Two “Uh-Oh” Statements that Hinder Congregational Growth
Today’s post is not original with me. I got the idea from a brief comment made at a lesson at Polishing the Pulpit last year by Brandon Rader. While it was not the main point of the lesson, it has stuck with me since I heard it on a recording of the lesson recently.
Congregations want to grow (I hope). However, there are certain phrases that, if they become the default, can hinder growth. One of those you have heard talked about many times before, while the other you may not have.
Statement #1: “We’ve never done it that way before.” I think it is worth saying that this is not always a bad statement to make. The reason is simple: sometimes the way we’ve been doing something is good. The problem with this statement being the default, though, is that it hinders creative thinking. It says that we will not–within the parameters of Scripture–do anything that might take a little explanation or that might ruffle even one feather.
Instead, a congregation needs to evaluate what they have been doing. Some things are worth keeping (or even bringing back). Some need to stay, but with some updating and tweaking. And, yes, some probably need to be allowed to die on the vine.
One problem with this statement is that almost nothing ever gets “cut,” so the list of programs and events gets longer and longer, splintering effort and energy. But, because that’s how we’ve done it, we just keep everything and get more and more frustrated.
So, instead, communicate clearly and often that programs and events and ministries will constantly be evaluated. Instead of getting stuck with how we’ve always done it, be flexible.
Statement #2: “Such-and-such church is doing this and it looks good, so we should do it.” This one is, maybe, a little harder. We see a congregation who has a seemingly successful ministry or program. We want to be successful, too. So, we just point to the other congregation and say, “let’s do that.”
There can be value in learning from other congregations. However, they are not you! They don’t have the same people. They aren’t in the same neighborhood. They may not even have the same primary goals.
It is a good thing to get ideas from other congregations, but, again, the key word is evaluation. Instead of trying to copy-and-paste yet another ministry or event into your church’s program of work (and calendar), do the hard work of seeing what might be best for your people. Can this be incorporated into another ministry? Can we do a piece of this, but not all of it? Would this actually compete with, and harm, the efforts we are already making? Would it be confusing to our people why we are doing this when we already spend time doing that? Do we even have the financial resources to do this or are we just grasping at straws for good ideas?
Each congregation is autonomous for a reason, in God’s wisdom. Evaluate what you need right where you are and minister to those people, not the people someone else is trying to reach.
These are long and sometimes difficult conversations. In the end, though, they are worth it, because they help a congregation stay faithful (most importantly), creative, and streamlined. There is less overlap and a less cluttered calendar. People are used to programs and events coming and going (or being updated). And people feel a sense of gratitude for what “we” are doing.
AUTHOR: Adam Faughn