eConnections

(Speaker D'Esta Love)

The Dallas ElderLink Forum is not the only such event available to elders. A second ElderLink Forum now exists in Portland, OR every fall on the campus of Cascade College. And several congregations from various parts of the U.S. and Canada have inquired about the possibility of partnering with ACU to host an additional regional ElderLink in their area. ACU is very interested in partnering with churches to make more ElderLink events available for more elders. If your church would be interested in such a partnership, just contact the ElderLink office at ACU (915-674-3732 or Siburt@bible.acu.edu).

The date for ElderLink Dallas 2003 is November 8, 2003.

ElderLink Northwest

Approximately 200 elders and other church leaders gathered October 11-12 at Cascade College in Portland, Oregon for the second annual ElderLink Northwest. ElderLink, a program initiated by ACU’s department of Ministry Programs and Services, is a forum to equip, encourage, and link those who lead and serve as elders in Churches of Christ. Elderlink Northwest is a cooperative venture between ACU and Cascade College and this year served church leaders from Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and California. ElderLink Northwest hopes to build competence and confidence in relation to elder roles in seven defined areas: teaching the faith, shepherding the flock, consoling the afflicted, spiritual formation, building community, equipping the saints, and facilitating reconciliation.

This year’s program featured sessions by Randy Harris (ACU) on the spiritual life of the elder. Breakout classes were taught by Charles Siburt (ACU, conflict resolution), Stan Granburg (Cascade College, leadership), Dan Coburn (Gresham, OR, prayer and pastoral care), Karen Allen (Portland, OR, elder’s wives), and Mark Love (ACU, teaching Scripture). The program also featured small group discussion and seasons of worship and prayer. The 2002 attendance exceeded the already optimistic expectations based on first year attendance. In a short time, ElderLink Northwest has created an enthusiastic community of servants interested in seeing elders succeed. For more information about ministry connections at ACT visit our websiteat Ministry Resources.

New Additions at CBS

2002 Lectures on Preaching

The preaching life exists in the ceaseless rhythm of inhaling and exhaling. Standing before the congregation, the preacher exhales and the word of God goes forth with all of the creative force of the breath of God swirling over the chaotic waters of creation. This is the outward dimension of our calling. But if one attempts to exhale without taking the time to inhale deeply, there is no sustainable life for the ministry of proclamation. Our words grow empty, sound hollow, and lack power and life.

It is precisely the balance of the two, correspondingly deep inward and outward dimensions, which sustains the call to preach. This was the focus of the 2002 Lectures on Preaching – The Spiritual Life of the Preacher: The Heart of Christian Preaching held September 19. Ken Durham of Malibu, California delivered the morning lecture speaking of how the preacher’s inward spiritual life is forged out of brokenness. Randy Harris of Abilene delivered the afternoon lecture calling preachers to the ministry of silence. Throughout the day, participants entered into conversation in breakout groups. Group discussion revolved around the books Calling and Character by William Willimon, The Preaching Life by Barbara Brown Taylor, and The Unnecessary Pastor by Marva Dawn and Eugene Peterson.

The annual Tribute Luncheon was a deeply moving. Bill Love and A.R. Maytubby, men whose deep inward spiritual life manifest vibrant ministry, were honored. Lectures on Preaching

Family Therapy as a Ministry of the Church

In today’s Church do we have in place an atmosphere that supports decisions of individuals, couples and families to seek help, admit personal sins and/or relational struggles?  For many the decision to continue in unhealthy behavior or choice to leave the Church may appear to be a less threatening notion than to lay bare the struggles common in today’s families, marriages, parent relationships, child behaviors and any number of other difficulties of living.  Ministers often feel ill-equipped, overwhelmed, or simply uncomfortable dealing with many extreme issues, or worse attempt to help with good intensions, but offer little pragmatic help and at times do more harm.  This is not to say that ministers are unable to help, but rather to bring forth the question of churches utilizing the resources of highly trained Marriage & Family Therapists as a ministry of the Church.    

Isaiah 57:14 “Build up, build up, prepare the road; remove the obstacles from my people.”  Perhaps more today than at any other time in our society the obstacle of failing families, divorce, drug use, out of control children, infidelity, fornication, adultery, and many other issues have become obstacles to our spiritual growth.  As a church we must become a resource that is relevant to the struggling within our time. 

The arena of therapy is often looked upon as something outside the parameters of the church.  Psychological ideas are generally thought of as “non-Christian” “Worldly” or perhaps even tools to undermine the values and traditions of the Christian faith.  The purpose of this brief article is to introduce a relevant conversation about the usefulness of therapy within the context of a church environment as well as providing the reader with some examples of successful therapy ministries within several of our congregations. 

There are many reasons a church should consider the ministry of family therapy.  Strong individuals produce strong families, which produce strong churches, which produce strong communities.  The America Family represents an open mission field; the pain in families is so great that many homes are open and eager to hear the word of God.  Jesus met people at their needs, families need help.

Currently there are no established resources designed to assist churches in the growth and develop a church based counseling ministry.  The Department of Marriage & Family Therapy at Abilene Christian University is attempting to establish a resource to provide information, financial support and other aid for churches in the development and continued growth of counseling ministries. 

Starting Point, Some Important Questions:

During the initial phase of contemplation for the development of a church based family therapy ministry there are several topics, which if thought through will benefit all involved.  Some of these questions are listed below.

• What is the overall mission of the therapy center?
• • (Community Outreach for one congregation, Private Practice with Church Support, Group Practice with Christian Base, etc.)
    
• What type of service do we want to provide?
• • (Support groups, professional therapy, family life education, etc.)
    
• Who do we want to serve?
• • (Poor, under insured, those with insurance, people with financial resources, or some combination of all)
    
• What is our financial commitment to this program?
• • A quality program will require substantial financial support.  You should think in terms of a minimum of 5 years of healthy support to establish a new program.  Realize that cutting corners will have an impact on the long-term viability of the program.  
    
• Should we establish a separate non-profit corporation or integrate it into the existing church?
• • You should give careful consideration to the issues of liability as well as potential funding sources.  Each structure has its advantages and disadvantages. 
    
• What credentials do we want our therapist to have? Professional or lay counselors?
• • The question here is often one of financial resources.  Many therapy ministries have hired people with little or no experience in order to save money.  Keep in mind that spending money on the front end to hire those with experience can often save you money in the long run. 
    
• Are we going to charge fees? Should it be free?
• • Fees play a role in the personal investment clients make in therapy.  Don’t undermine the therapeutic process by simply doing away with fees.   
    
• How will we handle the issues of confidentiality?  Who will have access to the client records?
• • Many churches want access to the information gained in the therapy room.  The reasons may be built on good intentions, however I would suggest keeping these records confidential.  This issue has ramifications in the process of therapy as well as the legal system if you employ licensed professionals.

As you can see there are many things to consider when considering the development of a family therapy ministry.  The Department of Marriage & Family Therapy at Abilene Christian University is currently working on a project to develop more resources for churches wishing to enter this mission field.  There is a great deal of work to be done, as the harvest is ripe.  For more information see Marriage and Family Therapy or contact Peter D. Bradley (bradley@bible.acu.edu).

By the Numbers

The Fall 2002 enrollment numbers are in and the Department of Bible, Missions, and Ministry continues to increase its undergraduate student base. A total of 296 majors are working towards some type of degree this year—a 10% increase over last years 268 majors. Take a look at the division of our majors into their particular degree plan. You will notice the addition of our Ministry to Children/Family degree and that our Youth and Family degree continues to have the largest number of majors. In fact, ACU has more students studying Youth and Family than any other college or university in the United States.

Books Available at ACU Press

The first two books in ACU Press's Heart of the Restoration Series are being made available to local congregations at a special group discount, according to Thom Lemmons, director of ACU Press. "The books in this series were conceived and written in order to take an important place in the current discussions among Churches of Christ," Lemmons said, "and we want to do everything we can to help that discussion continue." Congregations across the country are using the books, Lemmons says, both for individual and group studies of the issues presented.

Congregations wishing to make a group purchase of one or more of the books in the Heart of the Restoration Series may send a message to this email address: HRSoffer@acu.edu . For purchases of twenty or more books in the series, buyers will receive a 10% discount from the retail price. Shipping charges and sales tax for Texas residents will be added to the order.

In The Crux of the Matter: Crisis, Tradition, and the Future of Churches of Christ, Jeff Childers, Doug Foster, and Jack Reese give voice to several crucial decisions now facing Churches of Christ, placing those decisions in a comprehensive historical, cultural, and biblical context. God's Holy Fire: The Nature and Function of Scripture (Ken Cukrowski, Mark Hamilton, and James Thompson) focuses on hermeneutics, or the way members of Churches of Christ read, understand, and interpret Scripture. Future volumes in the series, all written by members of ACU's College of Biblical Studies faculty, will deal with christology, the church, and worship.

Faculty Accomplishments

Frederick Aquino

• Published an article and a book: “A Theology of Informed Judgment,” forthcoming, Restoration Quarterly and Communities of Informed Judgment, forthcoming (Catholic University of America Press).
• Presented a paper: “The Craft of Teaching: The Relevance of Newman for Theological Education,” National Newman Conference, University of Massachusetts, June 21, 2002.
• Preached at the Sidney Church of Christ, Sidney, TX (September 2001-August 2002) and offered two seminars on the doctrine of providence, 5^th Street Church of Christ, Woodward, OK (August 2002) and Canton Church of Christ, Canton, TX (September 2002).
• Taught a short course at Pepperdine University: “Philosophy of Religion” (June 2002).

Tony Ash

• Completing manuscript of a book on prayer.
• Wrote Directions for Disciples: Studies in the Gospel of Luke. Abilene: HillCrest, 2002.
• Spoke at family encampment at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
• Spoke at 50th anniversary services for 11th and Willis in Abilene, and Brentwood Oaks, in Austin.

Rodney Ashlock

• Attended Case Study Conference in San Francisco in late June early July.
• Spoke at the Restoration Quarterly breakfast during ACU Lectureship.
• Taught a series of Wednesday evening classes at Hillcrest Church of Christ in Abilene, TX last November on Esther, Ruth, and Lamentations.
• Spoke at the Cordova Church of Christ outside of Sacramento, CA in April and consulted with them about teaching a course on the OT.

Carl Brecheen

• Conducted nine marriage seminars with Dr. Paul Faulkner.
• Spoke at an area wide fellowship dinner for the Colorado City church.
• Featured speaker at the Spiritual Growth Workshop in Orlando, FL.
• Conducted a Wednesday night series at Waterview Church of Christ, Richardson, TX.

Jeff Childers

• "A Winding Road Well Worn: Struggling to Live the Spiritual Life." Class taught at ACU Lectureship, Abilene, Texas, 18-20 February 2002.
• "A Good Reader makes for Good Reading," Hermeneutics presentation, West Lectures, Harding Graduate School of Religion, Memphis, Tennessee, 10-11 February 2002.
• "Patristic Citations and Versional Evidence: The Syriac Version(s) of Chrysostom's Homilies on Matthew and the Old Syriac Text." Le Museon 115 (2002) 129-156.
• Co-teaching Adult Bible Class in Luke-Acts at Highland Church of Christ, Abilene, TX.

Ken Cukrowski

• Co-authored God's Holy Fire: The Nature and Function of Scripture; also published "The Problem of Uncovered Prophets: Exploring 1 Corinthians 11:2-16" in Leaven and a case study, "Prophets and Losses" in Crux of the Matter: Study Edition.
• Delivered a paper on enhancing theological reflection at the Association of Doctor of Ministry Educators Conference. Presented in forums on stem cell research and thinking theologically about film for the Graduate Student Association.
• Presented lectures at the ACU and Pepperdine Lectureships. Delivered lectures at Conversation 2002 in Burlington, MA.
• Taught Bible classes at the Minter Lane Church of Christ, Abilene, TX.

Doug Foster

• Spoke at the meeting of the Stone-Campbell Dialogue, Louisville, KY, June 17-18, on "Our Commitment to Unity."
• Spoke at the Midwest Preachers Retreat, Black River Falls, Wisconsin, September 23-25, "The Crux of the Matter."
• Had published (with Gary Holloway of Lipscomb University) Renewing God's People: A Concise History of Churches of Christ, ACU Press.
• Had published (with Mike Casey of Pepperdine University) The Stone-Campbell Movement: An International Religious Tradition, University of Tennessee Press.