Covenant News - Round Table Explores Accelerating Ethnic Advances

Covenant News

Round Table Explores Accelerating Ethnic Advances

MUNDELEIN, IL (March 6, 2004) - A recent round table exploring ways to advance ethnic ministry in the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) celebrated how far the denomination has come in a relatively short period of time, while at the same time recognizing how far the church has yet to go.

Sixty-five participants gathered for fours days of evaluation and planning at St. Mary's By the Lake Conference Center in Mundelein. The event was convened under the auspices of the ECC Executive Board and involved 34 ethnic and 31 Caucasian leaders, included the Council of Administrators and the Council of Superintendents.

Ethnic ministries in the Covenant have tripled during the last decade, having grown in attendance by 151 percent in that period, compared to 52 percent for ministries in the ECC as a whole. Nineteen percent of all ECC congregations are ethnic or multi-ethnic, making the ECC one of the most diverse denominations in the United States and Canada.

"What has happened in the past several years is very significant", said event co-coordinator Gary Walter, head of the Department of Church Growth and Evangelism. "And this event was designed to help us do even more to reach our potential," said co-coordinator Harold Spooner, director of Outreach Ministries for Covenant Ministries of Benevolence.

Both agree that the motivation to move forward is two-fold. The first is mission. For the ECC to reach the entirety of the mission field of the U.S. and Canada, the ECC must address the diversity of the mission field. The second is the nature of the Kingdom of God. The future kingdom is characterized by unity across ethnic, class and gender. The Church is richer here on earth as it lives in light of that future reality.

The round table was organized around what has become known as the "Five-fold Test" adopted by the Executive Board as one way to monitor progress and complete additional planning. The five parts of the test are:

Population: Is the ECC reaching more people in more populations?
Participation: How are we sharing life together in Christ at the denominational, conference and local levels?
Power: How are positions and structures influenced by the perspective and gifts of diverse populations?
Pace-setting: With additional gifts, burdens, and expertise in our midst, what ministries are we now able to undertake and strengthen?
Purposeful narrative: How do the stories of new backgrounds become incorporated into our overarching history? How do all of these streams flow together into one story moving forward?

Randy Furushima, one of the pastors of Wellspring Covenant Church in Hawaii, served as facilitator. Each test area contained two parts. The first was a presentation of evaluative material. "Much of the data was encouraging," Walter said. "It showed the progress we have made. But other of the data showed we still have along way to go."

The second part of each test area involved a planning process. Ideas were generated under each category. Some 150 ideas in all were catalogued. Furushima then led the group through a consensus process that isolated the top five recommendations in each area.

Twenty-five specific recommendations were drafted for presentation at the next Executive Board meeting March 12-14. Recommendations range from long-term ideas such as implementing a young leader development program to short-term ideas such as commissioning a multi-ethnic history of the ECC.

The recommendations will be presented to the Executive Board, which will make assignments for action or further study. Regular reports will be made to the Executive Board. The Ethnic Commission will also be involved in follow-up and reporting. Round table participants will gather at Midwinter to hear an update.

In addition to the five-fold test, the event included worship and Bible studies. Participants roomed cross-racially. They also went as a group to see The Passion of the Christ film on opening night. "It wasn't just head stuff," said Spooner. " This isn't about the mechanics of multi-ethnicity. It's about sharing our life together in Christ."

"Not many, if any, historically Caucasian denominations have transitioned to becoming multi-ethnic," Walter observed. "We have the opportunity to lead the way and encourage others to follow."

"We are positioned to do it," concluded Spooner. "If we can trust God and trust each other, just maybe we'll experience what the world says can't be done."

Printable version of this page.