I’ve been thinking about alot of things regarding mega-churches, church plants, denominations, and pastoral changes. Here are some of them and I would love to get your take.
1. Vision and long-term commitment seem to be two charicteristics I see in growing church plants. The pastor is unwavering on the vision God has given them and they are open about the fact they want to be at the church until they retire. Would you rather attend a church with that kind of leader or one where the pastor is just trying to get a positive vote every 2 to 4 years and doesn’t really do anything to rock the boat. Are some pastors scared to get a vision from God because it might disrupt things and affect their vote? I’ve never been in that position and that’s why I’m asking the question. This leads to my second thought…
2. A growing trend in larger churches is to have a hand picked successor when the senior pastor/planter retires. Heard about a big church in Louisville that picked their next Sr. Pastor 5 years in advance. Seems to be biblical to “pass the mantle” rather than bringing in a stranger to preach a trial sermon. When a successful Sr. Pastor gives his vote of confidence to the next guy then good things can happen. Of course, if the pastor wasn’t successful then people are gonna want to look elsewhere. Of course, having the foresight to “pass the mantle” would require vision and long-term commitment.
3. I also see churches hiring from within much more than in the past. Again, it does make sense to bring people on staff who are already sold out to the vision and direction of the church and have been actively plugged in. Bringing a staff person from the outside can have tremendous results, but is it safer to go with a proven commodity in someone you already know and trust?
4. I guess my point is if every year we see the church in decline then what are we doing to change that? I’ve heard it said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. What would it look like for the Wesleyan denomination to adapt some of its procedures to follow a pattern that seems to be working? Or we can keep shuffling the deck every few years and getting the same results. Just some thoughts. Am I way off base in my thinking? Why do we often lack the vision and passion needed to reach the world for Christ?
Heath,
Interesting comments. I think some are eager for change, but when that change doesn’t happen we go off into mini denominations (nondenominational church plants/splits sometimes). Shuffling the deck can be good and it’s the EASIEST way to change things up. But in the end no vision = no church.
Someone has to be willing to have a vision, then have the guts to press through and see it become a reality. What’s the old quote? Something about for a dream to become a reality is responsibility.
Bottom line, if we’re going to change, then let’s change.
If you’re going to bring someone in from the outside, make sure it’s worth it.