Birmingham Slick Church

Birmingham City Church I passed while in that large metropolis in the winter, on my way to the Coffin Museum. Like most urban Pentecostal congregations, it has become a largely black church, its numbers swollen by immigration, while predominantly white churches have largely shrunk or merely stabilised. Its building was closed, so I could only admire it from without. I noted from its website that it has a number of positions in addition to its eldership which would have raised eyebrows a few years ago:

Head of Worship

Head of Operations

Head of Administration

Head of Production

Head of Youth Ministry

Head of Finance

Lots of Heads, and lots to head up. I do not know if these are paid positions, nor whether they are part or fulltime. Sometimes I regret the professionalisation of Christian ministry, but then I also regret the some of the amateurish, half-baked, cheap-jack goings-on which pass for Christian service. Whatever the number of Heads and managers we have, knowing we are answerable to Christ Jesus, the Head of the Church and the One to whom all shall give account, may we serve with greater diligence and care.

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. Colossians 1:18

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