Articles — Advent Christian Voices

Help! We Don't Have A Pastor

The Advent Christian Church is not the only network or denomination struggling with finding called and qualified pastors. I remember sitting in a Church Revitalization class at Gordon-Conwell in South Hamilton when one of our Professors would bring in the ABC equivalent to Superintendents. Each one would provide some type of insight on church leadership or revitalization but would always take 10 minutes to pitch to eager seminary students why they should consider one of their many open churches in New England.

Little Ones, It’s Time to Come Together

Tom Loghry, Pastors, UnityThomas LoghrySeptember 23, 2022Restoration Network, Heritage Conference, pastors, togetherComment

I Must Decrease, They Must Increase

Sometimes the realization of some truth crashes over you all at once, like a wave breaking on the shore. Other times it mounts slowly, each piece gathered and joined together like a puzzle, until you finally see the picture…

Tom Loghry, Pastors, Church PracticesThomas LoghryMay 31, 2022leadership, pastors, John 3:30, congregationComment

On Making Assumptions

Let’s talk about making assumptions, and why that’s bad. Especially concerning the people sitting around you in the church pews.

Pastors, Catherine Rybicki, Church PracticesCatherine RybickiSeptember 23, 2021 Comments

A Case for Biblical Egalitarianism: Part Two

Biblical Studies, Church History, Pastors, Catherine Rybicki, Church PracticesCatherine RybickiJuly 15, 2021Comment

A Case for Biblical Egalitarianism: Part One

Egalitarianism. Otherwise known as - being in support of women in ministry and women holding positions of spiritual authority.

On the Inconsistency of Women's Ordination in the Advent Christian Denomination

“Why is there so much inconsistency within the Advent Christian denomination when it comes to the ordination of women?”

This question came to mind recently while watching a live podcast episode of Bible Banter that had Dr. Mark Woolfington on as a guest for the topic of discussion: Ordination Standards.

The broad discussion was centered around what ordination standards are in place currently, what should change, and what is needed in ordination standards for Advent Christians. As I was listening and watching, I made a comment about the need for consistency in ordination standards, which led to more discussion on the need for a commonly identified theological foundation in order to build more consistent ordination standards.

Thinking about the inconsistent ordination standards, methods, processes, and practices got me thinking…

Pastors, Catherine Rybicki, Church Practices, TheologyCatherine RybickiMarch 2, 2021 Comments

The Importance of Preaching Classes and Practical Ministry Courses

“Are these practical ministry courses really necessary?”

This was the question that I asked throughout college and seminary. In college, I was a Biblical Studies major, and I was able to get out of preaching classes since I was not a Pastoral Ministries major. I didn’t have any practical ministry courses in college, but that was a different story in seminary. When I got to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I could not get out of the three required preaching classes, the required “mentored ministry” classes/credits (I had to be actively involved in ministry in some way, with a mentor to supervise me), and the practical ministry courses.

Needless to say, in the beginning I was upset.

Pastors, Catherine Rybicki, Church PracticesCatherine RybickiFebruary 12, 2021 Comment

Miscellaneous Thoughts After Preaching my 16th Sermon in as Many Days at Two Campmeetings in New England

· I am weak, but He is strong. Camp is exhausting, but God never sleeps.

· Campmeetings are sweet and wonderful and used by the Lord in unique ways, yet are no substitute for local churches through which God is carrying His mission forward in this world….

Pastors, Church Practices, CampingAndy RiceAugust 6, 2019Andy Rice, Campmeeting, preaching, local church Comments

The Physics of Church Leadership (1/3)

If getting out of the way is of first importance to remove friction and let God’s church burst forth, our main job thereafter becomes about either speeding it up, slowing it down (for good reason), or changing its direction.

The Ten Commandments of Leadership: Leadership Lessons for Church Leaders from my Time as an Army Leader

I have recently transitioned to a new ministry. In so doing, I have taken some time for reflection. After spending about four years in church ministry and eight years in the United States Army, I’d like to share with you some reflections on what I believe to be transferable leadership principles that guided me while serving in the world’s premiere fighting force. I could have made the list twice as long, there are things that are important that have been left out. However, these ten could help you as a leader of God’s people (I hope). Some you will see echo biblical principles, others are simply anecdotal and come purely from my experiences.

Pastors, Church PracticesErik ReynoldsNovember 27, 2018leadership, ten commandments, procrastination, complacency, mission, mediocrityComment

9 Lessons Learned in 9 Years of Pastoral Ministry

As I’ve concluded nine years in pastoral ministry and transitioned to a new season of ministry at the Berkshire Institute for Christian Studies I’ve taken some time to reflect on my experience as a shepherd of God’s flock – the ups, the downs, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. I’m not at all claiming to have enlightened reflections, superior wisdom, or the keys to ministry success – and it didn’t take me nine years to figure that out. Nevertheless, by God’s grace and mostly through error, I have learned a lot. So I humbly offer these reflections as an expression of my gratitude for God’s sustaining grace and for the seemingly limitless patience of my Faith Church family.

Christian Ministry Fragmentation- Part 2 in a Leadership Series Pointing the Church Forward

in part 2 we zoom in to examine one major culprit in ministry fragmentation and how to solve it

"What is Theological Fragmentation?" A Four-Part Leadership Series Pointing the Church Forward

At the 2017 ERA annual meeting, President Steve Brown of BICS presented the idea that the major barrier to unity within the Advent Christians is “theological fragmentation.” The major proposed solution, assuming one accepts the premise, was a call for a hermeneutical reformation (a la Kaiser as exemplar) to reinvigorate and reestablish basic, core, essential principles of interpretation in hopes of gaining unity of mind together.

Leadership Development: Where We’ve Been, Where We Must Go

1987. This was the year campus operations ceased at Berkshire Christian College. At that time, Berkshire was the primary means through which pastors were trained and developed within the Advent Christian Church. It had been more than a decade since pastoral studies programs had ceased at the Advent Christian Church’s other college, Aurora College, so with Berkshire’s closure, the Advent Christian Church was left without a clear avenue through which pastors and key denominational leaders could emerge.

Church & Seminary Together: a response to "Where Are Tomorrow's Leaders?"

In the article, “Where Are Tomorrow’s Leaders?” published recently on the Advent Christian Voices website, and reprinted from the Advent Christian Witness, veteran Advent Christian pastor Steven Brown poses an important question. He argues that the traditional model of theological education in a seminary or divinity school no longer serves the needs of the Advent Christian Church.

Where Are Tomorrow's Leaders?

For about one hundred years Advent Christians relied principally on two colleges to prepare church leaders.

While formal theological education was not universally valued in the churches, the schooling model was believed by many to be the primary incubator for people called to ministry. Training leaders in theological colleges (and seminaries) was entirely consistent with accepted practice in the wider North American church, reflecting an educational paradigm highly regarded in the last half of the 19th century into the present era.

The Wheel that Seldom Squeaks: what pastors won't tell you

The Facebook posts of three Millennial pastors caught my eye — one frolicking on the beach with his two young boys, another shouldering his daughter as they watched a 4th of July parade and a third holding, high above his head, a grinning son.

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