I tend to agree with the sentiment that new churches add more substantive growth for a denomination; so, if we are to grow significantly as a denomination, we need to be about the business of starting as many new churches as possible. The statistics as I've seen them through the years are just too overwhelming to ignore. Lyle Schaller is usually a good place to begin if you are unfamiliar with them.
However, as Schaller tends to point out, substantive growth comes not just from new churches, but from new ministry in general. To grow, churches must be about the business of starting new ministries. Why? Because people tend not to join old things: churches, worship services, small groups, Sunday School classes. For a variety of sociological reasons, people tend overwhelmingly to join only new activities, activities that don't have any history, any tradition, any long-standing conflicts, any longterm relational cliques. The new ministry provides opportunities for new relationships, new activities, and new leadership. All of these aspects and more make new ministries very appealing to those who do not already belong to a pre-existing group.
And this is precisely where we older mainline denominations (not just UM) tend to struggle. Because so many of our churches were founded so many years ago, it is very hard for us to begin those new ministries. Because to start new ministries requires change, and change is something churches tend to be very slow to do, for whatever the reason. So we cling to how we've done things, even when we don't remember precisely why we've been doing them that way. To stop the old and change to the new is intimidating.
And yet, as each of you has suggested, this is precisely where churches of all shapes and sizes have been thriving and growing. When we change and start the new, people are attracted. So, the challenge is, how do we encourage churches to start these new ministries, even knowing in advance that any number of them will fail? After all, most of this is trial and error. For as much as we think we know at times, we often really don't. So many of our attempts are just a shot in the dark. It's why so many new church plants fail. Failure is going to happen. Not everything will work. But, the real crime would be not to try at all. If we never fail, we will never succeed. So how do we encourage existing churches to take the leap and try new ministries?
And, naturally, we need to keep in mind that not everyone will take us up on it. We can encourage, but we cannot require. After all, as so many small church leaders have chided me: "What exactly is the Conference going to do to us if we don't? We're already small, we're already despised, we've already been handed the leftovers among pastors. So what are they gonna do?" Closing them is the only meaningful threat, but I doubt it's one we really want to use. The irony, of course, is that if they don't change and try new things, they will close on their own in due time. In the meantime, then, all we can do is encourage and resource.
So, to me I think our efforts for existing churches are best spent asking: What resources can we offer pastors and leaders of existing churches that will encourage and equip them to try new ministries that have the hope of being effective? Are there seminars we can offer, consultants we can bring in, blogs we can invite them into, books and articles we can make available? What success stories do we need to tell? What pastors in our own Conference do we need to highlight?
Just a few of my thoughts to add to the mix. I've appreciated reading what all of you have written. Look forward to reading more.
Lauren
And this is precisely where we older mainline denominations (not just UM) tend to struggle. Because so many of our churches were founded so many years ago, it is very hard for us to begin those new ministries. Because to start new ministries requires change, and change is something churches tend to be very slow to do, for whatever the reason. So we cling to how we've done things, even when we don't remember precisely why we've been doing them that way. To stop the old and change to the new is intimidating.
And yet, as each of you has suggested, this is precisely where churches of all shapes and sizes have been thriving and growing. When we change and start the new, people are attracted. So, the challenge is, how do we encourage churches to start these new ministries, even knowing in advance that any number of them will fail? After all, most of this is trial and error. For as much as we think we know at times, we often really don't. So many of our attempts are just a shot in the dark. It's why so many new church plants fail. Failure is going to happen. Not everything will work. But, the real crime would be not to try at all. If we never fail, we will never succeed. So how do we encourage existing churches to take the leap and try new ministries?
And, naturally, we need to keep in mind that not everyone will take us up on it. We can encourage, but we cannot require. After all, as so many small church leaders have chided me: "What exactly is the Conference going to do to us if we don't? We're already small, we're already despised, we've already been handed the leftovers among pastors. So what are they gonna do?" Closing them is the only meaningful threat, but I doubt it's one we really want to use. The irony, of course, is that if they don't change and try new things, they will close on their own in due time. In the meantime, then, all we can do is encourage and resource.
So, to me I think our efforts for existing churches are best spent asking: What resources can we offer pastors and leaders of existing churches that will encourage and equip them to try new ministries that have the hope of being effective? Are there seminars we can offer, consultants we can bring in, blogs we can invite them into, books and articles we can make available? What success stories do we need to tell? What pastors in our own Conference do we need to highlight?
Just a few of my thoughts to add to the mix. I've appreciated reading what all of you have written. Look forward to reading more.
Lauren
No comments:
Post a Comment