So you went to Seattle, huh. Why did you go? Did you get anything out of it?
Question 1: Why did I go? Well, I first learned about the conference from our folks at the Church Extension back in Feburary. Those are the folks with whom we have our loan on the building. When they worked with us to refinance, they wanted to know what was our mission. They encouraged us to have a mission. This conference was about what it means to be a missional church. Since I'm trying to figure out how to help us become a missional church, I thought we might benefit from it.
Question 2: Did you get anything out of it? I would say that the main thing I got from it was encouragement. What I experienced is that a lot of churches are trying to figure out what God is doing in their neighborhoods and trying to join God in what God is already doing. So all of us are struggling. Doesn't that make you feel better? Me, either. The encouragement came in that we are all seemingly asking the same questions and looking in the same direction. This says to me that the Spirit is moving among us breaking boundaries the same way the Spirit broke boundaries in the 1st century church. The result of the Spirit working in and among the people of God was then and is now . . . confusion.
As I listened to speakers and participants I discovered that folks where trying to listen to God to what God was saying to see how they could serve the folks in their neighborhood. They first did this by listening to the folks in their neighoborhoods or perhaps they would observe things in their neighborhood that made them sad or upset and talked to and listened to other neighbors to see who else felt the same way and wanted to do something about it.
One woman, who lives in South Bronx moved back into her old neighborhood and notice an abandoned industrial site that was just plain ugly and dirty. She went to work talking to and listening to folks talk about what they wanted for their neighborhood. Working with her neighbors they were able to get a grant and transformed that once ugly site into a beautiful park for the neighborhood.
No, this wasn't Wonder Woman spearheading this work. It was just a ordinary women that became concerned and instead of sitting at home being comfortable, she decided to take a risk and do something about it.
The implication for us who heard this story is, what is God pressing upon your heart and what are you going to do about it?
I heard a number of folks, at least one speaker and several participants, talking about the value of doing a community garden. The garden provided them a place where they could get to know their neighbors. They could hear their stories of struggle and victory and see what God was up to in their neighbors lives.
Last summer I started grilling in my driveway. I did this to get to know my neighbors and to see what God was up to. While I was gone, my new next door neighbor had a baby, their first. I learned last week from the Dad that they had been trying to have a baby for 13 years! And surprise last fall (before they moved in next door to us) she found out she was pregnant. This is truly a miracle baby! When the baby was born it had a couple of issues. One was a slash in the top of her head. They believe this came about because her head was attached to the uterine wall. Also, the baby has a flap of skin on its head about an inch wide and 4 or 5 inches long. In six months they will do plastic surgery to correct this. Also, the Dad who had been unemployed for several months got a job about the time the baby was born. God is surely at work in their lives.
In the last 8 months our neighborhood has 3 new families to join it. My neighbor and I are talking about throwing a welcome to the neighborhood party this summer. So please pray that the rainy season will move along. We want to grill in my driveway!
So what's God up to in your neighborhood? Do you know your neighbors? Is there a way you could get to know them better?
Shalom!
Pastor John
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The Simple Church . . . Connecting the Dots
From our study of the Simple Church we remember that the reason we become the Simple Church is to have a simple process to move folks into the full maturity of Jesus Christ. A mature Christian lives like Jesus lived. We learned from our study together that the church that wants to be a Simple Church attempts to only do those things which help folks live like Jesus lived.
So what do we know about how Jesus lived his life?
Scripture tells us that it was Jesus’ habit to be in church on the Sabbath. Not only that, but time and again we see Jesus going off to a deserted place to have some one-on-one time with God. The life Jesus lived shows us how essential it was for Jesus to take time to be in relationship with God. It was in those times with God that Jesus was able to celebrate that which God was doing in his life to bring about the transformation of others; during those times Jesus was able to share with God his frustrations and received guidance and encouragement from God.
We also see from the Word that Jesus spent a lot of time with those who chose to follow him. It would appear from Scripture that at one point 120 people had left everything to follow him. During that time he invested his love and his teachings with him. We can only imagine how their fellowship together was.
There is another dimension to their time together that is important. When, for example, Peter followed his confession, that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, with his rebuking of Jesus, we can only imagine what the others learned that day from this dialogue between Jesus and Peter. I am certain it was a karios moment for them which enabled them to understand God’s purposes in Jesus better and it had to have helped to increase their faith.
There is another element to Jesus’ life and that was the time he spent out in the various communities bringing the Good News of God’s love and grace to those who were sick, tormented, and oppressed. He didn’t stay hunkered down away from folks even though his presence and message stirred up those communities. He didn’t hide in the comfort of someone’s home in order to escape the wrath of the authorities.
So, let’s review: Jesus spent time with God; he spent time with other believers; and he spent time with folks who were far from God. And he has taught us to do what he did. Do these 3 elements of Jesus’ life ring any bells in your mind? These are the same 3 principles of the Lifeshapes we know as the Triangle. The triangle is simply a memory tool which reminds us how Jesus lived his life. Having the 3 elements that Jesus had in his life is the way we become mature disciples of Jesus. We live like Jesus did.
The principles of the triangle is not just another fad that will come and go in our lives, it is the way Jesus has taught us how to live. The triangle simply helps us to remember and explain to others how Jesus lived his life and how we are trying to live our lives. The triangle is the way we live out the mandate of being the Simple Church. It is the way we do or become the Simple Church. They are inextricably joined together.
We actually started implementing the Simple Church last year. When we had the Teaching Summit last summer we went over the way folks become mature disciples in Jesus. The Bible Study, the Companions in Christ class (which is all about deepening our UP and IN, our relationship with God and other believers), the renewed passion for the CHOSEN ministry (OUT) and even our leadership class, are all ways in which we are trying to help folks become mature disciples of Jesus.
Jesus lived a life that modeled for us how we can become mature disciples . . . in other words he modeled the Simple Church for us. The 3 elements in his life that we have outlined above can help us to live a balanced life like Jesus did. Living a balanced life is what we are called to do and it is a calling that we will struggle with all of our lives.
So what do we know about how Jesus lived his life?
Scripture tells us that it was Jesus’ habit to be in church on the Sabbath. Not only that, but time and again we see Jesus going off to a deserted place to have some one-on-one time with God. The life Jesus lived shows us how essential it was for Jesus to take time to be in relationship with God. It was in those times with God that Jesus was able to celebrate that which God was doing in his life to bring about the transformation of others; during those times Jesus was able to share with God his frustrations and received guidance and encouragement from God.
We also see from the Word that Jesus spent a lot of time with those who chose to follow him. It would appear from Scripture that at one point 120 people had left everything to follow him. During that time he invested his love and his teachings with him. We can only imagine how their fellowship together was.
There is another dimension to their time together that is important. When, for example, Peter followed his confession, that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, with his rebuking of Jesus, we can only imagine what the others learned that day from this dialogue between Jesus and Peter. I am certain it was a karios moment for them which enabled them to understand God’s purposes in Jesus better and it had to have helped to increase their faith.
There is another element to Jesus’ life and that was the time he spent out in the various communities bringing the Good News of God’s love and grace to those who were sick, tormented, and oppressed. He didn’t stay hunkered down away from folks even though his presence and message stirred up those communities. He didn’t hide in the comfort of someone’s home in order to escape the wrath of the authorities.
So, let’s review: Jesus spent time with God; he spent time with other believers; and he spent time with folks who were far from God. And he has taught us to do what he did. Do these 3 elements of Jesus’ life ring any bells in your mind? These are the same 3 principles of the Lifeshapes we know as the Triangle. The triangle is simply a memory tool which reminds us how Jesus lived his life. Having the 3 elements that Jesus had in his life is the way we become mature disciples of Jesus. We live like Jesus did.
The principles of the triangle is not just another fad that will come and go in our lives, it is the way Jesus has taught us how to live. The triangle simply helps us to remember and explain to others how Jesus lived his life and how we are trying to live our lives. The triangle is the way we live out the mandate of being the Simple Church. It is the way we do or become the Simple Church. They are inextricably joined together.
We actually started implementing the Simple Church last year. When we had the Teaching Summit last summer we went over the way folks become mature disciples in Jesus. The Bible Study, the Companions in Christ class (which is all about deepening our UP and IN, our relationship with God and other believers), the renewed passion for the CHOSEN ministry (OUT) and even our leadership class, are all ways in which we are trying to help folks become mature disciples of Jesus.
Jesus lived a life that modeled for us how we can become mature disciples . . . in other words he modeled the Simple Church for us. The 3 elements in his life that we have outlined above can help us to live a balanced life like Jesus did. Living a balanced life is what we are called to do and it is a calling that we will struggle with all of our lives.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The Life Cycle of an Organization
This is a long blog, but it is extremely important. After you have read it pray for discernment as to where we are as a church. I would appreciate knowing what stage you feel our church is in right now. We are not looking at what stage we would like to be in, but where God is showing us that we are now. Then I would like for you to do one thing, write down stage you believe we're in and on Sunday you will find a basket on the front corner of my desk. Place your answer in that basket. Don't sign it. When I went through this with the class, I had them write down their answers and not sign their names to it, too. I look forward to hearing from you.
STAGES OF CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Every congregation has a life cycle into which the 4 organizing principles fit. Think of this life cycle as the journey of the congregation in the vehicle. Looking at congregations according to their life cycles assists in developing the ability to see, understand, and pursue opportunities and choices available to a congregation at a particular stage of development.
Congregations will journey along this life cycle many times. If you’ve been here long enough, you will be able to see where the church has repeated stages over and over again. Our purpose here is not to see how many times this church has been at different stages, but to determine where we are now and how that impacts our future together right now. We will be able to recognize tendencies we have and this will help us to acknowledge them and perhaps even confess them and repent from them, if needed.
PHASE ONE: EARLY GROWTH
This phase involves the life cycle of Birth and Infancy and is preceded by a Gestation period.
Gestation: Gestation involves the time frame during which a church planting effort is getting ready to launch into life through the Birth of a new congregation. Gestation is a period of a couple of months to a couple of years before the Birth of a congregation, when the idea of a new congregation is being developed through prayer, planning, and preparations that emanates from a strong, positive sense of spiritual passion. Phase One is the time during which a congregation develop deep roots and early growth around the issues of Vision and Relationships. They walk by faith rather than by sight.
Birth: Birth is that period when Vision is dominant, and relationships, programs, and management are not. Vision is the fuel or energy that drives a new congregation forward.
Congregations at Birth are living out the mission, purpose, core values, and vision that God has given them for a new congregation that ought to be present in a certain place or among a specific target group of people. Leadership is expressed through Vision and assists in fueling the forward progress of the congregation. This leadership is God’s leadership, which empowers congregational leaders to seize the day. The period of Birth only lasts about 6 months to two years. It is characterized by a passion to fulfill the spiritual strategic vision of the congregation.
Infancy: Infancy is that period when Vision and Relationships are dominant, but programs and management are not. The period of Infancy lasts 3 to 5 years. Congregations in Infancy are continuing to live out the Vision that God has given them for a congregation that ought to be present in a certain place or among a specific target group of people. Vision is the fuel or energy that will drive the congregation forward throughout the growth side of the life cycle. Discipleship patterns are expressed through the Relationships factor and assist in flavoring the congregation. These patterns hardwire the congregation’s qualitative and quantitative growth patterns.
PHASE TWO: Late Growth
This phase involves the life cycle stages of Childhood and Adolescence. Phase Two is the time during which a congregation develops and grows its Programs. They begin to walk by sight rather than by faith. This causes confusion in Adolescence.
Childhood: Childhood is that period when Vision and Programs are dominant, but relationships and management are not. The period of Childhood lasts 5 to 6 years. The Childhood stage of a congregation is characterized by an urgency to build programs (things we do for us), ministries (things we do for others), and activities similar to a full-service congregation. Energy and resources that were dedicated to an intentional disciple-making system during Infancy are now dedicated to program development. (According to family systems theory, the program church generally runs over 100 in worship. Very often, churches in the aging phases will want to “return” to the good old days when there were lots of good church programs such as a strong youth group and Sunday School. These churches will invest money in order to staff these desires by hiring a youth pastor/Christian Ed minister.)
During the Childhood phase significant emphasis is given to broadening the scale and deepening the scope of the programs and activities for the chosen high-priority target groups.
Adolescence: Adolescence is that period when Vision, Relationships and Programs are dominant, but management is not. The period of Adolescence lasts 6 to 8 years. The Adolescence stage of a congregation is characterized by a passion to fulfill the strategic spiritual vision of the congregation. Because fulfillment of this Vision may be in sight, the congregation presses for a higher quality and quantity of programs and activities.
Competition is evident in the Adolescent congregation. Two visions of the future seem to be dominant in the congregation. People who affiliated with the congregation during Birth or Infancy hold one Vision. This is a Vision of a strong worshiping community with intimate fellowship and care, and meaningful, corporate spirituality. People affiliated with the congregation during Childhood and Adolescence hold the other Vision. The programs and activities of the congregations that met specific needs of the family or household attracted them. Their Vision of one of a full service, family-focused congregation with opportunities for meaningful, individual spirituality.
PHASE THREE: Prime/Plateau
This phase involves the life cycle of Adulthood and Maturity. Phase Three is the time during which a congregation reaches its prime. In Adulthood they have a balance of walking by faith and by sight. This balance begins to weaken in Maturity.
Adulthood: Adulthood is that period when Vision, Relationships, Programs, and Management share dominance. The period of Adulthood lasts 3 to 5 years. Adulthood is characterized by a congregation that is in its prime. It is relaxed. It is successful. It has a positive spirit. It is focused. It is clear about its Vision, and its Vision shares broad ownership in the congregation. It is positive about its future. It feels that it can accomplish anything to which it sets it mind, as long as it matches the will of God for the congregation.
A crucial characteristic is that the congregation may not be aware that this may be as good as it gets. It may not know that this is Adulthood. Having never been there, if this is the first life cycle of the congregation, they do not recognize Adulthood.
Often the high morale of the congregation parallels the strong sense of mission, purpose, core values, and vision. The congregation feels that it is contributing significantly to the work of the Kingdom. High levels of satisfaction are expressed related to the role and function of the staff.
Maturity: Maturity is that period when Relationships, Programs, and Management are dominant. Vision is no longer dominant. Management is controlling the direction of the congregation. A congregation that is past its prime characterizes Maturity. It is more passive than active. It is still successful in many areas. For the most part it has a positive spirit. The quality of what happens in Maturity is the highest of any stage in the life cycle. In fact, a crescendo of quality programs and activities occurs during this stage.
It is no longer focused. It is no longer clear about its vision. The success culture of the congregation keeps it moving forward. It is blind to the fact that it no longer has an empowering vision that is fueling it forward. The feeling is that what the congregation is currently doing is working. There is no felt need to change. Besides, the finances of the congregation have never been better. In selected portions of the congregation the morale of the members and regular attendees is beginning to decline. At the same time the congregation feels that it is contributing significantly to the work of the Kingdom.
PHASE FOUR: Early Aging
This phase involves the life cycle stages of Empty Nest and Retirement. Phase Four is the time during which a congregation diminishes, first in programs and then in relationships. They begin to hardwire a pattern into their congregational life of walking by sight more than by faith.
Empty Nest: Empty Nest is that period when Relationships and Management are dominant. vision and programs are no longer dominant. Management is controlling the direction of the congregation. Empty Nest has 3 phases: Nostalgia, Disappointment, and Anger.
The Nostalgia phase is when a congregation hopes that tomorrow will bring a return of yesterday. Most of the stories told in the congregation are stories of remembrance. The Disappointment phase is when the congregation realizes that neither the quality not the quantity of what the congregation is doing is what it once was. The result is that in the Disappointment phase some congregational leaders push the commitment button and urge people to be more committed to the work of the congregation.
The next phase is when a congregation seeks to focus blame on the things and persons who are keeping them from being what they once were and what they desire to be. The Anger phase can end up being a time of great conflict in the life of many congregations.
The congregation in Empty Nest may telescope its time focus to the age group it wants to target with the most efforts. Congregations who want to target teenagers want to focus on yesterday. Those who want to target senior adults want to focus on today. Congregations who want to target ages 25 to 45 and their children want to focus on tomorrow.
Retirement: Retirement is that period when Programs and Management are dominant. Management is controlling the direction of the congregation. Many long-term members and attendees decided at the end of Empty Nest that this is no longer a good place to invite people to come and be members and attendees. Existing members and attendees may feel that new people will be disappointed in the congregation. Or new people may want to change the congregation, and if it does not work, then the congregation may be weaker than it is already. Simultaneously they want the congregation to be alive and vital long enough to help them with various life passages, including their own deaths.
The stakeholders in the congregation who are 60 years of age or more have been professing Christians for 40 years or more and have been members for 20 years or more. They give permission for the newer, younger members and attendees to try new programmatic directions. At times this takes the form of an appeal made to a prospective pastor. The pastor search committee urges the new pastor to come lead them into a new era of transformation.
Transitions, changes, and new ideas are said to be welcomed and supported. About 18 to 24 months into the transitions and changes initiated by a pastor or newer, younger lay leaders, the stakeholders may realize that things are not working the way they thought they would. If so, they seek to stop the change efforts, and – if necessary – get rid or discourage the leaders of the transitions and changes.
PHASE FIVE: Late Aging
This phase involves the life cycle stages of Old Age and Death. Phase Five is the time during which a congregation institutionalizes its Management and loses sight of vision and relationships. They walk by sight only.
Old Age: Old Age is that period when Management is the only one of the 4 organizing principles that is dominant. Vision, relationships, and programs are no longer dominant. Management is the only thing left to control the direction of the congregation. Old Age is that stage of a congregation’s life cycle when it is functioning on fumes rather than being fueled by Vision. The habit or pattern of gathering for worship and fellowship is the primary factor keeping the congregation going.
The congregation is now a chaplaincy ministry. Death is not necessarily nearby, but proactive meaningful congregation life that is generating new energy is gone. Death is not necessarily imminent or inevitable for Old Age congregations. It is not imminent if that Old Age congregations generally have the ability and resources (think large endowments) to survive long past any viable proactive ministry life.
Death: Death is that period when none of the 4 organizing principles is dominant. Management is the only organizing principle left, and its role is brief and confined. At Death, a congregation ceases to exist as a community of worship, and fellowship.
Death is not inevitable for any congregation. The life cycle and stages of development are not deterministic; that is, if a congregation has a Birth, it is not inevitable that it will have a Death. Having said that, congregations who are aging, are dysfunctional, and who wait until Late Aging to seek a turnaround are unlikely to experience a positive, successful future. They may not avoid Death.
STAGES OF CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Every congregation has a life cycle into which the 4 organizing principles fit. Think of this life cycle as the journey of the congregation in the vehicle. Looking at congregations according to their life cycles assists in developing the ability to see, understand, and pursue opportunities and choices available to a congregation at a particular stage of development.
Congregations will journey along this life cycle many times. If you’ve been here long enough, you will be able to see where the church has repeated stages over and over again. Our purpose here is not to see how many times this church has been at different stages, but to determine where we are now and how that impacts our future together right now. We will be able to recognize tendencies we have and this will help us to acknowledge them and perhaps even confess them and repent from them, if needed.
PHASE ONE: EARLY GROWTH
This phase involves the life cycle of Birth and Infancy and is preceded by a Gestation period.
Gestation: Gestation involves the time frame during which a church planting effort is getting ready to launch into life through the Birth of a new congregation. Gestation is a period of a couple of months to a couple of years before the Birth of a congregation, when the idea of a new congregation is being developed through prayer, planning, and preparations that emanates from a strong, positive sense of spiritual passion. Phase One is the time during which a congregation develop deep roots and early growth around the issues of Vision and Relationships. They walk by faith rather than by sight.
Birth: Birth is that period when Vision is dominant, and relationships, programs, and management are not. Vision is the fuel or energy that drives a new congregation forward.
Congregations at Birth are living out the mission, purpose, core values, and vision that God has given them for a new congregation that ought to be present in a certain place or among a specific target group of people. Leadership is expressed through Vision and assists in fueling the forward progress of the congregation. This leadership is God’s leadership, which empowers congregational leaders to seize the day. The period of Birth only lasts about 6 months to two years. It is characterized by a passion to fulfill the spiritual strategic vision of the congregation.
Infancy: Infancy is that period when Vision and Relationships are dominant, but programs and management are not. The period of Infancy lasts 3 to 5 years. Congregations in Infancy are continuing to live out the Vision that God has given them for a congregation that ought to be present in a certain place or among a specific target group of people. Vision is the fuel or energy that will drive the congregation forward throughout the growth side of the life cycle. Discipleship patterns are expressed through the Relationships factor and assist in flavoring the congregation. These patterns hardwire the congregation’s qualitative and quantitative growth patterns.
PHASE TWO: Late Growth
This phase involves the life cycle stages of Childhood and Adolescence. Phase Two is the time during which a congregation develops and grows its Programs. They begin to walk by sight rather than by faith. This causes confusion in Adolescence.
Childhood: Childhood is that period when Vision and Programs are dominant, but relationships and management are not. The period of Childhood lasts 5 to 6 years. The Childhood stage of a congregation is characterized by an urgency to build programs (things we do for us), ministries (things we do for others), and activities similar to a full-service congregation. Energy and resources that were dedicated to an intentional disciple-making system during Infancy are now dedicated to program development. (According to family systems theory, the program church generally runs over 100 in worship. Very often, churches in the aging phases will want to “return” to the good old days when there were lots of good church programs such as a strong youth group and Sunday School. These churches will invest money in order to staff these desires by hiring a youth pastor/Christian Ed minister.)
During the Childhood phase significant emphasis is given to broadening the scale and deepening the scope of the programs and activities for the chosen high-priority target groups.
Adolescence: Adolescence is that period when Vision, Relationships and Programs are dominant, but management is not. The period of Adolescence lasts 6 to 8 years. The Adolescence stage of a congregation is characterized by a passion to fulfill the strategic spiritual vision of the congregation. Because fulfillment of this Vision may be in sight, the congregation presses for a higher quality and quantity of programs and activities.
Competition is evident in the Adolescent congregation. Two visions of the future seem to be dominant in the congregation. People who affiliated with the congregation during Birth or Infancy hold one Vision. This is a Vision of a strong worshiping community with intimate fellowship and care, and meaningful, corporate spirituality. People affiliated with the congregation during Childhood and Adolescence hold the other Vision. The programs and activities of the congregations that met specific needs of the family or household attracted them. Their Vision of one of a full service, family-focused congregation with opportunities for meaningful, individual spirituality.
PHASE THREE: Prime/Plateau
This phase involves the life cycle of Adulthood and Maturity. Phase Three is the time during which a congregation reaches its prime. In Adulthood they have a balance of walking by faith and by sight. This balance begins to weaken in Maturity.
Adulthood: Adulthood is that period when Vision, Relationships, Programs, and Management share dominance. The period of Adulthood lasts 3 to 5 years. Adulthood is characterized by a congregation that is in its prime. It is relaxed. It is successful. It has a positive spirit. It is focused. It is clear about its Vision, and its Vision shares broad ownership in the congregation. It is positive about its future. It feels that it can accomplish anything to which it sets it mind, as long as it matches the will of God for the congregation.
A crucial characteristic is that the congregation may not be aware that this may be as good as it gets. It may not know that this is Adulthood. Having never been there, if this is the first life cycle of the congregation, they do not recognize Adulthood.
Often the high morale of the congregation parallels the strong sense of mission, purpose, core values, and vision. The congregation feels that it is contributing significantly to the work of the Kingdom. High levels of satisfaction are expressed related to the role and function of the staff.
Maturity: Maturity is that period when Relationships, Programs, and Management are dominant. Vision is no longer dominant. Management is controlling the direction of the congregation. A congregation that is past its prime characterizes Maturity. It is more passive than active. It is still successful in many areas. For the most part it has a positive spirit. The quality of what happens in Maturity is the highest of any stage in the life cycle. In fact, a crescendo of quality programs and activities occurs during this stage.
It is no longer focused. It is no longer clear about its vision. The success culture of the congregation keeps it moving forward. It is blind to the fact that it no longer has an empowering vision that is fueling it forward. The feeling is that what the congregation is currently doing is working. There is no felt need to change. Besides, the finances of the congregation have never been better. In selected portions of the congregation the morale of the members and regular attendees is beginning to decline. At the same time the congregation feels that it is contributing significantly to the work of the Kingdom.
PHASE FOUR: Early Aging
This phase involves the life cycle stages of Empty Nest and Retirement. Phase Four is the time during which a congregation diminishes, first in programs and then in relationships. They begin to hardwire a pattern into their congregational life of walking by sight more than by faith.
Empty Nest: Empty Nest is that period when Relationships and Management are dominant. vision and programs are no longer dominant. Management is controlling the direction of the congregation. Empty Nest has 3 phases: Nostalgia, Disappointment, and Anger.
The Nostalgia phase is when a congregation hopes that tomorrow will bring a return of yesterday. Most of the stories told in the congregation are stories of remembrance. The Disappointment phase is when the congregation realizes that neither the quality not the quantity of what the congregation is doing is what it once was. The result is that in the Disappointment phase some congregational leaders push the commitment button and urge people to be more committed to the work of the congregation.
The next phase is when a congregation seeks to focus blame on the things and persons who are keeping them from being what they once were and what they desire to be. The Anger phase can end up being a time of great conflict in the life of many congregations.
The congregation in Empty Nest may telescope its time focus to the age group it wants to target with the most efforts. Congregations who want to target teenagers want to focus on yesterday. Those who want to target senior adults want to focus on today. Congregations who want to target ages 25 to 45 and their children want to focus on tomorrow.
Retirement: Retirement is that period when Programs and Management are dominant. Management is controlling the direction of the congregation. Many long-term members and attendees decided at the end of Empty Nest that this is no longer a good place to invite people to come and be members and attendees. Existing members and attendees may feel that new people will be disappointed in the congregation. Or new people may want to change the congregation, and if it does not work, then the congregation may be weaker than it is already. Simultaneously they want the congregation to be alive and vital long enough to help them with various life passages, including their own deaths.
The stakeholders in the congregation who are 60 years of age or more have been professing Christians for 40 years or more and have been members for 20 years or more. They give permission for the newer, younger members and attendees to try new programmatic directions. At times this takes the form of an appeal made to a prospective pastor. The pastor search committee urges the new pastor to come lead them into a new era of transformation.
Transitions, changes, and new ideas are said to be welcomed and supported. About 18 to 24 months into the transitions and changes initiated by a pastor or newer, younger lay leaders, the stakeholders may realize that things are not working the way they thought they would. If so, they seek to stop the change efforts, and – if necessary – get rid or discourage the leaders of the transitions and changes.
PHASE FIVE: Late Aging
This phase involves the life cycle stages of Old Age and Death. Phase Five is the time during which a congregation institutionalizes its Management and loses sight of vision and relationships. They walk by sight only.
Old Age: Old Age is that period when Management is the only one of the 4 organizing principles that is dominant. Vision, relationships, and programs are no longer dominant. Management is the only thing left to control the direction of the congregation. Old Age is that stage of a congregation’s life cycle when it is functioning on fumes rather than being fueled by Vision. The habit or pattern of gathering for worship and fellowship is the primary factor keeping the congregation going.
The congregation is now a chaplaincy ministry. Death is not necessarily nearby, but proactive meaningful congregation life that is generating new energy is gone. Death is not necessarily imminent or inevitable for Old Age congregations. It is not imminent if that Old Age congregations generally have the ability and resources (think large endowments) to survive long past any viable proactive ministry life.
Death: Death is that period when none of the 4 organizing principles is dominant. Management is the only organizing principle left, and its role is brief and confined. At Death, a congregation ceases to exist as a community of worship, and fellowship.
Death is not inevitable for any congregation. The life cycle and stages of development are not deterministic; that is, if a congregation has a Birth, it is not inevitable that it will have a Death. Having said that, congregations who are aging, are dysfunctional, and who wait until Late Aging to seek a turnaround are unlikely to experience a positive, successful future. They may not avoid Death.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
A Metaphor
Imagine a car as a metaphor for a congregation. Place Vision, Relationships, Programs, and Management in this vehicle in the seat best suited for each to symbolize a faithful, effective, and innovative journey for a congregation.
Who would drive?
Who would navigate?
Where would Programs sit? Why?
Where would Management sit? Why?
What happens when Vision gets tired and needs to take a nap in the back seat? Who drives, then? What does Proverbs 29:18 say about this?
Where there is no vision, guess who drives? What happens then?
Each organizing principle must play out its appropriate role in its best seat in the vehicle for the journey to be excellent and transformational.
Who would drive?
Who would navigate?
Where would Programs sit? Why?
Where would Management sit? Why?
What happens when Vision gets tired and needs to take a nap in the back seat? Who drives, then? What does Proverbs 29:18 say about this?
Where there is no vision, guess who drives? What happens then?
Each organizing principle must play out its appropriate role in its best seat in the vehicle for the journey to be excellent and transformational.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Organizing Principles
Here's part 2 of the class I'm teaching, Leading Change in the Congregation.
Because the environment in which we do ministry is both complex and constantly changing, there is not a simple and straightforward movement toward goals.
What we often need from God, and what our congregations often need from their leaders, is not a quick map to the final destination, but bread for the wilderness – sustenance and strategies to help us find our ways.
Before we begin to look at the stages of development, it will be helpful for us to look at 4 Organizing Principles that form the DNA of the Life Cycle. A major element in understanding the life cycle of a congregation is to understand the pattern of the organizing principles that form the DNA and make up the various stages of the congregational life. This life cycle is principle driven.
Vision: The current understanding of God’s spiritual strategic direction for a local congregation that is cast by the leadership and owned by the membership.
Relationships: The relational processes by which persons are brought to faith in God and through Jesus Christ; become connected to a local New Testament church; are assimilated into the fellowship, life, and care ministry of the church; have opportunities for spiritual growth and leadership development; and utilize their gifts and skills through Kingdom involvement.
Programs: The functional attempts to provide services, activities, and training for people connected to the congregation by membership, attendance, fellowship or through relationship processes (These are the things we do for us. Sunday School is an example of a program.)
Management: The administration of the resources of the congregation, the decision-making structure of the congregation, the formal and informal culture of the congregation, and the openness of the congregation to change and grow.
Look at these 4 organizing principles as one approach to the assessment of a congregation. To empower our observation, reference 2 Corinthians 5:7, which admonishes us to “walk by faith rather than by sight.”
Congregations that focus more passion on Vision and Relationships are growing younger and more proactive every day. Younger does not necessarily mean the age demographics of the congregation are growing younger, but that may be a by-product. It means that, as a representation of the body of Christ, they appear younger or more vital. They are proactive in their actions and regularly seize the opportunities God is placing before them.
Congregations that focus more passion on Programs and Management are growing older and more passive every day. As a representation of the body of Christ they daily appear older and less vital. They are passive in their actions, and regularly seek to maintain past gains, an effort that leads to less satisfying results.
What percentage of Protestant churches do you think place more emphasis on Programs and Management than they do on Vision and Relationships? What percentage do you think place more emphasis on Vision and Relationships? What do you think is the result on placing more emphasis on Vision and Relationships?
Because the environment in which we do ministry is both complex and constantly changing, there is not a simple and straightforward movement toward goals.
What we often need from God, and what our congregations often need from their leaders, is not a quick map to the final destination, but bread for the wilderness – sustenance and strategies to help us find our ways.
Before we begin to look at the stages of development, it will be helpful for us to look at 4 Organizing Principles that form the DNA of the Life Cycle. A major element in understanding the life cycle of a congregation is to understand the pattern of the organizing principles that form the DNA and make up the various stages of the congregational life. This life cycle is principle driven.
Vision: The current understanding of God’s spiritual strategic direction for a local congregation that is cast by the leadership and owned by the membership.
Relationships: The relational processes by which persons are brought to faith in God and through Jesus Christ; become connected to a local New Testament church; are assimilated into the fellowship, life, and care ministry of the church; have opportunities for spiritual growth and leadership development; and utilize their gifts and skills through Kingdom involvement.
Programs: The functional attempts to provide services, activities, and training for people connected to the congregation by membership, attendance, fellowship or through relationship processes (These are the things we do for us. Sunday School is an example of a program.)
Management: The administration of the resources of the congregation, the decision-making structure of the congregation, the formal and informal culture of the congregation, and the openness of the congregation to change and grow.
Look at these 4 organizing principles as one approach to the assessment of a congregation. To empower our observation, reference 2 Corinthians 5:7, which admonishes us to “walk by faith rather than by sight.”
Congregations that focus more passion on Vision and Relationships are growing younger and more proactive every day. Younger does not necessarily mean the age demographics of the congregation are growing younger, but that may be a by-product. It means that, as a representation of the body of Christ, they appear younger or more vital. They are proactive in their actions and regularly seize the opportunities God is placing before them.
Congregations that focus more passion on Programs and Management are growing older and more passive every day. As a representation of the body of Christ they daily appear older and less vital. They are passive in their actions, and regularly seek to maintain past gains, an effort that leads to less satisfying results.
What percentage of Protestant churches do you think place more emphasis on Programs and Management than they do on Vision and Relationships? What percentage do you think place more emphasis on Vision and Relationships? What do you think is the result on placing more emphasis on Vision and Relationships?
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Take a Look at Differences in the Way Leaders View People
John Maxwell shares these views with us in his book, "Developing The Leaders Around You." (This comes from the 1st class that I'm currently teaching, Leading Change in the Church.") "Often, leaders wrongly believe that they must compete with the people close to them instead off working with them . . . This kind of interaction can happen only if the leader has an attitude of interdependency with others and is committed to win-win relationships."
Winning by Competitiveness
Look at others as enemies.
Concentrate on yourself.
Become suspicious of others.
Win only if you are good.
Winning determined by your skills.
Small victory
Some joy
There are winners and losers.
OR
Winning by Cooperation
Look at others as friends.
Concentrate on others.
Become supportive of others.
Win if you or others are good.
Winning determined by the skills of many.
Large Victory
Much Joy
There are only winners.
Where have you seen these views come into play?
I once had a person tell me, "Well I guess I lost that battle." How did that person view me . . . as a friend or an enemy? Where was that person concentrating . . . on themselves or on others. Where they creating only winners or winners and losers?
Winning by Competitiveness
Look at others as enemies.
Concentrate on yourself.
Become suspicious of others.
Win only if you are good.
Winning determined by your skills.
Small victory
Some joy
There are winners and losers.
OR
Winning by Cooperation
Look at others as friends.
Concentrate on others.
Become supportive of others.
Win if you or others are good.
Winning determined by the skills of many.
Large Victory
Much Joy
There are only winners.
Where have you seen these views come into play?
I once had a person tell me, "Well I guess I lost that battle." How did that person view me . . . as a friend or an enemy? Where was that person concentrating . . . on themselves or on others. Where they creating only winners or winners and losers?
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