Change
What will you start today..? Something you’ve been putting off… something you think you won’t do well..? Something you’ve been worrying about doing..? Whatever it is – just start it?
Change
Mmm… I’m not so sure about that one… you see some things are are working just perfectly as they did fifty years ago… but are they fit for purpose now?
Change
You’ll have heard the one that asks, “How many Presbyterians does it take to change a light bulb?”
“Change! Change! Really, is there something wrong with the old one!”
What if we flip it and ask, “How many light bulbs does it take to change the church?” Light bulbs are a metaphor for ideas… and I’ve heard countless ideas over the years, I’ve had countless ideas, and shared them… only for them all to be kicked into the long grass (I rather like metaphors!)
The Covid-19 pandemic has been a ‘forcing function’1 – an unexpected event that accelerated change in expected ways. It has been a catalyst to some of the change that we knew was needed, but resistance to change has maintained the status quo..
Why change? Does the church need to change? Yes, not because eternal truths change, but because the context and culture around changes. We must change to keep up with and remain relevant in changing times…
Some may say, “If it ain’t broke, dont fix it”, but what if it’s working perfectly as it did a generation ago, but fails to interact with current context and practice.
How many light bulbs does it take to change the church..?
Brainstorming
You can only change 3 things: structures, policies and mindsets… but you have to change them all… and mindset will always be the hardest!
To effect those changes, you need to do three things… I call them steps 4, 5, 6 in honour and recognition of the change that has already happened! Change is all around and change is hard… particularly within the Church context, where despite a core belief that our God is a god of transformation, who journeys with us into unknown places, and who makes all things new, we have huge investment in tradition, heritage and ‘the way it’s aye been.’
Steps 1,2 and 3 – they’ve happened already – think of the changes that you have seen already in your experience of Church – its structures, practices and attitudes…
4: Create shared Vision, ideas purpose, image of the future, aim…
5: Engagement with People and non-human resources (funding, materials)
6: Do It! Action, Delivery…
Steve Radcliffe’s book Future Engage Deliver is an excellent and very readable book on the leadership of change based on the 3 phases he calls Future, Engage and Deliver. John Kotter’s classic change process has eight steps, variations on the theme all boil down to three areas with different levels of detail within. Every change model I have encountered is about envisioning a better future, collaborating with people to develop, understand, share the vision, and acting towards implementing it and embedding it into a new culture – a new ‘that’s how we do it here’. Kotter’s book ‘That’s not how we do it here’ in story form about how a family of meerkats adapt, is a good read!
The triangle diagram diagram above I put together early 2000s, while engaged in the Church of Scotland’s Area Team Ministry project – one of many pilots to promote collaborative ministry. The Church Without Walls report of 2001 had spoken of building the Church around the gifts of the people – and I remember thinking – but what if there is a mismatch between the gifts of the people and the envisioned future?
Which comes first the Vision, or the Gifts of the people, or the Actions? And the more I pondered… I realised that we need all three to work together and to be informed and supported by each other…
If we start with VISION we need to have the PEOPLE to bring it to life, and we need to know that ACTION is achievable. (See also SMARTER goals)
If we start with PEOPLE (gifts, talents and resources) then we must ensure that the people are on board with the shared VISION, and that the people are trained, motivated and supported towards ACTION.
If we start with ACTION then it has to be clear that it’s the right action, in line with agreed and shared VISION, and that the most suitable PEOPLE are taking forward the Action. I’m not a big fan of ‘Just Do It’ – it maybe works for Nike… but Action without Vision can be a fruitless expenditure of energy.
We need VISION, PEOPLE and ACTION – we need them all and we need to keep asking the questions, reviewing and reflecting as we journey into an even better future.
Uncategorized
Digital tools to manage your church – video streaming, events, and more. FaithOnline.co.uk
Uncategorized
This Church is worth a look if you are looking to set up, or develop, a website presence for your congregation
Uncategorized
If you are frequently putting in and pulling out a USB C cable from an ATEM Mini or other device, you might want to have an extension cable so that you can leave it connected and not risk damaging the device.
Uncategorized
Church of Scotland DONATE button
The Church of Scotland Introduced a DONATE BUTTON in June 2020.
You can create a link directly to your congregation’s donate page by adding the congregation number as a parameter. Eg: https://cos.churchofscotland.org.uk/donate/?cong=382184 (with /?cong=382184 after donate – with your number – unless you want to support Strontian Church!)
Payments are processed via PayPal – who will take a small fee. Contributors don’t need a PayPal account and can use any major debit or credit card.
Payments will be transferred to congregational bank accounts – on monthly basis (to he confirmed)
Audio
Lanark Greyfriars Church, Church of Scotland are able to assist churches set up a Dial in audio only solution for the benefit of those not able to access the internet – details at:
bible study
Have had this iOS app for years – really useful. I have only a very little Hebrew and absolutely no Greek – but good to be able to see the interlinear text.
Fascinating to see for example that in Mark 1 in the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law the ‘helped her up’ is literally ‘raised up’ – same word as used of Jesus’ resurrection – and when she ‘waited on them’ the word is diakonia – to serve…
It’s now £14.99 – but I can highly recommend it,
apps.apple.com/gb/app/greek-and-hebrew-study-bible/id428580762