Disappearing Walls

Ministry Magazine and professional growth

W.B.Q. is associate editor of Ministry.

"Fantastic!" was the way a certain pastor described one of the most unusual outreach programs ever to be conceived by a church group! He was referring to MINISTRY'S current two-phase program of (1) sharing the magazine with more than 271,000 ministers in North America (and the world) on a complimentary basis, and (2) conducting one-day professional-growth seminars for clergy of all faiths.

And as editors, we too feel that the program has resulted in "fantastic" rewards, both to us of the magazine's staff and to thousands of fellow church professionals. Some think that the walls that separate the body of Christ are gigantic, but we have found that when provisions are made for interfaith fellowship and exchange those walls disappear! About 16,500 ministers have writ ten us of their response either to the magazine or to the seminars. More than 80 percent of those commenting on the magazine have kind words of praise for the program, and incredibly enough, all of those responding to their experience at a seminar have expressed appreciation!

MINISTRY has been published since 1928 as the official organ of the Ministerial Association of Seventh-day Adventists, but some years ago the editors began to feel, since so much material was crossing their desks of a helpful nature to church professionals of any faith, that an every-other-month issue could be sent that would benefit the en tire body of Christ. Editor J. R. Spangler was one of the human agents who conceived the idea of making MINISTRY available in this way, but we believe the program was inspired of God. After piloting the plan in several States, the decision was made to send out the magazine to ministers of all faiths across North America. This was, indeed, an innovative and somewhat daring concept. Interestingly enough, several hundred recipients of the magazine on a bimonthly basis noticed that it is actually a monthly publication and that they were receiving only every other issue. Even though their bimonthly subscription was free, they promptly sent in the standard charge ($12.50 at present) requesting the complete, twelve-month subscription! Apparently they found enough benefit in the issues they were receiving to want to have the magazine every month. (As a note on page 2 of each bimonthly copy points out, we try to put as much as possible of the material that would be of interest mainly to Seventh-day Adventist pastors in the alternate issues.)

Some have asked, "Why are you sending MINISTRY to ministers of all faiths? And why are you conducting seminars? Surely this is expensive!" The answer to this question appears in that same note on page 2. We have offered this "outstretched hand in fellowship" to our fellow ministers of all faiths. The two programs constitute our initiative to fellowship freely in those things we hold in common. Our mail indicates that few readers of the magazines, and none who have attended a seminar, have ever gone away feeling that those programs were anything but helpful, and rich in good interfaith fellowship. We find that a great hunger for this kind of fellowship exists in most church leaders. We all need to be understood, and to understand our brethren. We believe that the separation of the church into miscellaneous denominations must be one of Satan's victories, and our mutual embarrassment. In the articles of faith found in most churches, it can be discovered that the things we have in common are far more numerous than the things in which we differ. The rewards of these two pro grams have been gratifying, and we hope that funding can be found to continue them and see them grow.

The seminars not only provide interfaith fellowship but also take-home benefits for the busy pastor. Pastors have indicated that they most appreciate the practical subjects and materials, so we have majored in such topics as preaching, crisis ministry, archeology, the minister's health and well-being, science and the Bible, Biblical studies, eschatology, case studies in Biblical preaching, et cetera. Resource persons come from varied backgrounds and scholarship areas, depending upon the location of the seminar and the host's desires in programming, but in every case they have been people of great ability.

Since September, 1978, we have con ducted 105 seminars, and during the early part of 1981 there will be 25 more. While MINISTRY develops the programs, the field to which we are invited sends the invitations and provides for the operational details. Heretofore, local conferences of churches have invited us, but we are responsive, as well, to the invitations of local ministerial associations or other ministerial groups. Our work, of necessity, must be limited to full-time church professionals. Recently we wrote to approximately 300 divinity schools in the United States and Canada, offering the magazine to students and faculty, and many have already responded. There is now a move to conduct jointly sponsored seminars on seminary campuses, and these have been held or are being planned on the campuses of several leading seminaries.

Following is a list of the areas where seminars are now scheduled. If you receive MINISTRY and live within driving distance of a listed location, you should automatically receive an invitation in the mail. If for some reason you do not receive an invitation two weeks prior to the seminar date, you may call (202) 723-0800, extension 291, for information. All ministers are invited to attend the seminar nearest their location. —W.B.Q.


Ministry reserves the right to approve, disapprove, and delete comments at our discretion and will not be able to respond to inquiries about these comments. Please ensure that your words are respectful, courteous, and relevant.

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W.B.Q. is associate editor of Ministry.

January 1981

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