NWBC trying to get first step right

Northwest Baptist Convention staff turned one corner after the first of the year following completion of personal visits with leaders of each of the convention’s 420-plus affiliated congregation. The face-to-face conversations were among initial priorities of a reorganization of staff assignments, changing the way convention leaders related to churches and ministry leaders.

One of the next crucial steps emerging from all the dialogue is development of broad strategies and specific practices aimed at helping churches reach greater levels of health and growth in order to increase their community witness and start churches where there are such needs.

In hearing various members of each regional team and the resource staff based in Vancouver reflect on the last several months, one thing stands out clearly — these are men and women who clearly appreciate the need for personal and corporate spiritual renewal to undergird all that is done to help churches greater levels of impact.

Much of the focus is upon leaders of local churches, with the importance of a spiritual vitality in their lives highlighted as a priority. One regional team leader has rightly stated: “Ministry is about producing his result though his leaders, with the result of spiritual transformation among individuals and the corporate church.”

That the regional teams see spiritual matters as foundational comes as no surprise. But in a day where skill, technique and practice are often so highly promoted and emphasized, it’s important to affirm that reality in practice. That’s not to say those other elements are unimportant — they may, in fact, be more critical than ever — but it’s good to start with the right first step.

If there is a down side to such an emphasis, it’s in trying to characterize exactly what we mean by “spiritual” things. Certainly we have the Spirit to guides us as we examine Scripture to discern such meaning, but we in our Baptist tribe are notorious for dutiful participation in religious observances and thinking as a result that we’ve actually obeyed God’s call to make the world different.

We should also take care not think of the more practical matters as lacking “spiritual” aspects. Inherent in our assumptions about the importance of getting the spiritual part right is that it shows up in the lives of those around us.

Princeton professor and author Cornel West, who is in no danger of becoming a theological darling of Southern Baptists, has noted: “Justice is what love looks like in public.” To express God’s love and concern for what’s right in such a way in every community is a great aspiration for every congregation.