Forget going “back to the basics.” Time never goes backward. Instead, let’s go “forward to the basics.” Specifically, let’s spend the next few weeks grounding ourselves in the basic “best practices” that, if implemented, will help your congregation to become healthy, to grow in mission, ministry and membership, and to do God’s desired work of transforming lives.
A stronger progressive voice is emerging. It is starting to push back against the determined and thus far successful efforts of right-wing Christians to claim the “Christian franchise.” Our nation needs a full array of voices speaking what they perceive to be God’s truth.
I want to declare a “Christmas truce” in the growing chorus of worry about churches, complaining about churches, wishing that churches could get with modernity, and all the lamenting and fussing and blaming and bickering.
Statistics often create as much fog and distortion as clarity and accuracy. But sometimes salient stats leap off the page.
We should train people to be good stewards. Train them in the Biblical tithe, for example. Train them to give without expecting to control spending. Train them to give to God, in gratitude for God's blessings, not to the budget.
The sound track of faith always matters, but never more so than during the period between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. This month expresses through music much of what we hold to be true.
It's that time of year. Caution and survival-thinking square off with boldness and progress-thinking. The time, of course, is money time. Stewardship campaigns are in full swing. At the very time when Bible readings, sermons and liturgies compel us to anticipate God's new things and God's dramatic entry into human history, we tally up the pledges and double-down on old things and "realistic assessments" of what is possible.
There is, however, one more custodial duty that church leaders must take seriously – more seriously, in my opinion, than many do. That is custodianship of the congregation's narrative. By narrative I mean the story by which the congregation is known, the values intrinsic to that story, and ways this story either attracts or repels other people.
Earlier this week, the Pew Research Center issued its 2014 study of the religious landscape. Headlines blared: “Americans reject religion.” Hand-wringing ensued. The report itself was far more nuanced than that. It said Americans are turning away from religious practices grounded in family heritage or group affiliation. But overall, especially as they pursue faith as individuals, people are more spiritually active than ever. They pray, read Scripture, participate in small faith communities, and look for ways to serve. What “smells,” as it were, is a steep drop in those who describe themselves as “religiously affiliated,” to 77% in 2014 from 83% in 2007. Also down is belief in God with “absolute certainty.”
The labels “Nones” and “Dones” miss the point. People who aren't in churches on Sunday aren’t saying No to God, No to Faith, or even No to Church.
Any human enterprise can succeed or fail. Silicon Valley startups, marriages, mall stores, schools, and churches -- there are no guarantees, no reliable formulas, no ideal preparation. The recipe for failure tends to be predictable. Conditions change, but for reasons ranging from sloth to distraction to inadequate resources, leaders don't change with them. Early success teaches the wrong lessons. Leaders dread failure more than they want to learn from it. Worthy ideas implode from lack of support, while bad ideas develop loyal followings.
"Two-Lane Theology" answers the question: If I took a slow drive across the US and looked for God along the way, what would I see? Don't pretend to be John Steinbeck "searching for America." Just be myself, meandering some days, stopping here and there, going random. All in a fresh search for God.
If not Sunday worship, then what? As Sunday morning loses its hold on churchgoers and potential churchgoers, what comes next? How do faith communities nurture relationships? How do people draw closer to God? How can we engage the world outside our doors if opening the doors on Sunday isn't enough?
How can I consider myself a member of this congregation if I don't participate in the main thing they do? It's a good question, and many Christians are asking it. As Diana Butler Bass points out in an insightful interview with Deseret News, more and more believers are pursuing their relationships with God "away from church."
Want some advice on how to grow your church? Hire a communications director. Yes, you heard that right. A communications director. Not an
"Innovation in ministry" is a recurring theme, one that I first began hearing forty years ago when I entered seminary. Even then, just
... as many church leaders know too well, innovation can become threatening. Powerful constituencies push back, and things that manifestly need to be rethought take on a non-negotiable, do-not-mess aura.
I want to make a basic point about Spiritual Development. But first I need to file two disclaimers: Spiritual Development isn't an exact science and there is no one single path ...
If church leaders want people to "buy" their "goods and services' -- come to worship, take a class, engage with the community, grow in faith, serve God -- they can't just open the door on Sunday or send out a weekly newsletter stuffed with announcements. They need to do solid marketing. They need to do the basics as outlined above: catch people's attention, explain offerings, present opportunities to engage, lead people to various forms of participation, form relationships, provide customer service.
You've heard it many times: "Experience is the best teacher." And its corollary, "Failure is a better teacher than success." Makes sense, but what does it actually mean for church leaders? Here are six keys to learning from experience.
The S curve -- shows what happens as a new idea takes hold, or a compelling vision, or fresh leadership, or a new mission thrust. If the idea or vision has legs, it will start slowly, then gather momentum as people buy into it and become excited by it. This new vision captures many imaginations. It puts into action the deepest values of the organization -- in this case, a congregation.
People connect with you on a spectrum, ranging from minimal awareness to deep engagement. Connecting with a church is a complicated process that requires multiple pathways, rather than a simple but misleading distinction between member and non-member (or "unchurched").
It is time for congregations to develop protocols for responding to hate initiatives on their doorsteps. As the intolerant lose any self-discipline in lashing out at others, we can expect a fresh round of cross-burnings, gay-bashing graffiti, and online vitriol.
The "face" of a congregation needs to be its key leader, not its handsome edifice. Prospects will ask whether they can trust the leader and find his or her message inspiring. They won't ask what the congregation did fifty years ago or why the liturgical space is the way it is. Social media will put the pastor out front. Instead of trying to reach people through a traditional church newsletter describing institutional activities, the pastor will be posting, blogging and writing essays -- on many subjects, but in the consistent voice of the author and focused on the reader's needs and interests, not on the church as institution.