Why denominations can be important
Denominations are a strange thing. For most Reformed Evangelicals, the Denomination doesn't matter that much. The local church matters, the doctrine of the group you are part of in that church probably matters, and the preaching of the gospel matters.
In the same way, someone could come up to me and ask why I have decided it would be good to be an "Ordained Anglican" minister, rather than simply make the decision to serve God in whatever church I end up in, after possibly going to Bible College.
But what great opportunities I have seen to explain the gospel of Jesus within the Anglican Church in Australia. People will still turn up to their local Anglican Church requesting all sorts of things: their parents who need to keep their daughter's grandparents happy by baptising the child; the people who like the sound of Organ music and old hymns; the couple wanting to get married in the nice building; the visitor who just wanted to check the church out.
Denominations are not that trendy or relevant in the most part for the under-40's, they seem to not impact that much on Christian Fellowship together. The Briefing and other like publications have seized on this regularly, by focussing on "Bible-based churches" or like terms (with some even suggesting we are in a state of "post-denominationalism" in our churches).
One thing denominations do very well however is in ensuring that networks are in place for the recruitment and training of ministers. They provide possibilities for transferal of ministry service over time in various locations. They provide stability of form and hopefully theology for people who move from place to place. They provide the backbone of School Scripture (even if simply by defining it as protestant). They provide networks for Ministry teams, and support systems. They also provide insurance, property and administrative support for Ministry Activities.
Denominations also tend to provide better Global and Regional networks than more diverse bodies could. Ecumenical bodies can lower the debate to lowest common denominator issues, while doctrinally based denominations don't always have that.
I will try and write some more about Anglican Denominational issues later when I need to procrastinate some more, but for the moment, I think denominations will still carry some weight, just because they signal to the public who you are.
In the same way, someone could come up to me and ask why I have decided it would be good to be an "Ordained Anglican" minister, rather than simply make the decision to serve God in whatever church I end up in, after possibly going to Bible College.
But what great opportunities I have seen to explain the gospel of Jesus within the Anglican Church in Australia. People will still turn up to their local Anglican Church requesting all sorts of things: their parents who need to keep their daughter's grandparents happy by baptising the child; the people who like the sound of Organ music and old hymns; the couple wanting to get married in the nice building; the visitor who just wanted to check the church out.
Denominations are not that trendy or relevant in the most part for the under-40's, they seem to not impact that much on Christian Fellowship together. The Briefing and other like publications have seized on this regularly, by focussing on "Bible-based churches" or like terms (with some even suggesting we are in a state of "post-denominationalism" in our churches).
One thing denominations do very well however is in ensuring that networks are in place for the recruitment and training of ministers. They provide possibilities for transferal of ministry service over time in various locations. They provide stability of form and hopefully theology for people who move from place to place. They provide the backbone of School Scripture (even if simply by defining it as protestant). They provide networks for Ministry teams, and support systems. They also provide insurance, property and administrative support for Ministry Activities.
Denominations also tend to provide better Global and Regional networks than more diverse bodies could. Ecumenical bodies can lower the debate to lowest common denominator issues, while doctrinally based denominations don't always have that.
I will try and write some more about Anglican Denominational issues later when I need to procrastinate some more, but for the moment, I think denominations will still carry some weight, just because they signal to the public who you are.
posted by Pete at
9:12 AM
