Three Realities Every Church Leader Needs to Face
With COVID changing, ministry is taking new steps to resume or start anew. Each of the three trends or issues below are real and not likley to skip too many of us. We've got work to do and there are resources to help us do it. But summer this year is the time to act. Even if we are a bit tired from the long pandemic, this summer has to be "up time" and not "down time." The pandemic left us with a summer that is like no other and choices that are among the most important ones in our lifetime.
- Worship attendance on-site will be reduced. Current estimates and actual numbers are all over. Not everyone is having the same experience and numbers vary, but most places are seeing attendance on the ground having dropped by a third or more. This means the church collecting the remnant is going to be a losing cause and we must begin to invite – not just or even primarily for saving the church but even more because it is the lost part of our behaviors that now is the time to reclaim. The culture sent us enough people in years past to distract us from our calling to witness and invite. But the pandemic and societal trends have combined to create the most disconnected from church culture in a century. It is time for us to stand up and reclaim doing ministry well for the sake of the gospel and the world God loves. The Invitational Christian is well designed to help people begin to look at this work.
- The online world is not going away – while many of us went online at the levels we did because we had to, staying present is essential. So, finding the right balance for hybrid ministry is going to be an important part of every congregation’s discussions over the next year. What should be on the ground? What should be online? Are there things that should be truly hybrid and be both on the ground and online? Every congregation should think about each aspect of its ministry and how to use on-site and online options for not just worship (which may not be the center of many hybrid church strategies), but also small groups, meetings, caregiving and other ministries. Becoming a Hybrid Church was written for just a time as this.
- Whatever you thought you should be doing before the pandemic, it might be different now as we come out of it. So intentional time clarifying purpose and values and discerning vision and priorities has never been more important (and that’s saying something since it has always been important!). Leaders will make more important decisions in the next year than they have in many settings in the previous decade. Knowing who you are and why you exist will be essential to navigating the coming decisions. Seeing Through New Eyes can help you start to look at your bigger picture and begin to strategize for what’s next.
So, be sure to not use the summer as downtime before the Fall resumes with fuller programming again. People who have not been in church for over a year are returning slowly and you need to engage them now in the early parts of the return to on-site worship and not wait for Fall. Two summers without participating with a full year in between means many people are simply not very connected anymore. You have to engage and invite people. You have to use all the tools at your disposal to do ministry. And you need a vision for the future of the congregation where you live out your faith. Now is the time to act!
Dave Daubert
Thursday, June 3, 2021
6 Comments
This is a time to have another look at our theology. With Covid, climate change, and political division, I think we need to do more work with the idea of creation. This is our theological in to the concerns that are being expressed. My five year old grandson asked, "Why did Jesus make the corona virus?" Many people are asking the same question. We should have an answer. Our God created a vast and complicated world and simplistic answers won't do.
Gary,I agree we need to do some deep work. The old simple answers don't satisfy an unchurched world. Thanks for the comment (and good luck with the grandson and his questions!).
This is also the time to re-evaluate. We need to think before we act! We are living in an ever changing world, worshiping and serving an unchanging ever learning and creative God. Now is the time to say thank you and good bye to programs that no longer fit well. Now is the time to think and dream and ask the Holy Spirit in all her wily ways, to inspire our creativity and guide us to what is next. If we rush to reinstate everything we did before we risk what the spirit could be leading us to!! Praying that we are all led into the future to make connections and see and share what God is up to in this beautiful world.
Yes, things are so different that God surely is calling us to new visions and new ways of working. The Holy Spirit's voice is the one to be listening for. Thanks for this great reminder. Blessings.
Thank you Dave, This gives me much to think about. How to proceed, etc. Peace,
Yes, we all have a lot to reflect on and figure out! This transition back will have more options than the one going into the pandemic, so there will need to be more planning, intentionality and discernment. Blessings on your ministry - nice to hear from you.