Denominations and Congregations, Primary Connection

From Tom Bandy

The primary connection most congregations have with their denominational parent today revolve around the following items ...

a) Salaried Personnel: Denominations like to regulate which clergy or salaried staff get hired and fired, which can be a good thing when people are treated unfairly, but a bad thing when innovtion and change is important. Many congregations are opting out of denominational oversight through unsalaried staff and lay pastors.

b) Property Disposition: Denominations often regulate sale, lease, and major renovation of property, which can be a good thing if churches want to do foolish architectural or dangerous engineering things (more common that you think!) but a bad thing when new technology, relocation, or multi-site is important. Many congregations are ignoring renovation approvals or no longer relying on denominational subsidies for property development.

c) Worship Uniformity: Denominations often want to impose uniformity on "good" worship, which can be a good thing if integrity with the sacraments is a high priority, but a bad thing if indigenous worship is jeoparadized. Many congregations are choosing to multi-track rather than blend worship, because by providing a distinct option and leaving the traditional option alone they have fewer quarrels.

d) Overhead Income: Denominations want to protect harmony in the congregation at all costs in order to protect that portion of income that goes to support judicatory overhead. I am hard pressed to see where this is a good thing at all, because it clearly deflects the church from mission to maintenance. Many congregations are simply cutting back or minimizing their payments as much as they can.