It's the Network!

In January, a motion prevailed at Presbytery that the Alaska District Council would be known as the Alaska Ministry Network. You may find yourself scratching your head, wondering why such a change is necessary. In this post, I will suggest what it means to operate as a network.

I have had opportunities to ask a few younger ministers in Alaska what comes to mind when they think of “the District.” Answers usually include connotations of centralized authority, voting, or unfamiliarity with what exactly a District is. Let’s be honest, when we are talking about the District, many are thinking about the people working at 1048 W International Airport Rd, or perhaps a Presbyter. Webster’s definition of a district is, “a territorial division, as for electoral or administrative purposes.” The District is thought of as “them,” or the existing leadership structure.

Websters defines a Network as “a fabric or structure of cords or wires that cross at regular intervals and are knotted or secured at the crossings; an interconnected or interrelated chain, group, or system.” Simply put, the Network is “us.”

To function as a Network, we must first be relationally connected. Have you ever attempted to print something from your computer, only to realize that the printer was disconnected from the network? The Network works best when all components are connected. The biblical record is very clear that ministry is meant to happen together. When you are not plugged in, you are not connected to the strength of the network.

A Network shares resources. When Paul experienced financial need, the church in Philippi chose to share their financial resources with him. This concept is prevalent throughout the Bible. Resources would encompass both financial resources and human resources. If you have someone in your piece of the network who has a preaching or teaching gift, why not share that gift with other churches occasionally, especially a church in need of a preacher? This requires a shift from a mentality of building up our little piece of the network to building the Kingdom.

A Network embraces diversity in ethnicity and style. The great thing about an office network is that you can hook up several types of machines, and they will work. The Alaska Ministry Network is greatly strengthened by ethnic diversity. We are incredibly blessed to have brothers and sisters from multiple ethnic groups who bring valuable contributions to the Network. We are also privileged to have many different styles of ministry represented in the Alaska Ministry Network. This helps to broaden the network and allows us to reach more people in Alaska.

The Network is not simply a name change. It is a metaphor to help us understand how we should operate, similar to the metaphor of “the body” given by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12. I believe this is the concept our forefathers envisioned when they coined the term, “voluntary cooperative fellowship.” Let us work together in the harvest fields of Alaska to fulfill the Great Commission until He returns.

~Brad Kesler