TOGETHER: BGCT emphasizes church leadership

Posted: 8/18/06

TOGETHER:
BGCT emphasizes church leadership

The Apostle Peter, after a lifetime of following Jesus and providing leadership among the early Christians, gives this poignant counsel to young pastors:

“I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it’s like to be a leader, in on Christ’s sufferings as well as the coming glory. Here’s my concern: That you care for God’s flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.

“When God, who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he’ll see that you’ve done it right and commend you lavishly. ….

Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

“So, be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you” (1 Peter 4:19-5:7).

Church leadership was important to Peter, and today it’s important to the Baptist General Convention of Texas. As a result, we’ve formed a Congregational Leadership Team in our new staff structure. Reggie Thomas leads this gifted and motivated team of men and women.

Here are some of the services we offer to pastors, would-be pastors, deacons, other lay leaders and congregations that are helping our Texas churches:

We have developed a leadership development strategy that will assist college students who feel called to ministry. We help students at Logsdon and Truett seminaries assess their gifts, strengths and weaknesses as they prepare for ministry in Texas Baptist churches and beyond.

To help churches, we have developed a growing program called the intentional interim ministry. When a church is between pastors, there is a window of opportunity to do some very important spiritual work in the congregation.

One woman said to me after three pastors had left under pressure: “Maybe it’s not just them. Maybe we need to look to ourselves and see what we may not be doing very well.” A deacon chairman called me after a very successful intentional interim period in their church and said, “If we could have gone through this before the former pastor had to leave, he could have stayed.”

We also work with churches that are experiencing conflict to see what we can do to help resolve the conflict, or if the conflicts are too deep, help the church and the minister find the best way possible to bring the relationship to an end.

This is critically important for the future usefulness of the minister, for the faith and health of the minister’s spouse and children, for the fellowship of the congregation, and for the reputation of the church in the larger community.

There is more that we offer—deacon training assistance, counseling services for ministers and their families, retreats and help in connecting churches to potential ministers and ministers to churches.

Our staff is ready to help your church. They will refer good people to you and/or schedule with you a time for consultation and service.

We say it all the time: Texas Baptists are doing more together than we could alone.

We are loved.

Charles Wade is executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.