Focusing on what God is doing in the world

Noah Kolb, Plains

It is nearly 40 years since I began pastoral ministry. I have experienced oversight from Bishops, Overseers and Conference Ministers. I have served as an Overseer and a Conference Minister. So what is different about these patterns of oversight? And why these changes?

As I read the articles in this issue of Intersections, I was struck by the shifting role and authority of oversight and the shifting nature of church community and fellowship. I believe the two are related. The late churchman and historian Harold S. Bender identified community as one of the key values of the Anabaptist movement. Our past experience with Bishops was in large measure, a way of maintaining a particular kind of community. With their authority they were able to keep some sense of uniformity in belief and lifestyle that marked a distinct community in the midst of the larger community. Forrest Moyer, in his article, reflects on John E Lapp’s memories of those days. There was an orderly understanding of leadership and authority that was shared by most church members.

In the 60s and 70s when Franconia members and churches reflected greater acculturation with the larger community, leadership and authority patterns were questioned. Diversity called for greater flexibility. Congregations and members were given greater freedom to express their lifestyles. As congregations rather than conference became the center of church life and mission, Overseers replaced Bishops to help facilitate healthy processes of change, and to support pastors in their leadership of congregations. Authority shifted to a Conference Council, church councils and Elders. The church fellowship was shifting from a closed set of relationships, to broader interactions with the larger community, other faith traditions and the larger Mennonite Church. But we did not learn well how to handle our diversities and differences or how to connect missionally with those in our larger communities. We were very unsure of authority, perhaps fearful of it, and uncertain about leadership structure.

In the late 90s we came face to face with our lack of clarity around authority and community and were unprepared to work through our relationship with congregations at variance with Conference. It was a very painful time for those in leadership. Conference leadership and the Conference Assembly were able to re-group and identify a clearer vision and mission and began to set a new direction. A Conference Ministry Team was called to oversight work. New relational resources were provided for pastors and congregations in transition. The intense effort was helpful in many situations, but certain kinds of conflict and old patterns of behavior persisted. The diversity of Franconia Conference congregations was far greater than we thought. What would hold these communities of faith together and give us a mission into the 21st century?

As the leadership of Conference struggled with what oversight looks like in a 21st century mission-focused church and conference several key understandings were emerging. We needed a clear, relevant mission that is focused on what God is doing in the world. We needed leaner and more responsive structures for changing communities. We needed pastors and lay leaders who as a team were clear about their calling and authority. Oversight teams were needed to equip leadership and hold congregations accountable for their mission. These are core values around which the new LEAD (Leading, Equipping And Discipling) oversight direction and platform is built. These will take shape in differently in each congregation and ministry. LEAD will provide the empowerment and authority to move the church and its ministries into God’s mission.

Many different understandings of and experiences with community, across four or more generations, will call for leadership that is clear about its role and authority and who can work together to accomplish God’s mission of peace and love begun in Jesus and his followers. Sandra Drescher-Lehman’s article on “Community at our fingertips” illustrates how community is shifting and changing. Many, except the younger generation, will struggle with this. The articles on meeting needs in Norristown and Philadelphia further demonstrate how new forms of community take shape to meet the needs of the larger community. These are followers of Jesus and members of our congregations and ministries at work doing God’s mission. To keep healthy and growing congregations, members and ministries, we will need leadership and oversight that is focused on “Equipping leaders, to empower others, to embrace God’s mission.” May LEAD lead us in this mission.