As a regional bellwether for vitality of Christian churches now well-into year two of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Baptist State Convention of Michigan Annual Meeting last Friday provided insights on a number fronts. [1-6]
In a prepared opening statement, Executive Director Tim Patterson lamented that SARS-CoV-2 “has lasted a lot longer than we expected and has grown more distasteful every day ….
I really believed that this Covid mess was about over, and we would soon be back to a new normal. Yet here we are, and that stinky little crown of a bug is still with us ….
Notwithstanding, State Director of Missions Tony Lynn reported that “Michigan Baptists contributed 16% more to the North American Missions Offering” thus far in 2021, as compared to all of 2019. That giving, “gathered with our other churches throughout the nation, set a record $66.5 million ….”
Among its own core metrics, support along this trajectory in 2020 has equated to an additional 144,322 new believers, 86,587 baptisms, and 18,380 new churches planted. [7]
Against this, training retreats for adult lay leadership this year ran less that half of prior year numbers. Youth retreats were cancelled in deference to local church hesitancy to promote offerings and support attendance. The number of people gathered in Plymouth for the November 5 Annual Meeting itself totaled less than one hundred, fifty — notably down from 2019.
At the same time, Executive Director Patterson assured that “The great news is that none of this has taken God by surprise, and He is still on the throne of heaven and fully in control.
The evidence of this fact can be seen in how He has provided wonderfully for His people. … I pray you will be greatly encouraged and inspired by the work of God in our midst.
In practical terms, this was evidenced by oversight committee approval of 2022 total Operating Budget representing a 17.2% increase from 2021. Responsibly, Tim Patterson noted that 13.8% of that increase built in a “buffer for the budget,” so that possibly necessitated adjustment could be made up to that amount “without need to change the budget” mid-period.
Thematically, the specter of COVID-19 was cast by scriptural reference to John 17:20-23. In King James, this quoted Jesus as having said, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us ….
… that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou has loved me.
They have labeled this “Be The Church” in application. Noting that only ten to twelve percent of churches are actually growing, keynote speaker Joel Wayne attributed this to doctrinal plyability. Too many churches measure their success on congregational size, growing those numbers based on catering to the whims of societal winds. [8,9]
This followed a construct set earlier in the morning by Diversity Ministry Ambassador Coye Bouyer. He used his time on stage to challenge individuals’ assessment of church differences based on culture. “What culture?” he asked. [10]
Income? Background? The culture you see? as you call it? following your definition?
The only relevant culture is the one that comes from Scripture: The culture of Christ and His teachings. Follow that, and you can blend any group in Him; you can worship in any church that is one with Him and you will be right in that culture.
Be The Church was developed to help reduce the silos in which too many present day churches operate, to encourage active collaboration. Structurally, this provides formal, scheduled connections among peer pastoral leaders. It also seeks to optimally leverage lay talents to better advantage in service to church functioning both within the doors and in fulfillment of mission work outside of them.
Two goals appear to have been given equal priority: Improve on both need for stability and to grow.
Although Be The Church originated pre-pandemic, it was noteworthy to see such a high-touch initiative receive strongly increased commitment from the Baptist State Convention of Michigan in the wake of SARS-CoV-2. At the same time, it not only appears to be just what the doctor ordered in terms of Christian churches in America today, but a promising new normal for them in its own right.
References
- “State of the Church 2020” (July 8, 2020) Barna Group.
- “Life in US Religious Congregations Slowly Edges Back Toward Normal” (March 22, 2021) Pew Research Center.
- “Millions skipped church during pandemic. Will they return?” David Sharp (June 29, 2021) AP News.
- “Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)” CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- “Novel Coronavirus Reports” CDC.
- Baptist State Convention of Michigan (home page).
- “imb: Annual Statistical Report – Reporting on 2020 Data” (May 2021) International Mission Board.
- Be The Church (home page).
- “Live@12 | Joel Wayne | Be The Church” Chapel Pointe (June 2, 2020) Vimeo.
- “Humble Beginnings … Pastor Coye L Bouyer” Kingdom Life Church.
