Hello Folks,
     I want to thank all of the folks of this congregation and others who have shown their apprecation during this month of Pastor Appreciation.  Last Sunday night after our worship we had a time of celebration and eating as a church family.  During that time folks gave the pastoral staff cards of appreciation and expressed their appreciation verbally.  I want to thank all of you for making me realize once again how blessed I am to be here as your pastor.  Please pray thta I hear the voice of God and give the kind of leadership that is needed for our congregation in the year to come.  Unless God builds the house we all labor in vain. 
     It has been my joy to be a full time pastor in the Church of God since 1980.  Over 32 years of my life has been lived serving the church and I must say that it has been very gratifying for me.  Yet in that time I believe that I have seen some massive changes in the complexion of the landscape in the church.  It seems to me that as a Movement the Church of God has been confronted with a decided turn from much of the message that helped shape who we are.  Many pastors, and congregations, have isolated themselves from each other.  There are organizations within the Church of God that are clearly able to stand without the help of national ministry.  It is also true that some of our largest congregations can subsists without national ministries being a part of what they do.  Local pastors and congregations give little support to each other and fail to show any sign of the unity that we proclaim.  Could this be indication that some of us have fallen into a post-movement mentality?  While there is much call for accountability and the removal of congregational autonomy do we really think that any of our congregations or pastors are really going to accept the authority of a State Minister or National Leader over them?  Would there not just a mass exodus from the Movement and numerous independent  congregations?  Would the effort of the removal of autonomy not merely produce a much higher level of autonomy?  Those who are attempting to bring a greater accountability into place ought to consider what the possible outcome might be.
     Yet the real question that must be asked is what does God's Word say about this issue.  Do we see in God's Word an organization that gives rules and regulations as well as expectations to local congregations?  Do we see congregations that are independent of each other and move to their own desires without consideration of the rest of the body?  I would suggest that there is a biblical standard of mutual accountability that reveals dependence on each other as well as the ability to do what is needed in the local situation without using a "one size fits all" mentality. 
     This makes me wonder what is coming for the Church of God Reformation Movement.  If Jesus tarries what will the next 10 years produce?  Could it be that pastors and congregations will have a very difficult decision to make?  One thing is sure--unless more or our pastors show up for the General Assembly a smaller amount of individuals will be making decisions that effect the entire body.

Have a great day,

HGRudd