Experiences In Church Transformation

Change of scenery

We all know how valuable a change of location and routine can be.  During this time of the year it seems even more important to me.  I am preparing to go on my annual trip to the National Pastor's Conference in San Diego.  Now besides the great time that I normally have in San Diego and the awesome speakers that I get to hear, because of the winter we have had, the wonderful weather is even more inviting.  I have a friend that is preparing to head to Florida for some fun and family time. 

It doesn't really matter what you plan but when you are in the midst of transformative work, it is important to get a change of scenery on a regular basis.  It helps to rejuvenate you, increase your enthusiasm, and open your creative juices.

I will let you know what it does for me when I return from San Diego.

Stay warm and enjoy the change.

The Driver's Seat

I was involved in a recent discussion that reminded me of the importance of reviewing some of the church's principles from time to time.  The specific one that was invovled in the conversation has to do with making decisions.  We profess in many documents and settings within the church that Jesus Christ is the head of the church.  But how often do we take Christ out of the driver's seat?  How many times do we fail to recall that it is not OUR church, it is not OUR vision, it is not OUR priorities that matter?  If Jesus is truly the head of the Church, then that means Jesus generates the vision and sets the priorities.

So as we continue to go about our work.  We must be mindful that it is important to listen for the voice of Christ and to keep Jesus in the driver's seat!

Quit talking!!!

One of the very important aspects of being a Christian leader, or actually any Christian, is regular communication with the Lord.  However, that can also be very scary.  Just like conversations with other humans, you have no control over what the Lord may say back.  There may also be times that the Lord wakes you up in the middle of the night to have a convesation. 

Recently I was sharing with one of the leaders of the church that I was uncomfortable by a comment that he made.  He indicated to me that he mentioned what he did because the Lord had decided to have a conversation with him in the middle of the night.  After the two of us dialogued about what he had shared with a group, it became clear to us that the Lord was creating some tension for us to help us determine if we are still on the course that the Lord had set or if we needed a course adjustment.

I jokingly said to the leader, "Quit talking with the Lord, it can be unsettling!"  While I said the comment in a joking manner and we both laugh, there is some reality to it.  Maybe that is why individuals choose not to be in conversation with the Lord regularly.  The reality is that some of those conversations can be unsettling and make us uncomfortable.  However, if we come to realize that the Lord only seeks to benefit us, we quickly can see how being unsettled will lead us to even greater things.

So don't sto talking.  Just realize you may not always be comfortable with the course of the conversation!

Oh NO, it's here

In my last blog post I talked about the anticipation in regards to a projection screen arriving.  Within 48 hours of that post, it arrived.  Now you would assume that I was terribly excited about its arrival but within 72 hours, I was anything but excited.  You see, with the arrival of the screen came the realization that I huge learning curve had just been dumped into my lap.  I had to learn a new way of organizing worship, a new computer program in much more detail than I had known prior, and a new way of even leading worship.  Of course, this learning all needed to take place on an already very hectic week.  I was ready to scream.

Thank goodness time changes perspectives.  This week has been much better with the learning and the time management.  I was able to devote a large portion of yesterday to helping my administrative assistant learn the new computer program and to revamp the way that I put the elements of a worship service together.  There has been an increase in organization and an ability to get key players more involved.  I am excited about worship this Sunday and an opportunity to fully integrate the new technology to enhance our worship of the Lord.  There have even been a few members comment on how great an addition the system is to our worship (and they only saw 1/3 of the service utilizing it last week).

I am sure that there will still be some glitches to work out.  I am sure that I will continue to make mistakes with the system and its use.  But what an exciting time it is for our congregation and the worship of our Lord.  Like a friend said to me, "It is kind of like having a baby, you anticipate what great joy it is going to be but when it comes time for the arrival, you realize what a learning curve you now have."

Anticipation

Some of you may recall the old Heinz 57 commercial where the ketchup seems to take forever to come out of the bottle.  The jingle that played underneath the commercial was something similar to this, “Anticipation is making me wait.”  As I think about the upcoming holiday season and hear the voices of children, this jingle pops into my head.  We are in a period of anticipation and it can often drive us wild. 

More than the upcoming Christmas, the anticipation that is driving me crazy is the completion of our projection system project.  Most of you know that the video projector arrived early this fall.  We have been using it for a variety of classes and events in the fellowship hall. The new sound equipment arrival and the completion of the sound/projection booth occurred in early September. In November we completed the fundraising for this project and purchased the computer, some software, and some worship materials.  The screen was to arrive on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving but due to the snow that caused problems with the roads, it did not make it.  So at the time of my writing this letter to you, we are still waiting.  The anticipation is tremendous!

These things have caused me to reflect on what it means to anticipate.  As Christians, our greatest anticipation of course is the return of Christ.  Much like the Israelites awaited the first arrival of the Messiah, we await the Messiah’s return.  Some times it seems like the fulfillment of the promise is never going to arrive.  But remember that those who wait upon the Lord shall see their joys multiplied.  So we patiently await the Lord’s return and the fulfillment of all the Lord’s promises and blessings.

May the anticipation of this Advent and Christmas fill you with great hope and joy.  Remember that just like the Heinz 57 commercial, the outcome is definitely worth the wait!

Three Questions of Ministry

Recently I led a retreat for the leaders of my congregation.  As part of the retreat I had three different discussion and study times.  Each of these times was based on a question.  The questions were derived from concepts put forth by Jim Collins in his book Good to Great. The book is written for the business community and discusses what has caused companies to move from being good to being great.  It is also the basis for the book that Thom Rainer wrote entitled Breakout Churches (see listing in my "Helpful Books I have Read" section).  In Collins' book he makes reference to the "hedgehog concept" which is the idea that for a company to become great, it must focus on the place where three circles of influence connect.  I took Collins' hedgehog concept and adapted it to ministry.

Here are the three questions that I arrived at:

1)  What is your passion?

2)  What spiritual gifts, talents, and skills do you possess?

3)  What is your purpose?

I feel that where the responses to these three questions connect, that is where an individual will find his or her ministry.  We also discussed as a group the importance of continually asking these questions so that as our responses to the three questions change, we continue to adjust our ministires. This concept applies not only to the individual but also the congregation as a whole.

This also provides a basis for us to filter the various ministries, programs, and use of resources that come our way.  If these do not fit in our area of connecting circles, then this is not the time to venture down the path of opportunity.  Collins points out that the "good" companies sometimes get caught up in chasing opportunites or good ideas, and the expend time, energy, and resources in too many places which causes them to reamin in the "good" category but never achieve "great".  I feel churches and individuals do the same thing. 

My hope that this may provide my leaders, my congregation, and you who read this blog, another tool for improving the effectiveness and focus of your ministry. 

Two steps forward, Three steps back

Have you ever had a time in your leadership when you feel that for each step forward you are making with the group, you take multiple steps backward.  That has been my month of October.  Throughout the month various events and conversations have occurred which has led to a level of frustration.  Where I thought progress and valuable dialog was taking place, I encounter pockets of resistance, lack of commitment, and a return to prior thinking.

I am sure that I am far from unique with this frustration.  I am also confident that if I and other leaders in the church continue to be faithful to what the Lord is doing in us and through us, we will overcome even this.

I share all of this just to make a point that I have to make to myself on a regular basis - everything is not going to be smooth sailing all the time.  The most important thing to remember is that we are called to discern the voice of the Lord and follow that voice even in the midst of frustration and resistance.  I am sure glad that the Lord is in charge because I wouldn't want the level of frustration that must come with that job!!

More Than Window Dressing

As I have been in conversation with individuals that claim to be intentionally engaged in transformation, I have come to realize that for some of them there is a lack of true understanding.  They mistakenly believe that if they adjust a thing or two in their worship, maybe add a few more colors in their buildings, and change some titles, they are actively involved in positive transformation.  This has reminded me how important it is to continually work with people to help them understand that transformation is more than tweaking a little around the edges.  Transformation is at the root of our very being if it is going to be effective.  Let me expand on what I mean.

The Spirit desires to bring about that transformation in us that reconnects us to the relationship that the Lord originally designed us to be a part of.  A relationship in which the Lord is our God and we are God's people.  A relationship where we actively engage in the work of the Lord as the Spirit leads us.  This is a transformation in the core of who we live our lives to be.  When this type of transformation occurs within us, then we are able to assist others in discovering how the Spirit wishes to transform them and assisting them in that on-going process just as we continue in the process.

All of this translates in the church as a need to transform some of our approaches, attitudes, and patterns of living out our faith.  It means being open to the movement of the Spirit instead of the latest opinion poll.  It means taking risks and exploring new understandings even when they make us uncomfortable.  It means letting go when the program, tradition, or activity no longer compliments or strengthens the ministry that the Lord calls us to be and do at this place and time.  It means more work and less laziness.

What I am proposing is that intentional transformation in the church (and the individual) is more than just changing the window dressings to a different color.  It means changing who we are and how we behave in order to be more faithful to the minsitry to which we have been called!

Having a Touchstone

There have been two very important actions that the leadership of our congregation has taken in the last couple of years.  The first is that the group adopted a vision for the ministry they felt the Lord calling them to be faithful to.  The second is that they adopted a mission statement.  These are leadership approaches that are not new in any fashion.  They are also concepts that seem to have as many meanings and definitions as there are leaves blowing in the autumn wind.  So let me share briefly with you how our leadership has utilized these concepts.

The vision statement, or more accurately rubix, was adopted to provide a challenge and a broad overview of the ministry that the Lord seemed to be leading us toward.  It is relatively broad in nature and has a strong Scriptural basis.  For a couple of years we have used the vision to generate questions about what the Lord might be doing in us and through us at this time.  The leadership has challenged themselves in identifying how we are responding in the different ministry areas that are contained in the vision and making adjustments where and when needed.

The mission statement flowed out of our vision statement.  We came to the point of saying we needed a concise response to how we were going to fulfill the vision.  We also determined that we wanted a statement that could be remembered easily and by a large number of individuals.  A statement that we could place on all communications that flowed in and out of our church.  A statement that would give some insight for the community at large into what this congregation was called by the Lord to do. 

The exciting reality of these two activies is that it helped the leadership to discern what the Lord was telling us.  It also helped the leaders to get on the same page with each other.  The other vital reality is that we now have a touchstone from which we can determine activities and expenditures that will strengthen our ministry versus distract from the ministry.  I have seen a couple of recent examples when the leadership asked the question of "how does this fit within the vision and mission that the Lord has called us to?"  As they responded to this question, it became very obvious what decision needed to be made.

So I encourage you to set up touchstones that will provide guidance as you transform and respond to the Lord's call.   

Called to Lead

I recently was engaged in a series of conversations focused on the changing church.  In the midst of these conversations, I was reminded of a very important concept that deserves serious consideration by those in the church today - Are our pastors called to lead?

Let me start out by saying that I feel that in the original sense of the office of "pastor", the answer would have to be an emphatic YES.  If we attempt to trace the role of "pastor" to its Scriptural origins, I feel we are lead to see this role develop out of the Apostles.  There is very little question that the Apostles were called to be leaders.  They were to be leaders in a spiritual sense and in an organizational sense.  They were to be leaders in discipline and doctrine. 

The problem that I feel we face today is that the term "pastor" has become one that has represented a variety of offices which all require some varied degrees of skill.  It has become intertwined with the word "minister" which adds to the confusion.  Because there has been such a large variety of expectations and perceptions that are associated with the word "pastor", there has been a large degree of frustration and confusion within the church and within the lives of those that have been given that title. 

I strongly believe that it is time for the church to return to the original understanding of the role of "pastor".  I believe that we need to reclaim the Scriptural understanding of the office and that we need to clarify to the congregations and to those that carry the title, what the expectations of that call really are.  I believe that in the Lord's call to those that are "pastors" that there is a strong expectation on the Lord's part that we will be leaders.  This reclamation may cause some anxiety and angst because it would require us to look at the wonderful gifts that those who have the title possess and determine if we should be giving a different title for those who are not gifted in leadership.

As I conclude this post, let me be very clear - I do not believe that an individual that is not gifted in leadership should be precluded from serving the Lord using the gifts and passions that they possess.  I am not advocating removing individuals from their roles in the church.  I am advocating clarifying titles and expectations.  I am advocating that in my understanding, those who carry the title of "pastor" are expected to be leaders with their own style and strengths of leadership.