“Making Changes in the Established Church” (Part Six)

We close this week’s discussion by considering the kinds of changes churches face—and thinking through their value.

Changes to Be Made

I often give this list out and urge pastors to write a number beside each one, from a scale of 1-7, with 1 being immediate change and 7 representing long and gradual but deliberate change.

There are no right answers to all of that, but at least the list might make you think about the needs for changes in the church where you serve:

• The mood of cheer and love
• The mood of preaching
• The content of preaching
• The doctrinal statement
• The church constitution
• The use and celebration of volunteers
• Social-needs involvement
• Our attitude toward unbelievers and the world
• Our involvement in political issues
• The care of the church building
• Our emphasis on prayer
• Our view of the pastor
• Our ministry to the nearby community
• Office hours Monday-Friday
• Use of the building
• Communication within the church
• Stronger world missions
• Our respect for paid staff
• Greetings in the halls on Sundays
• Warmth at the start of services
• Flow of the worship services
• Close of the worship services
• Use of Sunday evening
• Stronger outreach
• Midweek services or classes
• Opportunities for Adult Bible Fellowships and small groups
• The process of membership
• The liturgy or formality of Sunday morning
• The style of congregational music and worship
• Dress code during the week and on Sunday
• Care for people in tragedies or special needs
• Responses to phone calls and emails

There are many more.  These are just reminders of the facts that there is so much to be done.

These changes and others must be made, and some of them could be immediate.  Some take time.

“It’s amazing how little you can do in one year and how much you can do in five years.”

Next week, we’ll see the pastor’s role in working with change.