Why does this matter? Well, as Larry Wynn told a group of our
pastors, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast” (Peter Drucker). Pastors can
present plans and talk about a vision that is sensible and proper, but if the church
culture is mistrustful of leadership some hard work will have to take place
before change takes root. Here are some thoughts about understanding, and when
necessary, morphing church culture.
To the
pastor:
Read books
and enter into learning experiences about leading change. One of my
pastor friends is doing an online cohort with Brian Croft of NAMB. He has been
in ministry over 25 years, but he is still committed to learning, adjusting,
and leading his church well.
Take
others on this journey with you. You’ll never change the culture to a healthier
situation without others. Find some faithful, teachable people to invest in and
get them in learning situations.
Promote an
experimental culture. Keep saying, “What if we tried _____? It’s
not unbiblical; it’s just different.” Remember, “When you are tired of saying
it people are just starting to hear it.”
Listen to
the stories. Ask good questions to build trust and understanding. ”Do not move an ancient boundary marker
that your ancestors set in place” (Proverbs 22:28). Make sure you know the “whys”
behind the church’s behavioral norms. They may still need to be shifted, but
you will better understand the sensitivity involved.
Be
prepared to stay and build trust. Thom Rainer says that years 5-7 are usually
when a pastor hits his stride. If you are not willing to commit to staying that
amount of time, you can’t experience what might have been.
To the
congregation:
Recognize the
difference between methods and the message. I have never met a real life heretic
in one of our pulpits. I’m not saying it’s not possible, but all of the time my
experience has been that pastors want to change the delivery system, not the
message.
Assign the
best motive to your pastor. Assume that he really wants what is best for the
Kingdom.
This is a healthy starting place. There is something spiritually underdeveloped
in the person who always has to push
back. Some push back is helpful.
Tension is a necessary part of the creative process. But obstruction of Kingdom
progress is a wholly different matter.
Look at
your actual values versus your aspirational values. Sometimes
churches say things like, “We want young families,” but they are totally
unwilling to adjust their behaviors to attract young families. And often they
are not as accommodating as they could be to a young pastor and his family so
that it makes it hard for him to serve them. Work to discover the Biblical
values you should be encouraging and then work equally as hard at achieving
alignment in your actual behavior.
Embrace an
experimental culture. Keep hearing your pastor when he says, “What
if we tried _____? It’s not unbiblical; it’s just different.”
Love your
pastor and help him have a long tenure. God may call him away, but he shouldn’t
leave because the church has made staying there unbearable. Be courageous
enough to deal with ungodly trouble makers who make life miserable for pastors.
God is going to hold us accountable for these kinds of things one day (Romans
14:10-12).
Conclusion
– Hal Seed said, “We not only have to work in the ministry, but we
have to work on the ministry.” I’d remind myself of this about once a week. It’s
absolutely true. A huge part of “working on the ministry” is to understand that
church culture holds a critical place in leading change.
Suggested Reading
Change is Good ... You Go First, Anderson and Feltenstein.
Leading Congregational Change, Herrington, Bonem, Furr.
The Present Future, Reggie McNeal.
Dirt Matters, Jim Powell.
Discontinuity and Change, Lyle Schaller.
Autopsy of a Deceased Church, Thom Rainer.
Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, Mark Dever.
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