The national leader of the Baptist Union of New Zealand has told delegates at the church’s annual assembly that it is an unbelievably difficult time to be in Christian ministry.
“No doubt similar comments have been made in previous generations but I think the heat is rising,” the leader of the BUNZ, the Rev. Brian Winslade, told delegates gathered for the assembly earlier in the month.Rev. Winslade said: “In our post-modern Western world, a massive shift has occurred away from historical spirituality. Church is no longer the moral conscience of a nation.
They once built towns around churches; nowadays they’re regarded as irrelevant in town planning agendas, let alone a respected voice in society.”
The BUNZ leader also highlighted the difficulty facing many pastors in caring for the young men of their congregation in an age of sexual promiscuity.
“Sexual promiscuity is not new to our age, but the degree to which the opportunity assails us is very new and insidious. Nudity on TV, billboards, bus shelters and printed media is pervasive, to say nothing of the availability of explicit porn on the internet, he said.In our post-modern Western world, a massive shift has occurred away from historical spirituality.
Rev. Brian Winslade, leader of BUNZ
“The number of men in our churches living with unresolved guilt and a sense of failure over issues of sexual impurity is pandemic.”
Rev. Winslade attributed part of the blame to the moral-failure of certain high-profile Christian leaders who have not helped the Christian image.
He also criticised the many churches that practise ageism at the neglect of older pastors and their acquired wisdom.
The BUNZ leader remains optimistic about the future, however, predicting that the Christian Church will experience positive changes and find a ‘new paradigm of normality’ as Western Christianity approaches a ‘second Reformation’.
He advised members of the Church to love and support the pastors amid the ongoing conflicts.
Amid the seas of change I offer a call for encouragement towards those who render pastoral leadership in our churches. There are numerous and conflicting currents flowing through the church and our pastors need to know they are loved and supported,” said Rev Winslade.
”If you doubt that is important, stop and consider whether you would like their job. Maybe a word of appreciation or an encouraging hug (or perhaps even a special love-gift) might go a long way towards keeping those at the coalface of change focused for the years that lie ahead.”
