Churches and church leaders often struggle to know when to discontinue a ministry or to pivot to something else. Today, we discuss how to process the decision to discontinue a ministry in your church.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
- The culture of a church shifts when you don’t have an outward focus.
- Sometimes things in a church would actually be better if a certain ministry or two were to end.
- Churches have three big resources for ministry: time, money, and people. And you have to steward in the best possible way.
- Sometimes ministries in a church absolutely need to be discontinued.
The nine considerations we discuss are:
- Proceed carefully
- Consider natural death
- The problem of detoured resources
- The issue of the tail wagging the dog
- The challenge of divisiveness
- When pet projects become pet peeves
- The simple church conundrum
- Discontinuation often requires courage
- Follow change leadership principles
Resources mentioned in today’s podcast
Rainer on Leadership is a member of the LifeWay Leadership Podcast Network
Episode Sponsors
Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped thousands of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.
For more information, visit WeStaffTheChurch.com.
Today’s episode is sponsored by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Be sure to check out Midwestern’s Doctorate of Ministry Degree. The D.Min. is an advanced degree preparing students for leadership in local churches and denominational service. It is also fully attainable in hybrid format which means you don’t have to move to pursue the degree.
Find out more at mbts.edu/dmin.
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