Carey Ministry Conference 2020 Q&A and Session 6

After an afternoon off we gathered again for a useful question and answer session with most of the main speakers. Then after dinner David Magowan spoke on growing in our love for Christ mainly from John 21. He had some nice illustrations including that of a marriage that may cool and need to be rekindled and of a dying fire being brought back to life. There was also the cruise control state we can too easily be in as ministers and the circle of concrete that used to be found at RAF stations, where pillots would check that their compass was correctly calibrated before flying off - we too need to get back to the cross and recalibrate on a regular basis.

There was also a helpful brief quote form Paul David Tripp's Dangeroous Calling. The fuller version is as follows.

You see, it is only love for Christ that can defend the heart of the pastor against all the other loves that have the potential to kidnap his ministry. It is only worship of Christ that has the power to protect him from all the seductive idols of ministry that will whisper in his ear. It is only the glory of the risen Christ that will guard him against the self-glory that is a temptation to all who are in ministry and that destroys so many. Only Christ can turn an arrogant, “bring on the world” seminary graduate into a patient, humble giver of grace. Only deep gratitude for a suffering Savior can make a man willing to suffer in ministry. It is only a heart that is satisfied in Christ that can be spiritually content in the hardships of ministry. It is only in your brokenness in the face of your sin that you can give grace to the fellow rebels to whom God has called you to minister. It’s only when your identity is firmly rooted in Christ that you are free from seeking to get your identity out of your ministry (p. 64).

Carey Conference 2020

More here

Transgender

I was at an excellent conference today organised by the London Seminary in Finchley on the issue of transgender. The day was structured so that four specialists gave a different angle on a matter that has quickly climbed to the top of the agenda in terms of social issues facing the church at the present time. Dr Sharon James kicked us off with an introduction to the social, cultural and historical background. This was very helpful though quite disturbing in parts. Dr Peter Saunders of CMF then dealt with the medical issues. This was a more difficult paper and I was not entirely happy with everything that was said although this is possibly because of the need to use broad brushstrokes in addressing such a vast subject. His paper on Gender dysphoria was recommended (you can find that here). He himself recommended a resource (especially the conclusions) which I think is here.

After an excellent sandwich lunch the 70 or so present had another three sessions crammed between 1.45 and 4.40 pm. Simon Calvert from the Christian Institute took us through the laws on this matter, which are partly bad news and partly good. Then Durham based Dr Alastair Roberts gave us a helpful biblical theological session. We finished off with a pastoral session from Ulsterman David Magowan from Reading. He gave us a useful six point plan:

1. Understand the culture

2. Access Christian resources (Vaughan Roberts, etc)

3. Teach and preach a biblical understanding of gender

4. Discuss transgenderism with your church leadership team

5. Give advice to your welcome teams and leaders of church ministries

6. Provide compassionate pastoral care and biblical counselling

Throughout the day we had time for questions after each session and this added to the value of the day.

The messages were all recorded and can be obtained from the seminary (website here).

Friends in Wales will be interested to know that something similar will take place in Cardiff on March 25, 2017. I believe on the same day there will also be something like it going on in Stirling too.

One more useful resource is a statement of Christian ethical standards here at the Grace Assembly website. It includes all manner of items including this

XX. TRANSSEXUALISM

A Christian must not adopt a sex other than his biological sex, for example by wearing clothes appropriate only to the opposite sex; by using pronouns applicable only to the opposite sex; by using a given name associated exclusively with the opposite sex. A Christian must not use hormonal blockers, surgical alteration, or any other means in an attempt to take on the physical characteristics of the opposite sex. A Christian must not encourage any other person to relate to him or to address him as if he were a member of the opposite sex.

Gen 1:27; Deuteronomy 22:5; Psalm 139:13-16.

The usefulness of such a document is for churches to spell out where they stand on such matters before any dispute or unhappiness arises.