I have just returned from a helpful and stimulating meeting of the Bay County, Michigan, Ministerial Association. This was a breakfast meeting, followed with a panel discussion by local ministers of three denominations on the topic of evangelism. The speakers gave some challenging and helpful suggestions which could well be put into practice by any Seventh-day Adventist pastor or district leader. The Ministerial Association is not an action body. Issues that necessitate united action by religious leaders are referred to the County Council of Churches. The two organizations must not be confused.
As I have discovered them, three objectives seem to be outstanding in the Ministerial Association: first, friendly association of men in the same calling; second, learning the moral and spiritual needs of the community from speakers and discussions; and third, becoming more efficient in meeting those needs and strengthening the spiritual. life of the community. In which of these three objectives could not Seventh-day Adventists join?
Occasionally matters may come up which demand a frank discussion, such as questions of rights and freedoms. For instance, at one time in a panel discussion on how to conduct funerals, one minister asked that the association go on record requesting the city council to pass an ordinance banning Sunday funerals. After a frank discussion of the subject the matter was dropped as being out of our sphere.
Membership in ministerial associations affords an excellent opportunity for mutual friendly contact with the spiritual leaders of the community. It gives an opportunity to receive helpful suggestions, and to contribute, at times, to the spiritual ministry of others. It helps to keep our fingers on the religious pulse of the city. It reveals our interest in the spiritual life of the community. It shows our willingness to co-operate with others for good. It reveals that we are not isolationists to the world's spiritual ills.
A lady reported a short time ago that her pastor, a former association president and present president of the Bay County Council of Churches, was using Smith's Daniel and the Revelation in conducting his midweek services.
This morning, as the program committee was laying out the prospective program for the next six months, the president of the association said, "I wish we could have a frank presentation of the various denominational beliefs and differences in teaching. For instance," he said, "I would like to hear Messer and others tell why their church differs from the regular trend of church teaching." This could be filled with dynamite, but should such an occasion come to any of us, may God give us grace and wisdom to fill such a request in an acceptable mariner, and perhaps win a soul.
This message will triumph, and triumph gloriously. May God keep us true to it while giving us more love for the ministers of other denominations. Many of these men are sincere, honest, God-fearing shepherds who are diligently seeking to carry out the will of God. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. (Rom. 14:10.) Whether or not the apostle looked down the ages and saw so many denominations or not, I do not know. Yet is not each one making its contribution toward stabilizing Christian living?
"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly." Prov. 18 :24. Why not be friendly? The ministerial association is a place where we can do it with a clear conscience. Why not join? How do we know but that God may use us in winning a minister to God's message and the kingdom of heaven? It would be well worth the effort.
