Much has been written and said about the federation’s structure and sustainable organization here at bcc.no in recent years. But in the middle of the flow of information, it can be useful to stop and reflect on where the development. Eivind Johnsen, who works as a lawyer for the Assembly’s secretariat , did so when he held a presentation for all the members Tuesday night.
Can everyone agree?
Earlier at the conference, Elder Kåre J. Smith had said that our church is for those who long for the same life that Jesus lived:- The church is a disciple revival; we are not a church for the general public.
In the Magazine broadcast, Smith and and Bjørn Nilsen discussed how differences of opinion and disagreement are handled in a church, which has unity as its aim. Even if we have the same goal, the Bible does not say much about practical things and organization, and that leaves room for a healthy culture.
– It is not as if one always has thought exactly alike, said Bjørn Nilsen with a smile on his face, when he was asked if he always agreed with the community’s decisions.
– But the thing is; when the decision has been made, then it is made. That’s the end of the discussion. Then, as one, we stand up for the cause.
And precisely unity is a key word in BCC.
In a time when both nations and coalitions are experiencing division and conflict, there is more than ever a need to demonstrate the unity that Jesus prays for in John’s Gospel 17.
– Spiritually, we must be one body. Organizationally, we shall be one federation, that is to say: we have the same basis of faith, the same purpose, the same profile, the same board of Elders and Assembly of Representatives, said Eivind Johnsen, after presenting the four strategic goals of the BCC Federation. The strategic plan will be discussed and processed in the meeting of the Assembly of Representatives this month.
The BCC Federation’s strategic goals:
- We shall be one church
- We must have a strong and sustainable access to resources
- We must have purpose-efficient organizations locally and centrally
- We will build a protection around our activities.
As Johnsen pointed out at the end, it is difficult to predict where we will be in 10 years, and to what extent we will achieve our goals. But for us, the success factor is that there is even more unity both in organizational structures and the spiritual fellowship, and that we can run our Christian activities efficiently and sustainably in line with the rights that society gives us.
I pray that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in Me and I in you, that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You have sent Me, and the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one, just as We are one: I in them and You in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
John’s Gospel 17, 21-23
