Warning for Baptists

Press, 31 October 1981, Page 3

Warning for Baptists

PA Dunedin Religious leaders attending the ninety-ninth assembly of the Baptist Union of New Zealand in Dunedin yesterday were warned not to be pressured into becoming stage managers of “religious Xanadus.” -

In the union sermon, the Rev. W. J. M. McGregor (Auckland), told the 300 Baptist ministers and lay people that God sought compassionate and honest leadership today. “In a day of the visual and media technical excellence, when the ‘consumer worship-, per’: moves about seeking colour and excitement — they call it life — we must beware as leaders we aren’t pressured into becoming stage managers of ‘religious Xanadus,’ ecclesiastical man-aging-directors of growing complexes and staffs, religious technicians manipulating spiritual moods, and salesmen with an anxious eye on a good annual. return,” Mr McGregor said. Leaders were primarily to proclaim the Word fearlessly, he said. Their leadership needed to be faithful, ?«-. compassionate, and honest, considerate and prophetic. ; The church that God sought today should have the “full harmony of a spiritual quartet — God,' pastor, leaders, and people."