Just so we’re clear.  If you tell me you are a part of a new “church plant” here is what I think:

You are in process of beginning a new community of faith that didn’t spring up out of nowhere, but rather is linked together with the church at large, and more particularly with blessing and support from an existing church.  There is something by way of vision and strategy that makes this “church plant” exciting and compelling.  There is a reason why other proven leaders see in this new church plant exciting Kingdom possibilities and because of it they affirm gifts to begin a new church and support it, sometimes with resources, finances, and at the very least prayer.  The foundation of the church plant will be Jesus (in attitude, speech, and behavior) and its focus will be intentionally directed towards outreach and God’s Kingdom agenda.

Even in that…most church plants fail (upwards of 70%).

But if you tell me you, and a “bunch of others” are hacked off at your previous church’s leadership and don’t like how they do things so you are going to start your own church  (with as many people you can find who are also hacked off at said leaders).  This is not called “church planting.”  This is called church piracy.  And the sign you put in front should reflect that.  You can speak the language of intentionality and mission, but if the back story is really about a church split…this isn’t a church plant.  I’m just saying…

There are always ideas.  People are always offering suggestions on what you/the church should do in regards to ministry.  There really is no lack of ideas for what a church should or should not be doing.  The issue is discerning through the ideas to see what God is calling the church to do.  And so we listen to suggested programs, ministry opportunities, events, new directions, etc.  And then we pray and discern.   Besides fitting with the larger vision and calling of a church, my experience is that there are three elements that are essential for any ministry, event, or program to succeed.  Think of it like a 3-legged stool.  If just one leg is missing, there is no stability and the person attempting to sit on it will end up on the ground.  The 3 legs are:

1.  Vision. What is the compelling story that drives the idea?  Is it clear?  Is it identifiable?  Is it compelling?  Can the idea behind any ministry be communicated in a manner that compels people to want to be a part of it.  Does it have purpose?  Is there meaning?  Does this idea make sense to who we are and what we do (as opposed to, “Another church does it like this…”).  Without a clear and communicated vision, a ministry will end up being short-lived or, will wrestle through conflict and disappointment as competing assumptions and agendas arise.  This is the case often with a church’s Sunday School program.  “Why do we do this?”  Everyone scratches their head and can only answer, “Because we have always done this.”  Not compelling.

2.  Leadership. Is there someone (and I mean one person) who can lead this vision?  They can work with a team, there can be many involved, but is there someone who takes ownership and responsibility for the vision and can move forward in all that is necessary by way of communication, execution, and problem-solving along the way.  I’ve seen many “prayer ministries” attempt to come together with the idea that there isn’t any need for a “leader” and it would sort of be an organic free for all.  In the end, they have either failed, or someone who shouldn’t be leading, in the void of leadership took the reigns and led.  Nothing is more frustrating than showing up to an event, ministry, etc. only to stare at everyone around the table and wonder, “Who is leading this thing?“  You can have a vision for a great student ministry, including a great space…but if you don’t have a leader of student ministry…you will ultimately have no student ministry.

3.  Space. This is either in physical space or time. Many small group ministries fail because there is no space (by way of time) for them.  The church already does Sunday morning Bible classes, Sunday morning worship, Sunday night worship, Wednesday night Bible classes, ministry meetings on other nights…AND in addition, wants a small group ministry.  You can’t.  You don’t have the space available.  Small groups may have a great vision, and strong leadership…but if people don’t have another night of the week, you aren’t going to succeed.  You may have a compelling vision and leadership for a Christian school, but if all you have is a few classroom spaces in your basement, you aren’t not going to have a Christian school.

What are you trying to keep going but you probably should bring to an end because you are missing one or more in vision, leadership, or space?

Bishop D’Arcy of the South Bend/Ft. Wayne Catholic diocese has decided to withhold the common cup during Mass from the congregation (reserving it only for the priests…which wouldn’t be the first time in history that this has taken place).  The reason:  swine flu.  You can read the story here.  Personally, I would recommend to Bishop D’Arcy the uber cool mini-individual cups that we use at Living Stones Church where we each get our own individual cup. Thus, my lips aren’t touching the same cup that your lips are touching.  I love you…but not that much. Since the Catholic church uses one cup, I think this is a good decision.  I’m not criticizing Bishop D’Arcy for this at all.  My question is more theological.  The Catholic Church teaches a doctrine of communion called transubstantiation.  In short, through a metaphysical miracle, they teach that the bread actually becomes the body of Jesus and the wine becomes the actual blood of Jesus.  This is one large dividing point between Catholicism and Protestant churches.  My question is, given the doctrine of transubstantiation, are we saying that Jesus can give us swine flu?  My OCD/hypochondriac side likes this decision.  But if I were Catholic, my theology might be troubled slightly.

In addition, the sign of peace no longer necessitates a handshake.  You can just nod your head.

NOTE: Until the health department gives us the ALL-CLEAR, high-fives on Sunday morning at the Living Stones Church have been suspended.

I have a job that allows me to work on the front porch if I want to.  The past three days this front porch here at the church has become my office.

God is an awesome employer! The benefits are pretty decent as well.

Word of warning…don’t try unionizing…He’s a little touchy about that…collective bargaining sessions would probably have a lot of words like “smite” and “eternal damnation” in it.

This is Broadway Christian Parish (a  United Methodist Church).  Their Pastor is Nancy Nichols.  They are located on Carroll St. on the south side of South Bend.  I’ve never met Nancy.  And I don’t know a lot about Broadway Christian Parish EXCEPT they do a TON to feed, cloth, and take care of “the least-of-these” (Matthew 25:40)  in our community.  They have the servant heart of Jesus and over and over again I have been impressed with what I have seen and heard from this church.

In regards to my criteria of importance – “If this church were to cease to exist, would anyone in the community even notice?” I would answer if this church ceased to exist there would be a large void of compassion, kindness, and generosity to those who are in need of mercy.

To continue to serve the neighborhood around them, they have a steady stream of need by way of food, cash donations, a washer & dryer, etc.  They do kingdom work.  And it is impressive.  I think the Living Stones Church should bless them for living out what God has called them to.

So…let me see here…mind working….

This is Keller Park Missionary Church.  I like this church.  Jennae Gee and I had lunch with their pastor, Ryan Yazel, on Wednesday.

They are in the middle of a neighborhood. I mean smack-dab-in-the-middle of the Keller Park neighborhood (more westside off Portage area).  They have a heart and vision for their neighborhood.  It is one of the most laser-focused and intentional that I’ve seen.

I like it.

Was curious if anyone in blog world would know the answer to this or could comment on their experience.  I know many churches that have successful Saturday evening services.  I was just curious how well do Saturday evening services go on Easter weekend.  I think it would seem a little strange celebrating Easter Sunday on Saturday.  But…I could be wrong.  It’s happened a time or two before.

[Kathy Silk sent this along to me]

I laughed out loud in my office at this…no really…I ‘LOL‘ed

Last week I blogged about the principle of HOMEOSTASIS which is the property of any organization (institution, relationship, organism, etc.) to long for stability, balance, sameness, status quo, etc.  The irony in regards to church is that NO church does anything great for the Kingdom of God in a state of homeostasis.  So leaders need to be very discerning in when to live in homeostasis, and when to break out and disrupt the status quo to do something great for God.

Having said that, it is important to remember that according to system theorists, a disruption of homeostasis affects every part of the system.  Think of it like a mobile.  If you pull on one end, every part of the mobile is affected, especially the opposite side. 

In the disruption of homeostasis you can always expect a push-back or “pull down” to occur on the other end of the system.  The opposite end is attempting to exert its efforts to bring back homeostasis.  The problem:  it never does.  It overcompensates and overreacts sending the mobile flying to the other extreme.  And there it is…a mobile going back and forth, back and forth.  This is the dynamic at work in churches and results in conflict.  Something happens that disrupts homeostasis (this could be anything from painting the nursery  to the untimely death of a leader).  The mobile (church) goes flying to one extent.  To compensate, another force in the church (e.g., the senior saints, the women’s prayer group, the staff) pulls in the opposite direction trying to balance the mobile (church).  But it doesn’t get balanced.  It goes flying the other way.  Everyone is thrown off in regards to equilibrium, people are confused, they are anxious, they are worried, they are afraid.  And when people get anxious and afraid…they do stupid things.  Good godly people, when anxious and afraid, do bad things. 

In this moment what the entire system (church) needs is a leader who is a non-anxious presence.  Who stands at the crux of the mobile and without overreacting (which is very easy to do as a leader…especially one who is afraid and nervous) to speak truth (which includes acknowledging disrupted homeostasis), vision, and clarity of purpose.  It is a difficult task, but to make it through the disrupted homeostasis, YOU NEED TO HAVE the non-anxious presence of good leaders.

I want to give a shout out to the elders at LSC.  By personality they are pretty stoic anyhow.  But I’ve never seen a better non-anxious presence in the midst of disrupted homeostasis.  I can think back on our history when MAJOR DISRUPTIONS of homeostasis occurred.  Times when I was full of anxiety, fear, and concern.  They remained constant.  They spoke truth (“Did God call us to this or not?”).  They were a non-anxious presence in the midst of the storm.  And because of it, the storm came to an end. 

If a leader acts stressed, those who are following will feel stressed (even if in reality they aren’t under stress).  If a leader acts anxious and scared, those who are following will feel anxious and scared (at best).  If a leader is angry…he/she gets cut out of the Promise Land (or at least that is what happened to Moses).

So, may your homeostasis be disrupted for great Kingdom work.  But when it is, may the Spirit empower you with eyes to see what God is doing, and faith to be totally confident in Him, to the extent that it allows you to be a non-anxious presence.

HOMEOSTASIS is a big fancy word that comes from two Greek words combined meaning ”same” and “standing still.”

All systems and organizations long for HOMEOSTASIS.  Homeostasis is the property of a system that regulates its internal environment and attempts to maintain a constant and stable condition.

Everything longs for homeostasis – relationships, companies, institutions, families, and churches.  When something is knocked off balance – the desire for homeostasis will kick in and attempt to bring it back into balance (often in very unhealthy ways…and often in overreaction). 

Anything can create a disruption to the state of homeostasis – good or bad.  Having a new baby can be a wonderful thing - but it is a HUGE disruption of homeostasis (for mom, dad, siblings, etc.).  Of course tragic events (e.g., affairs, death, scandals, disease, etc.) can have the same effect on homeostasis.

Churches long for a state of homeostasis.  In fact, many leaders commit themselves in energy and time to the constant preservation of homeostasis – keeping things the same, balanced, consistent, and stable. 

But the problem is:

NO CHURCH DOES ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN A STATE OF HOMEOSTASIS!!!  (reread that to make sure you got that)

There are seasons when a church needs to experience homeostasis (who can live in constant disequilibrium?), but NOTHING powerful, transforming, or great EVER happens out of a state of homeostasis. 

So why then do so many churches and leaders do everything they can to keep homeostasis; to keep everyone happy, content, and intent on the promotion of the status quo?  Because they have bought into the lie that convinced them that keeping everyone happy is the way to build a church (and they are chicken ).  The truth is, if you have committed yourself to keeping everyone happy, you have committed yourself to a slow death.  A constant status quo church is a dying church. It might take years or even decades – but it is moving towards death.  

People will attend a church in perpetual homeostasis BUT they won’t give their life to it (especially men).  They won’t, because it doesn’t require it.  There is nothing in it that moves towards adventure, risk, danger, ingenuity, creativity, and problem-solving (by the way…these qualities are what motivates men). 

Kingdom leaders know when to push off balance…and risk the loss of homeostasis for something GREAT in the Kingdom of God.  So, in spite of the natural longing for homeostasis, when God calls…jump off the beam and into an unbalanced unknown.  It is the ONLY way God advances his Kingdom.

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” – Jesus (Matthew 10:34)