quickly notice an annual cycle in gym attendance. The biggest peak in attendance comes in January and February. The parking lots are full and the fitness classes are crowded. Every piece of fitness equipment is in use during peak hours. The winter peak in gym attendance is obviously related to the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions. This attendance peak gradually fades as the resolutions are forgotten. Finally, only the “regulars” remain. Another smaller peak occurs in the spring, as folks get ready for “swimsuit weather.” During the summer and fall, the gyms are again turned over to the “regulars.”

Churches also experience attendance peaks, the most common being Easter and Christmas. We try hard to make those major church holidays “special” by leading up to them with Lent and Advent, respectively. Our practice of having communion on the first Sunday of each month is also designed to make that a “special” Sunday and hopefully increase attendance, at least on that Sunday. Unfortunately, we do not seem to receive much of an increase in attendance with the coming of the New Year.

New Years Day is a special day where many resolve to make the New Year better than last year. According to surveys, 45% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. Here is a list of the top ten resolutions.

1. Lose Weight
2. Getting Organized
3. Spend Less, Save More
4. Enjoy Life to the Fullest
5. Staying Fit and Healthy
6. Learn Something Exciting
7. Quit Smoking
8. Help Others in Their Dreams
9. Fall in Love
10. Spend More Time with Family

As you can see “going to church more” is not a popular New Year’s resolution. However, it could be argued that going to church might help you keep your other resolutions. Help is needed because only 8% of those surveyed report being successful in achieving their resolution.

I would ask you to consider making a church-focused New Year’s resolution this year. I believe that a living relationship with Christ is reflected in a growing involvement in a church community. Sunday attendance is an essential part of the Christian life. All of us should attend a church every Sunday unless we are physically unable due to illness or other limitations. If you already attend church regularly, consider expanding your giving, praying, and Bible studying. If you feel called to a certain kind of ministry or mission that seems to be missing in our church community, let’s add it to our church or affiliate with another church or Christian organization. Christ is the center of our lives and he has commanded us to love one another in his Body, the Church. Let 2013 be a year in which you grow closer to him by getting closer to those he died for—your brothers and sisters in Christ.

God Bless, Pastor Dan

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.