The Burning Question: How Do We Lead Existing Communities Forward to Embrace Mission?
I teach a mission-centered approach to Scripture and try to engage the missional imagination of every student who walks into my classroom at Asbury Theological Seminary. This creates a disconnect with the reality of most communities of faith that are inward-focused and rooted in a past that no longer exists.
Here is a question that I have received too often from my students. This arrived in my inbox this week, but I have read it many times before:
This doesn’t actually pertain to class, but I would really appreciate your advice. I’m really questioning my place of ministry right now. I pastor a small [denomination linked] congregation in the suburbs of ______ [middle America]. I’ve been here about [less than 3] years. I pastored bi-vocationally for [several] years prior to moving here. This is my first full-time pastorate. I’ve changed a great deal during that time. I’ve gone from believing that if we just keep doing the same things we’ve been doing that the church will be fine, to now realizing that the American church is sinking and must change. I’ve tried to introduce some of those needed changes very slowly and with as much grace as possible. Yet, I am finding that the majority of my church doesn’t really care if the church outlasts them. I’m sure I could continue in this place for years to come, but I am increasingly dissatisfied with perpetuating a ministry that is not missional and is only interested in preserving a tradition.
I know my situation is not uncommon. But I’m beginning to wonder if I should remain here. I guess my question to you is: How feasible is it to lead a church to a revitalized commitment to the mission of God? Can it be done in our society? I see so much energy and vibrancy within new experimental churches, I can’t help but wonder if I should consider that.
How would you answer these questions? What advice do you have for this pastor?
Maybe I’m being idealistic but I have to believe that existing churches can be moved becoming more missionally minded. Planting is really an appealing option but on some level isn’t this “taking our ball and going home” because others aren’t “playing” the way we want them to? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have the answers and being in seminary right now I wonder what this is all going to look like once I get back into a congregation but there must be hope for the existing church and the people within them. We can’t be afraid to lead even if it means struggle. I am REALLY open to ideas about how to make this happen.
“Can it be done in our society?” I think it has to be done. I too hope to know more about the “how.” My passion as a pastor-to-be is to see existing church bodies rediscover their community. To really see what it means to serve the neighbor who lives behind the church. Or, the housing project the next block over. I beleive, this can be done in the 20-30 year old churches AND in the 70-80 year old churches. I am not against planting a church. But, it can be so much more redemptive and exciting to lead an existing “internal” congregation to think “externally.” That, is a real change, and a real commitment to the people you serve. I would hope the pastor in the email would stay, seek resources and assistance, pray, and begin to help the people to realize as he did, things are changing.
It’s been done. Ron Crandall wrote a book about 15 years ago called “Turnaround Strategies for the Small Church”. If I’m remembering correctly, it essentially compiled the stories of a number of churches who fit the above description and became missional. It’s been almost that long since I read the book, so I apologize if my memory is mistaken.
Assuming my memory is correct, then Yes, it can be done. But my experience shows me otherwise. I often wondered if it was the people who were too carnally self-focused, my lack of effective leadership/ability, or some unfortunate combination of the two. Churches I have left showed small signs of movement, VERY small. I always wanted to be part of the big turnaround. But alas I was not.
After my last pastorate, I began to believe that it was impossible to move a church from self-focused to missional, even if the church was only 15 years old. But my hope and faith in God tells it is not. I’d love to be part of such a church one day.
Last comment - the wonderful energy seen in the “new experimental” churches is difficult to maintain. Even when declining churches become missional, it takes great effort to maintain that trajectory and not fall back into a self-center orbit.