Rick Warren (born 1954) is one of the most well known pastors in the USA and the whole world. His books, particularly The Purpose Driven Life , have sold millions of copies worldwide. He now ministers at Saddleback Community Church, which has about 25,000 members, in Southern California. There are satellite fellowships in many states and Warren's literature and programmes are used in many countries.
Rick Warren's non-denominational church growth teaching has been adopted by evangelical groups, churches and fellowships to train and equip disciples. I remember a number of Baptist churches in the Eastern Baptist Association, particularly in Essex, promoted by the late Reverend David Beer, used Purpose Driven Church study materials to help members and potential members to go through a process of membership, ministry, maturity and mission. It was originally designed for participants to establishment their church commitment, develop and discover a ministry, become spiritually mature and eventually engage in mission and delivering the course to others. By the end of the course they were expected to be ready to train new participants and reach the wider community.
David Beer was a fully accredited Baptist minister in the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB), who sat on ministerial recognition/selection committees. He held conferences and study days to convince pastors, fellowship leaders and clergymen that the Purpose Driven approach would bring church growth and draw people in from well outside the church.
Among Baptist churches various problems began to emerge. Course participants who had successfully completed the membership component would expect to be recognized as church members, with full voting rights etc. The course, it seemed, conferred membership, provided the course participants agree to the terms and conditions clearly outlined in the course process. Giving, regular attendance and willingness to participate in church activities were obligatory. This novel arrangement went completely against Baptist practice, principles and procedures. I will deal with Rick's theology, rather than his church planting teaching in Part 2.
Baptist churches, according to the BUGB, maintain that it is for the church membership to decide who becomes a member, subject to a vote at a church members' meeting. No course, membership process or study programme can, therefore, permit or grant membership without the direct and final decision of the church membership, who must vote on the candidacy at a meeting. It is usual practise for membership candidates to apply for membership by contacting the appropriate church officer and then be interviewed by two appointed church members authorized by the church meeting. Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Church course bypasses the church meeting and interview process, and it ultimately undermines the authority of the church meeting. The scrutiny of church members is regarded as a good and necessary check and balance; it can bring to light moral, financial, social, doctrinal and lifestyle issues which may reveal that the candidate is unsuitable for full membership.
This should prevent a criminal or dishonest character joining a Purpose Driven membership course and after completion, having covered up their crimes and misdemeanours, demanding membership because they have successfully met course requirements and ticked all the boxes. The interview process and subsequent report by the two members to the meeting would usually reveal any unsuitability for membership. Not all crimes and misdemeanours are known, and even Baptist ministers can cloak and dissemble their wrongdoings, such as fraud, domestic violence, dishonesty and corruption.
Rick Warren's non-denominational church growth teaching has been adopted by evangelical groups, churches and fellowships to train and equip disciples. I remember a number of Baptist churches in the Eastern Baptist Association, particularly in Essex, promoted by the late Reverend David Beer, used Purpose Driven Church study materials to help members and potential members to go through a process of membership, ministry, maturity and mission. It was originally designed for participants to establishment their church commitment, develop and discover a ministry, become spiritually mature and eventually engage in mission and delivering the course to others. By the end of the course they were expected to be ready to train new participants and reach the wider community.
David Beer was a fully accredited Baptist minister in the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB), who sat on ministerial recognition/selection committees. He held conferences and study days to convince pastors, fellowship leaders and clergymen that the Purpose Driven approach would bring church growth and draw people in from well outside the church.
Among Baptist churches various problems began to emerge. Course participants who had successfully completed the membership component would expect to be recognized as church members, with full voting rights etc. The course, it seemed, conferred membership, provided the course participants agree to the terms and conditions clearly outlined in the course process. Giving, regular attendance and willingness to participate in church activities were obligatory. This novel arrangement went completely against Baptist practice, principles and procedures. I will deal with Rick's theology, rather than his church planting teaching in Part 2.
Baptist churches, according to the BUGB, maintain that it is for the church membership to decide who becomes a member, subject to a vote at a church members' meeting. No course, membership process or study programme can, therefore, permit or grant membership without the direct and final decision of the church membership, who must vote on the candidacy at a meeting. It is usual practise for membership candidates to apply for membership by contacting the appropriate church officer and then be interviewed by two appointed church members authorized by the church meeting. Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Church course bypasses the church meeting and interview process, and it ultimately undermines the authority of the church meeting. The scrutiny of church members is regarded as a good and necessary check and balance; it can bring to light moral, financial, social, doctrinal and lifestyle issues which may reveal that the candidate is unsuitable for full membership.
This should prevent a criminal or dishonest character joining a Purpose Driven membership course and after completion, having covered up their crimes and misdemeanours, demanding membership because they have successfully met course requirements and ticked all the boxes. The interview process and subsequent report by the two members to the meeting would usually reveal any unsuitability for membership. Not all crimes and misdemeanours are known, and even Baptist ministers can cloak and dissemble their wrongdoings, such as fraud, domestic violence, dishonesty and corruption.
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