I was talking to the organist after the service when a woman walked in asking the time of the service. We made her feel welcome … and invited her to have refreshments with the rest of us. As it happens, she is a Roman Catholic living in Penn Hills and looking for a more welcoming place to worship than she experienced in her own church.
Wasn’t I the one who had just spent three years at a prestigious theological institution where I learned not only theology and biblical studies but also all manner of practical concepts? Wasn’t I the one who had been ordained to work as the program director for a world-recognized interfaith organization? Wasn’t I the expert?
Thirty-five percent of congregations in the National Congregations Study reported conflict over clergy, and 12 percent reported conflict over leadership issues.
Here are a few tips for how you can successfully implement change in small churches
Bosco Peters proposes a new award: the face-palm Jesus. While we all might want to propose categories which would qualify for the prize, he talks specifically about liturgical practice. But what about our common life?
Many congregations would produce answers to this question that reflect what they do today – such things as sermons and hymns, committee meetings, church buildings, members, pledges, organ music. They have been so resistant to change that I can only guess that they firmly believe these ways of doing things to be their “business.”
When the honeymoon is over and the pastor notices resistance among congregants, he or she is tempted to succumb to self-doubt, anxiety, or feelings of alienation. The most effective new pastors see this period of mutual disillusionment and congregational resistance as an opportunity for spiritual and professional growth.
As the Spring starts to turn into Summer, parishes in the warmer climates are waving goodbye to their winter-time members. And northern congregations are waving hello. The strong seasonal differences between the sizes of congregations presents some challenges to people left behind.
When we are focused as churches, our passions become clearer to the community around us. It becomes easier for us to share our story. And if we’re a cluttered mess, it’s hard to be that relevant voice. What’s your success been chasing your church’s dust bunnies?
What do people in your community know about your congregation? I’m not asking about those who have attended the church or know someone who is a member. What about your neighbors who go to another church? Or the neighbors who do not attend any church?