the either/or of programs
Robert Lewis and Wayne Cordeiro, authors of Culture Shift (Jossey-Bass, 2005) write:
“many pastors we both were talking with seemed to be worn out by more and more
programs. They were tired of trying to find a “quick fix” solution for their churches when their
real issues were much deeper. We became increasingly convinced that only a fundamental
shift in a church’s beliefs and values, and the way leadership expresses and calls the church to
those values, would give the new life the pastors are looking for. Fundamental change in any
church can only be addressed at a cultural level. Too many pastors try to change or upgrade their
churches with a program, when what they truly need is a “culture shift.” Programs are the easy
stuff of church, but they can often result in a plugand- play attitude toward ministry. Changing the
culture can result in an atmosphere of health where a church can grow with individuality and
grace”.
This quote was sent out in our recent denominational newsletter. It is a good reminder and a good quote. Yet I am not sure that it is either/or. In other words, I think it is too easy to dismiss programs. Programs that get people involved in new ways can contribute to the very culture shift that is being talked about. While I agree that much talk, energy, discussion etc needs to go into cultivating a missional culture, I am concerned that we often are more happy to do the talking and not do much action.
Can’t we do both?
Can’t we work at cultivate a missional imagination in our culture through teaching, preaching, study groups etc etc while we move into missional “programs”. In our experience at nccc there is nothing more powerful than the experience of being involved. It is then that suddenly it all starts to make sense.
Let us do both because I fear that a new type of ‘missional correctness’ is creeping in and freezing us into doing little.
May 5th, 2005 at 1:07 pm
I recently went and saw Wayne speak at a Leadership Network Australia conference. He’s an impressive guy, running a massive church in Hawaii, that God is clearly blessing. People are beginning and continuing to follow Christ, they are being a witness to the love and justice of God in their community, etc, etc. But I was struck by the fact that this guy just did the simple things well. He didn’t appear to be grappling with deeply challenging questions, he just focussed on doing the ABCs really well, and he did.
While I think there is a lot to learn from doing the simple things well, I believe there is a danger. We can over simplify in a way that is unhelpful. Phil I think your comment is spot on, it’s not as simple as an either/or, if it was people wouldn’t be having the trouble with the question that they are.
The guy running the LNA conference said after Wayne spoke that if it was as simple as Wayne made it sound then we’d all be running mega churches. I know the guy and he wasn’t meaning disrespect to Wayne, he was just pointing out that there is more to it than just simplifying things to either/ors.
May 6th, 2005 at 12:13 am
i know a little about Wayne - like already established, he runs an incredibly large church, with multiple campuses over hawaii. My old boss did a 10 day shadow-mentoring course with Wayne in Hawaii, and brought back most of the ideas to implement into the fabric (read “culture”) of our large church. my take on what he means when he says, it’s not about the programs but more about the culture is…
they actually have more programs that you could poke a stick at, but they work on creating a culture where everyone expects to serve in the church from day dot - even non-christians. it is so in-bred from the moment you step through the door, that the programs are a way of life - not an option. for eg. if you rock up with a friend (who may a visitor) to Wayne’s church and you happen to be on the roster as an usher - the friend will usher with you.
this concept is exactly what Brian Houston would implement at Hillsong, what Russell Evans would implement at Planet Shakers etc etc - the leaders create the culture they want at “said” church - and everyone will soon follow the leaders. i’ve seen it done time and time again, and personally been part of building it. this is not intended to be a judgement of wayne or his style of church - but more of trying to put the quoted comment into context. Wayne is definitely pro-programs - and lots of them; but he is more pro-setting culture, programs are secondary to culture.