Congregation X and the Problem with Solutions

Congregation X and the Problem with Solutions

There tends to be a lack of clear goal-setting in some of the congregations I visit. Apart from things like building programs, or higher attendance, I wonder what exactly is moving the organization forward? The easy answers (and sometimes the right ones) are things like habit, a modernist worldview, or compliance with the format of a certain ministry model. I want to suggest, however, that congregations often fall into a subtler but sometimes even more controlling pattern that looks something like this...

 

Congregation X and the Problem with Solutions

There tends to be a lack of clear goal-setting in some of the congregations I visit. Apart from things like building programs, or higher attendance, I wonder what exactly is moving the organization forward? The easy answers (and sometimes the right ones) are things like habit, a modernist worldview, or compliance with the format of a certain ministry model. I want to suggest, however, that congregations often fall into a subtler but sometimes even more controlling pattern that looks something like this...

1. “Houston, we have a problem:” A pastor’s life is a life of problems, so there is no shortage of raw material here. It could be a declining Sunday School, nursery workers not showing up on time, budget woes, or a leaking roof on the youth building. Let’s use the example Sunday morning attendance at Congregation X slowly getting smaller and grayer.

2. Hurray! We have a solution: The problem is dissected, analyzed, and a package of solutions is developed. The politics of this stage can be tricky, because problems are concrete, often being visible to the eye (like that leaking roof), while solutions are hypothetical until they are implemented. Continuing our example, the leaders of Congregation X conclude that a total overhaul of how they “do church” is necessary to attract a younger crowd.

3. Oh no! The solution is the new problem: Every solution causes unintended consequences. So, the indebtedness needed to fund a new facility may result in staff layoffs, and a new cell group system might repulse members who just want to hear the pastor preach. In the case of Congregation X, the new untucked-shirts-on-Sunday-morning format draws some younger people but leaves traditional folk cold and feeling the need to migrate.

4. We’ve got to find a solution for the solution: Attempting to fix the original problem can produce a conflict which motivates the leadership either to hold the fort and fight it out, or rapidly back off in an attempt to placate the offended. I’ve seen it both ways, and in various combinations. Let’s say that Congregation X chooses the latter route, gradually returning to their starting point. The result will likely be the departure of the newer people but very few of the original people returning.

5. Solving the solution has created a bigger problem: The new issue generated by this sequence of events is not so much about attendance as it is about a loss of confidence in the leadership. The next predicament that the pastor tries to work out will require all that much more groundwork. Congregation X now has a drifting vision and a lame duck pastor who will require an ever-longer timeline to build the credibility necessary for any future changes. Overcoming this obstacle becomes what that pastor does for a living. 

Quantifying the prevalence of this cycle is impossible, but I’ve seen it (and heard of it) too many times to think it’s not a significant influence in a lot of places. I wonder how many pastors (and this is a feeling I’ve known myself) are spending years trying to solve the problems with their solutions and then trying to repair the loss of credibility that ensues.

While many of these issues come from sources we cannot control, the temptation remains to treat this cycle as an inescapable de facto definition of “ministry,” one that drains the life out of churches like Congregation X and their leaders.

For Discussion:
1. Have you seen examples of the problem/solution/problem pattern?
2. Are there other patterns that can be substitutes for “ministry”?
3. How can this pattern be reversed or at least moderated?

About the Author:  Earl Creps has spent several years visiting congregations that are attempting to engage emerging culture. He directs doctoral studies for the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri (http://www.agts.edu).  Earl and his wife Janet have pastored three churches, one Boomer, one Builder, and one GenX. He speaks, trains, and consults with ministries around the country. Earl’s book, Off-Road Disciplines: Spiritual Adventures of Missional Leaders, was published by Jossey-Bass/Leadership Network in 2006. Connect with Earl at http://www.earlcreps.com .