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

Today we conclude our look at change in the local church by seeing several more ways that pastors can be positive instruments for change.

6. Action steps always need a manager.

We should give away job descriptions and responsibilities freely.  Titles also.

Marlene Wilson, so good at writing about volunteerism, said that most volunteers in a church quit because “they didn’t know what to do or nobody thanked them.”

Volunteers need to know what the action steps are in their areas.  And they need a manager to whom they are accountable for this.

So many pastors keep everything on their own desk and some of this never happens.

7. Accomplishments call for celebration along the way.

Allow the church to see you happy for something that happened on Friday evening with the youth.  Help them hear you pray with thanksgiving about the way the offerings came in the last couple of weeks – in the major pastoral prayer that is a part of the service.

Say something in your note about how many volunteered for the children’s ministries in the recent drive to celebrate kids that way.

Celebrate, celebrate, celebrate.  Thank the people, thank the people, thank the people.

The little steps along the way turn into bigger steps and bigger accomplishments.

8. We get what we pray for and embrace.

Such is change.  It must always be done carefully and with kindness, “decently and in order.”

I hope it goes well for you.