IN SEARCH OF THE UNCHURCHED
Chapter 7 Worship Style: A Lightening-Rod Issue
Worship is an issue that generates heat (but often precious little light).
Disagreements result in “worship-wars.”
However, worship is important, because:
- it is the main entry-point into the congregation.
- it is a mirror of the congregation’s attitudes as a whole.
“Traditional Worship”
- Means forms are familiar within a denomination.
- Common hymnody.
- Becomes problematic when a particular form is regarded as the only proper way to communicate.
- Can lead to “pseudotheology” when a liturgical form is treated as an end in itself, a substitute for Scripture.
How do you respond when someone says ‘But that’s not the Presbyterian way’?
Changing Rules
Unique mission fields require unique methods of communication.
This concept offends some people, but the number is shrinking. Why?
1. Because there are fewer people with an attachment to or memory of a particular worship style.
2. Because some of those raised in a formal liturgical style are now attending less-formal worship – often for the sake of their children or grandchildren.
3. Because inter-denominational marriage has led to uncertainty about standardized forms of worship.
Adding a New Service
1. Focus on ministry, not music.
- Which group are we trying to reach?
2. Communicate effectively.
- Discover what people are looking for.
3. Empower a Team to do the job.
- Don’t get bogged down in structure.
4. Determine form.
- Include many representatives from the target group as you decide.
5. Add, don’t replace.
- Show respect for traditional forms.
6. Beware of trying to blend styles.
- Rotating styles can be very confusing.
The Language of the Unchurched
Congregations that are serious about reaching out should employ as many different worship languages as they can.
- e.g. traditional/spirited traditional/high-energy participative/rock and roll/alternative/country western.
- Sermons must be tailored to the situation.
- Different perspectives should be celebrated as different ways of reaching new people.
Typical Problems
- Clothing acceptable to some may offend others.
- Raised in an either/or world, both/and solutions may be unacceptable to those who want to win.
- Fear of splitting an already small congregation.
The Real Issue
Debate about worship style is often only a symptom of a wider issue.
The real issue is – Is the congregation serious about reaching people for Christ? Will our mission include those who are not members?
For Reflection and Discussion
Whom, in our neighborhood, are we not reaching?
How could we arrange to visit with several of these people?
If we empowered a mission team to create a new service, who would be on the team?
Are we open to reaching our neighbors if that means holding an additional worship service using a different style of worship?
Chapter 8 Ideas That Do Not Automatically Work
Some ideas seem good, but are not as helpful as is often thought. For example:
1. New Member Studies.
It’s helpful to know why people join (if they will tell you).
It’s more helpful to know why some don’t join (if they will tell you).
Best bet – find out where former visitors are worshipping now, and try to find out what is different about that church.
2. Parochial Schools as Outreach.
- Some congregations experience membership gains through the school and other sources. This is healthy.
- Some congregations experience membership gain only through the school. This is probably manipulative.
- Some congregations don’t experience any membership gain. This is probably terminal.
- Often schools get blamed for problems that originate in the congregation.
- Often schools become a financial drain on declining congregations and are closed to save money.
3. New Church Planting.
Statistically, new church developments (NCD’s) bring the largest number of new members into a denomination. However:
- Most NCD’s stay small.
- “Build it and they will come” doesn’t work anymore.
- NCD’s can be very expensive, especially if started on a top-down structure, with the denomination taking responsibility for land, property, and personnel.
- Don’t expect weak churches to plant healthy NCD’s.
Was there a time when our church was actively reaching out to new people?
What was happening at the time, in the congregation and the community?
Can that excitement be recovered?
Chapter 7 Worship Style: A Lightening-Rod Issue
Worship is an issue that generates heat (but often precious little light).
Disagreements result in “worship-wars.”
However, worship is important, because:
- it is the main entry-point into the congregation.
- it is a mirror of the congregation’s attitudes as a whole.
“Traditional Worship”
- Means forms are familiar within a denomination.
- Common hymnody.
- Becomes problematic when a particular form is regarded as the only proper way to communicate.
- Can lead to “pseudotheology” when a liturgical form is treated as an end in itself, a substitute for Scripture.
How do you respond when someone says ‘But that’s not the Presbyterian way’?
Changing Rules
Unique mission fields require unique methods of communication.
This concept offends some people, but the number is shrinking. Why?
1. Because there are fewer people with an attachment to or memory of a particular worship style.
2. Because some of those raised in a formal liturgical style are now attending less-formal worship – often for the sake of their children or grandchildren.
3. Because inter-denominational marriage has led to uncertainty about standardized forms of worship.
Adding a New Service
1. Focus on ministry, not music.
- Which group are we trying to reach?
2. Communicate effectively.
- Discover what people are looking for.
3. Empower a Team to do the job.
- Don’t get bogged down in structure.
4. Determine form.
- Include many representatives from the target group as you decide.
5. Add, don’t replace.
- Show respect for traditional forms.
6. Beware of trying to blend styles.
- Rotating styles can be very confusing.
The Language of the Unchurched
Congregations that are serious about reaching out should employ as many different worship languages as they can.
- e.g. traditional/spirited traditional/high-energy participative/rock and roll/alternative/country western.
- Sermons must be tailored to the situation.
- Different perspectives should be celebrated as different ways of reaching new people.
Typical Problems
- Clothing acceptable to some may offend others.
- Raised in an either/or world, both/and solutions may be unacceptable to those who want to win.
- Fear of splitting an already small congregation.
The Real Issue
Debate about worship style is often only a symptom of a wider issue.
The real issue is – Is the congregation serious about reaching people for Christ? Will our mission include those who are not members?
For Reflection and Discussion
Whom, in our neighborhood, are we not reaching?
How could we arrange to visit with several of these people?
If we empowered a mission team to create a new service, who would be on the team?
Are we open to reaching our neighbors if that means holding an additional worship service using a different style of worship?
Chapter 8 Ideas That Do Not Automatically Work
Some ideas seem good, but are not as helpful as is often thought. For example:
1. New Member Studies.
It’s helpful to know why people join (if they will tell you).
It’s more helpful to know why some don’t join (if they will tell you).
Best bet – find out where former visitors are worshipping now, and try to find out what is different about that church.
2. Parochial Schools as Outreach.
- Some congregations experience membership gains through the school and other sources. This is healthy.
- Some congregations experience membership gain only through the school. This is probably manipulative.
- Some congregations don’t experience any membership gain. This is probably terminal.
- Often schools get blamed for problems that originate in the congregation.
- Often schools become a financial drain on declining congregations and are closed to save money.
3. New Church Planting.
Statistically, new church developments (NCD’s) bring the largest number of new members into a denomination. However:
- Most NCD’s stay small.
- “Build it and they will come” doesn’t work anymore.
- NCD’s can be very expensive, especially if started on a top-down structure, with the denomination taking responsibility for land, property, and personnel.
- Don’t expect weak churches to plant healthy NCD’s.
Was there a time when our church was actively reaching out to new people?
What was happening at the time, in the congregation and the community?
Can that excitement be recovered?
Chapter 9 Seven Words Say It All.
Solutions lie in individual, motivated congregations, taken one at a time.
Individual
Denominational problems can only be solved at the local-church level, when individual congregations become stronger.
Motivated
Congregations that focus on members grow weaker.
Congregations that ignore their neighborhoods die.
Congregations that focus on non-members find ways to grow stronger.
Congregations that are motivated by the Great Commission grow.
We cannot expect the denomination to solve local problems.
Taken One At A Time
Three General classifications:
Group A Congregations: are organized to reach new people, intentionally include newcomers while serving existing members.
Group B1 Congregations: are interested in becoming type A, but they are still attached to some churched-society habits that are barriers to outsiders.
Group B2 Congregations: are not interested in change.
Solutions are local, but some general principles apply.
Principles for Congregational Change
1. Knowledge of need for change must precede attitude change.
2. Attitude Change must precede behavior change.
3. Individual Behavior Change must precede organizational change.
4. Organizational Behavioral Change is more complex than many people imagine.
5. Attempt a Limited Number of Changes
6. Different Perspectives must be recognized. Often, people talk past one another without really communicating.
7. Sequence of Change.
- Realize there is a problem.
- Accept the fact that the world has changed.
- See the difference between internal and external focus.
- Decide that Great Commission outreach is achievable.
8. Help is Available. Why not learn from others?
9. Patience is Necessary. New ideas take time.
Solutions lie in individual, motivated congregations, taken one at a time.
Individual
Denominational problems can only be solved at the local-church level, when individual congregations become stronger.
Motivated
Congregations that focus on members grow weaker.
Congregations that ignore their neighborhoods die.
Congregations that focus on non-members find ways to grow stronger.
Congregations that are motivated by the Great Commission grow.
We cannot expect the denomination to solve local problems.
Taken One At A Time
Three General classifications:
Group A Congregations: are organized to reach new people, intentionally include newcomers while serving existing members.
Group B1 Congregations: are interested in becoming type A, but they are still attached to some churched-society habits that are barriers to outsiders.
Group B2 Congregations: are not interested in change.
Solutions are local, but some general principles apply.
Principles for Congregational Change
1. Knowledge of need for change must precede attitude change.
2. Attitude Change must precede behavior change.
3. Individual Behavior Change must precede organizational change.
4. Organizational Behavioral Change is more complex than many people imagine.
5. Attempt a Limited Number of Changes
6. Different Perspectives must be recognized. Often, people talk past one another without really communicating.
7. Sequence of Change.
- Realize there is a problem.
- Accept the fact that the world has changed.
- See the difference between internal and external focus.
- Decide that Great Commission outreach is achievable.
8. Help is Available. Why not learn from others?
9. Patience is Necessary. New ideas take time.
How many people in our church:
- Recognize that there is a problem?
- Accept that the world has changed?
- Can see the difference between an internal and an external focus?
- Believe that Great Commission outreach is possible for us?
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