THE CHURCH STIMULUS PACKAGE

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Contents

Dedication and Acknowledgments.....................vForeword...........................................xiCHAPTER 1..........................................1CHAPTER II.........................................21CHAPTER III........................................71CHAPTER IV.........................................79CHAPTER V..........................................93

Chapter One

The economy of the United States was in shambles at the end of 2008; then on January 13, 2009, soon-to-be President Barack Obama unveiled a plan to revitalize the United States economy; a stimulus package that would immediately inject billions of dollars into the economy. "The time has come to bridge the growing divide between Main Street and Wall Street," said President Obama. "The American Dream is slipping out of reach for many families whose paychecks aren't meeting the increased costs of their medical bills and tuition payments.... I'm announcing a plan to jumpstart the economy by putting money in the pockets of those who need it most and will spend it quickly."

"Strengthening our economy and creating good-paying jobs will be Barack Obama's priority from the day he takes office," said Governor Tim Kaine, who held a conference call with reporters to discuss the plan.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5) is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama on February 17, 2009. The Act of Congress is based largely on proposals made by President Barack Obama and is intended to provide a stimulus to the U.S. economy in the wake of the economic downturn.

Pastors are often hired by or appointed to congregations that are in decline in terms of numbers, as well as spiritually and physically, with the membership divided and scattered. At a time such as this, you will need to unveil a stimulus package to jumpstart your ministry and revitalize the church. Strengthening your work and encouraging the involvement and cooperation of the congregants should be your priority as pastor from the moment you accept the call or receive the appointment.

A tried and proven tool for beginning this effort is the use of a congregational assessment, an economic stimulus plan that you and your congregation can agree upon that will foster cooperation and participation in any congregation. The congregational assessment will stimulate and revitalize your spiritually disintegrated, physically declined, divided and scattered congregants in the wake of the economic downturn, and reverse the declining health of your church or appointment.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

To theologize about revitalization is to think seriously about the needs of the community around us, our church, our leadership styles, and whether we lead the church in such a way as to engage those needs or to ignore them. To theologize is to try to see all of this and more as God might see it (Perry and Shawchuck, 1986, p. 137). Perry and Shawchuck share their awareness that planning, organizational structures, and leadership styles are ordained of God and are essential for church revitalization. The Scripture gives countless illustrations of God's interest in the plans and organizational structures His people put together to carry out their purpose. For instance, Moses' modus operandi illustrates the ineffective structure he had established to govern the congregation of Israel; this structure kindled Jethro's concerns and motivation, which eventually led him to Moses with suggestions for a completely new organizational structure (Exodus 18:13–27).

God also demonstrates a great deal of interest in the planning, organizational structures, and leadership styles for the New Testament church, "such as the installation of the first official or deacon board in Acts chapter 6. As the church grew in numbers of people and in its ministries, Paul spent a great deal of time establishing organizational policies and structures to keep the church effective (Perry and Shawchuck, p. 138). Paul lists the offices God instituted and describes some of the policies these offices and the church were to follow. Church leaders must follow the structures God put together to carry out effective, successful, and thriving ministries (Ephesians 4:11–12; I Timothy 3:1–13; Titus 1:5–9).

Only when the members are given the opportunity to participate in clarifying the mission of their church, in creating the plans to achieve that mission and in finding their place in carrying out those plans, will a declining, dilapidated, and dying church be revitalized and resuscitated. When all the resources of the church are aligned to ensure their success in that place of ministry and that they are being valued, appreciated, and loved, your church will be on the move to revitalization. It makes good sense for a busy pastor to love the people through organizational structures (Perry and Shawchuck, p. 138 and 139).

Following sixteen years as a pastor who had been privileged to serve well organized and solidly prudent congregations, I was appointed to the Biggers Circuit, Biggers and Providence AME churches in Manning, South Carolina, in November 1988. Upon arrival I found the Biggers physical plant dilapidated, run down, outdated, and depressing.

Nevertheless, twelve months after my appointment and arrival, by remaining positive and listening to, valuing, appreciating, and loving the people of the church, I led that congregation in a spiritual and physical revitalization that resulted in a new worship center worthy of serving the present age.

Through my study and research I discovered that both Biggers and Providence could and would be more productive, and growth would occur faster if the circuit was broken apart and Biggers and Providence became station appointments. Wanting neither congregation to feel a sense of superiority in keeping the pastor or inferiority for losing the pastor, I convinced Bishop Adams and the Central Annual Conference Committee on Mission Circuit and Stations to separate Biggers and Providence from a single circuit church to two station churches at the annual conference session in November and then, before I could even use the new office, classrooms, library and sanctuary at Biggers, I was transferred from Biggers and Providence AME Churches to Macedonia AME Church in Cope, South Carolina.

"Run down and depressing" is not sufficient to describe the scene upon my arrival at Macedonia AME Church in Cope. The inner pain was piercing as I peered at that truly dilapidated house of worship. After doing such a good job and being willing to give up the newly built Biggers Church to help ward off the pain of the members of Providence, I was rewarded for my sacrifices, hard work, concern and thoughtfulness by being dumped in a valley of ecclesiastical pain. For the first time, since my first appointment in 1972 by Bishop Decatur Ward Nichols to serve as supply pastor at Campbell Chapel in Bluffton and at Quinn Chapel in Hilton Head while the pastor, Reverend Lorenzo T. Baker, served a tour of duty in Okinawa with the United States Marines, I felt the bitter pain of Christian Ministry.

Sitting in my car out in front of that church building that first Sunday of my...