Maybe you’re asking the right question but posing it to the wrong group of people. Instead of asking the question of those who serve as leaders in such churches, you might try asking those church members who have been guided through these types of changes and shifts. Perhaps they have some wisdom to share on the topic?
Debra – excellent idea. I’m seeing lots of obstructionism in congregations where innovators want to change and grow but they are stopped at every turn by those who won’t even consider it.
It’s not only a hard question, it’s an interesting one. I recently attended a seminar called “Just Lead!” sponsored by NCP. It was subtitled “Leading Deep Change and Living to Tell the Story.”
Two unexpected things emerged in the course of the day. First, the attendees were predominately clergy, mostly female, and mostly under 40 (I would guess). Second, the hinted-at-but-not-really-stated premise of the presentation was that the solution to the imminent death of the local church lies in its tranformation to a missional orientation (but don’t forget the need to maintain the building).
My reaction to the first was wonder: Have older clergy given up on leadership? On managing change? Where were the other lay folk (I’m one)? Do congregations expect change to descend like a dove from above? Or fear that it will be more like a striking hawk? I have no answers to these questions, but I see this limited audience as evidence of mindsets that need changing.
As far as the second is concerned, the utopian ideal of a church that devotes itself to strengthening, supporting, and feeding its members so that they are enabled in their work in the world is far away from the current reality of most of our experiences (The Church of the Savior in Washington, DC, comes to mind as an exception). I suspect we as a church need guidance in setting such goals, access to methods of change that have worked for others, and some assurance that change (no matter how immediately wrenching) will bring personal, spiritual, rewards.
Here Presbyteries could be a great help to local congregations by communicating with one another, discussing what’s been done, what worked and didn’t work in which environments — and then sharing that information freely with both clergy and lay people who jointly have a stake in the continuing existence of their community. I don’t see this happening. I do see a certain amount of theorizing, book-writing, seminar-giving, doom-saying, but little in the way of useful reviews of successful actions.
Nothing brilliant to add – but think that a congregation-wide discernment process is what’s called for in these cases – self study. Thinking about Nancy Ammerman’s work in this area – reviewing the (his)story, assessing the present, imagining the future. The words contextual and not-exactly formulaic come to mind – but there are probably some similar processes/steps to go thru in most settings.
I like what Deb said, too.
What about presbytery/judicatory/denom teams to help congregations with the process – not change agents or cong. vitatlity teams, please – but discernment support or something?
Keep on asking the hard questions- helps me imagine/think.
Sarah
I’m searching for these answers, too. If you had been with me at our session meeting last Wednesday, you would have seen that these are the exact questions we were exploring, only not as gracefully as I would have liked. Please keep asking. And sharing what you learn.
Thanks to all for these comments. I just attended a Synod event yesterday called Pastoral Leadership for the 21st Century and it was aimed at Commissions on Ministry (which support pastors and congregations) and Commissions on Preparation for Ministry (which supports those preparing for professional ministry.) More on that later. But in response to Dee’s question, “Have older clergy given up on leadership?” I would share this:
Some definitely have. They feel too old to change at this time after serving congregations for 25-40 years. Everything they (we) learned in seminary has changed and for many of those pastors, it’s still working – at least at first glance. I’ve found that many “older clergy” – and by that I mean those of us who’ve been doing this for over 20 years – never attend transformation opportunities or read the latest books on what is emerging. A 1950s model with slight tweaks continues to work. And – sadly – our Board of Pensions offers incentives not to retire and so these pastors stay with their churches as long as they can stand up in a pulpit. It’s frustrating.
Jan, thanks for the link to the article. It is, indeed, a complex issue.
I suppose some Calvinists might be inclined to remind us of Augustine’s ideas about the invisible and visible church.
Some Presbyterians might be inclined to remind us of the “always being reformed” thing.
Some Zuckerbergians might be inclined to remind us that there’s usually a lot of grumbling when things we are used to are changed.
Personally I am reminded that if God is willing to consider change (“Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city?” – Gen 18:24), then maybe I can be willing to consider change, too.
A Church for Starving Artists 
Maybe you’re asking the right question but posing it to the wrong group of people. Instead of asking the question of those who serve as leaders in such churches, you might try asking those church members who have been guided through these types of changes and shifts. Perhaps they have some wisdom to share on the topic?
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Debra – excellent idea. I’m seeing lots of obstructionism in congregations where innovators want to change and grow but they are stopped at every turn by those who won’t even consider it.
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This is also a telling article that deals with the world in which I live:
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It’s not only a hard question, it’s an interesting one. I recently attended a seminar called “Just Lead!” sponsored by NCP. It was subtitled “Leading Deep Change and Living to Tell the Story.”
Two unexpected things emerged in the course of the day. First, the attendees were predominately clergy, mostly female, and mostly under 40 (I would guess). Second, the hinted-at-but-not-really-stated premise of the presentation was that the solution to the imminent death of the local church lies in its tranformation to a missional orientation (but don’t forget the need to maintain the building).
My reaction to the first was wonder: Have older clergy given up on leadership? On managing change? Where were the other lay folk (I’m one)? Do congregations expect change to descend like a dove from above? Or fear that it will be more like a striking hawk? I have no answers to these questions, but I see this limited audience as evidence of mindsets that need changing.
As far as the second is concerned, the utopian ideal of a church that devotes itself to strengthening, supporting, and feeding its members so that they are enabled in their work in the world is far away from the current reality of most of our experiences (The Church of the Savior in Washington, DC, comes to mind as an exception). I suspect we as a church need guidance in setting such goals, access to methods of change that have worked for others, and some assurance that change (no matter how immediately wrenching) will bring personal, spiritual, rewards.
Here Presbyteries could be a great help to local congregations by communicating with one another, discussing what’s been done, what worked and didn’t work in which environments — and then sharing that information freely with both clergy and lay people who jointly have a stake in the continuing existence of their community. I don’t see this happening. I do see a certain amount of theorizing, book-writing, seminar-giving, doom-saying, but little in the way of useful reviews of successful actions.
LikeLike
Nothing brilliant to add – but think that a congregation-wide discernment process is what’s called for in these cases – self study. Thinking about Nancy Ammerman’s work in this area – reviewing the (his)story, assessing the present, imagining the future. The words contextual and not-exactly formulaic come to mind – but there are probably some similar processes/steps to go thru in most settings.
I like what Deb said, too.
What about presbytery/judicatory/denom teams to help congregations with the process – not change agents or cong. vitatlity teams, please – but discernment support or something?
Keep on asking the hard questions- helps me imagine/think.
Sarah
LikeLike
I’m searching for these answers, too. If you had been with me at our session meeting last Wednesday, you would have seen that these are the exact questions we were exploring, only not as gracefully as I would have liked. Please keep asking. And sharing what you learn.
LikeLike
Thanks to all for these comments. I just attended a Synod event yesterday called Pastoral Leadership for the 21st Century and it was aimed at Commissions on Ministry (which support pastors and congregations) and Commissions on Preparation for Ministry (which supports those preparing for professional ministry.) More on that later. But in response to Dee’s question, “Have older clergy given up on leadership?” I would share this:
Some definitely have. They feel too old to change at this time after serving congregations for 25-40 years. Everything they (we) learned in seminary has changed and for many of those pastors, it’s still working – at least at first glance. I’ve found that many “older clergy” – and by that I mean those of us who’ve been doing this for over 20 years – never attend transformation opportunities or read the latest books on what is emerging. A 1950s model with slight tweaks continues to work. And – sadly – our Board of Pensions offers incentives not to retire and so these pastors stay with their churches as long as they can stand up in a pulpit. It’s frustrating.
LikeLike
Jan, thanks for the link to the article. It is, indeed, a complex issue.
I suppose some Calvinists might be inclined to remind us of Augustine’s ideas about the invisible and visible church.
Some Presbyterians might be inclined to remind us of the “always being reformed” thing.
Some Zuckerbergians might be inclined to remind us that there’s usually a lot of grumbling when things we are used to are changed.
Personally I am reminded that if God is willing to consider change (“Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city?” – Gen 18:24), then maybe I can be willing to consider change, too.
LikeLike