Let’s Talk About Our Congregation’s Future… Or Not?

Talking about a congregation’s future and future identity is hard. 

During my career, I’ve coached hundreds of conversations with congregations about their future. Sometimes, the conversation was pushed on the congregation by external forces, such as changing economic and cultural makeups of the neighborhood. Perhaps a larger congregation within driving distance offers “full-service” ministry to families and individuals. Or a city puts in a new freeway or highway creating a drive-in or drive-through mentality. Or congregations that thrived on a cul-de-sac for a generation or two, now finds itself three blocks from success as people choose neighborhood congregations first. 

Other times, the pressure came from within the congregation. Budget shortfalls that point to internal conflicts. An Elder or Deacon (or small group), who were having conversations at work about its future, feel the need for the same conversation in their congregation. Worship shifts. Pastoral transitions. A pastor (and staff) who feel the need for clarity about work and leadership.

Wherever the pressure comes from – external, internal or a bit of both – conversations about a congregation’s future are often avoided because they are filled with danger and difficulty. Here are my top 3 reasons why conversations about the future are hard.  

1.History has its hold on us.

Whether we like to admit it or not, history has a hold on us. My history as a pastor’s child born in Washington, raised in California for a time and then back to Washington, matters. I’ve lived in Michigan for more years than on the West Coast. But, my pro football fandom belongs to the Seahawks. My golf bag is blue and lime green. I have lived within 3-4 miles of a Great Lake for 3 decades, but something about the smell of saltwater means home. 

Conversations about the future start by admitting that history has a hold on us. History matters. It’s often history that causes us to grieve when we move into the future. It’s the loss of history. It’s that we can’t change history. It’s that history (especially positive history) matters to who we are. 

2. People have different tolerances for change.

Change is a big deal. Some people tolerate change. Some people will die before they change. Conversations about the future of a congregation are all about change. Will we consider changing names, locations, worship styles, where we park, where we sit, the carpet in the sanctuary, our understanding of God’s mission, our priorities?  The list could go on. 

As I make the list though, you can see the differences in change conversations. Some might make us laugh. Others in the list might make us cry. Some do both. We realize how trivial it might seem to change where we park, but we’ve also seen people who were willing to die over that change. People have different tolerances for change. Conversations about the future unveil those tolerances. 

3. We often don’t understand the difference between change and transition.

William Bridges, a noted author on change writes:

“It isn't the changes that do you in, it's the transitions. Change is not the same as transition. Change is situational: the new site, the new boss, the new team roles, the new policy. Transition is the psychological process people go through to come to terms with the new situation. Change is external, transition is internal.”

As I’ve coached congregations, I’ve become aware that change and transition are different beasts. Change is usually more known. Transition hides in the shadows. 

Here is an example: A new pastor or elder becomes my care person. The former pastor/elder walked with me during a hard emotional time. I accept the new pastor/elder. I even welcome her or him. Inside, though, I yearn for the deep relationship I had with the former pastor/elder that was born of that hard time. I’m not certain I trust the new. I have history with the old. I’m not a fan of change, but I don’t hate it. Still, I just can’t seem to feel the same way about the new pastor/elder as I did about the previous one.

That’s transition talking, not change. We do well to understand the difference.