Seven Ways to Develop A Church Vision
Keith Drury's Church Leadership Class at Indiana Wesleyan University is discussing vision and leadership. They're pondering how a minister and church obtains a clear vision for the future. At his website, Keith listed the following options:
1. Forget vision—just minister.
Pastor does not work with a vision for the future but "takes it as it comes" responding a week at a time waiting to "see what happens." Vision is overrated.
2. Keep on Keeping on.
On arrival the new pastor finds out what the pre-existing vision of the church was before arrival and goes with that.
3. All swim.
Pastor gathers the entire church to develop a vision statement.
4. Board dreams & casts.
Pastor meets with the board developing a vision, then they cast it to the whole church.
5. Pastoral staff dream & cast.
Pastor meets with pastoral staff developing the vision then together they cast it to the board and church.
6. Moses-on-the-mountain.
Pastor "goes up the mountain" and seeks the vision, then returns to cast it to board and members.
7. Denomination’s choice.
Pastor and church adopts the District Superintendent's vision (and denomination’s) for the church.
So -- what do you think??
1. Forget vision—just minister.
Pastor does not work with a vision for the future but "takes it as it comes" responding a week at a time waiting to "see what happens." Vision is overrated.
2. Keep on Keeping on.
On arrival the new pastor finds out what the pre-existing vision of the church was before arrival and goes with that.
3. All swim.
Pastor gathers the entire church to develop a vision statement.
4. Board dreams & casts.
Pastor meets with the board developing a vision, then they cast it to the whole church.
5. Pastoral staff dream & cast.
Pastor meets with pastoral staff developing the vision then together they cast it to the board and church.
6. Moses-on-the-mountain.
Pastor "goes up the mountain" and seeks the vision, then returns to cast it to board and members.
7. Denomination’s choice.
Pastor and church adopts the District Superintendent's vision (and denomination’s) for the church.
So -- what do you think??
what happens when your pastor of only 2 years refuses to accept any one else's input and demands that his way is the only way, and he claims that he is only trying to grow the church and it is the church who are stuck in their old fashion ways and it is their old fashion ways that are making the church stall.
ReplyDeletesounds to me that this is a case of looking for a God Attitude see Phililians 2:5 (NIV)
ReplyDeletegreat question -- It is really hard when conflicts like this arise.
ReplyDeleteI teach pastors that in order to make changes, you have to earn credibility with the people -- or get some "change" in the pocket.
The key is for the people to know that their pastor loves them and has their best interest in mind.
That being said, if a church keeps doing things exactly the same way, they will get exactly the same result. There is no such thing as moving forward without making any changes.
So, if the new pastor is trying to get something going, it might be really frustrating if the people keep dragging their feet.
there are too many ceo business type pastors who think their job is to fleece the flock.
ReplyDeletewe'd do better without them
Every church and every pastor needs a vision of what God wants for them. We are doing a Daniel Fast (Dan. 10)seeking a vision for our lives and our church through a 21 day fast. Results so far are amazing. He is working in the congregation and has given us the vision to restore the differant functions of a healthy church and to find leadership for each one. He has also asked us to go into the community to knock on doors for Him and we have been. Hard work and nothing new here. Just basic stuff that we know we should be doing. God is always the leader: we are the followers.
ReplyDeleteAMEN! STEVE!
ReplyDeleteGod the leader - we the followers
Yes, hard work accomplishes results.
What happens where a pastor comes to a dead church. A church with no staff. A church with no board. A church with just members and himself as pastor. What happens then...
ReplyDeleteUnderstand the church has four churches in the building that meet. One is the dead church that he took over and is restarting and doesn't have a name for yet.
Another is a Samoan church.
Another is a pentacostal version of the nazarene denomination.
and the last is a presbyterian...
three are nazarenes and one presbyterian.
All in one roof and the church without a name yet is head over all of them...
What happens then. How do you work that situation to become a successful church?
A little hint the vision is derived from Mark 4 the parable of the sower. It seems that the church bodies heart resembles the rocky dirt not just in the parable but in the ground surrounding the dirt.
The pastor use to be a farmer and knows with time and work rocky dirt can become perfect fertil soil again. The pastor believes the same for mans hearts.
That is all I have on where we are at. So how do you build that kind of church?
Please Pastor help me out. How can I develop and grow my Church? I have a clear vision of what I am supposed to do. God is leading, guiding and helping me out. However, I feel satan is constantly putting me down and discouraging me heavily. Satan is showing me all the worries, pains, downfalls and consequences (i dont know how they can be even consequences when im doing it for the Lord), which is very heavy for me to take as i am v.young and unable to bear the thought of all these. Please help me and guide me in the right path. I am just 25 years old. I need to learn so many more things about God and in Life. Please do guide me and help me move in the right direction. Please do reply at any cost or best if you could reply to my mail emmanuel.p23@hotmail.com through which i can be in constant touch with you knowing so many new things. Please do reply.
ReplyDeleteThank you
Emmanuel.
by the way the comment was in response to Mr. Mark. O. Wilsons comment. Please, I hope Mr. Mark. O. Wilson will reply to it. Any one else wanting to suggest they are welcome too. I hope i did not confuse anyone.
ReplyDeleteThank you
Emmanuel.