Our 2010 associational annual meeting is now history. The usual comments were made: thankful there were not a lot of boring oral reports, the speakers were exciting mostly, we had good numbers, where was so-and-so's preacher. I have to step back and ask why do we have these things.
1. They are great times of fellowship. The fact is that so many people came in just before starting time that there was no time for greetings except for the silver head generation members who always arrive 45 minutes early. Some stayed afterward for the refreshments, but probably less than half. It seems that fellowship is where you find it; it is not programmed. Even the sit-down meal of the second session kept people talking to those they already knew mostly form their own church.
2. We have a great worship experience. That I guess comes under your definition of worship. The prgram does not lend itself toward heart preparation for hearing the voice of God. There is a general watching of clocks to see if we are on schedule to get out on time, though that sounds a lot like Sunday mornings as well. The opening devotion and prayer do point in the right direction but their emphasis is often soon lost. I hear more effort at humor than is given to offering our time to God.
3. We are doing the Lord's work. That again may be a matter of your defintion of Kingdom work. Voting on committee recomendations related to other committees and other meetings has little connection to Kingdom work. Hopefully an examination and approval of the next year's budget will draw attention to Kingdom priorities. Mission and ministry testimonies most assuredly ought to be considered Kingdom work. Songs, devotions, and keynote speakers should be focused upon Kingdom work. These areas I can agree are Kingdom work areas.
4. The time together is inspirational. That remains to be seen. If positive change occurs in the churches because of what is experienced or decided in these meetings, then we have accomplished much. If we have been inspired to go back to our congregations and repeat what we did last year, then the time has been wasted and the inspiration was of the shallowest kind. The time together made us have a short period of good feelings and that was the end.
Should associational meetings be like ideal church homecomings? Should there be a greater focus on what we are going to do because of what we have done instead of lingering over successes and efforts out of the past? Reports that stir to greater efforts and testimonies that inspire deeper commitment perhaps should be the centerpieces of annual meetings. That is true Kingdom business.
