For all the difficulty they cause, crises can teach valuable lessons and create unique growth opportunities. The message we heard repeatedly during the COVID-19 pandemic was “never waste a crisis.” The idea was to adapt to the present circumstances through innovation: in the face of urgent problems, figure out how you can do things better. “Not wasting a crisis” meant carefully considering what you need to do that you have not been doing and honestly evaluating what you need to discontinue.
Many congregations did just that. They upgraded technology. They started paying more attention to mental and emotional well-being. Congratulations to everyone who managed to make meaningful changes: you did not let the crisis go to waste. But we all know the recent global health pandemic was not our congregations’ first crisis, nor will it be the last.
It may have been the first one in our lifetime that lasted as long as it did and that impacted every aspect of life and ministry. Yet as much as we want our contexts to stabilize, we can know for sure that another crisis is in the future.
The next one may be a leadership crisis: what if problems arise during a pastoral succession? It could be a community crisis: conflict in the neighborhood (public education, community safety, partisan politics) can affect the mood of the congregation.
How is your congregation positioned to handle the next crisis?
What are you doing to cultivate trust among your leaders and between leaders and the congregation? Have you refined your communication tools to make it easier to keep stakeholders informed? Are you cultivating a genuine commitment to prayer? What else is needed for you to be ready for whatever’s next?
Resources
Churches will have work to do no matter who wins in November
A new resource invites faith communities to prepare for their response on ‘day one’ after the upcoming presidential election in ways that continue important ministries and the provision of care.
By Erin Weber-Johnson and Thia Reggio
Do not swim alone, and other lessons for the church
A warning sign on a North Carolina beach reminds us that navigating life without community can put people in dangerous situations.
By Aleta Payne
What we can learn from the contemplative heart of the Civil Rights Movement
Howard Thurman and other civil rights leaders modeled how contemplation fuels action and action fuels contemplation.
By Michelle T. Sanchez
Frankly planning for roadblocks is an advantage for pastors
Church leaders can remain focused on their goals by anticipating challenges, naming them, and preparing for them.
By Victoria Atkinson White
Before you go…
Preparing for a crisis is not about living in fear. It’s about cultivating a resilient faith community.
I’ve discovered that so much of what it takes for a church to weather a storm has to do with trust, communication and prayer. You can have reliable data, but if people don’t trust the messenger, they will find a way to doubt that data. As a leader, it’s important to be consistent and reliable in the good times so that your words will have integrity in the challenging times. Be honest about what you don’t know and find someone who can help you. This week’s resources will help you reflect on different kinds of crises and what it takes to be prepared.
You can reach me and the Alban Weekly team at alban@duke.edu. Until next week, keep leading!
Prince Rivers
Editor, Alban at Duke Divinity