Ministerial and Church Alliance

            Since coming to Payette, Carol and I have enjoyed wonderful fellowship and acceptance in our church family.  It has been such a joy to serve First Baptist as your pastor and wife; especially, with Carol being so loved and accepted by you all!

            Also, since being the “new kid on the block” I have been privileged to bring the message at the Community Thanksgiving service last November.  That was a great honor.

Then, elections rolled around and guess who got elected president of the Payette Ministerial Association?  Yep, yours truly (I’m still trying to get the license plate of the truck than ran over me!).  All kidding aside, this is another honor for me.  In reflecting on the alliance we form as churches in Payette, the considerations of doctrinal differences and practices always surface.  Some feel they cannot align with us for various doctrinal or personal issues.  That is okay with me and it is hard to argue against those things.

            When I speak with other pastors about the ministerial group in town, I try to point out a quote that applies from long ago.  It goes like this:  “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”   I like this because it makes clear what essentials we are talking about as believers in Christ.  Most protestant congregations embrace The Apostles Creed adopted in ancient times clarifying the essentials of faith for us.

            Over the years of my ministry it has become apparent to me that most of us are closer together on basic doctrinal issues than some like to think.  The Virgin Birth, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and Eternal Life for the believer are the basic doctrinal issues.  Why do I write about this?  We are in a crucial time when the fellowship(s) of believers in Jesus Christ are going to have to give witness together of our faith and hope.  It doesn’t mean that we abandon our liberties but that we practice charity towards one another in a bond of peace.

            Each pastor in our community is dedicated and given to obedience to the Lord to shepherd, train, and give the Word of God to their congregations.  I feel honored to be a part of this dedicated group of leaders in the work of the Lord here in Payette.  We all know there is a wide harvest field in our midst to invest in.

Yours for a great March,

Pastor Duane Vaughn