Orientation of a Future-directed Congregation
by Bill Zelazny, District Executive
A new “church year” has begun and church leaders want to move their congregations forward in membership, finances, building, social justice, mission or any number of other areas. There is hope in the air and, if a leader is realistic, there is also knowledge that there might be some challenges coming from their congregation’s culture. Every congregation has a culture. It’s not planned, it just develops over time. Some people say it melds into the walls of the church. A culture challenge might be that the congregation is focused on its past – the glory years of a larger membership or the tenure of a beloved minister. Or it might be that the congregation is focused on being effective in the present – raising money, keeping programs functioning, keeping present members happy. Tradition and management are the cultural challenges that drive these two kinds of congregations.
George Bullard, Jr, an executive coach, when trying to get a congregation to move toward a new future asks the questions, “Is the past in your congregation dirt, mud or foundation? Is the present in your congregation dirt, mud or foundation?” He describes these images this way. The past is dirt when it is rejected as having no application; mud when it is messy or holds people back; foundation when it is honored as the empowerment of the future. The present is dirt when we cannot find anything good to say about it; mud if characterized by chaos or lack of mission and meaning; foundations when it is the launching pad for the next thing you are to do in your congregation’s ministry.
Future-oriented congregations are characterized as living in three dimensions – past, present and future - simultaneously. They are faithful and affirming of their past, but not mired in it or rejecting it. They are effective and efficient in their present structures, programs and ministries, but not myopic in trying to only presevere what is presently happening. And they are innovative and entrepreneurial in the quality, scope and focus of their future ministries, not afraid to try new things and develop new ministries. As Bullard suggests, effective leaders take a critical look at themselves and their congregation to see if they are stuck in only one dimension. They ask the question, “What is the rightful place for our history and what might need to change in our culture to put it in its rightful place?” They ask “What is our focus in the present?” “Are we only concerned with today or keeping things the way they are?” “What might need to change in our culture to make the present a foundation and not mud?” Then they ask, “What is our rightful purpose and mission in this world?” “What are we called to do to meet the spiritual and justice needs of our society?”
When a leader finds that their church’s culture makes the past or present “mud” rather than foundation they can start to work on culture change by taking several steps.
- Name it.
- Help other leaders understand the culture and its consequences.
- Develop a plan and process by which the issue can be discussed to help the congregation understand it.
- Use a coach or a colleague to help keep on target.
A congregation can realize it full potential and be a force for liberal religion if it is faithful to the past, effective in the present and innovative in moving toward the future.