Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 402

Church Versus State

About two decades ago, Lyle Schaller predicted that one of the great challenges for local congregations would be restrictions placed on the churches by governmental authorities, particularly local municipalities. My reaction at the time was that Schaller was overreacting to a few isolated examples, and that such a development was unlikely.

I was wrong. I see the reality of church versus state taking place on a regular basis.

My Awakening to Reality

I began serving as a consultant to local congregations in 1988. My assignments for the first few years were not out of the ordinary. Should we build a new facility? Is it time for our congregation to relocate? How do we have a better assimilation ministry? What type of staff should we add? How do we break out of the 200-attendance plateau?

But in the late 1990s, I began receiving calls of a different nature. Local congregations were being challenged or prohibited from moving forward by governmental authorities on a number of fronts. With increasing frequency, I was called to be an expert witness, to sit for a deposition, and to testify in court when churches and municipalities were challenging each other.

The Issues

Many of the cases in which I was involved dealt with the issue of a local congregation being denied permission to add or remodel physical facilities. One church in the Chicago area was prohibited from expanding its worship center. Another church in the South was denied permission to expand its parking on its own land. In a recent case in which I was not involved, a congregation was not given permission to replace its aging and breaking stain glass windows. Fortunately, that church did finally get the needed permission on appeal.

We must be fair about many of the decisions. Some local governments are reticent to grant such approval because they are concerned about traffic and safety issues. Others rightly listen to local residents who express concern about the changing shape of their neighborhood when churches expand. The governmental agency is not always the evil empire.

But on too many occasions, I have seen governmental agencies and zoning commissions deny churches needed permission to expand for no apparent reason. I wonder if they are fearful of their tax-paying base being eroded by a non-taxable entity acquiring additional property. I sometimes wonder if some of the leaders simply have an anti-Christian bias that manifests itself in these unfortunate situations.

There are other issues beyond those related to physical facilities. And too many times, I am left figuratively speechless with the adversarial attitudes I see against Christians and local congregations.

Moving Forward

I do not see any sign that the church versus state challenge in America will get better in the near future. I do, however, have some suggestions for leaders in churches to deal with this reality.

First, lead the church to love the community. Find ways to be a positive presence in the area. Do good deeds for the local schools and merchants. Find ways to partner with the city to help children, the elderly, and the mentally challenged. Become a volunteer force to keep an area of the town clean. Provide free medical and dental services on occasion. Help needy children to buy school supplies. In an adaptation of President Kennedy's famous words: Ask not what your community can do for you; ask what you can do for your community.

Second, pray for your community and its leaders. Leadership is never easy; leading a governmental body is a special challenge.

Third, be involved in local community and governmental functions. Show that you care about your town with your presence, voice, and action.

Church versus state is a sad reality in many places today. But it is possible that you can lead your church to change that reality. Your church can be Christ's presence in ministry to the state.

What church versus state realities has your church encountered? How is your church moving forward to be a positive presence in your community?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Crisis at County Seat First Church

The emails come to me in greater frequency. They are from search committees or similar groups at established churches around the United States. The church has been without a pastor for a long period, and there are few realistic candidates for consideration. The church has been in a modest decline for several years, but the period without a pastor has exacerbated the erosion. A crisis is imminent.

The Dilemma

Sometimes they are called traditional churches, but I prefer the nomenclature "established churches," because of the confusion often associated with "traditional." Simply stated, an established church has been around for at least ten years, sometimes well over 100 years. It has become established in the way it "does church," and is often resistant to change.

I know that such a definition is nebulous. Sometimes I refer to these churches as "County Seat First Churches" because it communicates the stereotype of established churches. The church may not literally be in the county seat, but it was once the hub of the community, and now it is declining. Newer churches are perceived by many to be more relevant. The established church is also seen as change resistant with old ministries and programs. Committees or similar groups wield the power in the church, and are fiercely determined to keep control.

Now I realize that there are hundreds of exceptions to my stereotyping. Still, I estimate that there are as many as 250,000 churches in America that come close to fitting the description above.

The Pervasive Stereotype

I hear more and more pastors and seminary students say that they don't want to go to a church like County Seat First Church. They have heard about the difficulties others have experienced at these churches. They have heard the condescending comments like: "It is easier to birth a baby than to resurrect the dead."

Of course, the comment refers to the preference of church planting over leading an established church. And thank God for church planters. We need more of them. A new church is more likely to reach people than an established church. In no way am I suggesting that we have too much emphasis on church planting.

But I am not ready to give up on established churches.

The Problem with Giving Up

If church leaders across America decide in large numbers to give up on established churches, we simply will not replace them fast enough with new churches. The most optimistic church planting projections fall well short of replacing more than one-half of the churches in America.

Another problem with giving up is that many of the established churches do have great potential with the right kind of leadership. While many will resist change to the point of death, many are ready to move forward.

Finally, the new churches will soon be established churches. Most churches begin to demonstrate resistance to needed change within ten years of their founding. We will always have the challenge of County Seat First Church, regardless of location, denominational affiliation, or demographics.

A Call for Incarnational Leaders

Let us continue to train and send as many church planters as God provides. Let us continue to start new churches in an abundance of locations.

But please don't give up on the established church.

We need leaders who will have a long-term perspective, who realize that, while change may be slow, it is possible. We need leaders who will love the existing congregants and lead them at a pace that will not divide the church. We need leaders who will love and live among the church members. We need leaders who will live and love in the community.

Jesus had an incarnational ministry. He lived and loved people where He was in His time on earth.

We need a missional mindset for the established church.

There is a crisis at County Seat First Church. But in the power of Him who sends, it is truly possible to see the crisis become the miraculous.

May God raise up a new generation of church planters and a generation of those who can love County Seat First Church.

We need both types of leaders. The need is urgent and the time is now.

HindSight (October 14, 2011)

Time to go pro. WORLD magazine reviews the new movie Courageous, arguing that the Kendrick brothers are ready for Hollywood.

Stop procrastinating ... now. "Procrastination is not inevitable. Figuring out why you postpone work and then taking concrete steps to prevent it will help you get more done and feel good about yourself."

8 responsibilities of church members to their leaders. Helpful, biblical insights here.

Notes from LifeWay's 2011 Kids Ministry Conference. Thanks to Tony Kummer for collecting and providing these resources!

Most customers who tweet complaints don't get answers. "A survey shows 71% of people don't hear back when they gripe. But brands that answer can reap benefits."

Who Is Your Favorite College Football Team?

It's time to take a break from the more somber topics to one of my favorite pastimes: college football. Many of you know that I'm a big Alabama Crimson Tide fan. I work with several Tennessee fans on my hallway. But we also have a Clemson fan, a Nebraska fan, and an LSU fan. The LSU dude is convinced that the Tigers will beat the Tide and, ultimately, win the national championship.

Here's the deal. Tell me your favorite college football team and why you like that team. I will look at your comments and judge the best one by 10:00 PM CDT tonight. The winning entry will get any book of your choosing (up to $50) mailed to you.

I promise that I will not give preferential treatment to Bama entries. I will let you know which entry I chose and why.

Feel free to give trash talk (within reason) to others.

You can comment more than once.

Time is short, so sound off with your favorite team now.

Twelve Questions for Leaders

I am fascinated by the topic of leadership. Obviously, I am not alone because the quantity of books, conferences, and other resources on leadership is abundant. There are times, though, that I need to simplify some of the material into a few reminders. In this context, I have framed them as questions.

What then are some of the most important questions leaders can ask of themselves? Allow me to suggest twelve.

1. Am I spending sufficient time in prayer to be the kind of leader God wants to be?

2. Am I spending sufficient time in the Bible so that God's Word frames all that I do?

3. Am I a leader first in my family?

4. Do I seek to walk with humility in my daily leadership?

5. Do I seek the best for others and give credit to others?

6. Am I continual learner?

7. Do I seek wisdom from others?

8. Am I a better leader than I was one year ago? Five years ago?

9. If I am not the right leader for where I am now, am I willing to step aside?

10. Am I willing to admit my mistakes?

11. Do I attempt to learn the world and culture better in which I lead?

12. Am I willing to make tough and courageous decisions?

These are some of the questions I ask myself regularly. The list is far from exhaustive, but they are critical to my leadership. I wish I could say that I always have good answers for each question. Unfortunately, I fall short too many times.

What questions are important to you as a leader? Let me know.

Closing the Back Door in Churches: Four Keys

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I had an extended conversation with a pastor of a church this past week. The topic was not that different from those I've had with church leaders for nearly twenty-five years. The pastor's words were similar to those I've heard repeated hundreds of times: "We have a pretty good front door with a healthy number of guests. And we've had a steady increase in our number of new members. Our problem is really not the front door; it's the back door. If we could just keep a fourth of all those who become involved in our church for a few months or more, we would be triple our size."

He then asked the questions I was anticipating: "So how do we close the back door? What do we do to keep people from leaving our church or just becoming inactive?"

The Trend

I wish had sufficient historical data to know when the trend began. All I know is that every year for the past quarter century, assimilation rates in American congregations have been poor. For example, in the largest Protestant denomination in America, the Southern Baptist Convention, the reported membership is over 16 million. The realistic membership is around 12 million, and the average weekly attendance is 7 million. So the largest denomination cannot account for four million of its members. Less than half of the members attend on a given week. And millions more have been lost who are no longer on the membership rolls.

And that's the report of just one denomination.

Of course, aggregate numbers of denominations are nothing more than the sum of the local congregations. The problem of the open back door is endemic to hundreds of thousands of churches.

The Solution

In our research of thousands of churches, we have found four common characteristics of congregations that have effective assimilation by almost any metric. But these churches that have effectively closed the back door are few in number, suggesting that the solution is easier said than done. Look at the four keys to effective assimilation. They are obviously not mutually exclusive.

Key #1: Membership high expectations. More is expected of members in high assimilation churches. Church discipline is more likely to be exercised in these churches as well. These churches typically have required entry point or membership classes. Becoming a part of these congregations is more than completing a card or walking an aisle. Members are expected to be involved and stay involved.

Key #2: Small group involvement. A concerted effort is made to get members and attendees involved in small groups. The form of the group may be a Sunday school class, a home group, or a small group meeting elsewhere. The key is to get people connected to others, typically in weekly groups. The majority of small groups study the Bible or biblically related material.

Key #3: Ministry/missons involvement. High assimilation churches encourage people to be involved in ministry. A few even require ministry involvement prior to accepting someone into membership. Members who are involved in missions and ministry feel connected to the church. The Millennial generation, those born between 1980 and 2000, will not likely stay with a church at all if they are not involved in the ministries and missions of the church.

Key #4: Relational connections. In any organization, people stay connected more to other people than the organization itself. We are relational creatures. Local congregations are no exceptions. People are more likely to stay connected to the church if they have developed meaningful friendships and relationships with others in the church.

The Practice

If these four keys are the solution to assimilation problems, why do relatively few churches practice them? Simply stated, the solutions require hard work. Often getting people in the front door is easier than keeping them from leaving through the back door.

Also, many churches have established traditions of low expectations. Changing almost anything, particularly expectations of members, can be a challenge. Members who came into the church with low expectations often resist the change. Their desired comfort is greater than their concern for the overall health of the congregation.

Our most recent research indicates that the American population as a whole is not resistant to visiting a church. The potential for an open front door is good. The greater challenge may be closing the backdoor.

And that challenge can only be met if congregations are fundamentally willing to change their attitude of "we've never done it that way before."

HindSight (October 7, 2011)

In Memoriam: Steve Jobs (1955-2011) Apple announced yesterday evening that founder Steve Jobs died. As a fan of all things "simple," I've admired the ways in which Apple produced intuitive, creative, and end-user friendly technology with such simple designs that make life fun, enjoyable, and easy. Indeed, the world is a different place because of the creative genius of Steve Jobs. Not long ago, I blogged about his retirement and offered key quotes from him that have stuck with me on a range of different topics. Much can be said -- and already has been said -- about the impact and legacy of Jobs, ranging from those who would make him a Messiah of sorts to those who are lamenting that he died without Christ. Regardless, others have given tribute to him and his work better than I can give, so let me offer a brief sample worth considering. The gospel of Steve Jobs by Andy Crouch in Christianity Today Remarkable thoughts on death from Steve Jobs and What about Steve Jobs' religious beliefs? by Ed Stetzer Steve Jobs, 1955-2011 by Albert Mohler Steve, Silicon Valley, and Jesus by Justin Buzzard The legacy of Steve Jobs by Denny Burk 10 most quoted tweets about Steve Jobs by Mashable In a private light: Diana Walker's photos of Steve Jobs by TIME Magazine is also worth a look. You don't even know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes. James 4:14, HCSB

Courageous. A Movie. A Movement.

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I had the opportunity to view the movie Courageous a few times before it opened in theaters across the country. I was not alone in sensing that this movie was special, that it might very well become the beginning of a movement to restore and bring health to millions of families.

The movie premiered this weekend. I waited with anticipation to hear early results and feedback. My expectations were greatly exceeded.

A Weekend of Great Results and Greater Promise

I kept looking at my smart phone as news of the movie came by nearly hourly emails. By the time the weekend concluded, I saw results that were nothing less than the blessings of God.

· Courageous was the number four movie in the country, though it opened against
six other movies that had almost three times as many screens.

· It was the number one new movie of the weekend!

· More than one million people saw Courageous this weekend.

· Total box-office earnings were $9.0 million, $2.2 million more than Fireproof on opening weekend.

· Thanks to the amazing turnout, Courageous will run in every opening theater again next weekend.

The numerical results are impressive. But, even more, I am praying for a greater promise. I am praying that God will do a great work in the lives of those who viewed the movie.

My Prayers for Those Who Viewed Courageous

Some of the reports I am hearing already are incredibly encouraging. Here are some of my specific prayers for those who have and will view the movie.

· I pray that many will follow Christ as a result of the clear gospel message of Courageous.

· I pray that men will accept the God-given responsibility to be the spiritual leaders of their families.

· I pray that broken and damaged marriages will be restored.

· I pray that church leaders will use the message of this movie to help strengthen the families in their congregation and their communities.

· I pray that men will be courageous in their stand for their families.

· I pray that many will see that God can use tragedy for His glory and greater good.

· I pray, above all, that God will be glorified in every aspect of this movie and all the resources connected to it.

From a Movie to a Movement

Over 31 years ago, I sat in a church sanctuary on a Sunday evening and watched a reel-to-reel video presentation by a new and upcoming Christian leader named James Dobson. The presentation was called Focus on the Family. It had a tremendous impact on my life. The timing could not have been better. My first son, Sam, would be born the next month.

During that video, I prayed that God would use me to be the kind of father and husband who would honor Him.

I was not alone in that prayer and commitment. I would later learn that many men prayed a similar prayer.

A movement was born.

Now, over three decades later, I am convinced that God will use yet another media presentation to change lives and impact families. Courageous is indeed a great movie. But, even more, it could very well prove to be the beginning of a movement. And that movement will have a tremendous impact on husbands, fathers, wives, and mothers.

I am no longer the father of three young boys. I am the father of three grown men who are fathers themselves. In this second half of my life, I pray again that I will be used of God to honor Him as a husband, a father and, now, a grandfather.

And the movie Courageous reminded me just how important that commitment is.

I would love to hear from you about this movie. I would love to hear stories of lives changed and families touched. What is your story from the movie Courageous?

Let the movement begin!

Suggestions for Pastor Search Committees

Congregations across America call pastors to their churches in a variety of ways. As church polity varies, so do the approaches of calling a pastor. A bishop or other authority appoints some pastors. Sometimes an elder board decides who will be considered as the next pastor. Many times, however, the responsibility for recommending a pastor to a congregation falls upon a pastor search committee.

The search committee is typically comprised of lay leaders voted on by the congregation or nominated by some group in the church. Occasionally, the membership may include a current pastoral staff member.

It is this latter approach, the utilization of a pastor search committee, which I would like to address in this article.

The Pastor's Perspective

In the past few days, I have heard from a number of pastors who have been contacted by pastor search committees. What I have heard from these pastors recently is consistent with that which I have heard for the past few years. The concerns and desires are very consistent from pastor to pastor.

So I am admittedly presenting a one-sided view, that of the pastor who has been contacted by a search committee. I am certain that members of pastor search committees could offer their unique perspectives as well.

The Pleas and Requests

When a pastor is contacted by a search committee, his life is often disrupted. Even if he has no sense of call to change churches, the very fact that a search committee contacted him at least causes him to pause. In some cases the contact is very disruptive to his life and ministry.

For that reason, pastors have shared with me a number of requests (and sometimes pleas) that they would respectfully ask search committees to consider.

Understand the potential disruption caused by your contact of a pastor. Most pastors at least pause and pray when they hear from another church. They often include their spouses in the early discussion. They may wonder if the contact is indicative that God may be leading them to another place of ministry. If a search committee contacts a pastor, at least be aware of the disruption that could take place. Perhaps it's not best to send 200 inquiry letters to 200 different pastors to see if anything sticks.

Have a clear plan for the process of calling a pastor. Let the contacted pastor know that plan on the front end so he won't be left wondering what the next steps are.

Prepare any questions before you contact the pastor. I have heard from many pastors who meet in person with search committee, as well as those who first communicate via phone or Skype. They are often frustrated at the randomness of questions asked, and how different members of the search committee don't know what the other members will ask.

Do your homework thoroughly before showing up in the pastor's present church. Many congregations recognize a search committee immediately when they attend a worship service. These church members soon become worried, frustrated, or angry at either the pastor or the inquiring church. The presence of a search committee can be highly disruptive. Many pastors do not even know that a committee is visiting his church. He too is caught off guard.

Communicate regularly and clearly with the prospective pastor. As long as the process is open, stay in touch with the pastor. Many times the greatest frustration is the lack of communication. One pastor recently told me that he resolved not to talk further with a church because he had not heard from them in such a long time. He assumed that they had moved in another direction. The search committee was shocked when they heard that information from the pastor several months later.

If the search committee decides to move in another direction, let the pastor know immediately. A courtesy call, even an email, will always be appreciated even if the committee concludes that the pastor is not a fit for the church. Many pastors have told me that they thought they were still under consideration, only to discover sometimes later that the church had called another pastor.

An Imperfect Process

There is no perfect way to call a pastor to a church. Regardless of church polity, mistakes and miscommunication will take place. But these suggestions by pastors who have been contacted by search committees could prove very helpful.

At the very least, they could help minimize frustration and disruption in the lives of pastors and the churches they serve.

HindSight (September 30, 2011)

Amazon's new Kindles, what you need to know. Here are the specs for Amazon's Kindle refresh and an introduction to the new Kindle Fire.

Being a gentleman at the office. Some good bits of wisdom about the dos and don'ts of business etiquette.

Gospel or justice, which? Russell Moore's provoking piece concludes, "The short answer to how churches should 'balance' such things is simple: follow Jesus. We are Christians. This means that as we grow in Christlikeness, we are concerned about the things that concern him. Jesus is the king of his kingdom, and he loves whole persons, bodies as well as souls."

Google makes 5 Dead Sea Scrolls searchable. The benefits of technology are amazing, and Bible students reap many of them from this new capability.

When rich people do really stupid things. "The Rube Goldberg Claim" example is both humorous and priceless (pun intended).

Women use social networks to stay in touch, men still prefer the phone. "Overall, email emerged as the most popular way of communicating with friends, with 83% of respondents connecting in this way, ahead of the phone (74%) and social networks (61%)."

How to have a rational discussion. Forbes offers a helpful infographic on this subject.

A rough decade for American congregations. CNN reports that aside from economic realities, "religious health and vitality are weaker than they were 10 years ago."

Honor your missionaries. "Missionaries should be recognized, welcomed, and appreciated by our churches. Most of our churches could do a better job at this. ... If we only celebrate our victories at home, we will be a local church for the local community, with little to no impact worldwide. But if we celebrate missionary service in all its forms, we will become a missionary force that pushes back the gates of hell as the Lord uses us to draw more people to Himself."

~~~

The movie Courageous opens today in theaters across the nation. I'm so excited about how the Lord can and will use this film to strengthen families. From Sherwood Pictures (who did Fireproof), the movie's theme "honor begins at home" is traced through the lives of four police officers. You'll love this movie, as I do. Here's a clip to whet your appetite:

Randy Alcorn is right: the time is ripe for Courageous. Go see the full version tonight! Pastor John Piper offers this recommendation about the film:

I watched Courageous with my wife and was thoroughly engaged. I like action, and I like reflection, and I like affection—explosive moments, wrack-your-brain moments, and break-your-heart moments. Rarely do movies combine them all. For me this one captured me. Does the movie preach? Well, it sure has a point. But about the time you think you might get preached at, a bullet may cut through your car door. I would willingly take anyone to see this film, assuming they can handle suspense. And I think the conversations afterward would not be superficial.