Church leaders: should you be more open to change?

I admit it. I love change. I recognise that most people find it far more of a struggle than I do - strange I know - so I’ll try and go gently.

A part of who we are

You’re a Christian? That does mean that you have experienced the greatest, most significant change that anyone could ever experience. You’ve started a new life. You really have. So, change is not altogether alien to us, is it? And as the Holy Spirit works in us, He is changing us, often very slowly, to become more and more like Jesus. Real change. It’s just part of who we are.

And imagine a world, or your church, without change. Imagine us all living as if we were still in, say, the 17th century. Change has clearly happened.

The dangers of being stuck in a rut

Now we all find comfort in familiarity. I do like the sports news on the Today programme on Radio 4 being at 7.28, or thereabouts. I would struggle a bit if that changed. But as leaders, whether that’s of a church, a small group, youth group, mum’s group, a little change is a good idea. Isn’t it? Change the colour of the service sheets (please!) change the preacher (sometimes), change where you sit in church (and in your small group), change the coffee, change the throwaway cups to proper mugs, change the way you pray (try standing for those who can?), change the bookstall, change the welcome (and the farewell).

Ruts are not a good idea. Stagnant water is disgusting, no-one I know likes mould. Those are all caused by insufficient change and it’s just the same at church. If you’re the leader, you need to lead it. Then when it comes to a necessary big change, you’ll find it that bit easier, because change is part of our culture.

By the way, it’s always comforting to know that most change can be reversed. Of course there are some huge things where it would be tricky. Knocking down your church building and starting again, for instance. But how about starting a new service? Or changing the time we meet? Or changing the name of our prayer meeting? Well let’s give it a go, and if it’s not working, we can stop. At least we tried. The only thing is, make it public. Public before you start, and public if you need to say, 'Sorry this isn’t working, we’ll go back to where we were before.'

I remember at one church I was leading, everyone always sat in the same place. So we had a ‘New Pew Sunday’. It was great: everyone moved. All those on the left moved to the right and all those on the right moved to the left. And sat down next to exactly the same person as they had last week! So I stood up and said something like 'Well that didn’t work did it?!' We all had a good laugh and went back to our normal seat the next week. But at least we had a go. It didn’t work but that’s ok. Change was part of our culture, and we were willing to try. Change: it really is a good thing. Far better than being in a rut, stagnating, growing mouldy.

So, when did you last change something?