Step 1 - A Vision For Change
| Unlike 99% of secular organisations, the Christian organisation will seek God's vision rather than develop its own. We undoubtedly need to turn to the Lord in prayer to ensure that our plans and priorities are rooted in His will. He will help us: 'I shall instruct you and teach you the way to go.' (Ps 32:8) In 'Purpose Driven Church', Rick Warren uses a surfing analogy - 'our job as church leaders is to recognise a wave of God's Spirit and ride it. It is not our responsibility to make waves, but to recognise how God is working in the world and join Him in the endeavour.' Tools such as mission audit also have a useful part to play in exploring opportunities for growth. |
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The six-step process for introducing change starts with the
desired change already determined. The Teal module, Visionary Leadership, offers a process
for helping to discern where God may be calling a church to move. The first step of the
process is to ensure that sufficient clarity exists to communicate the change with a
minimum of misunderstanding! A vision statement is a short description of the change, and
the reasons for it. Aim to write it in three sentences or fewer (without hundreds of
sub-clauses!). Here is one example of a vision for change :
It is our intention to plant a new neighbourhood church within
twelve months at the north end of our town to cater for young families living on the
Railway and Eastby estates. The church will primarily be aimed at providing worship in an
accessible style to encourage new people to join the church. The church will also have a
practical concern for, and involvement in, the local community.
It may be appropriate to expand this vision statement
into a single page document to give greater clarity and detail. However, the longer the
document, the fewer the people that will read it properly, and also the greater the scope
for hiding a lack of clear thinking. The three sentence vision statement provides an acid
test of whether there is such clear thinking behind the change. Remember, clarity of
thinking is a pre-requisite to clarity of communication!
There are many ways of communicating a vision for change, and it is probably necessary to
use all the ones that you can think of that are appropriate!! It is also important to do
so in a way that offers the opportunity for the whole congregation or organisation to
refine and own the vision for themselves. " The Holy Spirit has been at work in society making it more
participative. Therefore people will not own a vision unless they have had a part in
shaping it ." (Robert Warren)
