Next Phase of Interim Work: The self-study and plan of action
In the book Immunity to Change, Harvard professors Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey explain why so few people follow through on the resolutions they make for the new year. In the same pages, the authors offer step-by-step guidance on how people can be successful in making the kinds of changes they say they want to make.
The culprit is the inability to think
complex thoughts. Most people default to comforting habits and modes of
thinking and are, according to the authors, incapable of changing. Immunity to
disease is a good thing but we also build up defenses (immunities) to change.
Making dramatic shifts in one’s behavior (not smoking, eating less, exercising
more) involves breaking out of the tried-and-true and acting in ways harder to
think about let alone act on.
Kegan and Lahey say that a plan of action based on intentional
self-reflection (looking at ourselves without rose-colored glasses) provides
clarity and a realistic assessment of who we are. In order to make the change
we wish, we must create a plan of action that breaks the mode of “comfort
thinking” and begin new behaviors that get us where we want to be. Easy
solutions cannot solve complex problems.
Most people default to comforting habits
My work with you could be a parallel of
this book. Congregations (even very successful ones) get stuck and become too
comfortable which can lead to lack of vision, zeal for mission, etc. Congregational
traditions (even really nice ones) can thwart doing new things. From Day One, I
said I’d lead change so you might do things differently in the hopes you would
catch a new vision of being God’s church in Elkin. I was recently told that
about 1/3 of sermons seemed to be about change. (“That’s all,” I thought.) A
lot of my work, I believe, has been fruitful and (most of) you have gone along
for the ride.
A new phase on transitional work now
begins. During January and February, you will begin a self-study and create a
new mission statement. This mission statement will state what you believe God
is calling you to do. Through small group conversations led by the Ruling
Elders, you will reflect on your assets (spiritual, financial, human) and
create a plan that will set the stage for growth and a new phase of leadership.
After this, a search committee can be elected. Let me repeat: Only AFTER a self-study is completed and
approved by the Council can a search committee be elected. You can’t go
into the future if you don’t know how you’ll get there!
In January, I’ll pay particular
attention in my sermons on how this self-study will take place and what it
means for the congregation. God wants every church to be blessed and be a
blessing to others. Let’s awaken to the epiphany of God’s light and love in and
through this congregation.