People of Hope:
By now, you are probably familiar with what Peter Steinke writes about change. He believes healthy change happens in three stages.
- Redefine Problem
- Redefine Self
- Define Specific Changes
First, Steinke challenges congregations to redefine the problem without focusing solely on a person or issue as presented in the original problem. This usually involves seeing the problem as part of a larger system, not just focused on one person or one project. Second, Steinke encourages congregations to redefine themselves by figuring out what they want or who they are — instead of blaming others for creating something they don’t want.
Third, Steinke invites congregations to define specific changes. “Vagueness is on the side of the status quo. Generalities favor homeostasis. Change must be defined, and it must come from people who are capable of defining themselves, who know where they want to go and what they want to accomplish.” Or, as our own Brad Somero said to me in my first week here at Esperanza, “To be specific is terrific.” (It rhymes!)
Successfully making change involves carefully defining change.
For instance, we might wish to involve more children and youth in worship leadership. That would be a wonderful change! Without defining specific steps, however, we are unlikely to actually involve more children and youth in worship leadership. But if we define specific steps, we can easily execute the tasks and determine if these steps made the desired difference. For instance, we could:
- Provide a children and youth Time & Talent form at the same time we provide an adult Time & Talent form.
- Ask Joni to include the children and youth who sign up to serve in the regular rotation of communion assistants, greeters, scripture readers, and the like.
- Ask Deacon Connie to coach the children serving in these roles.
- Show our appreciation of young worship leaders through a “power clap” on their first day serving in a new role.
Suddenly, having defined these changes, involving more children and youth in worship leadership seems not only doable but easy.
The same is true for every change we wish to make. As we think about welcoming a new pastor into the Esperanza community, we may wish for that pastor to do well — and for this community to welcome a new pastor with open arms. What are the specific changes we wish to make in order to get that done? If you have any thoughts about that question, I invite you to share them with either me or Jim Gisselquist so that we can make a plan as a council.
As Bob Dylan reminds us, the times they are a-changin.’ But we can greet change with grace by redefining problems, redefining self, and defining specific changes … with God’s help.
With anticipation,
Pastor Sarah