The Change Equation

CHANGE IS NEEDED
That many churches are in need of change is not widely debated. Recent statistics  provide some encouragment in that churches are seeing attendance gains and baptism numbers are increasing. We have reasons to be optimistic as we see continued progress in church planting and renewal. But the fact remains that nearly 8 out of 10 churches are either in a state of plateau or decline. Of those in decline, a smaller subset are in rapid or critical decline.  Also true, we continue to lose congregations at a high rate each year.

CHANGE IS DIFFICULT
In order to arrest and reverse the death and decline rate of the local church things must change. It's not just one thing, it's many things. Calling a new pastor, changing the worship music, adding greeters, allowing coffee in the sanctuary might be good surface actions but they won't bring life to a church that is deep in spiritual malaise.  Add this to the mix - people on the average don't like change and resist it. 

CHANGE REQUIRES CHANGES IN ME
I have a confession to make, I have arrived at the age where I don't like change. Not all change but changes that a shift in the way I go about by everyday life. I don't like software updates to my phone, mandatory password changes, changes in the menu offerings at my favorite establishments. These are minor annoyances really and I eventually get over it and accept these as part of life.  

Significant change, that's another story.  Changes to the things I love or have convictions about (if those are based on tradition, preference, nostalgia) we may end up "throwing hands."  Our resistance to change has deep roots in our brain.

CHANGE IS THE RESULT OF A JOURNEY
Change, when it occurs in a person or organization is the result of multiple factors working together to overcome resistance to change. The equation above helps us identify those factors, here is a brief description of those steps below.

• Holy Discontent - things can't stay as they are
• Vision - a clear picture of a preferred future
• First Steps - initial achievable actions that lead toward the preferred future
• Leadership - sustained effort in the face of opposition or resistance to lead toward that future

​Let's take that journey together. Next up: Holy Discontent Pt. 1

Questions For Reflection

1. Are there areas or instances in my life in which I am resisting change?
2. Why am I holding on to the status quo or resisting change? 
3. What is one area in which I would be willing to explore accepting or pursuing change? 

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