As I was reading some of the blogs I follow regularly I came across this one from LifeChurch.TV.
I don't know who Scott Williams is (fill me in if you know) but I love the idea of having partners in ministry instead of church members. Just wanted to link to this post so that some of the FFC blog readers would not miss it. Give me your thoughts!
5 comments:
I noticed the definitions on the link you provided:
member – a person, animal, plant group, etc., that is part of a society, party, community, taxon, or other body.
partner – a person who shares or is associated with another in some action or endeavor; associate; a husband or a wife; spouse.
I'm on board with ministry partner, except that it's more exclusive. What about all the plants and animals???
Seriously though, I know it's nit-picky, but terminology does matter (it matters for accuracy of meaning and for perception). I'd much rather be a PARTNER IN MINISTRY than a CHURCH MEMBER. One sounds more like a team effort while the other sounds like an exclusive club. PLUS we could stop worrying about whether or not we have all the EXACT same doctrinal beliefs and start doing more ministry together. Yeah. I'm all about being a partner in ministry.
Maybe instead of people joining the church and calling it "membership" we should just use the term "partnership". Instead of membership classes - partnership classes are offered.
No doubt there will be confusion any time you change phrasing and it would take a lot of explanation.
Ask me some time how well it went when I tried to change our terminology from "volunteers" to "servants".
as a church member and also partner with some other good ministries that we support i don't think i feel more or less connected with one over the other, in other words it's about the heart as to whether one is committed to his church or whatever ministry he may be partnering with, i don't think it makes a whole lot of difference of terminology used. either you're committed or not. a label in my opinion does not really change or make the commitment any stronger, again it's about the person and where they're at in their stage of maturity and/or commitment. i'm sounding somewhat redundant so....i'm outta here ! :)
Well, I tend to agree with every one. However, I will tell my experience. =) In all of the leadership I have been in, I find that wording is every thing to people. Often, being a member to people means just saying you "belong" to it, but don't always have committement to it: ie: volunteering. However, much like Bryans definition of partnering... people tend to committ more when they say they are a partner. A partnership can not be unattended to if truly walked out... however, either way you go... it's all about what is in the persons heart, not the title. I like the wording though personally.
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