It appears that the most common and most accepted word is the word assist. Historically speaking, it has been understood that Baptist associations have existed to assist churches in fulfilling their mission/purpose. I wonder, "Is assist the best word to use in expressing the function of an association in relation to churches? Does the word assist convey an active and intentional role or a more passive one?
It seems that various other words portray an accurate image of an association's role among churches. Words such as equip, mobilize, develop, empower, initiate, coordinate and facilitate come to mind. These words, all verbs, speak of active responses.
If I were to choose a noun instead of a verb, I would select the word catalyst. One of the central meanings of the word catalyst and its synonyms is "an agent that stimulates or precipitates a reaction, development, or change." Effective associations serve a catalytic function--helping to bring about change on both individual and corporate levels.
What word would you choose to best describe the function of Baptist associations among churches? What's the right word?
Allan Nix, DoM
Jones County Baptist
Posts
2 comments:
Our association uses the word catalyst in our Mission Statement because a catlyst is a positive change agent that speeds up a chemical reaction to produce more effective and efficient results. Our statement reads "GMBA is to be a catalyst for effective Christian ministry that links congregations together in the use of spiritual and material resources." So the association is there to be a positive change agent to help the churches to accomplish their purposes more effectively and more efficiently.
Sid Hopkins
Gwinnett Metro Baptist Association
In our association, the words "assist and resource" are used together in describing the mission we have with our family of churches. There is a delicate balance, at least in our setting, between doing too much, outrunning the churches, and not being active enough in engaging and mobilizing missions and ministry. The words "equip" or "mobilize" may be better choices of descriptors for what we need to be about. Thanks for the prompt to think more about it!
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