Read “Leading Strategic Change”
This is a business book about changing a corporate organization. It has been my experience that much in the business culture does not translate over into the church world. The dynamics of a church system are different from a business. The style of leadership and the strategies for change are not parallel between a church and a business. A lot of the business consulting would not work in a congregation. Fortunately, this book seems to break the mold. It is a practical look at the steps needed to change an organization. One will have to read into the text a church culture, but the principles are sound within the pages. It deals with how to change an organization through confrontation and contrast, but also provides the knowledge on how to continue the change process. This book was one of the best on helping people change for the good. Too many congregations get stuck in unhealthy patterns and relationships, and a minister who does not have the skill set of helping a congregation change when the congregation is dying will soon be leaving or preaching the funeral of the church. All ministers are in the job of changing a church. Not unscriptural change, but change in increased evangelism, spirituality, and unity. The normal process for a church is homeostasis and if this is not pushed than the congregation will cease to be great but will just exist. I think God wants more than existence.
Related posts:
- Review of “Leading Congregational Change”
- Read “Leading the Comeback Church”
- Read “Communicating for a Change”
- Clarity in Change
- Review of “Strategic Preaching”
About The Author
This book also has a new title “Starts with One.”
Sounds like there is something to learn from this book. It is unfortunate that certain people in the church have been able to brand change as error. Change is the natural process of any living organism and the church is living. If the church is growing then it must/will change. Systems must change to keep up with growth, the personal dynamics change as new people come into the congregation, etc. Change is a good thing, change is a sign of growth. You can be a “change agent” without advocating a change in doctrine.
Here is the nemesis. I advocate certain change to fundamental doctrines relative to traditional church of Christ theology. So I am often labeled a change agent. The Bible never changes it does not re-write it self when no one is looking. However the way we look at the scripture will always be changing. I recently did a research project where I took a random diverse sampling of 100 people who had never really read or been exposed to the Bible. I let them choose the translation (no one chose the KJV or anything close to it because they couldn’t understand it) and had them read it cover to cover and write down their conclusions. There were some similarities but the differences far exceeded the similarities. When we reviewed these as groups we learned that know one read with conscious pre-supposed ideas but sub-consciously everyone was blind by their education, culture, experience and background. Until we accept that we are just as biased as then next guy in our approach to scripture we will never be able to move forward. Here is a question I hear elders asking themselves in almost every church I counsel: “What can we change without challenging our doctrines?”. Is this not a paradox inside itself? When our interpretation of scripture has risen above the level that it can be questioned, I would suggest that it is no longer the truth we are seeking but rather the emotional security of being right 100% of the time.
Joe, how can I obtain a copy of your research project?
Eddy:
It will be available at the first part of next year.