June 2005
Report from the President,
Dr. Larry
Koslovsky
61st Biennial Convention
of
The Unity of the Brethren
This year’s convention is taking on a slightly
different format from convention’s past.
On Wednesday evening July 6th at 7 pm,
the Griggs, one of our missionary families, will presenting their experience
of as well as vision for missions.
On Thursday, July 7th, the second day of
convention, we will welcome among us, Tom Bandy of Easum, Bandy & Associates.
Rev. Bandy will be speaking to the convention at three different sessions
(morning, afternoon & evening) on the changing scene of the American
church in the 21st century and how a small denomination and congregations
like ours can fulfill its mission and ministry in the name of Christ and
the role lay and pastoral leadership play in carrying it out. There will
be a time for questions and answers at the end of each session. You might
want to read in advance the following:
Growing Spiritual Redwoods
Kicking Habits
Mission Movers
The context for ministry and most aspects
of ministry has changed in the last 20 years. Senior adult ministry is
more than just a pot luck lunch, some table games and fellowship. Youth
ministry is more than just a once a month meeting and some volleyball.
No longer can we assume that the way we have always done things is even
effective. The average member today juggles many responsibilities and is
squeezed for time, so there is no margin for wasted time and energy on
anything other than ministry. The ministry in which individuals are involved
must be more than just filling a slot and doing what has always been done
in some prescribed way for which their is little or no tolerance for another
way of taking care of the Lord’s work. Ministry must fit the passions,
gifting and call of those carrying out ministry; it must be ministry, not
just maintenance or oiling the machinery of the church or denomination.
In fact the church is called to be the
Body of Christ and if it is activity for activity’s sake or because it
has always been down with little or no focus on reaching out to others
with the Gospel, then just because a congregation is doing it does not
necessarily connect it to or make it the work of Christ.
Our speaker Tom Bandy is Vice-President
of Easum, Bandy & Associates and has been a pastor for over 25 years,
in three denominations. He has served urban, suburban, rural, and remote
contexts, both in church planting and church transformation roles, in the
United States and Canada. His personal mission is to help individuals and
congregations experience the transforming power of God, and become motivated
and equipped to walk daily with Jesus into mission.
For 7 years Tom served as the National
Officer for Congregational Mission and Evangelism for the United Church
of Canada, developing resources, leading national events, and consulting
with congregations of all sizes. He has worked with congregations and regional/national
denominations across the theological spectrum of North America.
Tom is also the Senior Editor for Net Results magazine, the premier
"church vitalization", nonprofit magazine in North America. He is the General
Editor of the Abingdon Press "Convergence" leadership series. Tom also
holds a research, academic doctoral degree in philosophical theology, and
has lectured in the theology of culture, ethics, adult faith formation,
and future mission. He is a member and longtime participant in the American
Academy of Religion.
Tom consults with congregations for church
growth and transformation using a systems approach to leveraging change.
Topics of special interest include leadership development, volunteer empowerment,
evangelism, servant empowering organizational models, indigenous worship,
cell group development, adult faith formation, designing teams, and vision
discernment.
He consults with congregations and faith-based
nonprofit organizations, and has a particular interest in encouraging Hispanic
churches.
Tom is the author of numerous articles,
books and videos on church growth and transformation. His two most recent
books are "Roadrunner", and "Fragile Hope". Tom's background reveals his
cross-cultural experience: born in Cleveland, raised in Minnesota, Illinois,
Alabama, Ohio, and New Jersey ... ordained in the United Methodist Church
in Chicago ... served with Presbyterians in Philadelphia, Methodists in
New York, and the United Church in Toronto ... led cross-denominational
evangelism teams in Michigan ... he lives in Guelph, Ontario, where his
wife is pastor of a nearby church. They have a son and a daughter.
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