The shift in church thinking and leadership

The future of "the Church"?

It is not an epiphany that the "American Church" has been in a decline, but it seems that that no one either has or is sharing the answer. As I read books, blogs and attend conferences I can't help but feel that everyone is ignoring the elephant in the room. Well I want to talk about it. Well...actually talk is cheap so I want to do something about it. The simple fact is that the American Church is on a decline and the only answer that seems to emerge is to "do more of the same" with "more money" but it's not working. Yes large churches may be growing but only as attenders move from on christian production to the more elaborate one. I can't believe that I am the only one who sees this, who feels this way, so where are you at? I can't hear you.

So how do we get back to what "IS" right? Where are our leaders taking us? Are the established leaders asleep at the helm and no one wants to wake them? Well wakey wakey! It's time for Her leaders to wake up and lead or allow for new leadership. If this Ecclesia is to thrive then shouldn't She live in such a way that the sinner feels loved, that the comfortable squirm, that the settled are moved and the elect are equipped before they're sent. So how do we do this? How can we move into a new era of Church life. I believe that two things must occur. 1: we must change our way of thinking and 2: a new breed of leaders must emerge.

Born A Rebel:

If I can define my place in this world I would have to say that I was born a Rebel. Not the James Dean or Jessie James kind of Rebel. Actually I believe there are a lot of people out there like me.

People who:

are not satisfied with the status quo: have more questions than answers: believe they have something to contribute for the greater good: are often misunderstood but seek understanding: appear to challenge the establishment but are just looking for something worthy of spending their life for.

#1 We must change our way of thinking.

Current Leading		New Breed of Leader

Individual experience leads to growth	--	Growth happens in community
Ministry happens in buildings	--	Ministry happens in culture
Ministry happens out of convenience	--	Ministry happens because of covenant
She entertains spectators	--	She sends participators
Ministry is a stage forward approach	--	Ministry is a face to face approach
She seeks to move God	--	She seeks to be moved by God
Leaders lead with answers	--	Leaders lead with questions
Leadership is directed	--	Leadership is shared

#2 A new breed of leader

I can't help but think of the David and Saul paradigm as I try to express what I believe we need in a new breed of leaders. Ok so I offended some of you. My heart is not to offend you but if you are offended is there something to it? Christ offended the religiously established a lot, not to offend but so that they would wake up. To our leaders I cry out WAKE UP!! I can no longer sit in a "church service" waiting on another experience to energize me. It is not enough to stare at the back of someone's head, drop a few bucks in the offering plate because I was entertained. I can no longer be slave to this thinking, to this idea. I must break free. Who will free the slaves? I am afraid that many of our leaders are as Eli (1 Sam.) and have lost their vision. So where are these new breed of leaders? Together we rise.