I have waited for a couple of years now to read Mark Scherer’s new history of the church. The leadership is dragging it’s feet on it’s release. First it was “after Conference” now it’s “who knows”.

The Conference made it pretty clear they wanted to deal with the homosexual issue now that folks are coming out right and left but the church is waiting for consensus. We waited twenty years for consensus on ordaining women. Will it be another twenty years to wait on marry homosexuals in states where it is legal and ordaining those homosexuals with a call? I hope not. I think President Smith made it pretty clear that is we wait for consensus, we will wait forever. I think Grant got the message. Unfortunately it seems Steve did not get the message.

Although it’s been eight years since we changed the name of the church and put the word “Community” in it, I believe we have yet to move too much beyond a predominately institutional (and headquarters-oriented) focus. But now after the second major downsizing of staff in three years (which can’t help but be reflected in program, resource development, and ministry of various kinds) that may change significantly. At the very least, institutional leaders could come to realize their voices are being joined by other prophetic ones in unexpected places.

In a few days I will officially become a church “retiree” rather than employee. I’ve been processing this for a couple months now and realize that however much I’d prefer my life to be more settled, perhaps it’s the presence of the Spirit that keeps that from happening. Who knew, eh?

On a side note, I’ve taken your suggestion from earlier this year (and similar promptings from others) to blog (http://isaacspress.wordpress.com), particularly about my ongoing relationship with our faith community. And so I’ve moved from “Endnotes” to “ForeWords.” Well, it’s a start.

Another 50 something that loves REM. Very insightful and thoughtful comments about change in the church. I think it holds true for all facets of our lives. We often think that change is occurring and bam! we are at the end of it and something new just begins to take place. I like your image of change as two parts – “the downward spiral of decline and demise, [and] the vortex of new life…expression.”

I like how Peter Block talks about change as transformation. Change congers up images of “this, or, that, while transformation brings images of the old ways entangling themselves in the new ways where the old doesn’t necessarily end entirely or disappear but is transformed by utilizing all that has gone before while infusing the new that comes along.

I agree with Terry above that change has always been happening but it’s how it tends to take place that needs to be different. Peter Block again, (can you tell I have some respect for him?) says this about transformation – “Transformation comes more from pursuing profound questions than seeking practical answers.” I think we try to force change sometimes – actually a lot of times, particularly in the church. We do that by saying: How can we change the church for the better? or How can we be the church so it meets the needs of people better. We ask a lot of “How” questions. Peter’s quote above comes from his book, The Answer to How is Yes, where Peter asks us to ask different kinds of questions than the “how” questions to be transformed.

So it come down to how those who are in management roles in the church, or wherever, to look at management differently. Peter again, (I really like this guy!) defines management as the process of bringing opportunities to the group so they can act on them with their combined best wisdom. That is vastly different than how we manage in the world today. It is a true paradigm change to how we mange in the church.

Keep it up Matt. I appreciate you so much in your struggles to live out your discipleship. I am glad that we are on the path together!

I’m glad the church chnaged and continues to change. I wouldn’t still be with it if it had stayed the same.