this week there are a number of blogs that are reviewing steering through chaos by scott wilson.  i wanted to share an interview i had with scott regarding his book.  scott is the senior pastor of the oaks fellowship in dallas, texas. in the last three years, the church has experienced robust growth–nearly tripling in size–and is now ministering to more than three thousand people.  here is the interview:
zonderfann:  what are some difficult transitions many of today’s churches are facing?

scott wilson: churches across america are experiencing the chaos of change in several different areas:
a.    the aging pastor is a huge transition issue.  there are so many pastors right now who are five years out of retirement and they don’t have any plan at all.  that’s why you are seeing these succession books rise up all over the place.  there are thousands of churches that are about to experience major chaos if these aging pastors don’t get some kind of plan together.  the next guy is going to struggle if the baton hand off isn’t intentional and planned.
b.    many churches struggling to handle the chaos of financial difficulty.  lack of finances means laying off staff, cutting back budgets, etc.  if this isn’t skillfully handled and navigated it can create massive distrust, frustration, and chaos.
c.    there is still a major transition going on in the smaller churches especially with who is in control of the church.  there are still major power struggles out there.  and the only thing that is going to get everybody on the same page is submission to the head who is Christ.
d.    multiple services, multiple campuses, online worship are all other trending transitions taking place in the church…

zf:  what role does the leader’s vision play in helping a church transition?

sw: It is a huge.  the leaders vision should drive all the change.  the vision is not to be determined by the leader, but by the Spirit of God and the leader is the one who is responsible to discover it and communicate it clearly.  the God-given vision is powerful because it paints the picture of the preferable future that God has for the church and it should drive us to make whatever transitions or changes we need to make to see it become a reality.
a God-given vision or assignment can help people give up what they want in order to obtain what God wants for them.  this only works when the leader’s heart is pure and is truly seeking the will of the Father.  otherwise this can become very manipulative.

zf:  What are the keys to transitioning from a “church of yesteday” into a ‘church of tomorrow”?

sw: the relevant church is the spirit filled, spirit led church.  i am not concerned about being hip or cool…i am really most concerned about being obedient.  i want to be the pastor of a church that is right where God wants us to be so i can be poised to do what God’s called us to do.
the sad truth of being a church that is no longer relevant is this:  it’s a church that no longer cares about their God-given calling and purpose.  they have lost the missionary spirit of the great commission and think that church is all about them and their needs.
the awakening that a ‘church of yesterday’ needs is a fresh experience with the person of Jesus Christ…a renewed vision of his death on the cross…and a reminder of his resurrection and calling.  Jesus said to his disciples in john 20:21 “in the same way the father sent me, so I send you.”
the passion the church needs is for the lost and hurting…that makes you relevant to today…love is always relevant.

zf:  What should leaders know about timing a change to produce growth?

sw:
a.    don’t skip process-first of all, don’t underestimate the time it takes to navigate change in your church.  you can’t skip process without getting burned.  if you announce major change without your leaders knowing about it…your burned.  if you try to do something before your staff and elders have had time to process and pray about…your burned.  if you try to take the congregation in a new and “exciting” direction and you haven’t met with the key donors and influencers in the house…your burned.
b.    timing is big — you have to always be in planning mode…every strategy has a lifespan…you can never think that the next strategy you implement is the one….there will be another.  remember that.  you need to be thinking, praying, and evaluating everything you do in the church.  is it growing?  is it financially taking care of itself?  is it a distraction to the overall vision?
c.    don’t wait until things are falling a part to make your move.
d.    don’t make moves without getting advise from inside and out.

zf:  what advice would you give a pastor who wants to instill the value of change into a resistant staff or congregation?

sw:

a.    read steering through chaos together as a staff and elder board and key leaders.  it will spark the conversations that need to take place.
b.    call everyone to prayer….we need to hear from God on what he wants us to do.
c.    get the key staff and elders on board with you on the change that needs to take place before you go to the whole group.
d.    the biggest change that has to take place is attitude….and perspective.  we are not here to do church our way for God….we are here to do church the way God has called us to do it…and we must seek him, die to ourselves and become the people he can trust and use.
e.    turn the staff meetings and board meetings…into prayer meetings.