The National Convention of the French AG

Time sure flies when you are leaving in one day for a three week trip to another continent! I have a million things to do, and the list just keeps getting longer. But I wanted to take a few minutes to write my blog update for the week. I like to keep you au courant (in-the-know). By the way, do you like the integration of French words in my blog?

This week was la Convention Nationale, which is the General Council of the French Assemblies of God. It was held at a Christian campground in the center of France, and we had our meetings in their tabernacle building. There were about 400 pastors there, representing churches all over France, for two days of services, meetings, and most importantly, meals! The French love their meals, and even in a camp cafeteria, the meals were very cultural. I really enjoyed the meal times, because I sat with different pastors and got to know new people at each meal. I think some of them felt sorry for me being alone, not knowing anyone, so they really helped me feel integrated in the table conversation.

Each morning we had a worship service, with sermons by a German pastor (translated into French) that were very thought-provoking. In fact, his first message was a little too radical for the French pastors (subject of future blog!) and I got to observe the angry ripple of reaction throughout the audience. This is a cultural trait that really surprised me: the Latin personality is much more volatile than ours in the US. The pastors get angry and even yell at each other, especially the voting/business sessions. Everyone has the right to express their opinions and ask questions about business at hand. (What is perhaps even more culturally interesting is that, as soon as the business session is over, the same pastors all enjoy a meal together in complete harmony, all differences completely forgotten.) It proves for an eye-opening convention, all the more for the new girl who doesn’t know what’s going on! During one particularly hot debate on the missions report, a young pastoral intern explained to me the structure of the French Assemblies of God –in English! He had done a year at Southwestern AG University in Texas, so his English was good, and he knew all the differences between the American structure and the French one.

At the end of the convention they recognized 18 pastoral interns that are now “full” pastors, which would be the equivalent of our ordination level, I suppose. In France, after completing three years of Bible school, every pastor has to do four years of an internship with another pastor. Once they finish their internship, they are capable of pastoring a church on their own. The pastor is le president of the church and has the ultimate legal authority in every matter, from finances to property. Interestingly, in France, the pastor of a church decides who his replacement will be, when he is ready to leave or retire. The church has no say in the matter. Since there is not a surplus pool of unemployed pastors, the churches have a sort of musical chairs rotation to allow the new pastors in and the old pastors to retire.
Laurent, my French colleague, mentioned my work with the Muslim training seminars during his report on the ministry Christ Vous Appel (Christ is calling you), and the director of the business session found me in the audience and brought me up to introduce myself in front of everyone. So I got some good publicité and lots of pastors talked to me after that about Islam, so our ministry got good exposure, too.

In other news: Inquiring minds want to know! I have done some preliminary research on the “mullet” question, and apparently there is no “mullet” translation that I can discover. Also, to add to the humor of this issue, I should mention that “rat tails” are still worn here. I wouldn’t say they are popular per se, but I see them on kids all the time. And as for the “making fun” issue, I don’t think the French make fun of people’s haircuts that much, because there is more leeway for personal expression here. There is a French proverb which says, “Taste can’t be argued.” In other words, to each his own. . . .