Musings on Spiritual Matters

Sometimes congregations can change from a state of health to dysfunction.  When this occurs, the minister must be aware of his actions in order for him not to be influenced in a negative way.  Here are some simple ways to remain healthy in an unhealthy environment.

1. Be a non-anxious presence.  This means that the minister does not become reactive.  He thinks before he acts.  The congregation might be falling around you but you must keep your wits.

2. Coach the healthy members of the congregation.  Often the focus in a unhealthy congregation is on the unhealthy members.  The congregation or leaders seek to fix them.  This rarely works because they are not able to grow like a healthy person.  Instead work on those who have the ability to be healthy.

3. Stay out of emotional triangles.  Emotional triangles multiply like rabbits in a unhealthy church.  Instead of remaining in the triangle, bring the parties together as quickly as possible.  You are not the “go between.”

4. Relate to everyone openly and honestly.  Do not try to cut secret deals.  Always be transparent.  State your positions with a “I.”

5. Tend to your inner life.  This will help you to remain a non-anxious presence.  Establish the routines of prayer and silence.

Dealing with a unhealthy congregation can be difficult.  But you can have a positive influence through self-differentiation.  You cannot fix the problem, but you can manage yourself.  Tend to this.

Related posts:

1. Unhealthy Congregations
2. State of the Congregation
3. Entering a Congregation
4. Review of “Managing the Congregation”
5. Congregation in the City

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This entry was posted by Matthew on Thursday, January 14th, 2010 at 2:28 pm and is filed under Church News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.