 November 3, 1999
Missions moving to 'church paradigm'
___ATLANTA (ABP)--The 21st century calls for a new vision and relationships between churches and missions agencies, said Barbara Baldridge in her first public remarks since being named co-coordinator for global missions of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
___Missions is undergoing a "shift from an institutional paradigm to a church paradigm," Baldridge said at an Oct. 11-12 "Leadership Edge for the 21st Century" conference sponsored by the Baptist Center for Ethics.
___One reason the face of missions is changing, Baldridge said, is because churches "should and will be the foundation of mission ministries."
___"If churches are not going to do missions in the 21st century, then missions will not be done," she said.
___In the past, churches have relied on mission boards and career missionaries to do missions for them, she said. Today, however, missions must be viewed as a partnership between churches and missionary-sending groups.
___"Every Christian has a responsibility in doing missions; not just a chosen few," she said.
___Baldridge identified nine trends in missions strategy:
___ Resources available to churches have been "de-regulated." Denominations no longer have a monopoly on supplying church resources, she said. Churches now have "multiple options" for literature, missions education or funding channels.
___ Individuals and churches are wanting to experience missions rather than just support missions. "We hear this over and over again: 'What can we do?' People don't want to just give; they want to participate, and people are more able to participate than ever before."
___ Individuals and churches want to share ideas. "They want to share successes and failures. They want to learn from one another. (They) don't want to be a stand-alone entity in their community. They want to be part of their community."
___ Pastors are often torn between their preference for denominational affiliation and the preference of church members. The effects of denominational conflict in local churches are "challenges that missionaries and missionary agencies need to be aware pastors are facing," Baldridge said.
___ Christians are "less interested in programs and more interested in lifestyles," she said. "Ten years ago, everyone wanted a program and notebook, and now people want to 'be.' They want to continually be learning how to be and how to be more than what they are.
___ Local churches are becoming more involved in their own missions. "Denominations and agencies can no longer say to churches: 'Here's our program. There's our personnel. Support us.' Many churches are almost mini missions-sending agencies. They have experts of their own. They don't need a mission board to tell them what to do."
___ Local and global missions are becoming interrelated. "Missions agencies and churches can no longer ignore the relationship between local and global ministries," she said. "Churches can no longer ignore the fact that the world is their community and that the world is in their community."
___ An integrated approach to ministry is required. "There are no longer distinct lines" between missions, theological education, ethics and other Christian efforts, she said. "There used to be a separate agency that dealt with each area of ministry. Churches, missionaries and missions agencies must be equipped to take an integrated approach to ministry."
___ Churches and individuals can no longer say to denominational employees: "Here's my money. Go and do ministry for me," she concluded.
___"It's almost as if we Baptists have made of missionaries what Catholics used to make of priests. I believe every Christian can and should do missions."
___In light of such changes, Baldridge said, forums need to be created for missionaries, pastors, other church leaders and missions administrators to learn from one another.
___Partnerships must also be explored to "create meaningful missions experiences that meet strategic goals of both churches and missionaries," she said.
___Baldridge encouraged pastors to praise families involved in volunteer and mission work and to "recognize missions as a lifestyle."
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