June 2006

Today, the church stands as a rock in a stream of social change. The rush of change is wearing away its surface at an ever-increasing rate as changes in society create new demands on the church. Our attention has recently been drawn to these changes because of the rapid rate of change in the last decade. Because most of the forms and traditions of today’s churches were formulated about a century ago, they rarely meet the needs of Christian worship and study within a society that is so vastly different in form than that of a century ago.

Any organization will and must at times change if it is to survive. Every church of every age has found the necessity for change in its form while holding fast to foundational principles. But never before has the need been as apparent as it is today. Within my own Pentecostal denomination, we are going through a transitional period of change. While some of the church is still strongly rooted in classical Holiness-Pentecostal tradition. many are struggling to offer new ways of sharing the good news to a generation that is strongly against organized religion and other hierarchal forms of leadership. People are looking for churches that are involved in community outreach, who are politically and socially relevant while remaining true and uncompromising in its message of salvation. They are looking for churches that are relevant and speak to today’s youth. They are tired of the same old debates and arguments over dress codes and whether Christians should go to the movies.

I’ve witnessed church splits and, sadly, the demise and death of congregations due largely to poor leadership. It’s always unfortunate to hear of a once powerful and thriving ministry, which inspired and encouraged so many people unable to survive or continue simply because leadership were unwilling or resist change. Many of these once successful churches and denominations were the centers of great revival and renewal. New ministries, leaders, and congregations were birth during seasons of revival. Now their names are casual footnotes in books, and some have been completely forgotten or erased from memory.

It is not uncommon for a church to forget that it exists for others. It is not uncommon for a church to need to reaffirm its Christian mission in each new generation. Every generation must make its own statement of faith, to risk and launch out in service to others. We cannot rest on our forefathers’ and foremothers’ work alone. The Holy Spirit has called us to speak to this generation, and we need a clear vision and leadership to help guide us through uncharted waters of change.

Many of my colleagues and contemporaries in the church ask why I am so critical of the church to which my grandfather, grandmother, and father gave so much. Many view my criticism as divisive or an attempt to undermine leadership. For years, leadership in the church has gone unchallenged, unquestioned, and unaccountable concerning their decisions, direction, and choices. Many of which have led the church in a downward spiral of moral malfeasance, misappropriation of church funds, lacking integrity and credibility, lacking spiritual integrity, vision, direction, and a prophetic voice. It would appear that the only thing the church knows how to do well is host a three or four day convention.

Then there are some who see themselves as the vanguard or protector of the church’s teachings and doctrine like Silas, the albino Opus Dei "monk" in the movie The Da Vinci Code, who would stop at nothing to protect the Holy Grail. In their case, the Grail is tradition. I am a strong believer in tradition, yet I do not defend traditionalism. There are some good traditions and some bad. Some traditions that we often defend have nothing to do with salvation. They only choke the simplicity of worship from us.

But I do have hope. Our churches are full of talented young men and women, educated, gifted, and anointed that are willing, waiting, and wanting to serve. This group of young men and women show such great leadership potential. Pastors, teachers, musicians, educators, visionaries, missionaries, future bishops, writers, and administrators — all ready to serve, if only given the opportunity. Herein lays the problem. The church must be willing to invest its time and resources into the development and training of youth leaders. They are eager and progressive. They already bring to the table new and fresh ideas and vision for the church. If the church continues to ignore their giftings and anointings, they will have no other choice except to find opportunities to use their gifts and talents in other places. They are an invaluable asset to the church, which we cannot afford to lose. The time is now to include them in the total ministry and growth of our church. Excluding them is sure death of another church.

Memorial Tabernacle C.H.S.C. 514-58th Street * Oakland, CA 94609

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