 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | | | PRACTICAL WISDOM FOR LEADING CONGREGATIONS |
|
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Words from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians have been on my mind lately. Most days and evenings, my husband and I, along with our two working-from-home sons, move from Zoom to Zoom. "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known" (I Corinthians 13:12). The truth is, I lean into the screen and see only dimly. Yes, I love seeing dear faces, but I long for the days when we will meet in person as colleagues, church, family and friends. Then we will all be more fully known. Meanwhile, I am resigning myself to Zooming for the long haul. If we must Zoom, how do we do it well and graciously? |
|
More than 500%. In just two months, my congregation's website traffic jumped by more than 500%. This sudden, steep rise in web traffic was accompanied by other changes as well. The number of visitors to specific pages on the site shifted. Suddenly, the Listen to Sermons page became the most heavily frequented. Meanwhile, the Events page languished with no visitors. Something big was happening.
This all took place from February 2020 to April 2020 -- coinciding, of course, with the onset in North America of the coronavirus pandemic. The arrival of the pandemic profoundly changed my church's online presence. We closed the sanctuary doors and shifted to livestream services. We moved our Bible studies from the church to the cloud. Instead of passing an offering plate, we passed a link to online giving.
My congregation's experience is not unique. The COVID-19 era has caused many congregations to perform their ministry almost exclusively online through digital means such as websites, livestreaming and social media. And since it appears that social distancing will continue for many months to come, congregations will be relying heavily on digital media for the foreseeable future. It is now vital for congregations to ensure that their websites, social media and overall internet presence are accessible and easy to use.
|
|
Dan Wunderlich helps congregations dream big dreams. As a pastor himself, he knows that, as we begin new seasons, we dream big dreams. We encourage churches to be creative and think outside of the box. We launch new programs, start new groups, or re-brand our services.
But in this article from 2017, he wonders if what we really need to care for are the small -- and sometimes, boring -- things that make a real difference. Even now in this time of physically-distant worship and programming, that question and his suggestions are worth considering. |
|
|
Humans have been choice-makers since the days when hunter-gatherers had to decide when to hunt and what to gather. Making choices is what humans do. But individuals feel more personal autonomy and power to choose today than ever before in human history.
In Choosing Change, author Peter Coutts acknowledges that clergy today recognize the impact our individualistic culture of choice is having on congregations. But Coutts also points out that many leaders do not think about motivation. For them, encouraging change is about selling their congregation on a new idea, governed by the assumption that a better idea should win the day. Wide experience in the church demonstrates that this approach often doesn't work and leaves many congregational leaders demoralized. Leaders see the need for change in their congregation, and they earnestly want to help their congregation to change. But the approach to leadership they learned, which perhaps worked better in days gone by, is no longer working. Leaders are in the motivation business, argues Coutts.
Choosing Change provides an overview of current thinking from the field of motivation psychology. In the first half of the book, Coutts explores theories, ideas, and terms that are most pertinent for leaders who desire to encourage congregational change. The second half of the book offers detailed guidance for congregational leaders who want to be motivational leaders.
|
|
| Follow us on social media:
 
|
| | |
 | |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| |
|
