Creating A Congregational Culture that Welcomes Growth
A favorite moment in the popular game show, Wheel of Fortune, is the moment when the leading contestant realizes he or she has won the bonus round and a huge jackpot. Family and friends instantly surround the winner and the perennial host, Pat Sajak, walks away and allows the family to enjoy their moment on national TV with no attempt to share the spotlight.
Pat Sajak is a gentle and unpretentious host. He seems to truly enjoy the contestants and their quirky hobbies or unabashedly mundane lives. Each contestant is welcomed and accepted.
His personality has helped to create a game show culture that encourages success and gently helps players recover from misfortune or nervous blunders.
It is no wonder that this game show is a favorite. Every contestant knows he or she is safe from potential nationwide embarrassment and has a good chance at success. Viewers at home feel comfortable as well, rooting for the success of each player.
Congregations have cultures too. Some are centered on the personality of the pastor. Others are centered on long-standing traditions or family or lay leadership.
Developing a congregation’s culture may be an overlooked key to achieving church growth.
Culture is what visitors first encounter. Culture is the impression they take with them.
The challenge to each visitor is to measure whether or not they will be able to fit and flourish in the culture they encounter.
Culture can be cultivated. It can be nourished and encouraged. It can change!
While each culture embraces the same Scriptures, the group of people representing your congregation to the community has its own personality, its own priorities, and its own system of values and rewards.
Visitors will pick up on your culture immediately. Whether or not they return depends a great deal on what they see and feel, more than the quality of worship or the sermon.
Congregational culture can take cues from its denomination. The attitudes of top church leaders cannot help but trickle down. When, for example, there is a change in the papacy, it isn’t long before the rank and file adapt to the priorities of new leadership.
The opposite may also be true. Congregational culture can also affect leadership and guide the attitudes and values represented by the denomination.
Here are some questions to help you examine and shape your congregational culture.
Does your congregation value life-long education?
Does your congregation draw all members into leadership?
Does your congregation know its priorities, needs and goals?
Does your congregation have established cliques?
Is there an attempt to involve different groups of workers on various projects?
Does your congregation enjoy being together? Do you have fun?
How do you achieve this?
Share the work.
Give everyone a chance to play a leadership role. That means giving people room to make mistakes and learn. Create a culture that is nurturing and forgiving. If your congregation has long-standing lay roles, it may mean creating some new responsibilities for new members to become involved. Encouraging the new does not necessitate discouraging the old!
Praise your members.
If you are the pastor, take a cue from Pat Sajak, walk away and let the attention fall on the members. Let their lights shine. Avoid the spotlight entirely. Let members praise and encourage one another.
Educate gently and often.
Education is an ongoing process. Talk about your mission and goals. Tie your work to scripture. The lecture hall is dead. Sermons, like lectures, have limited impact. Spread your message out in bytes and teach by example.