Values before Structures

I've been spending much of my time talking politics, but I've not forgotten who and what I am. I am a pastor -- soon the pastor of Central Woodward Christian Church. Like a majority of churches, it is facing the prospects of change. The question is where to start. Our tendency is to start with structures, to tackle them in such a way that we can move on to the important things of ministry.

But as Eddie Hammett reminds us in his book Reaching People Under 40 while Keeping People over 60 (Chalice, 2007), if we are to successfully change the structures of the church we must first wrestle with our values. Hammett points out that older folks tend to leave congregations that "suddenly retool to reach those under 40" because the process is undertaken by a small group that pays no heed to them and think that a simple announcement will suffice. He suggests that we start with our values. Through sermons, communication, education, etc., we communicate a new vision and together change our values so as to become a truly missional congregation. That likely involves getting the over 60 set doing some research. When this happens they're ready to make the necessary changes.

Their values will have changed before the actual ministries change. They will be enthusiastic about being involved. One reason changing worship styles doesn't work in some churches is because worship leaders think that simply changing the way they do worship will show that people under forty are welcome. But if they do nothing in the church to change values, their net numbers may well be negative. Those over sixty will leave, and those under forty in the neighborhood may not even know that the church is trying to appeal to them.

This isn't easy advice to hear. It takes longer to change values, but it would seem as if it would be more effective.