A Weekend in Ministry
By Bill on October 29, 2010
Two weeks ago, I began a careful study of a Presbyterian Church in the Mid-North Carolina. This work is part of a program sponsored by the Presbytery of Charlotte called the Transformation Pilot Project. They had been preparing their hearts and minds for this weekend for the past 8 months. I spent about 20 hours studying their demographics and a self study they completed. I spent another 10 hours over 3 meetings with the pastor to dream and drive through his community.
During the process I took time from the prep work to meet our national consultant. I took him among the churches to meet with pastors to coach them with me, and my monthly duty of leading a day of pastor training with 10 pastors for church transformation.
Last Thursday, I met for 2 hours with pastor and spouse. I discerned their relationship, family health, and excitement level for ministry. Spouse reports that pastor is more excited about ministry than he has been for a long time. All systems go so far.
On Friday of the consultation weekend, I met again with the pastor for two hours. I was accompanied by a partner in ministry. We dreamed with him in tangible terms about what this severely declining urban church could do to make a difference for the kingdom. We compared notes on the condition of the church, and developed some theories to test with them. We also asked questions about how the systems of the church are functioning. For the rest of the day I interviewed influential members for 7 hours in rapid-fire 30 minute time slots.
That evening we met with the pastor for dinner, and discussed our impressions of the church’s spirit as expressed in the interviews. We discussed the interviews and teh data we had gathered.
I then met with 14 regular members for two hours in the evening to listen some more. No new data was shared, so I used most of the time to teach them about being a healthy church and gently test my discernments about the church’s future.
On Saturday, I met with the 15 person session for 5 hours for teaching, training and listening. By this time, I had in mind a strong sense of a vision that God had laid on their hearts, but no one was able to articulate. In light of several strong health indicators, and an urgency for change I felt led to express a more specific vision than I have at other churches. I began testing tested this vision with the session members. God did an amazing thing as I felt my discernment of their spirit confirmed. The session heard the need for radical change, and the principles and practices that would fulfill it.
I then met with the pastor and my ministry partner to talk through what we had observed so far. There was strong consensus among us that this congregation is ready for this vision. We outlined the recommendations I would make in the report.
Then (this is still Saturday) I went home and spent six hours writing the report and emailed it to pastor and partner for their input. I went to bed tired, but excited (really excited) about what God was about to do in this church.
Sunday, up at 4am, I re-read the report. I see that it doesn’t quite go far enough, so I add some a couple of items to make tangible their stated committment to change. At 9am, I arrive at the church. The pastor is really pumped about the report. We talk as I set up for worship. 10am, the session meets for almost an hour. I go over the details of the report, their jaws drop. They wrestle with the “death” of the church as they know it. They wrestle with the danger of white folks getting involved with a very stressed and racially different community. They reconcile with the fact that if they don’t do something their church will die- which seems more potent to them now that it is in writing. The elders present vote on whether to endorse the report with the recommendations. The vote is unanimous- YES. We pray. They all sign the report. Pastor and consultant are exhilarated at a sense that God is holding this church in his hand.
During worship, I preach with projected graphics on the urgency of discovering Jesus as “the One” as experienced by the Samaritans in John 4:42. I preach longer than they are used to but congregation seems highly engaged. We then move to the fellowship hall and lunch together. I then give to the whole congregation a sketch of the principles and practices of being a healthy church functioning as if they are two sizes larger. The congregation is excited-and scared to death to hear the specific steps recommended to help them reach their community.
It was an exhilarating weekend in the ministry. Their greatest work lies ahead as the the congregation affirms the repot in 4 weeks, and the session decides to proceed.