Comments on: Making Shift Happen http://www.newlutheran.com/2009/10/15/making-shift-happen/ My story of being new in an old church... Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:31:24 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Crystal Oxner http://www.newlutheran.com/2009/10/15/making-shift-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-61168 Crystal Oxner Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:26:51 +0000 http://www.newlutheran.com/?p=125#comment-61168 I think 1 & 2 are the critical ones for us Lutherans today. These are the "easiest" ones to make happen quickly. The great thing about the Lutheran church is that number 5 isn't something that we have to shift towards. Small group ministry makes number 1 possible - not necessarily small groups that are based on any specific curriculum, but instead small groups that come together for some specific purpose. Check out David Stark's book Growing People Through Small Groups. <br><br>I think, at least for me, worship time becomes critical in these small group gatherings, and the large communal worship becomes a time where we realize just how big the body of Christ is. It's a paradigm shift, so the best specific action to take is to start encouraging people to be a part of a small group. Once they experience genuine Christian community through these smaller groups and begin to grow deep in their faith, then the rest begins to fall into place.<br><br>The most important action for YOU to take is to find like-minded individuals that you can partner with to begin to make the shift :) I think 1 & 2 are the critical ones for us Lutherans today. These are the “easiest” ones to make happen quickly. The great thing about the Lutheran church is that number 5 isn't something that we have to shift towards. Small group ministry makes number 1 possible – not necessarily small groups that are based on any specific curriculum, but instead small groups that come together for some specific purpose. Check out David Stark's book Growing People Through Small Groups.

I think, at least for me, worship time becomes critical in these small group gatherings, and the large communal worship becomes a time where we realize just how big the body of Christ is. It's a paradigm shift, so the best specific action to take is to start encouraging people to be a part of a small group. Once they experience genuine Christian community through these smaller groups and begin to grow deep in their faith, then the rest begins to fall into place.

The most important action for YOU to take is to find like-minded individuals that you can partner with to begin to make the shift :)

]]> By: New Lutheran http://www.newlutheran.com/2009/10/15/making-shift-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-61167 New Lutheran Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:10:45 +0000 http://www.newlutheran.com/?p=125#comment-61167 Thanks Ray!<br><br>It's your talk of doing something that I feel I need to start focusing on. I'm keenly interested in actively creating ministries that can help push predictions like these along. I've been thinking specifically about starting a cross-church worship service in the evening, online bible studies, and twitter-based ministry "campaigns".<br><br>This whole idea of community really changes things for ministry. If it's easier for me to find ministry partners through online communities than in my local church, which community should I focus on for my ministry? Thanks Ray!

It's your talk of doing something that I feel I need to start focusing on. I'm keenly interested in actively creating ministries that can help push predictions like these along. I've been thinking specifically about starting a cross-church worship service in the evening, online bible studies, and twitter-based ministry “campaigns”.

This whole idea of community really changes things for ministry. If it's easier for me to find ministry partners through online communities than in my local church, which community should I focus on for my ministry?

]]> By: Ray J Gentry http://www.newlutheran.com/2009/10/15/making-shift-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-61166 Ray J Gentry Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:36:04 +0000 http://www.newlutheran.com/?p=125#comment-61166 1. Yes.<br>2. Possibly. Isolated small groups run the risk of getting cliquey and getting lost in their own worlds if gatherings are only icing - but if the small group is the primary means of faith growth and larger gatherings are celebration of community (and not expected to be the place to grow and connect), that would be a move in the right direction.<br>3. Wouldn't be the worst thing for a few reasons. It would keep pastors from being completely financially dependent on the church, allowing them to ministry without the fear that if they rock the boat too much they'll be out on their ass. It would also force congregations to take ownership of their ministry because paid staff will have less time. But I do think there are benefits of pastors who are just pastors.<br>4. It would be nice if we trained pastors in churches for at least half of their four years. It would prevent disconnect from the real world while a pastor trains. It would also allow training without relocation - which would be a big help in fixing our pastor shortage.<br>5. I have, do and will pray for this. I absolutely hope this one picks up steam sooner rather than later.<br><br>But your real question is ideas - honestly, those of us who connect to this need to do something. So often I find myself complaining or analyzing things and talking about them, but not actually doing anything about them. We need to realize that we just need to take charge - too often the church is too cumbersome for us to wait. But when ministries work, churches notice and will hop on board. Great post, as always. God Bless!<br><br>In Christ Alone<br>Ray 1. Yes.
2. Possibly. Isolated small groups run the risk of getting cliquey and getting lost in their own worlds if gatherings are only icing – but if the small group is the primary means of faith growth and larger gatherings are celebration of community (and not expected to be the place to grow and connect), that would be a move in the right direction.
3. Wouldn't be the worst thing for a few reasons. It would keep pastors from being completely financially dependent on the church, allowing them to ministry without the fear that if they rock the boat too much they'll be out on their ass. It would also force congregations to take ownership of their ministry because paid staff will have less time. But I do think there are benefits of pastors who are just pastors.
4. It would be nice if we trained pastors in churches for at least half of their four years. It would prevent disconnect from the real world while a pastor trains. It would also allow training without relocation – which would be a big help in fixing our pastor shortage.
5. I have, do and will pray for this. I absolutely hope this one picks up steam sooner rather than later.

But your real question is ideas – honestly, those of us who connect to this need to do something. So often I find myself complaining or analyzing things and talking about them, but not actually doing anything about them. We need to realize that we just need to take charge – too often the church is too cumbersome for us to wait. But when ministries work, churches notice and will hop on board. Great post, as always. God Bless!

In Christ Alone
Ray

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