Inviting Us Back To What? Three Guides For Fall Ministry Planning
by Mark Tidsworth, Team Leader
That’s what many people are asking their churches. No, not out loud, but in their heads and hearts. What are you inviting us back to? In other words, now that we have experienced 17 months of pandemic-influenced living, along with all the other volatility in our world, what is church like? In even other words, is church exactly the same as before or has it adapted? Even more, plenty are considering whether to come back at all.
When our answer is that church is exactly the same as before, then people respond in two ways: overwhelmed and disappointed. They are overwhelmed because few people believe they can sustain the complexity of church systems in place before the pandemic. Few people have the energy or emotional tolerance for enduring unhelpful processes or systems anymore. Others are disappointed since they observe the other organizations in their lives learning, innovating, and adapting. Their workplaces are indelibly changed. When they observe their church as exactly the same, they mentally note another missed opportunity for increased relevance.
All this adaptive change means that it’s time to use our best discernment about being church this fall. Here are three guides for your consideration as you position your church to be its best self this fall.
Focused Simplicity
Are you watching the Olympics? Noticing how top athletes, high functioning people are struggling, turning in lesser performances (USA Men’s basketball beaten in first game, for example)? This may be another indicator in a long list of indicators that humankind is stressed right now. Even the best among us are demonstrating signs of pandemic-fatigue and low level chronic distress. This is part of the context wherein we are church this summer and fall. So to avoid overwhelming people with too many options, let’s plan church activities with focused simplicity.
We are working with one church who is inviting their people to engage in three specific activities in their church lives this fall: 1. Worship weekly (in-person or online) 2. Participate in a Christian formation Small Group (in-person or online) 3. Serve in the community individually and through one of our church missional actions. That’s it. That’s their invitation to their church for the Fall Ministry season, so to speak.
What we are saying is that simple forward movement is better than complex paralysis. Yes, there is more to church than these three simple activities described above. We all know this. We also know that people are hesitant, fatigued, and spiritually hungry… eager for life-giving church experience. So, let’s pursue extreme simplicity in our menu of activities, pursuing the essence of church without unnecessary add-ons.
Extreme Clarity
Again, keep in mind that too much complexity leads to paralysis when people are experiencing chronic distress. Here are three ways to cut through the clutter, using extreme clarity to help your church gain traction.
Clarity in Purpose – I’m hoping you know and use your mission or purpose statement regularly. If you do, this likely means yours is actually helpful and functional. If you don’t use it… well, I’m sorry. In times of excessive complexity and overwhelm, knowing who we are what we are about helps us settle and focus. Over-communicate your church’s mission mantra as much as possible, helping people gain their footing in treacherous terrain.
Clarity in Communication – Redundancy is sometimes advantageous, like now. Clear, concise, consistent communication within and without our church is extremely helpful right about now. We may want to limit the amount of information we are communicating, sharing lesser information in clear ways.
Clarity in Church Process – Have you heard the wailing and gnashing of teeth from your Nominating Committee yet? I can hear them from here. So many are struggling to staff their committees as they attempt to operate their church system as they did pre-pandemic. Were I king of the world, I would hereby grant you permission to tone it down when it comes to church process. Some churches are gaining traction by identifying those processes which are actually necessary, laying the others aside until actually needed.
Multiple Entry Points
Consider readiness. Pre-pandemic, our Farming Church Initiative included the use of a Readiness Inventory, assessing a church’s readiness for adaptive change. We find that due to the fear their people will never be ready enough, many churches avoid the issue of readiness. But right now, we need the eyes to see and ears to hear where our people are in terms of readiness for church engagement.
As we plan fall activities, let’s assume that readiness to engage is emerging as we go. This means the timing for another entry point into church life is always good; the more the better. Start a new book study, Bible study, missional engagement opportunity, fellowship event, at every turn. Multiple entry points will prompt and engage people who are ready to engage at different times along the way.
Using these three guides for church expression this fall, may we become greater expressions of this body of Christ in our communities.