21 Mar 2025, 14:18SM CommunicationsDundee, Dundee City, Scotland, United Kingdom
Church Leaders Evaluate Church Purpose and Tackle Present-Day Challenges at Elders Symposium
Church leaders from across Scotland gathered at the biennial Elders Symposium in Dundee to explore the theme "Re-thinking the Church," discussing the church’s mission, purpose, and the importance of adapting to a changing world through foundational questions and strategic engagement with communities.
If you were wondering where your church elders were last weekend, they weren’t just enjoying a well-deserved rest! Church leaders from across Scotland gathered for the biennial Elders Symposium at Invercarse Hotel in Dundee for an engaging discussion on the church’s purpose and mission. The event, which revolved around the theme 'Re-thinking the Church: Asking Five Basic Questions Each Local Church Needs to Be Clear On,' welcomed distinguished guest speakers Dr Daniel Duda, President of the Trans-European Division (TED), and Dr Stephen Currow, Principal of Newbold College.
Duda opened his presentation with Albert Einstein’s famous quote: “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” Using the decline of 19th-century train companies as an example, he posed the critical question: “What kind of business are we in?” He explained that while trains once dominated transportation, these companies failed to adapt to emerging technologies. “If they had understood the true nature of their business, the outcome would have been different. They believed they were in the train business, not the transportation business.” Similarly, he argued, the church must recognise its true mission beyond traditional structures to stay relevant and effective in a rapidly changing world. He emphasised the importance of asking foundational questions: What is the purpose of the church? What is the church’s mission? Who are we trying to reach for Christ? What are we going to consider success? How are we going to accomplish the mission that God entrusted to us? He stressed that the church’s challenge is not simply a task problem but a process problem—moving from mere efficiency to true effectiveness by questioning why and how things are done.
The symposium also addressed Scotland’s sociological and religious landscape. With 51.1% of Scots identifying as having no religion and only 38.8% as Christian (20.4% Church of Scotland, 13.3% Roman Catholic, and 5.1% other Christians), Duda emphasised the need for churches to engage meaningfully with their communities. The discussion highlighted key challenges, including public perceptions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and faith in general, significant changes within the pastoral team, the dynamics of small churches, the influx of international members, and the church’s legalistic past and inward-focused approach.
Duda then shifted to discuss the purpose of the church, emphasising six core aspects: worship, discipleship, community, ministry, stewardship, and evangelism. He elaborated that worship is foundational, shaping the church’s identity and anchoring believers in their faith. “The first duty of a created being is to worship its Creator,” he explained. Discipleship strengthens spiritual growth, while community fosters belonging. Ministry meets practical needs, stewardship ensures sustainability, and evangelism naturally flows from a thriving church. He stressed that evangelism should not be seen as a separate effort but as the organic outcome of a healthy, mission-driven church. “People don’t come to a building; they come to an experience,” he noted, urging leaders to rethink their approaches to church engagement.
Currow explored the cycle of the church, describing how churches go through various experiences and shifts depending on dominant culture, generational changes, and external influences. He noted that some churches thrive in certain historical and cultural contexts but struggle to adapt as societal dynamics evolve. He encouraged leaders to recognise these cycles and prepare for inevitable transitions by remaining mission-focused and adaptable. Churches that fail to rethink their approach risk stagnation or decline not because they lack faith but because they become too attached to past successes. Currow emphasised the importance of understanding these shifts to remain relevant and effective in ministry.
An interactive Q&A session allowed attendees to discuss real-world applications of these concepts. Participants considered practical ways to measure success beyond numerical growth—focusing instead on transformed lives, community engagement, and fulfilling the mission God entrusted to the church. A key takeaway was the importance of stepping outside traditional comfort zones to engage in activities that genuinely benefit others.
The event provided a platform for church leaders to reflect, discuss, and network, equipping them to navigate the complexities of modern ministry. The call to action was clear—rethinking is not about predicting the future but about preparing for it by asking the right questions today. Leaders were challenged to re-evaluate their priorities, ensuring that the church remains a dynamic force for good in an ever-changing world.
Church leaders from across Scotland gathered at the biennial Elders Symposium in Dundee to explore the theme "Re-thinking the Church," discussing the church’s mission, purpose, and the importance of adapting to a changing world through foundational questions and strategic engagement with communities.
If you were wondering where your church elders were last weekend, they weren’t just enjoying a well-deserved rest! Church leaders from across Scotland gathered for the biennial Elders Symposium at Invercarse Hotel in Dundee for an engaging discussion on the church’s purpose and mission. The event, which revolved around the theme 'Re-thinking the Church: Asking Five Basic Questions Each Local Church Needs to Be Clear On,' welcomed distinguished guest speakers Dr Daniel Duda, President of the Trans-European Division (TED), and Dr Stephen Currow, Principal of Newbold College.
Duda opened his presentation with Albert Einstein’s famous quote: “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” Using the decline of 19th-century train companies as an example, he posed the critical question: “What kind of business are we in?” He explained that while trains once dominated transportation, these companies failed to adapt to emerging technologies. “If they had understood the true nature of their business, the outcome would have been different. They believed they were in the train business, not the transportation business.” Similarly, he argued, the church must recognise its true mission beyond traditional structures to stay relevant and effective in a rapidly changing world. He emphasised the importance of asking foundational questions: What is the purpose of the church? What is the church’s mission? Who are we trying to reach for Christ? What are we going to consider success? How are we going to accomplish the mission that God entrusted to us? He stressed that the church’s challenge is not simply a task problem but a process problem—moving from mere efficiency to true effectiveness by questioning why and how things are done.
The symposium also addressed Scotland’s sociological and religious landscape. With 51.1% of Scots identifying as having no religion and only 38.8% as Christian (20.4% Church of Scotland, 13.3% Roman Catholic, and 5.1% other Christians), Duda emphasised the need for churches to engage meaningfully with their communities. The discussion highlighted key challenges, including public perceptions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and faith in general, significant changes within the pastoral team, the dynamics of small churches, the influx of international members, and the church’s legalistic past and inward-focused approach.
Duda then shifted to discuss the purpose of the church, emphasising six core aspects: worship, discipleship, community, ministry, stewardship, and evangelism. He elaborated that worship is foundational, shaping the church’s identity and anchoring believers in their faith. “The first duty of a created being is to worship its Creator,” he explained. Discipleship strengthens spiritual growth, while community fosters belonging. Ministry meets practical needs, stewardship ensures sustainability, and evangelism naturally flows from a thriving church. He stressed that evangelism should not be seen as a separate effort but as the organic outcome of a healthy, mission-driven church. “People don’t come to a building; they come to an experience,” he noted, urging leaders to rethink their approaches to church engagement.
Currow explored the cycle of the church, describing how churches go through various experiences and shifts depending on dominant culture, generational changes, and external influences. He noted that some churches thrive in certain historical and cultural contexts but struggle to adapt as societal dynamics evolve. He encouraged leaders to recognise these cycles and prepare for inevitable transitions by remaining mission-focused and adaptable. Churches that fail to rethink their approach risk stagnation or decline not because they lack faith but because they become too attached to past successes. Currow emphasised the importance of understanding these shifts to remain relevant and effective in ministry.
An interactive Q&A session allowed attendees to discuss real-world applications of these concepts. Participants considered practical ways to measure success beyond numerical growth—focusing instead on transformed lives, community engagement, and fulfilling the mission God entrusted to the church. A key takeaway was the importance of stepping outside traditional comfort zones to engage in activities that genuinely benefit others.
The event provided a platform for church leaders to reflect, discuss, and network, equipping them to navigate the complexities of modern ministry. The call to action was clear—rethinking is not about predicting the future but about preparing for it by asking the right questions today. Leaders were challenged to re-evaluate their priorities, ensuring that the church remains a dynamic force for good in an ever-changing world.
