Should you start, fix or just trash that ministry, event or idea?

Should we start doing this new thing?
Should we stop doing this old thing?

The reason these are challenging questions is the answers are almost always subjective, based on the emotions of the people involved. We start a new ministry because something someone has a passion for that segment of the community. We hang onto an event long past its prime because people are vested in its continuation. We end up saying yes to the wrong things and not saying no to the right things.

[bctt tweet=”We hang onto an event long past its prime because people are vested in its continuation. We end up saying yes to the wrong things and not saying no to the right things.” username=”geoffsurratt”]

Several years ago we stumbled on a tool to help make these kinds of decisions more objective, and eventually we ran every new ministry idea and every existing event and program through this matrix. People still got fired up when their pet project didn’t make the cut, but we were no longer making decision based mostly on the who had the most clout or who could make the most emotional plea. Let’s break down how to use the Decision Matrix in your context.[/vc_column_text][image_with_animation image_url=”6104″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]The y axis measures Investment from Low to High. How much time will (does) this ministry, event or initiative require? How many resources, staff and volunteers are needed? Does this ministry require marketing? What is the budget for this area or event?

Determining the level of investment is a challenging conversation. I have had leaders say, “This requires very little investment. The total cost will be about $1000, and we’ll make that up in fundraisers. All we need is a core group of about 10 volunteers, a room at the church every week, set up and tear down for all the meetings, weekend stage and bulletin announcements, and staff administrative help.” If you are scoring at home that is a considerable investment of time, talent and treasure.

The x axis measures Impact, again from Low to High. Measuring impact also requires honest conversations. Impact isn’t about “good attendance” (whatever that means) or “everyone loves it” (Everyone loved the Titanic until it sank. Too soon?) The objective way to measure ministry impact is to look at achieving goals that match the vision and mission of the church.

[bctt tweet=”The objective way to measure ministry impact is to look at achieving goals that match the vision and mission of the church.” username=”geoffsurratt”]

When I worked at Seacoast Church we did a regular event for parents and kids to attend together called Kidstuff. At first look it was very successful. Every month hundreds of families attended and they absolutely loved it. For many families it was their favorite thing we did as a church. During a break in the schedule we decided to run Kidstuff through the Decision Matrix.

Did it require a low or high investment? Every event took dozens of volunteers and many hours of staff time to prepare and execute. Sets had to be erected, the room had to be set up and clean up afterwards was a nightmare. It was the most labor intensive non-weekend event we did, and the wear and tear on staff and facilities was major. The investment was high.

Did Kidstuff have a low or high impact? This was tricky. For the people who came the impact was high, and many of the volunteers really enjoyed the experience. The challenge was it was mostly church people coming. They weren’t really inviting their friends, and we weren’t connecting them in community. While we were doing a great job of entertaining parents and kids, we weren’t doing much along the lines of the vision and mission of the church. The impact was medium at best.

Because of the high investment and medium impact we decided to discontinue Kidstuff. It was a tough call, but the right one in the long run. The answer, however, isn’t always to kill an existing ministry or not start a new initiative. Some times the answer is to lower investment and/or raise impact. The Decision Matrix isn’t just a way to get rid of dead weight, it is also helpful as a development tool.

Let me know how this tool works in your context, and as always, let me know how I can help.[/vc_column_text][social_buttons full_width_icons=”true” facebook=”true” twitter=”true” linkedin=”true”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” bg_color=”#efefef” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” top_padding=”20″ bottom_padding=”20″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”5935″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-5-percent” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Navigating this new chapter in church history will require balancing the tension between what is necessary from the past and what is needed for future. I’ve spent the last several years thinking about and researching this challenge, and share my insights in my new eBook, The Church Will Thrive. You can get your free copy here.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][nectar_btn size=”jumbo” open_new_tab=”true” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” url=”https://mailchi.mp/ministrytogether.com/99nvr59fdz” text=”Download here”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Its almost Christmas! (Part 2)

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Its seventeen weeks until Christmas, which means time is very short if you want your church to have a positive impact on your community during the holiday season this year. Sometimes we wait until Thanksgiving rolls around before we get serious about planning for one of the most important days of the year for many churches. This year will be different.

In Part One of this series I shared three of the key questions we need to ask in August:

What is the goal of our Christmas Eve services?
Who is our target?
What services and service times will we offer?

Let’s continue with the final three questions.

Six Key Christmas Questions for August:

What practical next step will we offer?

This is where churches often drop the ball. They gather as large of crowd as possible on Christmas Eve, but have no plan for what they’d like people to do next. I think having a clear and simple next step is more important that drawing a huge crowd. Without a next step the service is almost pointless.

[bctt tweet=”Having a clear and simple next step is more important that drawing a huge crowd” username=”geoffsurratt”]

If your goal is that people come back next week, then make sure there’s a compelling reason to come. If you want them to attend a group or class, help them take that step right where they are sitting. Don’t make commitment a three step process (Stand, go see someone in the lobby, sign a card), make taking a next step frictionless.

The reason you want to be clear about next steps in August is a clear plan focusing on a specific target will shape your programming. When deciding every element of the service plan you want to ask, “How will this help our target audience take the next step?” If there’s not a clear line then there’s no reason to do it. Even if its a killer new song with dancing elephants and lasers. The goal isn’t a circus, the goal is changed lives.

[bctt tweet=”The goal isn’t a circus, the goal is changed lives. ” username=”geoffsurratt”]

What will be our communication/marketing plan?

After you know your ultimate goal for Christmas Eve, who your target is, when you will have services and what practical next steps you will be focusing on, you can begin thinking about how you will communicate with your community about Christmas Eve. Too often I see churches simply come up with a series title, create a graphic and craft a mailing or social media plan without answering the really important questions first.

What do our teams need to have in place to succeed?

Now is the time to work with your existing teams on areas where they need to grow. You’ll need a large hospitality team for Christmas services. Why not start now helping people catch the vision for inviting a friend to serve with them? Your parking team will be stretched on Christmas Eve, so now is the time to refresh the vision for a parking team and help the leaders build community among the volunteers. Children’s Ministry may be stretched if you offer kid’s services at Christmas. Rather than doing an all-call for warm bodies the second week of December, begin now thinking strategically about helping people connect by serving on a weekly basis.

Every professional football team is preparing to play in the Super Bowl right now, Your Christmas services are much more important than the Super Bowl; your teams should be preparing now. As always, let me know if I can help.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][social_buttons full_width_icons=”true” facebook=”true” twitter=”true” linkedin=”true”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” bg_color=”#efefef” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” top_padding=”20″ bottom_padding=”20″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”5935″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-5-percent” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Navigating this new chapter in church history will require balancing the tension between what is necessary from the past and what is needed for future. I’ve spent the last several years thinking about and researching this challenge, and share my insights in my new eBook, The Church Will Thrive. You can get your free copy here.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][nectar_btn size=”jumbo” open_new_tab=”true” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” url=”https://mailchi.mp/ministrytogether.com/99nvr59fdz” text=”Download here”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Its almost Christmas! (Part 1)

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]If you’ve been a church leader for 20 minutes you know that the most likely times for unchurched people to consider attending a service are Christmas and Easter. Often those two holidays are our only opportunity to connect with people who normally steer well clear of anything that looks like a church, but I often see leaders mishandle this open door. They wait too late to create a plan, they focus simply on gathering a crowd, or they get bogged down in the details of logistics. That’s why I want so share some important tips 17 weeks before Christmas. Let’s not miss another divine moment to see people cross the line of faith and connection this year.

[bctt tweet=”Let’s not miss another divine moment to see people cross the line of faith and connection this year. ” username=”geoffsurratt”]

With that in mind here are the six most important questions you need to answer in August if you want to have maximum impact in December:

Six Key Christmas Questions for August:

What is the goal of our Christmas Eve services?

Leaders often make the mistake of simply setting an attendance goal for Christmas services. There is nothing wrong with attendance goals, we all want reach more people with the good news, but the long term impact on a church and individuals of big attendance is negligible. It feels great for the leaders, not so great for the volunteers and attenders, and afterwards everyone goes back to exactly what they were doing before.

The other challenge of attendance goals alone is they skew priorities. If all you want is a big number then hire a circus and be done with it. What is the real goal? Do you want to see changed lives? Do you want to see a percentage of your attenders invite their friends? Do you want to see a percentage of people who attend for the first time come back? Set those targets now, so everything you do going forward is focused on the real goals.

Who is our target?

Who are you hoping will show up for your Christmas services? Are you focused on people who never go to church? People who only come on Christmas and Easter? A specific demographic in your community? Often churches simply aim at everyone, which is like archery without a target; there is no way to know if you’re effective.

[bctt tweet=”Often churches simply aim at everyone, which is like archery without a target; there is no way to know if you’re effective.” username=”geoffsurratt”]

Choosing a target now will inform you decisions on what venues you offer, what your service will look like and how the Gospel message will be communicated. If you are aiming at young families new to the community your Christmas service will look very different than a target of single Millennials who never attend church.

What services and service times will we offer?

Christmas falls on a Tuesday this year, which presents a unique challenge; do you do your normal weekend services on Sunday and then do completely different services on Christmas Eve (Monday)? Do you do the same service on Sunday and Monday? Do you skip Sunday and just do Monday? These are questions to wrestle now so all the teams can prepare.

So what’s the right answer? It goes back to your goals and your target; when are the people you hope to reach most likely to come to a Christmas service? My preference would be different services on Sunday and Monday so people can invited their friends to come with them on Christmas Eve without having to sit through the same service twice. On Christmas Eve I’d do one service at 5 pm or two services at 4 pm and 6 pm. For churches who do three or more Christmas Eve services you likely know the most effective times to offer services.

In Part 2 of this series we will tackle the other three crucial questions you need to answer now, but you have enough now to get started. Ring those golden bells, light the Christmas tree and get going![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][social_buttons full_width_icons=”true” facebook=”true” twitter=”true” linkedin=”true”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” bg_color=”#efefef” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” top_padding=”20″ bottom_padding=”20″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”5935″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-5-percent” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Navigating this new chapter in church history will require balancing the tension between what is necessary from the past and what is needed for future. I’ve spent the last several years thinking about and researching this challenge, and share my insights in my new eBook, The Church Will Thrive. You can get your free copy here.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” centered_text=”true” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Four Opportunity Killing Mistakes Young (and old) Leaders Make

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]I love investing in younger leaders, and as I get older almost every leader I meet with is a younger leader. Younger leaders are the ones who change the culture, change the trajectory and change the world. They are less afraid to fail and more likely to try things that seem impossible. Younger leaders don’t know that “we already tried that and it didn’t work”. Younger leaders have passion and energy, what they need is opportunity and experience.

[bctt tweet=”Younger leaders have passion and energy, what they need is opportunity and experience.” username=”geoffsurratt”]

It is that lack of experience, however, that often trips up young leaders. I see them making the same mistakes, easily correctible mistakes, over and over again. My fear is that these mistakes may cause young leaders to lose confidence in their own ability, or become jaded about the organizations where they have leadership roles. My goal is not to poke fun at a young leaders’ naiveté, but to shine a light on the obstacles and lend a helping hand. Its not that I am a better or wiser leader, its just that I’ve been down the path before and I know where the bumps are.

So here are four mistakes I often see younger leaders make:

Mistaking passion for opportunity

A few years ago a young man asked for my opinion, “Do you think churches are looking for full time youth counselors?” He had just graduated from seminary with a counseling degree and he was looking for a job. I was honest but overly blunt with my response, “No.”

“You mean churches don’t care about the mental health of teenagers?”, he asked.

“You didn’t ask me if they care, you asked me if they would pay someone a full-time salary to counsel young people. Based on what I know about the priorities, budgets and needs of most churches I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

I don’t think he ever found the job he was looking for. He made the mistake that many young leaders make, that passion equals employability. The reality is that early on in our careers almost all of us worked in jobs we weren’t particularly passionate about, and to this day I’ve never had a job that was made up entirely of things I love doing.

Its important to understand what you’re passionate about, but the question is; will anyone pay you for your passion? You may have to work in an area that you aren’t that fired up about as you build your skills, your network and your bank account. Your opportunity may come, but it will likely be later. Don’t give up on your dreams, but work with all your heart at what you have in front of you today.

[bctt tweet=”Don’t give up on your dreams, but work with all your heart at what you have in front of you today.” username=”geoffsurratt”]

Mistaking accountability for mistrust

Some young leaders bristle at the adage, “Don’t expect what you don’t inspect,” They label oversight as micromanagement, and feel accountability is a sign of mistrust. “Just tell me what you want accomplished and then leave me alone” is the sentiment.

We have all worked for a manager who leads out of a need for control, but that isn’t the case every time a leader asks for a progress report. Growth in leadership skills comes through input and correction, so accountability is the vehicle for that growth. Even an overly controlling manager presents an opportunity to learn. Rather than avoid measurement and reporting, young leaders can embrace accountability as a stepping stone to increased responsibility.

Mistaking ideas for execution

While debriefing a leadership conference we attended a resident from the local seminary said he was appalled by Andy Stanley’s statement, “Recruit doers, not thinkers. It’s much easier to educate a doer than it is to motivate a thinker…rent a thinker, higher a doer.” He was highly offended that Andy didn’t value thinkers like him. Unfortunately I don’t know how things turned out for the thinker because we had to let him go a few months later. It turns out he didn’t do anything.

An executive pastor said it like this, “Good ideas are everywhere; everyone has a good idea. I’m not impressed by good ideas, I’m impressed by great execution.” The world is seldom changed by leaders with great ideas, it is transformed by leaders with good ideas who can execute a strategy.

[bctt tweet=”The world is seldom changed by leaders with great ideas, it is transformed by leaders with good ideas who can execute a strategy.” username=”geoffsurratt”]

Mistaking warm fuzzies for results

I have lost track of how many times I’ve had this conversation:

“How was the event?”

“It was great!”

“Awesome. What made it great?”

“People loved it!”

“People loved it” is never an accurate measure of the effectiveness of a sermon, an event or a communication. For one thing it can’t be measured. Just because people say they love something doesn’t mean they love it. It may mean they can’t think of a polite way to say, “This sucked”, so they go with “Great job”.

The correct answer to, “How was it?” Is

My goal going in was that x number people would take y action
We met or exceeded that goal
Therefore it was great

For example:

My goal going into the men’s breakfast was that 25% of the men who came would join a men’s group
In the end 30% of the men who came joined a group.
Therefore it was a great event.

We all need warm fuzzies and attaboys, we just can’t confuse them with actual results.

I have focused on young leaders in this post, but I have seen leaders of all ages, including myself, make these mistakes. The goal is to recognize our mistakes and learn from them. Then we can go out and make new mistakes. Hopefully we grow in the process.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][social_buttons full_width_icons=”true” facebook=”true” twitter=”true” linkedin=”true”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” bg_color=”#efefef” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” top_padding=”20″ bottom_padding=”20″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”5935″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-5-percent” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Navigating this new chapter in church history will require balancing the tension between what is necessary from the past and what is needed for future. I’ve spent the last several years thinking about and researching this challenge, and share my insights in my new eBook, The Church Will Thrive. You can get your free copy here.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” centered_text=”true” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]

How to Handle a Moral Failure (Part 3)

In case of emergency, don’t panic

My goal in writing this series of posts is to help churches with a situation I hope they never face, the moral failure of a key leader. Unfortunately few churches are adequately prepared for this type of emergency and in a state of near panic make devastating decisions. I think the eight principles I am sharing can keep your church from going down that same path.

In Part 1 and Part 2 we explored the first five guidelines:

Make a plan in advance
Discover the truth
Tell the truth
Accept responsibility
Communicate often and clearly

In Part 3 we’ll finish with the final three guidelines.

Eight guiding principles when a leader has a moral failure

6. Balance grace and truth

There are two camps that tend to form when dealing with a moral failure. The truth camp says, “The consequences of the sin mean the end of employment and severing of relationship. Its time to move one. How can we stay true to the Bible if do not deal with sin in the camp?” The grace camp says, “Restoration is the goal. Grace means we forgive, we offer help and we restore the leader to their position in time. Where would any of us be without grace?”

The reality is that both camps are right. Truth without grace is harsh and hypocritical, while grace without truth diminishes the seriousness of sin and the obligations of leadership. Finding the balance between extremes is the biggest challenge when dealing with moral failure. Factors to consider include:

Did the leader come forward or did they get caught? An environment where leaders know that if they confess sin in their lives they will immediately lose their jobs leads to more secrecy and less accountability. The pendulum should swing more toward grace in a case where the leader confessed before he was caught.
Is this a first time offense or part of a pattern of transgressions?
Is there a humble spirit focused on repentance, restitution and reconciliation?

Another factor at play is that grace doesn’t always mean restoration to a position of leadership in the church. There are times when, because of the seriousness of the offense, the leader loses the moral authority to lead. There is a difference between having people in the congregation who have had affairs and asking an entire congregation to follow a leader who has a pattern of sexual sin.

[bctt tweet=”Forgiveness and grace don’t necessarily equate with restoration of authority.” username=”geoffsurratt”]

An additional priority to consider is the pain caused to third parties. When a pastor fails morally it is like dropping a rock into a pond; the ripples go out in all directions long after the rock has settled to the bottom. Moving too quickly without proper regard or care for innocent people who have been wounded in the process is incredibly harmful. Grace isn’t just for the pastor, it also extends to the people his actions have impacted.

7. Lean into outside help

Regardless your theology around the autonomy of the local church, every congregation needs help in a time of crisis. There are leaders who’ve walked through similar challenges and they can bring insight and wisdom. Outside eyes can help discover systems and structures that need to change in light of the crisis. And it is helpful for the congregation to know that you are seeking and receiving wisdom from more seasoned leaders.

As we discussed in the first guideline, long before a moral crisis arises church leaders should put together a list of who they’ll call on in a crisis. Ideally, however, they won’t wait for a crisis to ask for help. I can’t imagine why any church wouldn’t want input and perspective from leaders outside of the congregation. These leaders don’t have to have authority over the local elder board, but they certainly should be invited in as outside consultants. (Paid or unpaid)

[bctt tweet=”We lean on others for relationship advice, parenting advice and financial advice; why wouldn’t a church regularly ask for outside input on the health of the church?” username=”geoffsurratt”]

If we’ve established a relationship with a group of outside leaders before we face crisis we won’t have to call on strangers when a crisis arises.

8. Learn before hiring next leader

If there is a change in leadership because of a moral failure it is important to learn vital lessons before hiring someone new.

What led to the moral failure?
What signs did we miss?
What about the leadership role as it is currently constituted contributed to the crisis?
What systems and structure changes do we need to make before looking for a new leader?

I see churches make two mistakes at this point. The first is to overcorrect. The elders decide they need to take a much more active role in leading the church, new codes of conduct are enacted, and staff structure and reporting is completely revamped. The other mistake is to decide that all of the problems were unique to the former leader, so few changes are needed in the role of pastor or organizational structure.

[bctt tweet=”The reality is any moral failure is partly because of individual sin and partly because of organizational weakness; it is crucial to carefully discover each.” username=”geoffsurratt”]

Finally

Hopefully as church leaders you are investing in the physical, relational and spiritual health of your pastors. You are asking the right questions and coming alongside leaders who are struggling. You have guardrails in place and you are making sure no one is on a leadership island alone. Unfortunately, even if you are doing all the right things, some leaders will still make very poor decisions and you’ll find yourselves in a moral crisis. My prayer is these guidelines will help your navigate the storm, and the church and leader will find health on the other side. And, as always, let me know if I can help.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][social_buttons full_width_icons=”true” facebook=”true” twitter=”true” linkedin=”true”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” bg_color=”#efefef” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” top_padding=”20″ bottom_padding=”20″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”5935″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-5-percent” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Navigating this new chapter in church history will require balancing the tension between what is necessary from the past and what is needed for future. I’ve spent the last several years thinking about and researching this challenge, and share my insights in my new eBook, The Church Will Thrive. You can get your free copy here.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” centered_text=”true” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_raw_html]JTNDc2NyaXB0JTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyJTJGJTJGc3RhdGljLmxlYWRwYWdlcy5uZXQlMkZsZWFkYm94ZXMlMkZjdXJyZW50JTJGZW1iZWQuanMlMjIlMjBhc3luYyUyMGRlZmVyJTNFJTNDJTJGc2NyaXB0JTNFJTIwJTNDYnV0dG9uJTIwZGF0YS1sZWFkYm94LXBvcHVwJTNEJTIydWFhYkt5V0poTGlyVk5qSDQ3OGtRZSUyMiUyMGRhdGEtbGVhZGJveC1kb21haW4lM0QlMjJjaHJpc3BvY2hpYmEubHBhZ2VzLmNvJTIyJTIwc3R5bGUlM0QlMjJiYWNrZ3JvdW5kJTNBJTIwcmdiJTI4MzQlMkMlMjAxMTklMkMlMjAxNTMlMjklM0Jib3JkZXItY29sb3IlM0ElMjByZ2IlMjgzNCUyQyUyMDExOSUyQyUyMDE1MyUyOSUzQmJvcmRlci1yYWRpdXMlM0ElMjAwcHglM0Jjb2xvciUzQSUyMCUyM0ZGRkZGRiUzQmRpc3BsYXklM0ElMjBpbmxpbmUtYmxvY2slM0J2ZXJ0aWNhbC1hbGlnbiUzQSUyMG1pZGRsZSUzQnBhZGRpbmclM0ElMjAxNnB4JTIwMzJweCUzQm1pbi13aWR0aCUzQSUyMDE5MnB4JTNCYm9yZGVyJTNBJTIwMXB4JTIwc29saWQlMjByZ2IlMjgzNCUyQyUyMDExOSUyQyUyMDE1MyUyOSUzQmZvbnQtc2l6ZSUzQSUyMDFyZW0lM0Jmb250LWZhbWlseSUzQSUyMEhlbHZldGljYSUyQyUyMEFyaWFsJTJDJTIwc2Fucy1zZXJpZiUzQnRleHQtYWxpZ24lM0ElMjBjZW50ZXIlM0JvdXRsaW5lJTNBJTIwMCUzQmxpbmUtaGVpZ2h0JTNBJTIwMSUzQmN1cnNvciUzQSUyMHBvaW50ZXIlM0Itd2Via2l0LXRyYW5zaXRpb24lM0ElMjBiYWNrZ3JvdW5kJTIwMC4zcyUyQyUyMGNvbG9yJTIwMC4zcyUyQyUyMGJvcmRlciUyMDAuM3MlM0J0cmFuc2l0aW9uJTNBJTIwYmFja2dyb3VuZCUyMDAuM3MlMkMlMjBjb2xvciUyMDAuM3MlMkMlMjBib3JkZXIlMjAwLjNzJTNCJTIyJTNFRG93bmxvYWQlMjB0aGUlMjBlLWJvb2slM0MlMkZidXR0b24lM0UlMjA=[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]

How to Handle a Moral Failure (Part 2)

Lessons from the front lines

As I mentioned in Part 1 of this series this has become very personal topic for me over the past couple of years as I have stepped in as interim pastor at two different churches dealing with a moral failure by the lead pastor. No church thinks they will face this kind of crisis, but sadly many will. I want to share with you the lessons I’m learning on the front lines.

In Part 1 we looked at lessons 1 and 2:

Make a plan in advance
Discover the truth

In Part 2 we’ll unpack three more lessons.

Eight guiding principles when a leader has a moral failure

3. Tell the truth

After time spent discovering the truth it is important to tell the truth. The question here is always, “Who should we tell and how much should we share?”

Tell everyone who needs to know (not everyone who wants to know) and tell everything they need to know.

If an administrative assistant is caught skimming a few hundred dollars, the entire congregation doesn’t have a legitimate need to know. If, however, the senior pastor gets caught in an affair the people in the congregation need to know the truth.

Protect innocent parties, and don’t reveal details that don’t help people process the situation, but don’t spin the truth. The more you nuance the circumstances the more you will have to explain and answer later. Eventually the truth will get out, so the best thing to do is tell it all right up front. Rumors and gossip will fly no matter what you do, but if you tell the truth you can continually go back to the original statement and say, “What we said is the truth. No more, no less.”

Telling the truth will be raw, painful and controversial. There will be leaders who insist that it isn’t helpful to put everything out there, that it is important to craft the message. I can tell you from experience they are wrong. As Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” You will also have attenders who don’t understand why it is important to share what happened with the congregation. This is a teaching moment on the responsibilities and consequences of leadership.

4. Accept responsibility

I have a friend who had a staff member arrested at the church offices for having had sex with a minor at a church where he previously worked. My friend knew there had been a previous inappropriate relationship with a young lady, but the staff member had lied about the extent of the relationship and the age of the young lady. Before hiring him my friend checked references, called the pastor at the previous church, asked a counselor to meet with the young man and sought input from several people who also did interviews. After receiving a thumbs up from everyone he went forward with the hire, and then the police showed up.

As he prepared to meet with the congregation to share the story an advisor told him not to accept responsibility for the mess. He said, “You did your due diligence and you brought other leaders into the process. There is no need for you to fall on the sword.” When he stood in front of the congregation he shared everything he knew about the young man’s transgression and the decision making process that went into hiring him, and then he said, “At the end of the day I made a mistake. I should not have hired this man, and the responsibility is mine.” Following the meeting several people thanked him personally and told him how much it meant to them that someone was willing to stand up and take responsibility.

We do not need to take responsibility for another’s sin, but we do need to take responsibility for our part. In every story we have a role, and healing begins when we own up to our own shortcomings.

5. Communicate often and clearly

One of the biggest mistakes churches make after a crisis is fumbling the communication. A lot of thought is put into the first communication with a promise to give regular updates. After that almost every church falls into the trap of not communicating unless they feel like there is something they want to communicate.

What people want is to be treated like adults. Don’t wordsmith every phrase, and don’t hesitate to say, We’re working hard trying to determine next steps, but we don’t have anything new to share.” Set up a schedule and forum for regular, honest communication and stick to it.

One of the most important things in communicating with the staff and congregation is to continue to tell the truth. If more information comes to light, let them know. If you make mistakes along the way, admit it. This is a challenging season for the church and for the leaders, people understand that no one involved is perfect. As I said before, people want to be treated like adults.

Remember, in Abraham Lincoln’s words, you can’t please all the people all the time. There will be people upset with how the situation is handled no matter what you do. Some people will quit the church, some may start petitions, and some will definitely air all of their opinions on Facebook. Trying to play to the crowd or control response is futile. The keys to effective communication in a leadership crisis is candor and consistency.

In the third and final installment on this topic we’ll discuss the final three guidelines your church needs to apply in the event of a moral failure by a key leader. I hope you never have to use these guidelines, but I hope if you do they will help your church and leaders return to health.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][social_buttons full_width_icons=”true” facebook=”true” twitter=”true” linkedin=”true”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” bg_color=”#efefef” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” top_padding=”20″ bottom_padding=”20″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”5935″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-5-percent” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Navigating this new chapter in church history will require balancing the tension between what is necessary from the past and what is needed for future. I’ve spent the last several years thinking about and researching this challenge, and share my insights in my new eBook, The Church Will Thrive. You can get your free copy here.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” centered_text=”true” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]

How to Handle a Moral Failure (Part 1)

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]The text said, “Call as soon as you can, I have to talk to you today.” I knew my friend wasn’t texting because he had awesome news to share. Two hours later we were sitting outside a Starbucks as he confessed that the addiction he had assured me was in his past was no longer in his past. He had relapsed and the consequences would be devastating. Within a month I stepped in as interim pastor of his struggling church plant to try to help the congregation cope with the situation, and to help my friend find his way to health.

A few months later I got a similar text from a different source, “I know you’re in England, but I need to talk with you today.” This time it was the lead elder at the megachurch where I worked telling me the senior pastor had been caught in a moral failure. I now needed to step away from leading the church plant to focus on the second crisis. Within weeks I was asked to be the interim pastor of the second church in less than a year.

The eventual outcome for these two churches has been very different. The church plant has recovered its footing and the original pastor is back in his role leading the church to impact their community. The second church is still reeling from the crisis. In each case I’ve learned some painful lessons from things that were done well and things that were done poorly. I will share eight of these lessons over the next three posts. Hopefully these lessons will help your church if and when you face a leadership crisis.

Before I share the lessons I have several caveats:

I am a sinner saved by grace and am just as likely to fail as any other man.
I made many mistakes in navigating the situations mentioned above. Hopefully I have learned from my mistakes. Those lessons inform what I share below.
My advice will not necessarily match what you read or hear from professional PR people. My advice may also clash with that of HR managers, businessmen, other pastors and attenders.
What I share is not focused on the easiest route for the pastor or for the church. The reality is sin has consequences and those consequences can be delayed but seldom eliminated. These guidelines are not based on what will keep attendance and giving from dropping. My goal is a balance of truth and grace which can ultimately lead to health for everyone impacted by the sin.

Eight guiding principles when a leader has a moral failure

1. Make a plan before the crisis

Almost every church leader I’ve talked to after a pastor’s moral failure says they were completely unprepared for the crisis, so when the crisis came they had no plan for what to do next. Without a plan the loudest voice in the room takes charge, but that person seldom has the wisdom or experience to navigate the crisis. What follows can be chaos and panic, fueled by poor decisions based on mistrust. You need a plan BEFORE the crisis hits.

This is why every airline flight begins with instructions of what to do in case of emergency.

“In case of a water landing life jackets are available under your seat…”

I’m pretty sure a water landing between Denver and Kansas City is unlikely, but the flight crew has a very specific set of steps to follow if something does go wrong during the flight. Not once in the hundreds of flights I’ve taken have they had to use these emergency procedures, but I’m very glad they exist.

Your leadership teams need step-by-step instructions of what they will do when a crisis occurs.

They need to answer questions like:

Who will we call on to help us through the crisis?
Who will take over leading the staff and congregation if the senior pastor is involved?
How will we communicate with the staff and congregation during the crisis? Who will lead this process?
Who will manage budget and personnel questions during the crisis?
How will we make decisions about the future status of the leader in question?
How will we select new leadership if necessary?

2. Discover the truth

The truth is seldom what it seems in the first few days of a crisis. When someone says, “I’ve told you everything,” what they mean is, “I’ve told you everything I feel is relevant and discoverable. There are things I’m not telling you because I’m scared of the consequences, or I’m in denial about them myself.” In every situation I’ve been involved in the full extent of the situation comes out in pieces. We’ve seen this play out tragically at Willow Creek Community Church over the past several months as the truth about the pastor’s actions have come out a piece at a time.

The other challenge of discovering the truth is we often hear what we want to hear. If the failed leader is someone we love deeply, we want to believe their version of the truth. The story they tell is bad enough, we don’t want to face the reality that there might be more. On the flip side there are times when because of our own weakness and sin we secretly want the story to be as salacious as possible. The biggest challenge is we are not aware of these biases, they are blindspots that we can’t see by just trying harder.

I have to come to believe that in most circumstances of moral failure a disinterested third party is needed to really discover the truth.

Someone who the church leaders know and trust, but someone without an axe to grind or a friend to protect. Ideally this unbiased third party will be identified ahead of time in the crisis plan. Regardless of whether you bring in a third party, it is essential early in the process to do the hard work of discovering “the truth and nothing but the truth”.

Next

In Part 2 we will unpack three more principles every church needs to know before they face a moral crisis. If you are already walking through a crisis let me know how I can help.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][social_buttons full_width_icons=”true” facebook=”true” twitter=”true” linkedin=”true”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” bg_color=”#efefef” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” top_padding=”20″ bottom_padding=”20″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”5935″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-5-percent” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Navigating this new chapter in church history will require balancing the tension between what is necessary from the past and what is needed for future. I’ve spent the last several years thinking about and researching this challenge, and share my insights in my new eBook, The Church Will Thrive. You can get your free copy here.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” centered_text=”true” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Necessary Changes in the Wake of Willow Creek

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]The first news I read this morning was of the resignation of Heather Larsen and the entire Willow Creek elder board. This is the culmination of an incredibly sad chapter for arguably the most influential organization and leader in the American church over the past 50 years. It is ironic that today is also the kickoff of the Global Leadership Summit, a conference built on the leadership and legacy of Bill Hybels and Willow Creek.

I have shared in the past how personal this tragedy feels to me. No one has had more influence on what I believe about leadership than Bill Hybels, and no church has had a greater impact on my understanding of what it means to be a church focused on sharing the Good News with those outside the church. Since I wrote that original post back in April, the evidence that the real Bill Hybels is very different than the one I knew from speeches, sermons and books. His actions, and the complicity of the Willow leaders, have been devastating to the women who’ve been hurt and the congregants who’ve been misled. As drastic as it is, I think the resignation of the entire leadership structure is the only way forward for Willow. I pray that the new leaders will find grace and wisdom in the difficult days ahead.

I also believe that we, as leaders in the American church, need to take time to learn the lessons that apply to all of us. It is easy to see the train wreck at Willow and think, “That’s not me”. but the reality is that to some extent it is many of us. We have been influenced and shaped by the same principles and methods that Willow was built on. If your church’s core values include words like excellence, authenticity and relevance, then your roots go back to the late 1970s and a church started in the Willow Creek movie theater in the suburbs of Chicago.

I’m not suggesting we need to throw out everything we learned from Hybels and Willow, but I am suggesting we need to re-examine the infrastructure that supports our churches and make sure it is healthy and solid. Over the next few days I will share several articles around the role of elders and how to respond to a crisis. Today I want to briefly look at four tenets of the Willow era that need to be re-examined.

Before we dive in I want to say I am for growing churches, I am for gifted lead pastors and I am for local church leadership. This is not an article bashing the megachurch or questioning the role of lead pastor. This is a plea to my tribe to carefully consider our past before we plunge forward into the future.

Four Potential Traps

Autonomy of local churches

History is always a reaction to what came before, and the last 50 years in the American church has been to some extent driven by a negative reaction to the abuses found in the hierarchy of denominations. There have always been independent churches, but Willow made non-denominational attractive to those who wanted to step outside the traditional church structures. The challenge is that lack of outside influence can also mean lack of outside wisdom and accountability. In many cases the pendulum has swung too far toward local autonomy, this is a chance to rethink our connection to the church at large.

Opacity of elder boards

Similar to local autonomy, changes in church governance have come in reaction to the extreme congregational bent of messy business meetings and unseemly church votes. In large churches the trend has been toward a relatively small board of elders approved by a tiny percentage of the congregation. Very few of the church adherents have any idea who the elders are or what they do. These boards can become sounding boards and rubber stamps for the vision of the lead pastor, with very little input outside the small circle of leaders.

[bctt tweet=”This is a time to re-evaluate the role of the local elders without resorting back to an unhealthy and unwieldy form of church government from the past.” username=”geoffsurratt”]

Celebrity of pastors

The American church has closely emulated the successful American corporation in the treatment of lead pastors. As the church grows the perks associated with the job grow exponentially. Larger salaries, assigned parking spots, car allowances, expanded vacations, security guards, live-in personal assistants, even private airplanes. The list grows as the offerings and attendance grow. In some cases the pastors are treated more like kings than shepherds.

The problem is that this kind of treatment can destroy your soul. You begin to think you deserve to be treated this way. I just spent a few days at an all-inclusive resort that catered to my every whim; a few more days of that and I’d be completely worthless. Some pastors are treated that way every day.

[bctt tweet=”We need to re-examine what is reasonable and right in taking care of lead pastors, and what is excessive and soul-rotting.” username=”geoffsurratt”]

Over emphasis on attendance growth

The fourth trap that has become prominent in the era of Willow Creek style churches is the constant focus on the number of people who attend weekend services. Subconsciously we believe the lie that a growing church is a church to be emulated. We overlook arrogance and mistreatment of staff as long as the numbers keep increasing. And we seldom pay much attention to where the people are coming from, ignoring the improbability of thousands of people with no connection to church suddenly deciding to give up Sunday mornings for three songs and a lecture.

[bctt tweet=”I love growing churches, but its time to look more critically at whether we are simply attracting people from other churches at any cost.” username=”geoffsurratt”]

I do not believe that every megachurch is on the wrong track, or that every large church pastor is unethical. What I describe above is the worst case scenario based on some of the poor paths we have taken in the past decades as church leaders. At the same time I’ve had a front row seat at churches like Seacoast where I’ve watched my brother fight against many of these trends and walk 40+ years of ministry with integrity. There are many other leaders like Greg and churches like Seacoast.

As we watch the collapse of leadership at one of the great American churches, however, we each need to step back and ask, “Lord, what do you want ME to learn from this tragedy.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][social_buttons full_width_icons=”true” facebook=”true” twitter=”true” linkedin=”true”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” bg_color=”#efefef” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” top_padding=”20″ bottom_padding=”20″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”5935″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-5-percent” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Navigating this new chapter in church history will require balancing the tension between what is necessary from the past and what is needed for future. I’ve spent the last several years thinking about and researching this challenge, and share my insights in my new eBook, The Church Will Thrive. You can get your free copy here.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][nectar_btn size=”jumbo” open_new_tab=”true” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” url=”https://mailchi.mp/ministrytogether.com/99nvr59fdz” text=”Download Here”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Is this the end of the church as we know it?

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]For several years we have read of the demise of the church in America. Young people are staying away in droves, old people are dying, and everyday the church becomes more irrelevant. On top of that hardly a week goes by without news of yet another moral failure by the leader of a prominent megachurch or religious organization. It feels like we are watching the beginning of the end for the evangelical in America.

We’re just waiting for the plug to be pulled and the obituary written.

I’m not so sure, however, that this is the end. While there is no doubt the patient isn’t doing well, there are still signs of life. One of the most encouraging signs comes from the UK. Conventional wisdom says that we are just a few years behind our cousins from across the pond in the decline and collapse of Christian commitment in our country. The good news is that there is a renewed interest in faith growing across the pond. Young people who grew up with no church connection or knowledge of the Bible are very open to talking about Jesus. Church planting and multisite churches are expanding across the UK and for the first time in decades church leaders are hopeful about the future. You can read some of the research around this trend here

Another sign of life is the rise of young, innovative leaders who are reinventing what an ecclesia looks like in a post-religious world. Churches are expanding beyond Sunday, gathering in public spaces, training lay leaders to lead microsites, and revisiting the whole idea of three songs and a lecture as the only legitimate expression of worship in a church gathering. Many of these new ideas will likely fade, but some are bearing fruit and starting a wave. It is much too early to declare victory, but it is also way too soon to pronounce last rites.

The church is struggling, but it will survive and thrive.

To thrive, however, we have to confront the tension of maintaining ties with the past while giving the next generation space to invent the future. The reality for me is that I am too old to figure out what’s next, and that’s ok. When I was in my 20s I wasn’t looking for a 56-year-old to come up with great ideas to reach my generation.

What I did need was wisdom and resources that only come with time and experience. If you are in my generation our role is to equip and support new and younger leaders as they discover what God is doing next. We have to stop competing, stop controlling and stop criticizing Millennial leaders. Our charge to next generation leaders is, in the words of the great theologian Mary Jane Watson encouraging Spiderman, “Go get ‘em, Tiger”.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” bg_color=”#efefef” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” top_padding=”20″ bottom_padding=”20″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”5935″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-5-percent” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Navigating this new chapter in church history will require balancing the tension between what is necessary from the past and what is needed for future. I’ve spent the last several years thinking about and researching this challenge, and share my insights in my new eBook, The Church Will Thrive. You can get your free copy here.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” centered_text=”true” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Why women can’t lead in your church

As I have watched the scandal unfold at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary over the past few weeks I have been struck by the underlying tone of men’s treatment of women, especially women leaders, in the church world. It is a world where often men lead and women follow, a patriarchy that feeds how women are often treated in churches, Bible colleges and seminaries across the country. Under this system the church is deprived of desperately needed leaders, and women are scarred for life. To understand how this feels read this excellent post by Beth Moore describing how she has been treated by men in the church. Treating women leaders like second class citizens in the church has to end.

I know what I’m talking about. For 36 years of ministry I have often sat around tables with men paying service to the value of women leaders while dismissing their opinions and undermining their leadership. I’ve also seen up close the damage this ubiquitous attitude does to the two most important women in my life; my wife and my daughter. Although my wife is an incredible leader and thinker, I’ve seen her struggle to overcome chauvinism in the church world again and again. (I am thankful she works for an organization, The ReThink Group, that considers gender irrelevant to leadership.) I have seen my daughter, who has amazing musical and technical gifts, struggle to break into the informal boys’ clubs at churches where she’s served. I also know what I’m talking about because I too have been guilty of not championing women leaders.

The women in our families and the mission of our churches are too important to continue to go along with the status quo. It is time to make significant strides to engage all of the gifts in our congregations, regardless of gender. To change a system as ingrained as patriarchy, however, will take courage and it will take work. To avoid the change that is needed we often hide behind time-worn excuses.

We hide behind theology

Some hide behind the theology of complementarianism, which says that women and men have different but complementary roles in life. The challenge is at times this stance can limit what leadership roles are available to women in the church. My goal isn’t to argue theology, but to challenge the idea that God limits leadership based on gender. I understand believing the Apostle Paul reserves certain roles for men, but I don’t see how you can read the list of women leaders in Romans 16 and not see that Paul believed women were qualified for most other roles in the church.

Others hide in their egalitarianism, the belief that men and women are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities. While in these circles a woman theoretically can preach, hold the office of elder and be called a pastor, she is often still excluded from the table where decisions are made. I have found that chauvinism isn’t bound by theology.

We hide behind the possibility of temptation

This argument says we have to build walls around the women we work with to avoid the temptation of sexual sin. The walls we build include never being alone in a room with a woman, never mentoring a woman and never discussing anything personal with a woman. Unfortunately these walls have proved ineffective based on the number of men who followed this protocol and were still caught in an affair with a co-worker. What these walls are very effective at is limiting the leadership of women. Limiting access to other leaders is death to collaboration, growth and advancement.

Here’s what I wonder about walls; if they are effective at combatting temptation, why don’t we build similar walls to prevent other sins? Shouldn’t I limit my access to men who tempt me to anger? Shouldn’t I refuse to meet alone with men who spark envy? Surely I should never share anything personal with a man who may cause me to boast.

James says, “Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed BY HIS OWN DESIRE.” (James 1:14 ESV) If meeting in a room alone with a woman causes me to drop trou I’m pretty sure walls aren’t my answer. The answer to dealing with sexual temptation is a deep spiritual walk and honest accountability. Walls are just avoiding the real issue.

We hide behind tradition

Some of us cower behind the flimsy excuse, “People in my church just aren’t ready for women leading.” I remember when people weren’t ready for drums in the church, pastors who didn’t wear suits and lyrics projected on screens rather than printed in hymnbooks. Its funny how willing we were to challenge those preconceived notions, but we aren’t ready to stand up for our sisters who are gifted and called to lead.

Changing the prevailing patriarchy in your church will be difficult and it will take courage. If you are up for the task here are five suggestions that I believe can make a significant difference:

Creating a culture where women can lead

Seek input from women leaders on your staff and in your church

A group of men sitting around a table will not change the culture of your church when it comes to women in leadership. The first step is to seek to understand what it is like to be woman leader in your culture, and the only way to learn is to ask. I understand this is a scary proposition because you might not like what you hear, but “we are not as those who shrink back”. Here are three questions you should ask:

Does our church encourage and develop women leaders?
What is the most challenging part of being a woman and leading on our team?
What do we need to change to improve our culture for women leaders?

Include women at the highest leadership level of your church

Who could you add to your leadership team, your deacon board or your group of elders? I am not suggesting you change your theology if it does not allow for women elders. You can add women to the group without designating them as voting elders. I’m pretty sure Paul never limited who could attend or participate in elder meetings.

I’ve been told that including women on leadership teams “changes the dynamic in the room”. The inference is the discussion is more authentic and fruitful when only men are present. Imagine saying the same thing about Latinos, African Americans or Cub fans. If the reason you are excluding women is because of dynamics, then the dynamics need to change.

Coach women who may be new to leading with men

A few years ago I noticed a woman who’d recently been asked to serve on the Directional Leadership Team was always very quiet in meetings despite her obvious leadership skills and strategic thinking. After one meeting in which she had silently taken notes without speaking a word I asked what was going on. She said it was often difficult to get a word in with the men constantly interrupting and talking over one another. “Besides”, she said, “I’m not sure my opinion is really necessary.” I shared with her two observations. First, in rooms full of men if you wait to be asked you will likely never be asked. For good or bad, you have to speak up. And second, if your opinion wasn’t necessary you wouldn’t be at the table. The church needs your input.

My wife co-authored an excellent book to help women learn how to lead in a church with a predominantly male culture. I love the title: Just Lead: A no whining, no complaining, no nonsense practical guide for women leading in the church. Its a great resource to help women learn the nuances of leading with men.

Coach men who struggle leading with women

Don’t expect men to intuitively figure out how to effectively work with women leaders. Men who haven’t spent time in the marketplace may have little or no experience in an environment where women lead. Here are a few tips to get them started:

Listen: Women often have a more nuanced communication style than many men. They are more likely to include context, emotion and relationship into the discussion. Dismissing this more complex texture is a mistake. Ingrained in the narrative is the perspective men, left to their own devices, will miss.

Don’t interrupt: Men often interrupt one another, especially when the conversation becomes emotionally charged. While this is always rude, it makes it especially difficult for many women leaders to engage in the discussion.

Ask clarifying questions: It is always helpful to ask questions for understanding, but it is especially helpful when men and women are leading together. We perceive the world differently and reach conclusions in different ways. Rather than dismissing an opinion you don’t understand, ask for context.

Trust: Women who are new to the leadership table at your church have to know that you trust them to lead. Do not treat them like junior partners or children who need to be protected. Trust women to lead as intelligent adults and reinforce that trust through your words and actions.

Root out misogynists (people who dislike, despise, or are strongly prejudiced against women)

There are likely men, and possibly women, on your team who do not think women should lead. They may hide behind a screen of selective scriptures or the guise of paternalistic care, but in the end they have a chauvinistic view of men over women. They should be challenged to grow in their view or find another church in which to serve.

That may sound extreme, but would you keep a racist in leadership? Would you tolerate a leader who treated African Americans on your staff differently than everyone else, undermining their leadership? If its not ok to discriminate against a race then its not ok to discriminate against a gender.

Do you have the courage to change?

Here is the bottom line for me; our mission of bringing the Good News of the Gospel to a lost and dying world is too important to hamstring half of the leaders in our church by treating women as less than. Fully engaging women in leadership is hard work and controversial. Not everyone in our churches will agree that women can lead in the context of church, and we will face pushback. Do we have the courage to face the opposition and do the hard work of leveling the playing field for women leaders? For the sake of the Kingdom I certainly hope so.