Throughout history, the Christian movement has found it challenging to balance mission and structure. While structures provide frameworks and support, some of them develop into series of self-imposed dysfunctions that hinder mission.

About 100 pastors, ministers, and members of the local churches, met to wrestle with the traditions that can imprison or liberate ministry during the Annual District Leaders’ Retreat in Luso, Portugal, from 22 to 25 April.

The event focused on functional structures as a sign of a strong, healthy and productive church, with the discussion centering on whether or not they are effective in providing real support to the Church.

The attendees were district and local leaders involved in ministerial leadership on the Portuguese District, pastors and their spouses, European Nazarene College-Portugal Learning Center (EuNC-PLC) students and numerous young people.

“There was a unity of the people of God, with a willingness to hear His voice,” said João Pedro Pereira, superintendent of the Portugal District. Along with Gustavo Crocker, Eurasia Regional director, and Dr. Jorge de Barros, an elder in the Church of the Nazarene, Pereira, facilitated the sessions.

The four-day event was the fourth in a series of retreats that has dealt with issues in the Christian A. Schwartz book, Natural Church Development. Themes from the book covered in the past included empowering leadership, gifted oriented ministries and passionate spirituality. This year’s topic of functional structures is the fourth characteristic in the book’s eight themes.

Crocker spoke about how structures can provide a framework, foundation and support, and that the Church needs to understand these concepts because God is a God of order. The Church needs to know “where we are, and where we want to be” with the key being “planning”.

However, structures can be an obstacle in many churches today, so it is important to renew methods to bring people to Jesus. The retreat’s goal was for pastors, church members, department leaders and members to be shaken by these issues.

Attendees grappled with the issues raised regarding the structures being used in the Church that do not help fulfill God’s mission in this world, said Raquel Pereira, administrator of the Portugal Learning Center.

“After the first session I felt very sad because a lot of things that I and my church are doing (are) wrong,” said Josué Delgado, a EuNC-PLC student. Later, he felt thankful that God gave him the opportunity to be at this retreat, listening to and learning concepts that can change the way his church does ministry.

“I listened to His voice there, to stop, learn, think and plan in order to be more prepared to transmit the gospel,” he said. “Today I’m praying, asking God to change our minds and change the way we do a lot of things, because we don’t want to lose our focus on Christ and because we want to be a Church that brings others to Christ.”

There was also a time for discussion amongst the attendees, during and after the retreat. They had the opportunity to speak amongst themselves and with members of other churches about the topics presented. The commitment that most people took to praying for at least another participant for a year created a special bond.

“There were groups, local churches and young people in charge of leading the services, sessions and prayer meetings. This made the event ours, instead of theirs,” Raquel said.

Ana Cruz, the Portugal District President of the Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries, said that the district is challenged by the world outside the church’s walls; after the retreat she realized that they must do something different to reach people who do not yet know Christ.

The retreat also brought time for personal reflection and drawing near to God, Cruz added. During the afternoon sessions and evening services she said God spoke to her in a profound way, and she was challenged to see God in a different perspective.

“Sometimes we see God as an entity far away from us and He is so near, but we are so busy trying to do our best for His work, planning and working, that we forget to let Him guide us,” Cruz said. “I needed the orientation of the Holy Spirit for some resolutions in my life. God had started something in my life some years ago and now He is calling me to be near Him and to be totally dependent of Him.”

The leadership conference series began in Portugal in April 2005.