Borden
‘Borden’ is the name that gets dropped at WA Baptist pastors gigs everywhere these days. Are you using the ‘Borden’ model? What do you think of ‘Borden’? It seems we are infected with Bordenitis everywhere.
Today I met with ‘Borden’ - Paul Borden - executive minister with the American Baptist Churches of the West, a denomination that has resurrected over the last 10 years from dismal decline.
He is doing a review of our Baptist Union (denomination) and will be making recommendations for how we ought to function if we are serious about mission.
He has a very ruthless and at time disturbing approach to what he does. He gets the job done in a sense but I have had some reservations about his methodology. For some reason only two of us met with him today, and after he had finished asking for our assessments of the denonination he asked if we wanted to question him on anything.
You bet!
For twenty miniutes I was able to question, debate and discuss with him what he was really about. I wish we had longer because it was just starting to get interesting. He would say he is for seeing people who are lost being found however you do it - we agree on priority.
I’m not sure we would agree on philosophy (Christology informing missiology informing ecclesiology). I spoke with him about this, and while he affirms the need to think like missionaries, I sense theirs is still very much a funked up attractional Christendom model of church.
The thing is it seems to be ‘working’. It seems to be impacting communities, changing lives and producing disciples.
As of yet I am not convinced that they appreciated the cultural framework of Oz and the limited appeal of the attractional beast.
It seems we will be doing more of the same but more effectively if we embrace his ideas. I still ask what about those who will never come to any church no matter how funky?free goodbye lover movie download
The Paul Borden model is being used in South Carolina in my denomination with devastating results.
Our leaders have been marginalized, assets are being sold, churches are being closed, and there is a great sense of confusion everywhere.
That’s all I can tell you about my personal experience with Paul Borden.
For perspective, I am a senior pastor in my denomination, and have successfully pastored in SC for 20 years.
Comment by Steve — February 16, 2007 @ 9:50 pm