During the last 20 years, we’ve witnessed societal and institutional change happen at a staggering rate. Church participation has declined. Political partisanship has adopted a religious fervor. Pandemics led to protests and a radical shift in how we “do church.” Denominational splits have damaged mission and morale.
Congregational leaders navigating these seismic shifts need more than just the skills to operate effectively. They also are grappling with their own feelings of confusion, anxiety and competing loyalties. To find a way forward, pastors and lay leaders need to stay grounded in their core identity, communicate with clarity and create space for lament and hope.
The more things change around us, the clearer leaders need to be about what has not changed and will not change. Remind people about the mission. You may have to carry out your mission with fewer people or a smaller budget, but the mission remains the same.
When it comes to communication, never underestimate the power of transparency. Transparency builds trust. Even when you don’t have all the answers, share what you can and let people know when you expect to share more. And because not everyone has the same learning style, use multiple communication channels. Consider how you can make yourself available for people who may need pastoral care to absorb change.
Because we know that change often involves loss, wise leaders find ways to acknowledge the grief that may accompany transitions. They don’t rush the mourning process. Instead, they discern how and when to point people toward the hope of the future.
We cannot forget that we are resurrection people. When old things pass away, God makes all things new.
Resources
Understanding people’s engagement with religion is far more nuanced than current conversations would indicate
Two of the nation’s leading experts on people who have disengaged from organized religion say that trend is both more complex and simpler than some church leaders realize.
Q&A with Ryan Burge and Tony Jones
Many churchgoers are engaging with multiple churches, new research finds
The study led by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research reveals new data about today’s church attendance and commitment levels.
By Leslie Quander Wooldridge
Research-based guidelines for leading the church in a new era of ministry
How can Christian leaders adapt to the changes the pandemic has brought? A scholar who has studied pastors and volunteers during the past three years offers suggestions for adjusting to a new reality.
By Eileen R. Campbell-Reed
Declining volunteerism is changing the church experience
Congregations struggle to maintain educational programs without volunteer support.
By Shari Finnell
Before you go
One of the keys to leading well during chaotic times is being aware of what’s going on within ourselves. We need to know our triggers. We need to understand our biases. We are entitled to have feelings just like everyone else, and we also need to seek peer support, spiritual direction and, if necessary, therapy so the congregation doesn’t have to absorb our emotions. The more chaotic things are, the more critical it is to offer non-anxious leadership. We need to be intentional about building bridges and modeling respectful disagreement. Structural upheaval is disorienting, but it is not unprecedented. The church has outlasted empires. I am confident we will get through the present crises, too.
You can always reach me and the Alban Weekly team at alban@duke.edu. Until next week, keep leading!
Prince R. Rivers
Editor, Alban at Duke Divinity