This morning's post indicated that (according to a consultant) race and culture were dominant issues towards the end of my city ministry. There is, however, something one might easily miss in the consultant's assessment. Through looking at his words (linguistics), his assessment is focused on the minister. In reality, in Congregationalism, every movement of a Church which has to do with race or culture, is controlled by the congregation. The most obvious example: the members have full control over membership. For this and other reasons, they have full control over the demographics of a Church. I myself go one logical step further, to say that any demographics are provided by the Holy Spirit. They are God's gift to a Church, not created by people.
POSTSCRIPT: This is a (fairly) popular post, so I'll add some questions. What happens when members feel obliged to vote one way, where their hearts are persuaded another way? Or what if they vote one way, then discover that they do not like what they voted for? And if it has to do with race or culture, how do they express that?
POSTSCRIPT: This is a (fairly) popular post, so I'll add some questions. What happens when members feel obliged to vote one way, where their hearts are persuaded another way? Or what if they vote one way, then discover that they do not like what they voted for? And if it has to do with race or culture, how do they express that?
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