Churches in Transition

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Churches in Transition is the title of a workbook that the Staff Parish Relations Committee is using over the next several months.   We are learning that all congregations face transitions from time to time. A transition time begins whenever there is an event that significantly impacts the congregation.  Times when trust has been betrayed and ministry has been misconducted are among the most painful transitions and uncertain times. We are learning how common it is for people to have all kinds of feelings and that it is often hard for them to know what to do with them.  We have also discovered that it is common for people to want to quickly return to a sense of normalcy and to "just move on." Most importantly, we have found that times of transition are the best moments for congregations to go through 5 steps:   Retell and come to terms with the congregation's history. Discover a new identity that is realistic, but not held captive by guilt, shame, or a false sense of who we are.   Strengthen and encourage leadership, existing and new.   Come to a new appreciation of the connections we have with the larger United Methodist Church that encourage, bless, and strengthen us.   Make plans to enter step by step into God's future. As the Staff Parish committee works through this material each month, they will be looking for ways to inform and include the congregation in this informative and healing process. There will be more to come.   But for a current insight or update, speak to any member of the SPRC:   Nancy Holmes, Ruth Wheeland, Christie Fry, Lois Hunt, Don Garver, Robyn Rummings, Mary Faithe Hartman, Robert Bowers, Chuck Rightmire and Dick Wible. On behalf of the SPRC, Pastor David

 

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