Barnabas File

Brett Younger, associate professor of preaching at Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta, is one of the best writers in Baptist life today.   He is at his best when writing satirical, humorous columns on the church and its various foibles.   I don’t think his recent post entitled “Seminaries reluctantly selling their souls” was meant to be humorous, however.   If it was, just disregard the rest of this blog. Dr. Younger eloquently presents an argument for traditional, “residential” theological education.   This is the type of model that many of us experienced as we prepared for ministry.   We packed up all our earthly belongings, moved to another part of the country, and spent three years preparing for our first call.   If we were fortunate, we found a part-time church to supplement our income and give us some experience.   As seminary came to an end, we put out our resumes, started working our networks, and prayed fervent...

Churches in decline are often in denial as well. When members are willing to face reality, they can make wise choices that will assure that the work of the Kingdom will go on. This is not an easy process; therefore, we have few success stories from which to learn. This week I had the opportunity catch a glimpse of two churches that took stock of their situations and pursued a viable alternative. Several years ago, Northwoods Baptist Church and Northeast Baptist Church in DeKalb County (northeastern Atlanta) faced the fact that each was declining in membership, attendance, and resources. McAfee School of Theology professor Graham Walker and his wife, Mimi (former missionaries) were serving as interim pastors of Northwoods. Brian Wright, a recent McAfee graduate, was pastor of Northeast. The churches began to engage in a process of discernment which led to a merger with the two congregations joining in the Northeast facility. Brian became the pastor of the merged congregation and the...