Trying to gauge opinion from COGOPers

[EagerBeaver]

I've posed a simple yet loaded question on my personal website that I want to gauge a nationwide opinion to, from those currently and formerly attending a COGOP church.

http://www.chris-brewer.com/2009/10/sol ... -cogopers/

Simply put, I asked this question:

Does your local COGOP church promote state/regional events over local events and networking with other congregations in your community? If so, how does this benefit or detract from your church’s effectiveness in your community in which it resides?

If possible, I'd like to ask anyone who would to click the above link to my site and answer the question however you feel led in the comments page there. If you'd like to double-post there and here, that's cool too.

Reason I'm asking for comments on my site about this question is so other COGOPers who don't visit J2 but happen upon my blog can see it and also throw their opinions in as well.

Thanks for the help.

[RamboPreacher]

promote state/regional events _OVER_ local ones? no.

The question is leading, in my opinion, and perhaps assuming something. Our local church promotes local congregation and local events and networking much, much more than the regional ones. why? there are fewer regional events, than we have locally. As for equal or greater promotion per event, the promotions are equivalent. the slight exception might be for International Assembly, we tend to promote that a bit more, in comparison, to local/regional events. or at least for a longer period of time.

[EagerBeaver]

promote state/regional events _OVER_ local ones? no.

The question is leading, in my opinion, and perhaps assuming something. Our local church promotes local congregation and local events and networking much, much more than the regional ones. why? there are fewer regional events, than we have locally. As for equal or greater promotion per event, the promotions are equivalent. the slight exception might be for International Assembly, we tend to promote that a bit more, in comparison, to local/regional events. or at least for a longer period of time.

Maybe instead of the word OVER, I could have used MORE THAN or MORE OFTEN THAN.

[Pastor Gary]

promote state/regional events _OVER_ local ones? no.

The question is leading, in my opinion, and perhaps assuming something. Our local church promotes local congregation and local events and networking much, much more than the regional ones. why? there are fewer regional events, than we have locally. As for equal or greater promotion per event, the promotions are equivalent. the slight exception might be for International Assembly, we tend to promote that a bit more, in comparison, to local/regional events. or at least for a longer period of time.

Maybe instead of the word OVER, I could have used MORE THAN or MORE OFTEN THAN.

Well, let's look at this through the eyes of a typical denominational church pastor. He answers to an Overseer and depends to an extent upon the approval and judgment of that Overseer for his continued pastorate.

When that Overseer sponsors and event or promotes an event, let's face it, that Overseer looks around at the event to see who shows up, and to see which pastors have encouraged their people to attend. It's human nature.

So, since everyone's favorite radio station is WII-FM (What's In It For Me) pastors will tend to promote and boost events that make them look better to their leaders, and will advance their prospects of being seen as a "team player."

Local events in cooperation with other churches across denominational lines might actually strengthen their local churches more and lead to more growth, so it is a conundrum, isn't it? Rock/hard place. It's kind of a systemic problem, and not just in our denomination.

[Billy n NC]

Chris, I do not think that it has been over more or instead of local events as much as it has been In Conjunction with...

I will say that I have been living in the central part of our state and very close to where a lot of state functions take place.. Its easier for us to participate with state functions than some.


A good plan for a church would be to really consider for there church people the state/regional events when they start planning there local events.

Here in our state our state office has tried very hard to plan state events 10-12 months out. I am already including several events here in NC that will not take place till Jan and March of 2010 in my announcement slides on Sunday AM.

We knew the dates for next summer Youth camps back in August.

One thing that has always bugged me was to go to a planned state event and find out that nobody from a church has come to the event because the Pastor had scheduled an event on the same day as the state event even scheduling revivals etc during a state sponsored event for the youth etc ..

That's just my $.02..

[MacUser]

Well, let's look at this through the eyes of a typical denominational church pastor. He answers to an Overseer and depends to an extent upon the approval and judgment of that Overseer for his continued pastorate.

When that Overseer sponsors and event or promotes an event, let's face it, that Overseer looks around at the event to see who shows up, and to see which pastors have encouraged their people to attend. It's human nature.

So, since everyone's favorite radio station is WII-FM (What's In It For Me) pastors will tend to promote and boost events that make them look better to their leaders, and will advance their prospects of being seen as a "team player."

Local events in cooperation with other churches across denominational lines might actually strengthen their local churches more and lead to more growth, so it is a conundrum, isn't it? Rock/hard place. It's kind of a systemic problem, and not just in our denomination.

Thanks PG. The honesty is refreshing.

Don't forget to add the local Church leadership (ownership?) into the mix. If the Pastor isn't also promoting / internally approving of the local established group ( using funds / resources) as it relates to "local team players also advancing for higher positions/perks" then they express that to the Overseer also. Thus the religious circle continues.

Clear as mud? Exactly.