Lifeway Biblical Solutions vs. God's way

Mr. C · May 17, 2008

When the pastor announced he was leaving our church after 14 years, having been the music minister during his tenure I was actually excited. Not because I did not love and respect him, but I was excited about where God was going to take our church family. Quickly upon his departure a team of ministry leaders of our church got the local southern baptist association involved who with a spokesman came to the church with a DVD about the Lifeway transitional pastor program.

I tried to find any information I could about Lifeway from the internet and there is very little available other than their site and pastors who are their trained transitional pastors. It is nearly all sales of the program. Here is my concern: I watched that program destroy a church. I am not saying that it will be a bad thing for all churches but if you view their DVD you will see a sales approach aimed at convincing you that your church is a great risk if they do not go with that program.

A bigger concern is that you cannot find anywhere on the net where individuals from churches can say anything negative about the program or even get churches to strongly pray and consider other options before jumping into that program. The rules of most forums would not permit speaking out against the denomination that runs the forums or it's programs.

My biggest regret is that I did not speak more boldly (though I did speak out) when the program was being considered even though as many of you know, if a church committee recommends something it nearly always (in my experience always) passes.

I know this is already offensive because I am questioning a program highly endorsed by the southern baptists. It feels a bit like walking into a bar and talking about alcoholism. If you believed there was truth about this program that should be considered by the church body before going into it what would you do? How would you get the word out?

donnA · May 17, 2008

I've never heard of the program.
What does transitional pastor mean?
Who chose the committee who decided to use the program? The church body? I'm sure there was prayer first, before chosing the committee and before accepting their suggestion?

SBCPreacher · May 17, 2008

I have heard of the program - with great success. It's not a bad idea to have an intentional interim to lead the church during the time without a pastor. These men are trained on how to help churches in a time of change, especially if the previous pastor was there for a long time, or if the church has some issues that need to be resolved before the next pastor comes.

Give this man a chance. Pray for him, that God would use Him to bring about good in your church.

trustitl · May 17, 2008

I don't know anything about Lifeway. I found a few pieces of info for you.

http://lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/index.php?p=243&more=1&c=1

http://lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/index.php?p=122&more=1&c=1

http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=4075

God bless you for being concerned with the teaching in your church. Be wise and pray for discernment as you seek God's will regarding this issue.

Hardsheller · May 17, 2008

Mr. C said:

When the pastor announced he was leaving our church after 14 years, having been the music minister during his tenure I was actually excited. Not because I did not love and respect him, but I was excited about where God was going to take our church family. Quickly upon his departure a team of ministry leaders of our church got the local southern baptist association involved who with a spokesman came to the church with a DVD about the Lifeway transitional pastor program.

I tried to find any information I could about Lifeway from the internet and there is very little available other than their site and pastors who are their trained transitional pastors. It is nearly all sales of the program. Here is my concern: I watched that program destroy a church. I am not saying that it will be a bad thing for all churches but if you view their DVD you will see a sales approach aimed at convincing you that your church is a great risk if they do not go with that program.

A bigger concern is that you cannot find anywhere on the net where individuals from churches can say anything negative about the program or even get churches to strongly pray and consider other options before jumping into that program. The rules of most forums would not permit speaking out against the denomination that runs the forums or it's programs.

My biggest regret is that I did not speak more boldly (though I did speak out) when the program was being considered even though as many of you know, if a church committee recommends something it nearly always (in my experience always) passes.

I know this is already offensive because I am questioning a program highly endorsed by the southern baptists. It feels a bit like walking into a bar and talking about alcoholism. If you believed there was truth about this program that should be considered by the church body before going into it what would you do? How would you get the word out?
Click to expand...

Why don't you just post all your objections right here and let us evaluate them?

Then you could send a list of your complaints to Dr. Rainer, President of Lifeway.

D28guy · May 18, 2008

MR. C,

1st of all, welcome to Baptist Board!

You posted this...

"
When the pastor announced he was leaving our church after 14 years, having been the music minister during his tenure I was actually excited. Not because I did not love and respect him, but I was excited about where God was going to take our church family. Quickly upon his departure a team of ministry leaders of our church got the local southern baptist association involved who with a spokesman came to the church with a DVD about the Lifeway transitional pastor program.

I tried to find any information I could about Lifeway from the internet and there is very little available other than their site and pastors who are their trained transitional pastors. It is nearly all sales of the program. Here is my concern: I watched that program destroy a church. I am not saying that it will be a bad thing for all churches but if you view their DVD you will see a sales approach aimed at convincing you that your church is a great risk if they do not go with that program.

A bigger concern is that you cannot find anywhere on the net where individuals from churches can say anything negative about the program or even get churches to strongly pray and consider other options before jumping into that program. The rules of most forums would not permit speaking out against the denomination that runs the forums or it's programs.

My biggest regret is that I did not speak more boldly (though I did speak out) when the program was being considered even though as many of you know, if a church committee recommends something it nearly always (in my experience always) passes.

I know this is already offensive because I am questioning a program highly endorsed by the southern baptists. It feels a bit like walking into a bar and talking about alcoholism. If you believed there was truth about this program that should be considered by the church body before going into it what would you do? How would you get the word out?"
Click to expand...

I am pretty much of the same mindset that you are. When a group says that each individual fellowship is completly "autonomous", yet...every time any *situation* comes up, they automatically and immedietly turn to...

"The Organisation!!"

...for the solution, it seems to me that something is wrong with this equation.

It really seems like a continuation....in an "evangelical" form....of the Catholic Church of Romes total dependance on "THE HIERARCHY" to take care of all their problems.

Regarding you situation, what crosses my mind is this:

Isnt there some God fearing man in your congregation, one who has a PASTORS HEART, and who has been a life long student of Gods scriptures (and who might have a greater grasp of truth than ANYONE from "the organisations" seminary), and who already knows just about everyone in your fellowship, what people are stuggling with, what problems exist, what solutions exist, etc etc etc???

God is very good at doing such things as this. He may have been spending years cultivating people with great gifts...such as your next pastor...but they are completely ignored because the attitude is there that "We must go to THE ORGANISATION" and let THEM take care of this situation."

May God lead you in your search to a solution to this problem.

God bless,

Mike

Trotter · May 18, 2008

I am a Southern Baptist, and am familiar with Lifeway. Their stuff is good. I have not heard of this particular program, though.

14 years is a long time. An interim is definitely needed. If your committee were to appoint someone right off the bat, he wouldn't last long as he would be constantly compared to the former pastor. Even if your pastor is leaving under great circumstances, there is a lot of wounding done, and those wounds have to have time to heal.

At a former church, the pastor of 23 years left. The church went through three interims over the course of just over two years. This allowed the church to heal and be ready for a new pastor.

At my current church, our pastor of 18 years will be stepping down at the end of this month due to health concerns. We will need to follow this path ourselves. Our pastor has been an awesome pastor with a giant heart for his people, and anyone who steps in will definitely be compared with him. It would be a recipe for failure.

Trotter · May 18, 2008

I've got an addendum.

My wife has been selected to be a part of our pulpit search committee. While our Association is helping us by providing an interim, we are free to choose who that interim will be. Our deacons ahve been seeking God's will for this already.

Just because there is a program does not mean that it is something that does not allow the will of God. I had a (former) pastor who would have nothing to do with anything that might possibly even resemble a program. I approached him about starting FAITH and was blasted for it. Our current church uses FAITH and we have seen many souls saved each semester.

While a program will lend structure and some form of guidance, it is up to the people involved to be on their knees seeking God and His will. That is the bottom line.

sag38 · May 18, 2008

No one says that any SBC church has to use any program or help of their local association, their state convention, the national convention, Life Way, NAMB, IMB, etc. SBC churches are autonomous. Now, if the church body chooses to utilize the various services of any one of these SBC entities it is that church's decision. And, at any time during the process that church may end the relationship. So, what's the problem?

SBCPreacher · May 18, 2008

sag38 said:

No one says that any SBC church has to use any program or help of their local association, their state convention, the national convention, Life Way, NAMB, IMB, etc. SBC churches are autonomous. Now, if the church body chooses to utilize the various services of any one of these SBC entities it is that church's decision. And, at any time during the process that church may end the relationship. So, what's the problem?
Click to expand...

This is true. I can't figure out why so many think that each local church is run by the "headquarters" in Nashville. The Convention is there to assist churches, provide resources, and pool resources for missions. They have never told me what I have to do as a pastor or what any church I have been involved with has to do.

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