 When people think of your church, what comes to mind? Is your church seen as similar to other churches? Different? How would church members answer those questions? How would others in the community respond?Do people think of your church as one of many churches, or do they associate your church with something distinctive?
It matters. A Faith Community Today ongoing congregational research initiative asks people how their church is similar to or different from other nearby churches. Congregations that see themselves as “not that different from other congregations in our community” or who are unsure about that difference are more likely to decline than congregations that see themselves as offering something unique or different.
For example, toothpaste would be one such product ladder. On a toothpaste ladder, there would be literally hundreds of different brands and types of toothpaste. In the marketplace, people generally only think of four to six brands of toothpaste, despite the availability of hundreds. So if your brand of toothpaste is far down the ladder in sales, one option is to work harder and hope to advance a rung or two.
However, there is another option, namely to begin a new ladder for which you can be the best and most-known representative. That is what the soft drink 7Up did years ago. 7Up has been around since 1929; and by the end of the 1940s, it was the third largest selling soft drink in the U.S. As years went by, 7UP found itself in a much more crowded soft drink marketplace. So in 1967, they decided to get off the soft drink ladder and, in essence, started their own ladder — the UNCOLA ladder — one that consumers would most associate with them.
So, do people in your church and outside tend to think of your church as one of many churches, or do they associate your church with something distinctive — not because your church is better than other churches but because it has an identity and purpose that are distinguishable? Here is an example.
A church located in a mid-size city with about 100 churches, including a dozen of their denomination, saw itself as a church for those living nearby, particularly those who share their denominational heritage. The church was stable but had shown no growth for many years even as the surrounding population grew with an expanding local economy. For quite a while, a staff member had wanted the church to offer a “healing service.” Others were skeptical, being unfamiliar with such services and associating the concept with television preachers claiming healing powers. The advocate had seen healing services meet important needs for people in other congregations.
Finally, the church agreed to have a one-time healing service. A weeknight time was set, and a printed announcement appeared in the bulletin and in a list of free services in the local newspaper. No other mention was made. Bulletins were prepared for 20, though most assumed far fewer would be present. Seventy people attended! Fortunately, church leaders skeptical of the service from the beginning looked more deeply at what all this meant. It turned out that their city had become quite a regional medical center that had drawn people with a heightened interest and concern for health and healing, either as practitioners or recipients of health care.
In time, this discovery led to the church creating a new ladder for itself around health and healing. It turned out that they were already doing many things connected to this theme. There was a parish nurse program, meals for the homebound, exercise and weight-loss classes, addiction ministries, smoking cessation classes, and many more. Now they put all they were doing under the banner of a church “seeking God’s wholeness of body and spirit for everyone.” They started an annual Lenten mid-week luncheon series on health and healing designed especially for health providers of the city. No longer did they see themselves or did others see them as one of 12 churches of their denomination or one of 100 churches of the community.
But the UNCOLA example has its limitations. It worked well for 7UP for many years. But things change internally and externally. They went through many ownership changes, suffered from a limited distribution network, and saw the aging of those attracted to the brand in the 1970s and 80s. Also, while UNCOLA set them apart, can you live forever known for what you are not?
But that’s the danger of all visioning, including that by churches that emerges out of the spiritual discernment of paying attention both to its mission and to its context. The journey to serve God in a way that fits your congregation and context evolves and changes. It is not your task to develop a church identity that will last forever, but one that is right for today and can be a foundation from which newer manifestations will emerge in the future.
Lovett H. Weems, Jr.
| |
| Register for the “Taking Church to the Community” Conference in Washington, DC |
| Saturday, November 1, 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m., Wesley Theological Seminary |
No longer can we simply ask, “What can we do to get people to come to our church?” We must also consider, “How can we go into the world to encounter those in need of the gospel?” Taking Church to the Community, this year’s Reach New Disciples conference, will explore strategies your congregation can use to reach beyond its walls with worship, community events, ministries, and service — meeting community members where they are and moving them toward discipleship. Learn more and watch introductory videos now.
| |  |
| |
| Preorder the “Taking Church to the Community” Resource and Save |
Bring the best of conference presentations and workshops home to your church. The Taking Church to the Community Resource, available in downloadable and DVD/CD formats, includes videos, narrated presentations, outlines of key points, and supplementary materials to guide your congregation in reaching beyond its walls. Save $15 — $75 $60 through November 1. Learn more now.
| | 
|
| |
| Pastor Appreciation Month |
In many denominations and congregations, October is designated Pastor Appreciation Month. Everyone needs affirmation, perhaps especially clergy who experience their share of discouragement even in the best of situations. Lovett H. Weems, Jr., offers suggestions your church can use to show appreciation for your clergy leadership in “Showing Appreciation for Your Pastor.”
| | 
|
| |
| Little Things Can Improve Your Church’s Appearance |
| John Wesley United Methodist Church in Norcross, Georgia, set out on a “100 Days, 100 Things” challenge to accomplish 100 little things over 100 days to improve the appearance of their church. Ansley Brackin, North Georgia Conference communications specialist, shares some improvements that the congregation has been making that churches of all sizes can tackle to make their buildings more appealing to visitors. Read “John Wesley UMC Tackles 100 Little Things.”A little change can go a long way; a hundred days of little changes can make a difference. When Rev. Steve Thomas arrived at John Wesley UMC of Norcross in June, he began to consider affordable ways to freshen up the church. The 100 Days, 100 Things challenge began on August 1st. The goal of the next couple of months is to find small, simple ways to improve the look and feel of the church, and also provide current members with a feeling of church ownership. Every Sunday morning Thomas announces the weekly projects during service and encourages members to sign up to contribute or stay after service to pitch in. Here are some improvements that John Wesley UMC has been making that churches of all sizes can tackle to make their building more appealing to visitors: Declutter: The first morning of 100 Days, 100 Things started successfully as several women offered to clean up the clutter around the building. Their efforts resulted, not only in more space, but finding a total of six coffee pots, enough machinery, Thomas says, to provide coffee to double their current congregation size. Beauty in the Details: Many churches can easily lose track of pens and envelopes for the offering. Recently John Wesley UMC cleaned up the look of their envelopes and replenished each pew with them, along with pens. Polish and Shine: The church family shined up the metal pieces of each door. It sounds like a small task but with bathroom and classroom push pads constantly being touched and smudged, the metal quickly becomes dirty and worn looking. They also took time to wash all of the windows. Restore the Broken: Another easy fix! Most people know how to replace light bulbs and batteries. The church placed this task high on their list. They were surprised to realize that many rooms had dead clocks and dim lighting. Good First Impression: The entrance of John Wesley has been given a fresh look both inside and out. By moving furniture and adding artwork, the inside looks more open and welcoming; and newly planted flowers greet worshipers as they approach the church doors. Easy Outside Maintenance: Thomas made a goal to more frequently update the church welcome sign. The youth are responsible for picking up trash around the church property. “Our church is in a great location but the building is hidden from the road," said Thomas, explaining the importance of making the church ground look inviting, Thomas is already seeing a vibrant, positive change within the church, both in the building and the congregants. Members hold more pride and care for their church home. The pastor hopes their enthusiasm allows their efforts to “snowball into bigger projects”, like a welcome banner for the outside. “A little extra makes the ordinary extraordinary,” says Thomas, who believes the tasks they’re completing are perfect for any church looking to revive their physical appearance, because, unlike many big changes, churches don’t need permission to complete them. “I’d encourage any church to do the little things,” Thomas adds, who hopes to host a big celebration at the end of their 100 Days, 100 Things project in November. |
| 
|
| |
| Pursue Your Doctor of Ministry in the Nation’s Capital |
| Wesley Theological Seminary and the Lewis Center for Church Leadership together offer a Doctor of Ministry in Church Leadership Excellence. With this track, clergy will receive the enhanced knowledge, skills, and motivation to increase congregational and denominational service, vitality, and growth. The next cohort begins in May 2015 in Washington, DC. Learn more and apply today. | | 
|
|
Washington, District of Columbia 20016 United States
(202) 885-8757
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment