It's not Rocket Science!
I'm discovering on my travels around the Diocese that there is a great desire to grow, but that many churches simply don't feel they know what to do to achieve this. Here are some simple and practical tips towards church growth: they won't cause it but they might help, and ignoring them might even prevent growth.
John Leach, Parish Development Adviser
No 1: Welcome
How's your church doing at creating a welcoming atmosphere for visitors and newcomers?
Try reading Creating a Culture of Welcome by Alison Gilchrist in the Grove Books Evangelism series. The booklet has 28 pages, and is available from me at the Diocesan Office for £2.75 or from the Grove Books website ( www.grovebooks.co.uk ). Put it on your PCC agenda for a discussion and some action.
No 2: What's in a name?
The terminology we use can dramatically affect how we think. Why not ban the use of the word 'committee' in your church and replace it with 'team'? A committee has the image of a talking shop, whilst a team is a group of people who go out to do something and win.
No 3: Lighten up!
Research has suggested that the more a church community laughs together, the more likely it is to grow, but that being miserable or super-intense can hinder growth, simply because such churches are not attractive to visitors and newcomers. What could you do to make your church just a little bit more fun to belong to? When might you find time just to play together? And preachers: can you make your sermons funnier? Someone told me recently that they learnt most of what they knew about preaching from watching Billy Connolly videos. You might not want to imitate his language, though ...
No 4: Preach it!
Research in one Diocese has suggested that sticking rigidly to the Lectionary readings for preaching themes can inhibit church growth. Rather, preaching which is thematic and above all relevant to people's lives, joys and struggles can provide a major reason for growth. In England, the Lectionary contains 'closed' and 'open' seasons. The closed seasons are times when it is particularly appropriate to stick to the themes, for example at Christmas and Easter (I told you it wasn't rocket science!). However, during the ordinary time after Epiphany and Trinity it is perfectly OK to run preaching series. So how about 'Living with stress', 'Leadership in the Bible', 'How to disciple your children', 'Handling money as a Christian' or anything else which is a live issue for people. How do you know what people want? Why not try asking them?
No 5: Ssssssh!
How often in your worship is there a serious amount of silence? To leave some space allows people to digest and even to respond to what they've heard. A good silence is like the gap between courses of a meal: too short and you run the risk of indigestion. Why not build in some space between the readings, after the sermon, during the intercessions, after the Eucharistic prayer and before receiving communion, or after communion? Leaders can help the people with a suggestion about how they might use it. And remember that silence need not always be silent: some quiet recorded music can cover coughs and shuffles and give a much more 'silent' feel than attempting pure silence.
No 6: Stop Starting with the Church!
Whenever we take a long hard look at the life of our parishes, we tend to begin with the internal politics, conflicts, joys and sorrows. If we do contemplate changing anything, it is usually about tweaking minor items according to what we like, for example liturgy or music. Why not try starting from the other end, with the 'secular' life of the parish? What is going on out there? What is it like to live in our area? What are the issues people face? How about a PCC discussion along these lines, aided by a consideration of the 'Washington Questions'? What are the Washington Questions? .....
No 7: The Washington Questions
A new church in a downtown area of Washington DC formulated three questions to ask itself as it began ministering in a new area. I've added two more to them (the ones without stars by them). How about using them to stimulate discussion over a PCC awayday or Parish (or even Deanery) conference?
1) What is the nature of our patch?
2) What is the nature of our ministry to that patch?
3) What kind of a church do we need to be to fulfill that ministry to that patch?
4) What spiritual resources do we need to enable us to be that kind of a church which can fulfill that ministry to that patch?
5) What kind of leadership do we need to provide those spiritual resources which will enable us to be that kind of a church which can fulfill that ministry to that patch?
This process starts from the community and end with the church leadership, an interesting reversal of the way we usually think about church!
PS If you'd like me to come and facilitate a discussion like this in your area, don't hesitate to give me a ring. 01633-267490 or email
No 8: Stuck in the box?
We know we're supposed to be thinking outside the box, but it isn't always easy, is it? So why not spend a mere £8 on an absolutely brilliant book which tells stories and pulls out underlying principles about new ways of being church? Mike Moynagh is a college lecturer blessed with a very easy and readable style, and his latest offering, Emergingchurch.intro (Monarch, 2004) is an incredibly comprehensive yet accessible survey of what is going on out there, what is working and what is likely to happen in the future. There's nothing like peeking your head above the walls and having a good look around to help you think outside the box, and Mike is a wonderfully entertaining guide.
You can order Emergingchurch.intro from me at the Diocesan office: 01633 - 267490
No 9: Light-hearted Leadership
'"Abbots can't go changing their minds all the time. You'll find this out. The important thing about being a leader is not being right or wrong, but being certain. Otherwise people wouldn't know what to think. Of course, it helps to be right as well', the Abbot conceded."
Are you f ed up with heavy tomes and training courses on leadership? Then give yourself a treat and read (or re-read) Terry Pratchett's Truckers(Corgi, 1990) which is a children's book with some profound lessons to teach about leadership.
No 10: Songs of Praise
Wise planners of visitor-friendly worship will be keeping a close eye on the Songs of Praise survey to pick the nation's favourite hymns. With the stock of accessible and well-known church music diminishing rapidly it is increasingly difficult to choose hymns or songs which visitors will have any knowledge of at all. SoP, which remains one of the most popular religious programmes, has given us a useful tool to ensure that music at services which are visitor-dominated, such as Baptisms, can remain relatively accessible for at least a while longer.
You can find SoP's Top Twenty at http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/songsofpraise/hymn/
and you can even vote for your favourite online