The Future of the Pepperdine Bible Lectures

Starting mid-May 2012, Mike Cope will be the new director of the Pepperdine Bible Lectures. See his post on this at preachermike.com. Mike's a great choice to follow the irreplaceable Dr. Jerry Rushford. Mike will carry the torch well, but he will undoubtedly do some new things.

Mike's asking people for their thoughts about the Bible Lectures. He's a collaborator, and this quality is awesome. Some have attended the Lectures for decades and can offer more insight than I can. I've maybe been to six: three since I moved here to Fresno and three while I was doing campus ministry in West Virginia. 

Here's what I wrote in response to Mike's request for input:

I appreciate the geographical diversity of the Bible Lectures. Niches exist for almost every segment. When I was ministering in West Virginia, I would go to Pepperdine and see like-minded people from my region. It was in Malibu of all places where I was able to develop and deepen relationships with people who shared in my unique ministry challenges and opportunities. That’s such an amazing and unique aspect of the Bible Lectures.

The other side of the coin is that the rise of the Pepperdine Bible Lectures is in direct contrast to the decline of West Coast Churches of Christ. There are all kinds of reasons for this of course. Perhaps the biggest factor was the fact that many California churches were actually transplanted Oklahoma churches. They never made the leap of contextualization. A couple churches here still seem to thrive with that model, but most are dying. Others have painfully or unsuccessfully tried to make the leap to becoming a California church. Good things are happening in some churches, but there are many sad stories. Some great people are here out West trying to make a difference, but the obstacles are huge.

Mike makes the great comment that Pepperdine allowed a freedom of thought & experience that blessed so many people. It’s almost as if the Bible Lectures have been a think-tank, an experimentation lab where we could see new things. I’m not sure, though, how much this has directly helped West Coast churches up to this point.

But what if the Bible Lectures took it up a notch? The West Coast needs more than good worship and entertaining speakers. In truth, all Churches of Christ need more than that. If Baby Boomers don’t figure that out soon, they’ll be fewer and fewer young people in churches everywhere.

I’m personally optimistic about the future, but the time for deconstructing our heritage is over. We have to think and act strategically. In this regard, California provides the fertile breeding grounds for “experimental” work. Many of us here in California have moved way beyond the battles of the 80s and 90s. We need leaders who partner more broadly with folks outside our own “denominational walls” to construct something that will last more than another generation or two. So why not bring in a major speaker or two each year from outside our flock? Not just to tickle our fancy but to help us see God’s unveiling future and to inspire us to work toward it. The West Coast needs it. And I’m guessing that all our churches ultimately need it.

Good luck & God bless.