Why is your conference growing? An e-interview with Chuck Jack of the Red Bird Missionary Conference

                                                                                                                            The Rev. Chuck Jack (pictured with his family above) is conference superintendent of the Red Bird Missionary Conference, one of only two U.S. United Methodist conferences reporting membership growth higher than one percent in 2004. The Red Bird Missionary Conference ended 2004 with 1,385 members, up 18 from 2003.

Rev. Jack, an elder in the West Ohio Conference, served in the Red Bird Missionary Conference from 1986-1994. He returned to Red Bird Conference in 2001 to become conference superintendent. A graduate of Harvard University and the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, he has received a National Program Division professional development grant for graduate work in linguistics and biblical studies. His wife Betsy is director of Early Childhood Development for Red Bird Mission. They have six children, including three still at home who attend Red Bird Mission School.

Untied Methodist asked Rev. Jack to reflect on why his conference grew last year, and also to educate us about the conference.

Your conference grew in membership more than most in 2004. What caused the growth?

I suppose prayer, pastors and churches that are deeply involved in their communities and share an evangelical faith, long tenured pastorates, mission-minded leaders who believe God has given us this ministry with small membership churches in rural Appalachia, cooperative shared ministries, and emphasis on reaching and making disciples of children and youth.

How many churches and missions does the Red Bird Missionary Conference have?

The Red Bird Missionary Conference (RBMC) is comprised of 23 United Methodist churches, four worshipping outreach centers, Camp O'Cumberlands, The Appalachian Local Pastors School (COS extension school of Candler School of Theology at Emory), Henderson Settlement, Red Bird Mission and Clinic, and The Bennett Center.

What is the mission of the Red Bird Missionary Conference?

Our vision is to see Appalachian people living in union with Jesus Christ and empowered to transform their communities. Our mission is to minister to the spiritual, physical, educational, and economic needs of people and to equip them to reach their God-given potential.

What is the size range of your churches?

In membership and attendance our 27 worship centers range from very small to moderately small. Our highest average local church worship attendance is in the 90s. Last Sunday, for example, our family worshiped at Beech Creek United Methodist Church in Clay County, Ky. There were about 60 persons in attendance. There were several young families with children and infants, youth, and persons of all ages. This church is thriving and making a difference in its community.

What are your churches like?

The mountains offer numerous small membership churches in the various communities and locations. Our 27 churches are located in nine counties of southeastern Kentucky. Though our congregations, by and large, fit the mountain church profile, our connections -- as United Methodists -- offer distinct strengths. Most of our churches send campers to our Camp O'Cumberlands in Harlan County. Many of our children and youth have good friends from three or four counties away because they met at conference events. Most of our churches send youth and leaders to conference youth programs.

Our churches share common areas for strategic ministry, such as response to the drug abuse epidemic and programs for education and improving awareness of self-worth. Many youth have responded wonderfully over the past few years to the simple sharing of the invitation of Jesus Christ, God's love, which accompanies caring relationships, youth witnessing to youth, and leaders who are model disciples. We can experience that God is doing great things in our midst. We are cooperating with God to be true and effective disciples. It makes a difference.    

Is being a pastor in the Red Bird Missionary Conference different from serving in other conferences?

There are some differences. Advancement is more of a spiritual matter. Most of our pastors, I believe, would not only claim to be called into pastoral ministry, but to be called or led by God into ministry in Appalachia through the Red Bird Missionary Conference. Salaries are equalized, by and large, and are at or below the minimum salary level of other United Methodist conferences. There is a difference of about $1,000 between local pastor and elder salary levels. There are small differences due to years of service.

Not everyone spends a career here, but many do. We have local persons and persons from other conferences appointed as pastors in our churches. We have no "plum" appointments, other than finding oneself in a ministry where God is blessing you to be. We are gratified by bearing fruit, meeting needs, changing lives ... and in that, I trust, we are like our brothers and sisters in Christ everywhere!

As in other rural areas our pastors and churches reach into the community to provide care, friendship, and assistance. A unique aspect of our work in the missionary conference is that we receive missionary support through Advance gifts from around the country (RBMC Church and Outreach Centers -- Advance Special #773978.) This helps pay the salaries of pastors for churches that cannot afford them. We have insufficient churches in our conference from which to draw equitable salary monies, so this is an imperative. None of our churches are wealthy, but most all of them are very good stewards.

Not only have we exhibited membership growth, we are a denominational leader in per capita mission giving! If conferences with wealthy churches committed themselves to supplementing the smaller rural churches within their borders, and provided longer pastorates by persons called to rural (or urban) ministry, they too would discover that church growth can happen in rural (or urban) areas.

Did growth in 2004 occur as a result of starting new churches or growth in older congregations?

Growth in 2004 happened in previously existing congregations. Our most recent new church was chartered in 1994. Previous to that, community ministry/Christian education outreach centers that subsequently developed into worshiping communities were established in Clay, Lee, and Harlan Counties in 1970, 1983, and 1990. These four congregations have contributed to our growth trend.

What causes churches to grow in your conference?

Factors like these:

1)  Mission-minded pastors committed to grow where they are planted. The effect of a long term witness in the community by a faithful capable pastor is powerful.

2) Support from the General Church for the type of work we do in our field of service.

3) Growth in the discipleship of the clergy and laity.

4) All pastors are equal colleagues.

5) Equipping and mentoring the laity.

6) Caring for the least and lost.

7) Cooperation and spiritual accountability among pastors.

8) Openly sharing the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ in various situations.

9) Being mission-minded.

10) Prayer.

What can other conferences learn from the Red Bird Missionary Conference?

Many things. Come visit us. (606) 598-5915.

Our thanks to Rev. Jack for this conversation, but more importantly for his ministry and the ministry of his family. Sounds like we ought to visit and learn.

Internet shoppers may also be interested in the Red Bird Mission Craft Store where you can find a variety  of crafts from a  grasshopper pull toy to a cornshuck angel.

Comments

[Andy B.]

That is a very enlightening snapshot. What does "All pastors are equal colleagues" mean exactly?
Wondering,
Andy B.

[Chuck Jack]

I'm not sure there is an exact meaning to that. Of course we comply with the UM Book of Discipline. We have a healthy mix of local pastors and elders from various conferences, but we are colleagues in a wholesome thorough way. We regard one another as equal partners in ministry. We mentor one another on an equal footing; elders and local pastors taking the lead according to experience, graces, gifts and God's leading. Differences of status, benefits, and opportunities are minimized. I think all of our red bird missionary conference pastors share this perception. When I listen to local pastors from some other areas, for instance during the break in a Course of Study class, when they get talking, I realize this is not the case everywhere.

[Revwilly]

Conference grow when local church grow. Local church grow because they are led by capable pastors. In the UMC we apparently have few pastors who are capable of growing churches. Right?

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