How fast can I lead change? The answer to this question is critical for any church revitalization effort.
You may know the right thing to do. Getting others to accept and implement the right thing is what separates leaders from dreamers. As you consider the pace of change, use the matrix below to help you identify areas of potential resistance. All change involves people. Therefore, start by assessing the people in your congregation when considering the pace of change.
The Pace Acceptance Matrix
| How resistant to change? | Those older than you | Those younger than you |
| Those before you | High Resistance | Some Resistance |
| Those after you | Some Resistance | Low Resistance |
The matrix identifies four groups of people. Everyone in your church will fit into one of these four groups. Granted, this matrix oversimplifies individual nuances, but it is a helpful starting point when determining the potential resistance to change in your congregation.
Those before you and older than you
This group was part of the church before you arrived, and they are older than you as well. The longer your tenure, the smaller this group becomes—as you get older and new people come to the church. This group will be at its peak on your first day, and there is a strong likelihood they will by highly resistant to change, especially fast-paced change. But if you can gain their support, they are also the group most likely to champion change and sustain change.
If you are a new pastor, many in this group may be silent for a season, waiting to see what kind of changes you implement. If you are a long-tenured pastor, you already know this group well. Somewhere between years three and five, this group will either start supporting you, exit quietly, or elevate their concerns.
Those after you and older than you
If you are a younger pastor, this group has the potential to be large and growing. I started pastoring at twenty-four. For a decade, most people who joined the church fit this category. People join a church for a variety of reasons, but for the group that comes after you, you can at least be assured that they did not rule out your church because of you. Most will naturally show you some level of support from the beginning. But that doesn’t mean they won’t show some resistance to change. It depends on their prior experiences. The pace of change will not be as much of an issue for these people as the type of change. Too many changes that shift the culture of the church away from what they thought they were joining can create some resistance.
Those before you and younger than you
One of the surprises for new pastors is how some in the younger generations— particularly those who grew up in the church—can be just as resistant to change as those in the older generations. Younger folks tend to be more tolerant of fast-paced change, but if the change touches lifelong, generational connections, it can create resistance. Don’t assume that all the young people will embrace your proposed changes simply because they’re young. If you are older than forty, you likely already know this principle intuitively. Parents who are raising children in the church often have set ideas like the older generations. Millennials with children are settling into patterns and programs just like their grandparents did decades ago.
Those after you and younger than you
The group least likely to resist change are those who joined the church after you and are younger than you. But low resistance to change does not mean no resistance to change. Even this group has a pushback point. Constant change efforts, especially a string of unsuccessful attempts, will cause anyone to challenge their leaders. This group, however, will generally accept a greater pace of change than the other three groups.
Gauging Pace Acceptance
People are complex. Resistance to the pace of change is common. Even the most banal changes can drum up opposition. Some college football programs have found that the smallest tweaks to the team’s uniform can cause controversy. Who knew shades of green, blue, or red would rile up otherwise sane adults? The same kind of resistance occurs in the church.
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This article is adapted from an excerpt in The Church Revitalization Checklist: A Hopeful and Practical Guide for Leading Your Congregation to a Brighter Tomorrow, published by Tyndale.
Posted on September 7, 2022
As President of Church Answers, Sam Rainer wears many hats. From podcast co-host to full-time Pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Church, Sam’s heart for ministry and revitalization are evident in all he does.
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1 Comment
As I have learned and honed my leadership skills, especially regarding change, flexibility bordering on fluidity is essential. If there is a change that you are willing to “die in a ditch over” one needs to be ready to do that. If one draws a firm line then blurs the line, their credibility is undermined for a long time.
One thing that has worked over the years is to breed an environment which is receptive to change. By that I mean, make a small change which will last for a limited trial period. After the trial is over, assess and get the input of the congregation – how was the change? Is it worth keeping permanently? Is the change worth making periodically? Is the change “the dumbest thing we’ve ever done” and we’ll never do it again? And act accordingly. Start making changes routine and people will become less startled by change.
One wise mentor shared a piece of advice, don’t change anything in the first 6 months in a new job (and even better for a year) unless something is horribly broken. Don’t tweak things just because you can. Once a leader is established as committed to the organization they can start making change.
I also agree with the observation – strange things cause the greatest push-back from congregants. Colors and font sizes are amazingly contentious.