iGod

11 trends for churches for 2011

Although, these trends are from a North American perspective I think there are some good things the UK Church can take out from these findings by Will Manicini at Society of Church Consultanting.  Will calls himself a 'clarity evangelist', but don't let that put you off too much. Consultants like to have ther own lexicon of words to find a voice for what they need to say. His words here are a condensed version reproduced at Out of Ur:

1: Increasing diversity of opinion about what good vision and strategy look like

In 2010, Craig Groeschel posted on the Death of the 5 Year Plan, yet vision mavens like Jim Collins still talk about 20-year BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals). To add to the confusion, the list of “how-to-do-church” books grows exponentially. We’ve gone from simple, deep, organic and total to sticky, viral, dangerous and hybrid. Are we getting clear yet?

2: Articulating the biggest picture will be the leader’s greatest asset

Every church leader is saturated with countless best practices, bombarded with more communication, and ministering to people struggling with increasingly complex lives. This gives us a hyper-need for clarity. Communicating Jesus-centered meaning in life has never had more competition. The best leaders won’t take the most basic assumptions for granted.

3: Social media will open new possibilities for more churches

Unfortunately most churches lag behind the “real world” by 10 years or so when it comes to technology and communication. But online giants like LifeChurch.tv not only lead the way with technology, but do so generously by offering sites and apps like VideoTeaching.com and YouVersion.com. There is a new world of possibilities for vision and strategy not just for large churches but for every spiritual leader with an innovative spirit. Church online, Facebook, and Twitter are just the tip of the iceburg. For example, check out Gordon Marcy, John Saddington, Charles Lee, and Terry Storch.

4: Visioning and spiritual formation will emerge more visibly as disciplines

True visioning in the local church should always be a Spirit-led, Word-anchored exercise of daily spiritual formation. But it is easy to separate the strategic and the spiritual in daily practice. In the future there will be little tolerance for strategic conversations and visioning exercises that aren’t first God-worshipping and God-listening initiatives. Church leaders are tired of anything in the name of vision that smacks of corporate ideology.

5: Small will continue to be the new big

Thinking, acting and leading small will continue to mark the church landscape. First is the new normal of multi-site churches. Leadership Network played a key role in accelerating this innovation which helps larger churches expand through smaller beachheads. Second, as church planting and missional thinking continue to expand, smaller expressions—from house churches to missional communities—become more legit against the traditional, monolithic measurement of big-church-butts-in-seats. We have recently witnessed the birth of a new network to small town, small church America called The Sticks. Last year brought counter-intuitive book titles and blog posts like The Strategically Small Church and The Micro Manifesto.

6: Networks will become the new denominations

As new learning, new strategies, and new relationship cluster in frontline church planting networks—Acts 29, Redeemer City to City, New Thing, ARC, ChurchPlanters.com, PLNTD, Vision360 and the  ICF Movement—the knowledge, encouragement, and accountability of traditional denominations become less valuable. Please note that these networks are not trying to be new denominations. Some effective networks, like Stadia and the Church Multiplication Network, are denominationally based. But the momentum of these networks is changing the game.

7: Leaders will pay more attention to shorter time horizons

The emphasis on leadership in the future will be preparing for the uncertainties of the future, rather than trying to predict them. As a result, answering the question, “Where is God taking us?” requires a 90-day focus and a 1-year horizon of shared storytelling like never before. Will other time horizons be important? Yes they will, but not like the way we used to think about it.

8: The intersection of personal and organizational vision will be magnified

Peter Drucker recognize early on that the movement from an industrial to an information paradigm would push the envelope on personal clarity and self-management for business and non-profit leaders. Yet I find very little evidence in the ministry world that a hunger for personal clarity is making an organizational difference. Even so, I suspect this is coming.

9: Visioning will involve making meaning rather than predicting the future

Life brings a daily tidal wave of monotony. We all fight to keep our daily routine vital and life-giving in view of greater purposes. A key attribute of vision is and always will be how it keeps people focused on the future. But one aspect of vision that will bring increasing value is how it refocuses our work today. This is why I like the word “clarity” as a practical substitute for “vision,” especially in church. Expect that people will not care about where you church is going until you can make meaning for them right now. Why am I in worship? Why should I participate in a small group? Why should I give to your church? Clarity today before you envision tomorrow.

10: External focus and biblical justice will stay prominent

Now that biblical justice has returned to mainstream evangelicalism, it will remain a prominent feature in our vision and strategy work. Strengthening this trend will be a generation of Millennials who will rise in organizational leadership. They mark an era of altruism where volunteerism and social entrepreneurship are the standard not the exception. Generationally speaking, they care more about people “outside of the organization” than the boomers did. The mantra we will continue to see, sparked by Eric Swanson, is “Don’t be the best church in the community, be the best church for the community.

11: Churches will consult for vision clarity rather than for capital campaigns

For almost four decades, capital campaign consulting has been the dominant category for “strategic outsiders” in local churches. The role of consulting is moving away from packaged campaigns and programs towards the ability to navigate organic and culture-savvy solutions. Help in clarifying vision has become the most common reason for a pastor to pursue a consultant, according to the Society of Church Consulting.

ASD

Ever wondered why we're not liked?

And we say 'God is love?' Hmmm!

ASD

"Gossip the Gospel"? What does that mean, exactly?

Now here is a mildly interested thing for a weekend, recently I asked someone how we might as a church be involved with a particular activity. The response was along the lines of 'come along and gossip the gospel.'  Gossip the gospel?  In other words, come and informally chat about Jesus to others without getting heavy.

It is a phrase I have heard before, but not given it much thought - until now. Of course, I appreciate its phonetic and alliterative qualities and does sound like it should all have us nodding our heads in a profound and knowing kind of way, but I felt slightly uncomfortable with it. Maybe because the gossip bit is a negative to many ears and is attempting to be turned into a virtue.

In my Bible gossip as a pastime appears to be deeply frowned upon, along with slander, malice and hate. As the Old Testament writer put it so well, "A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret" (Proverbs 11:13). It is, in other words, destructive.

On the other hand, the gospel in a law of court is a benchmarch for truth, honesty and reliability. Hence, when you hear people say 'its the gospel truth' they are saying they would swear an oath by it. So to 'gossip the gospel' sounds all plain wrongety, wrong, wrong to simple old me.

Being generous, and knowing the good intentions of this person, I know they were trying to take the formality of sharing or preaching the gospel out of its usual evangelical clothing and make it more doable for scaredy cats like us, which is admirable. However, it is a phrase I wouldn't use.

Now if someone said to me 'just come and hang out and talk to people as and when' I would have no hang-ups, but then I am more of the Franciscan school of thought that says we preach Christ with our lives and when that doesn't work we use words.

We have still so much to learn. Me particularly.

ASD

'Evening prayer' as seen on London buses

In the light of the previous usage of bus sides in London by atheists and the Christian Party which on the whole failed to capture the imagination of a non-plussed general public, it is good to see the Evening Standard regaining the sacred space with some good old-fashioned ironic advertising.In some way, this probably does more good for the Church than its own efforts.

ASD

Another book on marketing the church!

Being from an advertising and branding background I am always interested to hear of any book that tells you how to market your church. Over the years I have given advice to many a Christian organisation and church leader. My words have been based on experience and understanding of basic communication principles. Nowadays as a church leader I also have the position to see if any of it actually works! "Physician, heal thyself" seems to come to mind!

Strangely, I have some of the same hang-ups as other leaders when the word marketing is mentioned. We have probably all had some kind of negative response to a piece of printed or digital communication that comes our way masking itself as an ideal ministry partner, but ends up leaving the after taste of a thinly disguised commercial opportunity.

Our other fear is that somehow our reliance on the Holy Spirit takes second place to clever ideas or tactics to fill our pews. However God gave us brains and the gift of creativity, and common sense!  Therefore, perhaps, we should look to redeem some of the 'worldly practices with a more generous view and see that maybe there might be some good in there somewhere. 

To that end, my dear friend Richard Frank who leads All Souls in West London has mentioned a book on his church blog called Church Marketing 101. As you read down why not change the name to the church and see where you come out.

"Firstly, the distinction he makes between "lateral growth" (drawing in people from other churches) and "vertical growth" (from unchurched backgrounds). It's clearly the latter that's our key aim - we've no interest whatsoever in growing at other's expense. The question he poses for us is: "Do people leave a service at All Souls thinking: 'I wish my (churched) friend had been here - they'd have loved it!' or 'My (non-church-going) friend would have loved it!'?" Quite a difference...

"Secondly, though, he asks what sorts of things prevent people inviting their (unchurched or dechurched) friend along - he suggests six questions that are, consciously or unconsciously, being weighed up by church members. I wonder what you'd respond about an average service here - and how we could make things better for those who come - either of their own accord (as so many have over the last few years) or by invitation:

1. Will my friend feel welcomed?
   Hospitality - The atmosphere, nomenclature, and style of service should be inviting and not intimidating to the unchurched.
2. Will my friend fit in?
   Comfort and compatibility - Like it or not, invitations and visitor comfort decrease when cultural gaps exist.
3. Can I feel confident that I know how the service will turn out?
   Consistency - People need to know what to expect, because they will invite accordingly.
4. Will my friend get something out of it?
   Relevance - The message should be relevant and powerful for people at all spiritual levels.
5. Will my friend understand it?
   Understanding - Jesus taught through practical illustrations. The songs and message should be understandable for people at all spiritual levels.
6. Will anything that could seem strange to the unchurched be explained through Scripture?
   Sensitivity - Scriptural actions should be carried out with clarity and considerate explanation."

Helpful stuff! 

I can't really recommend the book myself until I have read it, but will let you know my thoughts in some later post.

ASD