On August 2, 2025, 212 men from various congregations attended the East Main Men’s Seminar. The seminar featured three speakers—Dan Winkler, Glenn Colley, and Bill Watkins—who addressed three topics under the banner “Rooted & Sound”: internal divisions, the relationship between leadership and members, and the restoration of those who have strayed.
Winkler: The Causes of Division
Dan Winkler’s session, “Why are there so many divisions in the Lord’s church today?”, identified five core reasons for disunity, arguing they are as relevant today as they were in the first-century church. He explained that tradition, such as making non-scriptural practices a matter of salvation, can cause rifts. He also warned against the opinions of men, interpreting Romans 16:17 as a directive to watch out for those who create obstacles with “uber conservative” views not rooted in biblical doctrine.
Furthermore, Winkler pointed to personalities as a source of division, reminding the audience that allegiance should be given only to Jesus Christ. He cautioned against false teaching, emphasizing the importance of using a consistent hermeneutic—what God has said and done—to protect the truth. Finally, he spoke of fear, noting that leaders and members who are afraid of what others might think can compromise their convictions and invite division. Winkler concluded by suggesting that the root of all division is selfishness.
Colley: Building Strong Relationships
Glenn Colley’s lesson, “Building strong relationships between church leadership and its members,” provided a practical two-part framework for improving rapport and fostering a healthy church environment. He offered ten suggestions for members, encouraging them to take the biblical qualifications for elders seriously, choose men with a servant’s heart, and show appreciation through personal gestures like inviting them for meals or sending handwritten cards.
For elders, Colley also provided ten suggestions. He emphasized the need for leaders to cultivate friendships among themselves, maintain strict confidentiality, and avoid unilateral decisions. He advised elders to meet weekly and communicate with the congregation from the pulpit. Colley also stressed the importance of making the preacher a teammate and leading from the heart, not just their position. He concluded by suggesting that shepherding with prayer—such as writing encouraging notes to members—is a powerful way to build a warm and loving bond.
Watkins: Restoring the Erring
The final lesson by Bill Watkins, “The Ninety-nine and one: Restoring the erring child of God,” focused on the church’s role in seeking out and reclaiming those who have fallen away. Drawing from Jesus’s parables in Luke 15, Watkins explained that the heart of God is a relentless, celebrating love for the lost. He challenged the audience to adopt this same heart, arguing that our message should not be to “straighten your life out” but to “just come home.”
Watkins warned against the “elder brother” mentality, which resents the return of the unfaithful. He emphasized that the church’s mission is reconciliation, not punishment. He explained that people often stay away because they feel they are not “good enough” to return. Therefore, our focus should be on loving the person, not on their past sins. Watkins concluded by describing the work of restoration as a rescue mission, a spiritual act of “stealing from Satan and taking the stuff that he stole from God.”
Interested in watching the lessons? Find them here.