Pastor Sorting, Church Sorting
by Mark Tidsworth, Team Leader
“I've had 28 Pastor friends resign this year. Almost all of them are transitioning to a new vocation. What is occurring?” -Dan White Jr., @danwhitejr on Twitter
Right about now, it’s safe to assume that every pastor, church staff person, and church is in some level of personal or collective deconstruction – reconstruction.
Well, most. There are those who do not want the eyes to see nor the ears to hear. They are working hard to pretend the volatility in our world is no big deal, has no lasting impact, and is continuing on as if nothing significant is happening. They are determined to ride their increasingly irrelevant expression of ministry and church as long as possible. Classic denial.
Most though, are experiencing what one might expect during protracted crises. Major disruptive life events push us as human beings to let go of the old and take hold of the new. We are pushed to adapt, one might say, sorting who we are and how we do what we do. Perceived in this way, it’s no surprise pastors and churches are reconsidering their approach to most everything. Pastors are questioning whether ministry is worth it or whether they can adjust to emerging expressions of pastoral ministry. Churches are questioning what it means to be church when so much in their previous paradigms grows less relevant by the day. Pastors are sorting through the rubble after the metaphorical earthquakes brought to their doorsteps by extreme volatility. Churches are doing the same.
So where to from here? What’s our calling when we lay aside denial and take up faith in God to lead us onward? Two specific moves by clergy, church staff, and churches position us to receive and implement the growth possibilities during volatile life disruption.
First, look to God. Let’s do what Christ-followers have done for 2000+ years…looking to Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. Though we feel like we’ve been hit by seismic volatility blasts, God has seen this before. Though we are shaken as the role of pastor and church paradigms are challenged, God has seen this before. Though we are concerned about institutional strength and organizational sustainability, God has seen this before. Though….Insert any disruptive life circumstance and you know the refrain by now: God has seen this before. Our traveling companion, the Lord God, has helped God’s people navigate the vicissitudes of life since the beginning. There is nothing new under the sun which God has not seen or navigated. This is our traveling companion, the Lord God who is sure, steadfast, and capable.
When we do this, turn our eyes to the author and perfector of our faith, then faith and courage rise. The Holy Spirit in us is freed to activate our spiritual imaginations and energize our service in God’s vineyard.
Then we are positioned for our second move - boldly entering the sorting process. Now, clergy, church staff, and churches, is the time to take a good long look. Before we move too far into the next season of life and ministry, this is the time to give ourselves permission to ask our questions and turn over every proverbial rock. This is the time to push through the timidity and fear, boldly following the God who knows how to navigate choppy waters. This is the time to sort our experience, with the Holy Spirit guiding us every step of the way.
Clergy and church staff sorting their experiences resulting from volatile life disruption? Yes, please do. Churches sorting their experiences resulting from volatile life disruption? Yes, please do. These three questions from the ReShape Initiative can give guidance and structure to sorting through our experiences.
What did we learn, start, experience during the pandemic which we may need to continue?
What did we stop during the pandemic which does not need restarting?
What else might the Holy Spirit be nudging us toward as a result of these volatile experiences?
There is one who is actively working for the renewing of our minds, so to speak, helping us to discern the will of God, that which is good, acceptable, and perfect. Transformation of individuals (including clergy and church staff) and churches is one of God’s specialties it seems.
Sort on clergy. Sort on church staff persons. Sort on O Church. May we boldly pursue emerging expressions of ministry and church through volatile life disruption events.
NOTE: “Sorting Our Progress,” is one of the seven moves of the ReShape Initiative. Learn more HERE.