Dealing with Change
The church is to be an agent of transformation. Then why is the church itself so slow in changing?
Could it be that church leaders get so excited about what could result that we forget Jesus' commandment, "Love one another as I have loved you."? To help others change, let us start with understanding what change does to people. In Ron Susek's words, "...the implementation of change almost always is accompanied by strain, pressure and moments of anxiety. There is something innate within the human condition that revbels against the disruption of what is safe and familiar" (Worship Leader, March/April 2000; p. 20).
In his article "Implementing Smart Change," Ron Susek discusses 9 questions to ask to ease the transition. I list them here only in outline form. For the complete discussion read the article cited above. Before leading change, let these questions guide your reflection, prayer, and process.
1. Why do most people resist change?
2. Is the desired change worth it?
3. When will the changes take place?
4. What kind of change is desired?
5. What do you hope the change will accomplish?
6. What will be lost by not instituting the change?
7. Will the proposed change make things better?
8. Are you open to compromise?
9. Have you imparted your vision positively?
Additional resources on change:
Change: Principles of Problem Formulation and Problem
Resolution, Watzlawick, et. al.
Norton Books, 1974
Dying for Change, Leith Anderson; Bethany House Publishers, 1990
Getting Past No, William Ury; Bantam Books, 1991
Leading Change, John P. Kotter, Harvard Business School Press, 1996
Process Consultation, Volume I: Its Role in
Organization Development, Edgar H. Schein,
Addison-Wesley, second ed. 1988
Transforming Congregations for the Future, Loren B. Mead, Alban Institute, 1994
We've Never Done It Like This Before, C. Jeff Woods, Alban Institute, 1994