Preachers: coming or going?

Why are ministers going to North America and why should they think of staying here? Ken Brownell has investigated this pressing question...

I have been thinking about writing this for some time. Every so often we hear of a good minister leaving this country and moving to North America. When recently I heard that two very well-known ministers are planning to do just that, I decided the time has come. Because I am an American, but have lived here for 27 years, I may be able to say what a Briton could not without sounding like sour grapes.

Need in the UK

Of course the movement of ministers from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland is nothing new. John Cotton joined the Puritan migration to New England in the 1630s, as did many others. The names of well-known ministers who have gone to North America in the 20th century is a long one: W.H. Griffith Thomas, John Murray, Stephen Olford, Glyn Owen, J.I. Packer, Philip Hughes, Stuart Briscoe, Bruce Milne, Alistair Begg, to name but a few. Institutions such as Regent College in Vancouver, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Westminster Seminary have attracted British theologians.

I suspect that statistically the outflow of ministers from the UK is not very significant. Of course there are North Americans who come here, but without wanting to denigrate my compatriots and Canadians I think it is fair to say that the traffic in eminent ministers is generally one way. I am sure that most readers can think of very gifted men who have gone to North America. For that reason I think the time has come to ask whether this really should be happening. The need in the United Kingdom is so great that we require our best men here. We cannot afford to have able preachers, pastors, theologians and evangelists leaving Britain at such a critical time.

US attractions

Why do able ministers go to North America? I am sure that if you asked them they would say that the Lord has called them to go. While no one can finally judge the callings of others, we can ask how they came to the conclusion that they were being led to North America? Let me suggest several attractions.

* There are great opportunities for ministry there that are hardly possible here. Anyone who has visited a large city centre or suburban American church will know something of the physical facilities, financial resources and sheer numbers of people that afford ministry opportunities only dreamt of in the UK. The same can be said of the theological seminaries. Radio ministries are not uncommon. The larger US constituency gives more scope.

* There is a more positive feel about North American Christianity. Americans are generally optimists and that is reflected in much church life. Such an environment makes ministry more pleasant.

* The practical, 'can-do' mentality of Americans is very appealing. It is well known that in many areas of life Americans don't penalise failure. There is generally a greater willingness to try things out and experiment. Historically this has been seen in the way American churches have adapted to the culture in order to evangelise it. Of course, some have gone too far and compromised, but no one can doubt that in the 20th century and perhaps earlier, American Christianity has been far more effective evangelistically than British Christianity.

* American Christianity is more culturally central and formative than in Britain. Therefore ministering in such an environment seems to have greater impact. Not surprisingly, American ministers have more social status than they do in the UK.

* Let's be honest, the lifestyle can be very pleasant. Sitting on the porch of a big New England manse with an enormous yard full of towering elm trees can make a minister in a small house on an estate in old England a little bit envious.

Negatives at home

For these and other reasons ministry in North America is appealing. But what are some of the reasons why people don't find ministry in the UK attractive? To some extent these are almost a mirror image of why people find ministry in North America so attractive.

* There are generally far fewer opportunities for ministry here. The constituencies are smaller, churches are smaller, the broadcasting media is virtually closed to gospel ministry, finance is tighter and much else.

* Sadly, there is a negative feel about much British Christianity. There are great exceptions to this, but it true of many churches. This negative feel is not surprising when we consider how much Christianity has shrunk in the UK in the 20th century. Churches see relatively few conversions and just about hold their own numerically. And speaking as an unashamedly Reformed evangelical I must say that there is something particularly negative about that constituency in this country. In part this is due to a loveless love of criticising others (i.e. the recent Praise debate) and in part what I call revivalistic pessimism (i.e.. nothing much good can happen until revival comes).

* There is also in many churches a 'can't do' mentality that is infuriating. The last thing some leadership teams or members want is to try something new or to experiment. This is particularly the case with evangelism. Mistakes can be made in trying to reach people with the gospel, but surely it is better to try something and fail than to do nothing or perpetuate approaches that are not working any more.

* British Christianity is on the cultural margins of our society. The sad truth is that evangelicals don't really matter and can be ignored. So no matter how strongly we would like to speak out about something not many are listening. Related to this is the low social status of ministers who are more an object of ridicule than respect.

* The lifestyle of British ministers is sometimes grim with low stipends, poor accommodation and few opportunities for enjoying things such theatre, concerts and nice holidays. This is not universally true and my own church cannot be censured, but I know too many situations for churches to be complacent. Church life can be tough if not brutal and there is a small-mindedness of some church officers and members that beggars belief. And what some churches expect wives to put up with is reprehensible. Could this be part of the reason we don't see more blessing?

Having said all this, I would still say that there are good reasons for staying am ministering in the UK that anyone considering a call to ministry in North America should take into account.

* In terms of world missions Britain is a much more exciting place to be than North America. The world is coming to the UK. People may complain about bogus refugees and the number of people trying to come here to live, but what a glorious opportunity for the gospel! Of course this is true in some parts of North America as well, but I think that ministry here has much greater global reach than almost anywhere else in the world. For example, the average evangelical church here is far more likely than one in the US to be able to reach international students. Not only so, but we are part of Europe which has become the world's most needy mission field. And one of the good things about being marginalised is that relatively few people now know anything about Christianity and are increasingly open to finding out. A group of American young people that spent a week with my church a few years ago were excited at actually being able to share the gospel with real pagans. Who would want to spend years ministering to well-heeled suburban Americans (although someone has to) when we have such a challenge in our own country and on our doorstep.

* With all the 'can-do' mentality and adaptability of American churches, there is a depth in British conservative evangelical (Reformed?) churches that is a great plus. As an American I can repeat the adage that Christianity in America is 3000 miles wide and an inch deep. That is of course a gross injustice to many fine churches, but there is an element of truth in it. In particular preaching can be pretty light. It is far easier to find an expository preaching ministry in the UK than in the US. That may be an argument for sending good preachers to the US, but I would encourage my fellow countrymen to get down to hard work of expository preaching and urge my British colleagues to stay at the front in the UK even if it is hard and sometimes discouraging.

* Britain as a country is a great place to live and work. One of the more annoying habits of the British is their way of grumbling and talking down Britain. To read some of the newspapers, especially on the left, one would think the Britain is about the worst place in the world. It isn't. For sure there are problems with the public services, but while no socialist I would say that the poor in Britain get a far better deal here than they would in the United States. I am very critical of Britain's dependency culture, but let's keep things in perspective. As to lifestyle, while the standard in the UK is lower than in the USA, it is much higher than most of the rest of the world, medicine is free (unlike the USA) and university education is still relatively inexpensive.

So if anyone out there is tempted to go to North America think again. If you do go, consider whether after a few years you should come back. But churches here need to take a good look at themselves. Are there things about church life here that need to be remedied. Have churches in Britain absorbed too much of the worse aspects of out culture? Let's put right what needs to and let's take advantage of the great opportunities that we have to advance the kingdom of Christ in Britain today.

Dr. Ken Brownell is pastor of East London Tabernacle.

Preachers: coming or going?

Why ministers are going to North America and why they should think of staying

Need in the UK

US attractions

Negatives at home

Main Articles

Other articles