I was thinking about the dynamics of change in the local church.  So often during a transition, a new pastor comes into his new assignment and is full of dreams as to how to get started changing this church to “make things better!”  While the motives are noble, people can only handle so much change at a time.  It also takes time to develop the trust of the people being led to earn the right to bring changes.  For most congregations moving from one pastor’s leadership to another is a huge change and a time of crisis!  It can take up to two years for a pastor to “earn” the trust and confidence of a congregation.  It is self-defeating to impose dramatic change on a church until one has earned the right (TRUST) to bring change!!

Too much change causes us to lose our anchor, our sense of stability.  Every change is a crisis for someone.  The status quo is being shaken.  Successful ministry is hearing the heart of God for a congregation and then appropriating the wisdom of heaven to manage the change and the ensuing “crisis.’  A little “crisis” (read that CHANGE) is manageable.  Too much is catastrophic!  Gradual change can move a mountain, if we do it a little at a time.  I just can’t get mountains to move all at once.  Give me a big enough spoon and, although it may take a few years, I can get it done!

Seldom is the need for change so urgent that everything must change all at  once.  Even at the level of the District or National office, each change builds on the previous ones.  Success in prior changes builds confidence that coming changes have a good prospect of succeeding as well.  So it is important to know the progression of change that will allow people to still have a sense of stability and confidence while moving the ministry forward.

The old frog in the kettle application has been used in a negative context, but it is very similar in positive application as well.  Gradual change can be tolerated much easier than radical, immediate change.  Few remember the Datsun brand of vehicle.  When Datsun Corporation began their name change they did so in a deliberate but gradual way,  For many months the ads would say “Datsun – Becoming Nissan Motors!”  Then after six to nine months of seeing that the ads changed.  They became “Nissan Motors – Formerly Datsun!”  It was almost two years before the Datsun name was dropped and all you saw was “Nissan Motors!”  Huge change to rename a company, but Datsun/Nissan did it as well as anyone.  The church, and pastors, can take a lesson from a car company.  Plan for change and bring change with a deliberate and definite plan.  Let people know what is coming and why.  Let them take ownership of the change by understanding the benefits before anything is implemented.  Then bring the changes gradually; celebrating the victories and discussing the challenges along the way.  It’s called LEADERSHIP!