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School of Ministry and Theology (Avondale Theology Papers and Journal Articles Seminary)

5-2009

The Challenge of Change

Bruce Manners Avondale College, [email protected]

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Part of the History of Religions of Western Origin Commons

Recommended Citation Manners, B. (2009). The challenge of change. Ministry: International Journal for Pastors, 81(5), 18-20. Retrieved from https://www.ministrymagazine.org/

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Ministry and Theology (Avondale Seminary) at ResearchOnline@Avondale. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theology Papers and Journal Articles by an authorized administrator of ResearchOnline@Avondale. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BRUCE MANNERS

Bruce Manners, PhD, is senior pastor of the Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church, Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia. The challenge of change

hy can’t women join least it seemed that way to me). thought that change would be more the clergy? That was The common beliefs, lifestyle, and of the same, only better. Now there the question on the Sabbath keeping gave us clear are no guarantees. We “cannot Wfloor of a General defi nition. In a sense, it was easy to predict with confi dence what will be Synod of the Church of England be Adventist then. The instructions happening in our own lives. Change in the 1980s. Back then, it was were clear. You were expected to act is now more chancy, but also more a controversial proposition—and in a certain way. You worshiped in exciting, if we want to see it that hotly debated. One speaker spoke a certain way, with worship outlines way.” 2 with passion against women being supplied from above (no, not from Most people don’t want change. admitted to the priesthood. God), and you simply fi lled in the “Given the choice between chang- “In this matter,” he said, “as in blanks about who was to do what. ing and proving that change is not so much else in our great country, And guidelines for Sabbath keeping necessary, most people will get why can’t the status quo be the way were well defi ned. busy on the proof,” says economist forward?” 1 Not that we weren’t interested Kenneth Galbraith. 3 Status quo? What he didn’t realize in making changes. During my There’s good reason for this atti- was that the status quo (the existing teenage years, in the 1960s, some tude. Change often means ambiguity, condition) had already been shaken were suggesting that instruments confusion, or loss of control; that’s by merely asking the question about other than organ and piano—with why there’s resistance. 4 This may women in ministry. Whenever a the occasional brass band—could mean “sacrifi cing the familiar, even denomination has seriously tackled be used in worship. Guitars were if it is unpleasant, for the unknown, this question, they have tended beginning to come into our church, even when it might be better. Better to break the status quo by broad- but what was obvious to us teenag- the hole they know rather than the ening the role of women in their ers about their acceptability was one not yet dug.” 5 churches, even if the decision was not obvious to all. The amount Change has always been a ultimately against women becoming of midnight oil burned in church constant, but more recently, an ever- full-fl edged clergy. boards discussing the issue would quickening rate of change has come Status quo? You’d have to ask have supplied a myriad of maidens upon us. This is not a disease, even your great-great-grandmother what with oil for their lamps while await- if it does cause some “dis-ease.” 6 it was like to live in an era when ing the bridegroom. It’s part of living in a “world where change was the exception, and when Just as it dawned on Dorothy in only one rule exists—the certainty of change happened, it came slowly. the movie The Wizard of Oz , when uncertainty.” 7 The past century has brought an she said to her dog, “I’ve a feeling Within , we find a accelerating rush of change within we’re not in Kansas any more,” history of change. Jesus established society that has impacted the church anyone who grew up Adventist the church, but the church began as well. back then can say, “I have a feeling as a Jewish movement. Within a The status quo can no longer that we’re no longer in the church generation, the church was mainly a be, well, the status quo. Change of that time anymore.” Better yet, Gentile movement and an inclusive now comes upon us so quickly that ask someone who left the church organization. The apostle Paul, by there’s barely enough time for us and came back 20 or 30 years later. championing the view that circum- to understand what is the status, let Some of them search for the church cision was not necessary among alone time for it to become quoed ! of yesterday and fi nd it no longer Gentiles, was accused of going there. against the explicit command of The problem of change Outside the church, change has Scripture. 8 Jews and Gentiles were I grew up Adventist at a time become commonplace. Some 50 welcome, as were women, children, when you knew what made an years ago, change was expected and slaves. All were treated equally. Adventist. It was obvious (or at and welcomed because members Wherever Christianity established a

MINISTRY 18 MAY 2009 presence, there were usually differ- someone would eventually quote They claim not to have turned away, ences in its form and shape, which Malachi 3:6, “ ‘I am the L ORD , and I but God reminds them of their short- could cause confl ict between other do not change’ ” (NLT). comings. Some, “those who feared Christians. Sadly, “the resulting dif- Sometimes the resistance to the L ORD ” (verse 16, NLT), listen and ferences often erupted in confl ict.” 9 change fi tted their argument, some- respond. God calls them His “ ‘special More change. times not. Sometimes it brought treasure’ ” and says that He will spare The Reformation changed the a chuckle, sometimes sadness. them as a father spares an “ ‘obedient face of Christianity and the world. Sometimes it caused me to ques- child’ ” (verse 17, NLT). These were dramatic times. Complex tion the writer’s thought processes. God’s love is the constant. That’s times. Historians are no longer as Sometimes I’d agree. what’s needed—not an unchanging

Within Christianity, we find a history of change. Jesus established the church, but the church began as a Jewish movement. Within a generation, the church was mainly a Gentile movement and an inclusive organization.

certain of reasons for the Reforma- Not once, though, do I remember society or an unchanging religious tion as they once were, but the anyone quoting the whole verse: “ ‘I system. Their religious system was change is well noted in the question: am the L ORD , and I do not change. That temporary until the arrival of Jesus. “Why did people around 1515 want is why you descendants of Jacob are Then it changed. Dramatically. to see the Body of Christ in the not already destroyed’ ” (NLT). “You From the beginning, God’s love Eucharist, but around 1525 demand should be surprised that you aren’t has been the constant. During times to hear the Word of God?” 10 destroyed,” God continues, “because of change, we must be sure that we The Adventist Church was a since the days of your ancestors, you do not stand against any change child of the Reformation when have scorned My laws, and you have merely on the mistaken belief that formed about 350 years later. This not obeyed Me.” God never changes. His love never change, we believe, helped bring Why haven’t they been changes, even as His church does back truths that were lost over time. destroyed? We fi nd the answer at change. Now, however, changing times and the beginning of Malachi, for this changes within the church have led little book begins with a love note: The necessity of change to uncertainty about who and what “ ‘I have always loved you,’ says the Some things must never change we are—not in every detail, but in LORD .” within Christianity. The core truths some signifi cant areas. “ ‘Really? How have you loved are solid. God loves. Jesus saves. us?’ ” comes the question. Salvation comes through faith alone. What about the “ ‘This is how I showed my love We’re commanded to love and com- unchanging God? for you: I loved your ancestor Jacob’ ” missioned to share—to live and act When working as an editor, I (Mal. 1:2, NLT). as children of light. Teachings such used to receive letters bemoaning God’s love is the constant. God’s as the Sabbath, what happens when changes in the church that were love never changes. That’s why His we die, and the don’t referred to in our magazines. The creation hasn’t been destroyed. change, even if our understanding of topics would cover a whole range of That’s why He gave us His Son. them deepens. issues, including the role of women, That’s why we have the right to be Change should lead to growth worship styles, and Bible translations. called His children (John 1:12). and development. There needs to If enough letters came in on these Malachi 3:6 forms part of God’s be a sense of continuity from where topics, you could almost guarantee plea for His people to return to Him. we were to where we are, and from

MINISTRY 19 MAY 2009 BRUCE MANNERS where we are to where we are going. have come to escape such realities.” Change brings challenge. Change A tree is alive and bears fruit because The problem is that “denial of change brings uncertainty. Change brings it maintains contact with its roots, often only prolongs its pain, and in tension. But if we don’t change, a writes Jack Provonsha. He adds the church’s case delays its ministry worse fate awaits us: we remain that we stand on the shoulders to a new culture.” 14 the same. of our fathers and mothers in the “The church cannot refuse to God forbid! Adventist Church, but we show them change, since it is in the process of the greatest disrespect if we don’t discovery. . . . The church cannot 1 Charles Handy, The Age of Unreason (Watertown, MA: Harvard Business School Press, 1998), 3. move a millimeter beyond where change willy-nilly with the currents 2 Ibid., 6, 7. they stood. 11 of culture, because it knows it fol- 3 Quoted in Vicki Bennett and Ian Mathieson, The Effective Leader (Sydney: HarperCollins, 2002), 103. Some things must change. To lows God’s Spirit. But for the same 4 Todd D. Jick, Managing Change: Cases and Concepts put it bluntly: “If a congregation is reason neither can it resist all change. (Boston: Irwin McGraw-Hill, 1993), 6. 5 Handy, 28. a living organism . . . it follows that We are left with an openness to 6 Sean Fagan, Does Morality Change? (Dublin: Columba Press, change is necessary. Organisms that change, a willingness to weigh the 2003), 7. do not change and grow are not liv- possibility that change is one of the 7 Rebecca Huntley, The World According to Y (Australia: Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest, 2006), 15. 12 ing organizations—they’re dead!” progressive discoveries of our life as 8 William Loader, Jesus and the Fundamentalism of His Day: There’s nothing new in this a church.” 15 The Gospels, the Bible and Jesus (Melbourne: Uniting Education, 1997), 7. notion. When Paul preached in Ath- Here, then, is the tension. The 9 Marshall D. Johnson, The Evolution of Christianity (New ens, he used the language of the church must be in a continual readi- York: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2005), xix. 10 Peter Blickle, quoted in R. N. Swanson, “The Pre- philosophers and quoted their poets. ness to change in order to remain in Reformation Church,” in The Reformation World, ed. Andrew He went from Athens to Corinth and touch with its society and to remain Pettegree (London: Routledge, 2006), 9. 11 Jack W. Provonsha, A Remnant in Crisis (Hagerstown, MD: changed his approach, choosing to true to its mission. At the same time, Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1993), 21. preach the simple message of the its mission and its purpose is based 12 Kathleen S. Smith, Stilling the Storm (Herndon, VA: Alban Cross. Commentators are unsure on eternal truths and unchangeable Institute, 2006), 91. 13 Neal C. Wilson, “A Word to the Reader,” in A Search for as to why he did this but probably principles. Added tension exists in Identity, George R. Knight (Hagerstown, MD: Review and there was a change in methodology. congregations and denominations Herald Pub. Assn., 2000), 7, 8. 14 Robert Kysar, Stumbling in the Light (St. Louis, MO: Chalice Had he learned something from his when the boundaries between these Press, 1999), 37, 24. experience, or did he change accord- inviolable truths and principles and 15 Ibid., 65. ing to the cultural differences? the contingent are poorly defi ned. 16 Ibid., 22. Former president of the world We do know that, until the Second church of Seventh-day Adventists, Coming, God’s church can always do Neal Wilson, notes Adventist histo- better, can always improve, and can rian George Knight’s claim that most always minister more meaningfully. Adventist founders and pioneers This alone should make us alert would be reluctant to join the church to ways that will make us more if they had to agree to the church’s effective. Asking what’s effective, fundamental beliefs of today. He then within the boundaries of truths and adds, “ keeps searching, principles, also takes the emphasis investigating, listening, reviewing, away from ourselves and whatever studying, and praying with the con- our personal preferences may be viction that God may enlighten and and allows us to focus on fulfi lling enlarge its understanding of the our purpose. Fulfi lling our purpose salvation story.” 13 is what should drive the church and Change is rarely sought; indeed, change within the church. it’s often opposed. When the image We live in a culture of fast-paced of the church is viewed as a haven change, a culture that embraces Search issues where peace prevails, we don’t change. We can’t stand apart from want change. That’s when relatively culture because we’re a part of that published 80 years innocuous changes—a new hym- culture. Of necessity, we present ago for topics and nal, the use of gender-inclusive Christianity and speak our faith within perspectives that are language, for instance—disturb the the context of a certain language, stability. “Worshipers may not want modes of thought, and symbolism. still relevant today cultural changes even mentioned in We do so within the context of our ministrymagazine.org the context of the service, since they culture. 16

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MINISTRY 20 MAY 2009