On the morning that I am writing these words, both presidential candidates plan to host a “Town Hall Meeting” this evening at separate places and times. Political discourse often involves candidates and pundits repeating their talking points, but rarely do you find genuine listening taking place. It appears that as a culture we view listening and learning as a weakness. Even if a candidate knows that he or she doesn’t know all they need to know, they dare not show any weakness for fear that it would be twisted and used against them.  

For almost 10 years, we have held Town Halls at Bethany Place, but they bear little resemblance to a political event. So, what is a Bethany Place Town Hall? Why do we hold them? And who should come?  

The New Testament writers describe the church as a body, a building, a flock of sheep, and a peculiar people. Each one reveals an important perspective about what a church is to be and do. But the image most relevant to our version of a Town Hall is that the church is like a family. 

In an ideal family, members know they belong, they know that their well-being matters to all the other members, and they are included in discussions about important matters. This of course describes an ideal family and just like a family that lives together may struggle to make these family values a reality, so every church will wrestle to be what God calls it to be. Most of us struggle in one way or another with our genuine worth to the world and we are prone to listen to the lies of Satan that say, “those people don’t care about you, they don’t value your wisdom, or they don’t care about what you think. ” Any such thoughts do not come from the Holy Spirit. Satan’s primary strategy is to isolate us. He lies to us constantly to keep us apart. 

We design our Town Halls then to be opportunities to talk with one another while displaying the fruit of the spirit. Of course, we will never do that perfectly but that must be our prayer and desire. So, we gather in a Town Hall to hear about new initiatives and ask questions to help us to know how to pray that we might seek God’s leadership together.  

Ephesians 4 provides several instructions that give shape to how we proceed: 

• In verse one Paul says we are to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called. He says this to all believers. 
• Verse two says that we proceed with all humility and gentleness with patience, bearing with one another in love. 

• Verse three says that we are to be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 
• Verse 11 makes clear that God assigns leaders to equip every member of the body of Christ for the work of ministry. No one is to be left out. 
• And verse 13 states that we are to stay at this, “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.” 

That’s a tall order for a family gathering but that’s what God has called us to and it’s what I ask you to pray with me as we pursue this together. And I do mean together. The family meeting will not be complete without you.

In Christ, 

Gene