Comments on: Too many directions at once? http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/03/09/too-many-directions-at-once/ Collecting my thoughts on what it means to be the church, among other things. Sat, 05 Dec 2009 11:12:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Tyler Watson http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/03/09/too-many-directions-at-once/#comment-97 Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:47:58 +0000 http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/03/09/too-many-directions-at-once/#comment-97 Brittany, your last comment is dead-on. In my experience, putting ongoing or old ministries to rest is extremely difficult in congregations. Those who participate in the ministries may draw much of their identity from them. There are numerous stories of pastors losing their jobs because they ended or altered certain ministries. That's not to say your point isn't correct -- I think it is refreshingly so -- but that it is difficult to stop something a church has done for a while. As for the topic of the post, I would agree that it's generally better to focus on a few things than several things. I'm sure there's a crude analogy between churches who focus vs. churches who don't and In-N-Out vs. McDonald's here. This goes to a question of discernment. We all come together with different interests and concerns. If I agree that God is calling my church to work for affordable housing (to use your example), but my concern is with addressing nuclear nonproliferation, then I might be called to sideline (partially or in toto) my personal passion in order to work with the whole. It's difficult difficult but good work to convince people of this. Brittany, your last comment is dead-on. In my experience, putting ongoing or old ministries to rest is extremely difficult in congregations. Those who participate in the ministries may draw much of their identity from them. There are numerous stories of pastors losing their jobs because they ended or altered certain ministries. That’s not to say your point isn’t correct — I think it is refreshingly so — but that it is difficult to stop something a church has done for a while.

As for the topic of the post, I would agree that it’s generally better to focus on a few things than several things. I’m sure there’s a crude analogy between churches who focus vs. churches who don’t and In-N-Out vs. McDonald’s here. This goes to a question of discernment. We all come together with different interests and concerns. If I agree that God is calling my church to work for affordable housing (to use your example), but my concern is with addressing nuclear nonproliferation, then I might be called to sideline (partially or in toto) my personal passion in order to work with the whole. It’s difficult difficult but good work to convince people of this.

]]> by: Brittany http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/03/09/too-many-directions-at-once/#comment-96 Sat, 17 Mar 2007 18:58:50 +0000 http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/03/09/too-many-directions-at-once/#comment-96 I guess part of focusing is saying no to new things that don't fit our vision, and also saying no to old ministries that seem to be fading in spirit and effectiveness. I guess part of focusing is saying no to new things that don’t fit our vision, and also saying no to old ministries that seem to be fading in spirit and effectiveness.

]]> by: James http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/03/09/too-many-directions-at-once/#comment-95 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 12:11:00 +0000 http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/03/09/too-many-directions-at-once/#comment-95 Mums and Buds seems exactly like the kind of thing we should encourage. From what I know of it, it seems like there is a lot of life there, and the people involved are excited about it and committed to it. I think I am more discouraged by the kinds of projects that we have to actively recruit for and persuade people to fill roles that they may not really be excited about or gifted for. I'm not sure what the best method for narrowing our focus could be, but I don't think discouarging people's visions and dreams for ministry is something we want to do. Mums and Buds seems exactly like the kind of thing we should encourage. From what I know of it, it seems like there is a lot of life there, and the people involved are excited about it and committed to it. I think I am more discouraged by the kinds of projects that we have to actively recruit for and persuade people to fill roles that they may not really be excited about or gifted for. I’m not sure what the best method for narrowing our focus could be, but I don’t think discouarging people’s visions and dreams for ministry is something we want to do.

]]> by: Brittany http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/03/09/too-many-directions-at-once/#comment-94 Tue, 13 Mar 2007 19:45:48 +0000 http://thekingdomnow.blogsome.com/2007/03/09/too-many-directions-at-once/#comment-94 Hi James. I think this is an interesting topic. I want to hear more about how you think this might work. I have questions. I'm thinking about Mums and Buds and if when I first proposed it what it would have been like for me to hear something like this: "We care about mothers and young families but as a church we don't feel called to that particular ministry. Will you instead spend the energy you would have spent on Mums and Buds on (fill in the blank)?" I think I would have been able to accept that decision. I respect leadership with a clear, Spirit-led vision. Mums and Buds is a specific ministry designed to serve a limited group of women. Perhaps it is too narrow? What are your thoughts? Hi James. I think this is an interesting topic. I want to hear more about how you think this might work. I have questions. I’m thinking about Mums and Buds and if when I first proposed it what it would have been like for me to hear something like this: “We care about mothers and young families but as a church we don’t feel called to that particular ministry. Will you instead spend the energy you would have spent on Mums and Buds on (fill in the blank)?” I think I would have been able to accept that decision. I respect leadership with a clear, Spirit-led vision. Mums and Buds is a specific ministry designed to serve a limited group of women. Perhaps it is too narrow? What are your thoughts?

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