05/29/2026
As I sit here and think about the proposed changes to our denominations Declaration of Principles and the proposed changes to our By-Laws, I cannot help but compare it to work that I used to do. You see I was a Bi-vocational Pastor for 20 years. During this time I worked for FEMA in Florida and Louisiana, Environmental Holdings Group and Domco Technology. At first glance these seem like totally different fields, but they all have one thing in common: Demolition. Select demolition and Total structural demolition. With FEMA it was the demolition of buildings with major storm damage. At EHG we did abatement, select demolition (the removal of selected parts of a structure) and total demolition. With Domco we designed software to be used in those industries in which I had worked. When you work in demolition everyday it can seem depressing. Until you are reminded of the purpose of the demolition. While working in Cameron Parrish, LA I was reminded of this by a resident when he stated to me: “We cannot rebuild until the demolition is complete!”
As I sit here contemplating all of the major proposals facing our denomination at the coming Triennial meetings, I wonder if this is where we are. Make no mistake, the proposed DOP and Bylaw changes represent a “demolition” of our denominational structure. Maybe not a “total” demolition, but at the least a “select” demolition. A choosing of that which needs to be removed so that a new “structure” can be built in it’s place. Please understand that prior to 20 years in demolition I spent 15 years in full time Youth Ministry. As a Youth Pastor, I was the one who came into a new ministry and completely broke down the old structure and rebuilt it as I believed God led me. As one of our conference Presidents I see the new move within our denomination of replanting churches as greatly needed. But, also understand that this also involves a level of “partial” demolition of the old church before building the New. So I understand the need for “restructuring” in order to move forward with something new.
Allow me to make a couple of observations about demolition. First, demolition is dirty. It’s messy. There is nothing clean about demolition. It does not matter if it is a structure, an organization or a denomination. It is never clean. It does not matter how careful you are, there is always a mess and there is always cleanup that needs to be done.
Second, demolition is Ragged and Painful. There are sharp edges and broken things. No building ever comes apart or down in nice clean lines. There is broken wood and twisted metal. Chunks of cement. And regardless of what is being demolished (or why), someone has an emotional attachment to it:
“My grandfather built that”
“that is how we have always done it”
“it is our heritage and history”
Third, demolition creates a lot of waste. Whether you are doing a total demolition and removing a complete structure or just “select” demolition in preparation for a remodel a lot of waste is generated. The question now is, what do we do with the waste? When demolishing a structure, you would haul it to a landfill. But, with a denomination what is done with the “waste”? What will be done with that which is to be removed from the denomination? Some of that “waste” may be people or churches! What is to be done then and who will make that decision?
And this brings me to my fourth and final observation. When demolishing a structure one of the challenges is choosing what will replace it. I am reminded of standing with a lady in Plaquemines Parrish as we were demolishing her family’s ancestral home of 5 generations and she was receiving a doublewide in return. As I look at the proposed DOP I agree theologically with much of it. I do not agree with it’s Creedal tone or the implications of the opening line in the preamble. And as I have reviewed the proposed By Law changes, I understand the need for restructuring but I wonder what the replacement will look like? We can all look at the denomination and understand that drastic changes are needed, so as we together seek God’s guidance let’s make sure that whatever is decided we aren’t trading our ancestral heritage for a double-wide.
Just some thoughts from a humble Advent Christian Pastor.
