In a TV commercial for a Audi A3 Sportback the voice over states "I live by Ghandi and Learn by google".
Now while I personally would rather live by Jesus, I do agree that my generation certainly learns by Google. If there is any piece of information that I am looking for, my first attempt to find the info I need is by Google.
And so, wanting to post about the Methodist Church of SA and it's newspaper (the New Dimension) I decided to try and do some research before I open my big mouth. Imagine my surprise at not being able to find one half decent website with some info I can use.
Let us list my searches quickly.
- Save one PDF document about the state of the 'New Dimension', I could find nothing about the New Dimension. No Website. No Email address or contact details. nada. zip. I did find a 2006 post by Digital Dion wanting to post cartoons in the New dimension. And that was still on page one of Google.
- The official MCSA website has buggerall relevant or new on it's site. It has no links to New Dimension.
MCSA first :
I am really worried about the state of my Church (the Methodist Church of SA). I am really worried about the fact that a lot of the 'good' white ministers are leaving, the church and or the ministry.
I am really worried about the leadership of my church. I am worried about the fact that the top structure seems to be getting heavier. And that the church seems to be forever looking for new ways to fund this heavy top structure.
I am worried about the strugles for power and the corruption within my church. What ??? Corruption ?? In the Church ??? Please don't insult me by saying that there is no corruption in the church. We all know it is there. Ministers who supposedly don't get stipends, but drive around in fancy German cars. Societies who can not pay their assesments , but whose ministers get R40 000 going away gifts.
I am worried about the fact that white student ministers get suspended or discontinued for trivial matters while black ministers who are not nearly of the same caliber get pushed through the system. In fact , I am worried about the training of our ministers.
And this is where I feel The New Dimension should have come into play.
As a newspaper I feel that the Dimension should have been there to expose the corruption and power struggles. The Dimension should have been there to ask questions about training and ask questions as to why some very good ministers are leaving the church. But alas... "He who pays the piper , calls the tune."
Maybe mr, Stone (editor New Dimension) there is a reason why your reader numbers have fallen from 26000 to 11000. Maybe it is because people don't believe what you are telling them. Maybe it is because your reporting is so obviously biased.
And so , after this long rant , I am still worried about my church. And I wonder when the church is going to split. I wonder when the 'alternate Methodist church' will break away from the mainstream power and money hungry church.
If the alternate Methodist church breaks away , I will be among the first to approve. I suspect that most of the ministers will be white. Ministers who care for the people and who want to get the work done. I suspect that most of the members will be of all races. And please.... This is not a race thing. But it will separate those who are in the ministry because of the calling to care for the people from those who are in the ministry because of the calling of power and status and money.
Please pray for my church. And pray for the ministers who are trying desperately to do God's work in a structure that has long ago missed the true calling of church.
2 comments:
Hey Boet
Mr Stone is no longer the Editor of the Dimension: it is now Rev Keith Vermeulen (acting ed.) But I do not think this has made any difference to the accessability of the newspaper - it is verbose, it does not reflect the ideas and aspirations of the local church, and is in reality a propoganda rag to promote the top beurocrats of the MCSA
Funny I was just looking for a link myself. I am guessing controlling information flow whether on purpose or by accident (ie. ignorance or no budget) means that points of view can be sanitized, but that doesnt really mean they are. In the absence of balanced sources the convenient information sources win out... i.e. leadership.
But I am also very worried about my specific church... especically the leaders and their attitudes towards leadership, I actually have no issue with the structures as those tend to be born out of practical neccesity (just not killed when that neccesity has moved on!)
As a younger person in the community (but still senior in business world) I very perturbed when I see decisions that seem to be only made on the perspective of the leadership, their convenience, or their patriachal stance, even in direct contradition to biblical points of view (and yes I believe there is room for debate, its jsut not entertained, or even worse belittled to protect what seems to be fragile egos)... it is very sad. Our Leaders will not allow themselves to be questioned, even leaders with whom I've walked a very very long time.
When leadership stops listening for what ever reason the gaps between people just grow and grow, no programme will ever take the place of genuine repentance and servant leadership...
Well God has taught me that tact may not be my best attribute, but biased leadership and unqueal treating of various groupings within the church the work of evil. Def not the fruits of the spirit.
God bless.
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