We held our Annual General Meeting a few weeks ago. They can be dull. Not this one. One after another, Board members said "It's time for churches to stop just talking, researching and going to events-and start doing."
There is a lot of fear out there. We know we want to meet the needs of people who are staying away from church, but that will require changes-and a lot of work-and quite a bit of money. Will older people continue to support the church if we make the changes that are needed? Will this congregation still exist in 20 years if we don't make those changes?
Our Congregational Life Centre Board members know there is fear our there, but detect a shift in mood in the church. More and more people are recognizing that the time for investigating alternatives is over, the time for putting insights into action is here.
It's time to walk the talk. It's time, as participants in a workshop at Edson United Church put it, to "Just get on with it. Get on the pot, or get off."
If this is where you are, we have some suggestions. If you are seriously interested in transforming your congregation into a dynamic faith community, take a really good look at our book Wings Like Eagles. The essentials are there. Just mix the ingredients in that book with a tablespoon of courage, a cupful of love (overflowing of course), and several measures of enthusiastic leadership. Add the financial support of a few committed individuals, and you have the recipe for true transformation in the lives of your people.
If your interest is in supporting individuals, we would recommend our Prisms process. First United Church in Fort Saskatchewan will be using it in a Friday evening-Saturday event Nov. 14-15. They are inviting other interested congregations to join them.
If you don't have any idea where to begin, we would be happy to meet with your Board and explore opportunities.
If you believe Small Group Ministry is the way to go, we have a program to offer. Our Board senses that the mainline church is just beginning to realize the value of small groups as places for mutual support, spiritual growth and personal development.
If you are struggling around developing leadership in your congregation, we have nine years experience helping congregations grow strong leadership teams.
We know there is resistance to making change. If your concern is resistance to change and dealing with that resistance, we sit down with you and work out a process that will do the job.
There are a lot of insights out there. We know that. The wave is here. It's time to turn insights into action.
Congregational Life Newsletter Vol. 10 No. 1 October 2003