Culture Shift: Transforming Your Church from the Inside Out: Defining Church Culture
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Mon, February 28, 2005
- Viewed 35
- (4) comments so far
What values do members of your church's leadership communicate by their lifestyles? Is it wealth and power? commitment to protecting the status quo? commitment to a cause? modeling of a particular set of behaviors? Leaders more than anyone else set the cultural climate of a church.
Vision Statement
Is your church's vision something people can identify with and use to measure their spiritual lives? Unfortunately, most vision statements, though well crafted, rarely connect with the everyday lives of church people. A good vision statement is one people can feel and connect with in both an individual and a congregational way.
Symbols, Ceremonies, Celebrations
The things you honor, remember, and cheer are the things you most value. Take a look around your church facilities. What do the symbols say is important ? Think back over the last year. Who or what did you honor and celebrate? Who did your church see as its heroes, and why? What got people talking and excited? Embedded in each of these things are your real values.
You as Leader
Ask yourself, "What do I want to accomplish here at this church? What is it that makes me come alive and feel successful before God?" As a leader, you consciously or unconsciously pull everything you do toward the things you really value. That's why it's so important that you be honest about what your values are and how they fit into the values of the church you help lead.
Mixed together, these ingredients produce the culture of a church. If there is commonality, they not only mix well but reinforce one another. The result is an even stronger overall influence of clarity and power. On the other hand, if these elements clash with one another in some way, the result is confusion, conflict, and a repelling influence that undermines clarity and power.
As I said, Robert and Wayne's book is set to be released on April 8, but you can pre-purchase a copy of Culture Shift now by going here. I think it's a book that you'll really want to read!
FOR DISCUSSION: After reading this, what is your church's culture? What do you value? Is your true culture what you'd like it to be?
Last week we looked at the beginning of a brand new book by Robert Lewis and Wayne Cordeiro called "Culture Shift: Transforming Your Church from the Inside Out." Last week we looked at an introduction of church culture. This week, we’ll discuss the four ingredients that Robert and Wayne say will bring your church’s culture a little more into focus. Here’s what they write…
Comments
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Shane Montgomery on Mon, February 28, 2005
I agree. The presence and role of the staff and leadership sets the pace for any ministry, church or organization. While working with a re-plant congregation much of our discussion centered around calling these men to “step up to the plate and led the congregation.” A church will only maintain the status quo with leadership who do not embrace, own a live out the vision, mission and scriptual values of the church. Leaders led. When they do that with a conbination of lifestyles of integrity and good works it creates an explosive atmosphere for growth, evangelism and the presence of God to change lives.
Bud Brown on Mon, February 28, 2005
What a great and helpful blog! Thanks!
In addition to the church’s “vision statement” I think you should ask, “What is the church’s implementation plan? What concrete steps is the church taking and planning to realize the vision statement?
As for the values, I think that values evolve slowly over time, and need to be continuously revisited. The pastor’s job is to help the church obey God’s vision, and one of the primary tools is to help them see how their ACTUAL values hinder the fulfillment of the vision!
Dennis Jones on Mon, February 28, 2005
Question?
What value do members of a church’s leadership communicate with a “seeker sensitive” approach to ministry. Is it a commitment to protecting the status quo? commitment to a cause? modeling of a particular set of behaviors?
Ron Cowgill on Mon, February 28, 2005
A very important factor in setting culture is the concept of permission giving, and how this facilitates the culture change you want lead into. Many people in ministry seem to not have boundaries that are compatible with the vision, particularly when the vision is weakly communicated. Being too eager with ‘giving permission’, without attention to boundaries, creates chaos. It becomes like the river with no bank…. otherwise known as a flood. Floods are often destructive.
So, lovingly, and firmly, guidence on expectations is needed when giving permission. If/when leaders leave it open ended, the consequences are usually not what is needed or expected. It becomes a bit like rolling dice. This probably also becomes a way of shaping values or beliefs.
I like to ask the question: What are the guiding cultural forming principles that need to bind us to our accepted vision, beliefs, and values as we look at this new ministry opportunity. Once identified, the next question is ‘Does the ministry fit the principles?’ And if the answer is yes, go for it. If no, carefully reconsider, or reshape the proposal to one for which there is a fit.
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