Dear Small Church Pastor,
In the previous letter, the third suggestion I made for a pastor attempting to make a change in the operation of a congregation was to be patient. I gave the example of moving a piano one inch at a time. Please pay attention—fast changes that occur through the authority of the pastoral position only, without including the ideas and opinions of the leadership and general congregation as a whole, usually last only as long as that individual is the pastor. They will not necessarily become permanent, regardless of the success the changes bring into the worship of the congregation.
Remember comfort zones and habits? People have a tendency to revert to old habits and preferences whenever the driving force of a “new thing” is no longer present. In order to continue to bring more successes, the change must replace the old habits and preferences, not simply delay their return.
For that replacement to occur, there must be a consistent repetition of the “new thing.” The change has to be presented often with highlights on the successes that occur in order for the new habit to be established in the minds and lives of the members of the congregation. Repetition will take time. Replacement of old habits takes time. Creating support for new preferences takes time.
Example: The platform of one of our facilities was very small. It was so small that it quickly became overcrowded when one or two new instruments and people were added to the singing portion of our worship services. In the center of the platform stood a large podium, complete with a door and shelves. I approached the leadership with the idea of replacing the podium with a smaller stand for a short period of time in order to see if that would help with the overcrowding on the platform. I explained why I felt it would be helpful to the music portion of our worship service and made the suggestion to the whole congregation before I moved the podium.
It took a couple of months of talking to the leadership and musicians in casual conversations before I actually brought it up to the congregation. (Suggestion #2 from Letter #23.) The podium was replaced on a temporary basis and remains replaced to this day. The congregation had become accustomed to seeing the uncluttered platform and had accepted the change as beneficial.
Not every change pastors feel led to present to a congregation succeed. One of the most significant changes that occurs in congregations is associated with the music program and the songs that are sung. Traditional hymns are valuable to any congregation and their spiritual development. Praise choruses are, too. New songs with verses and choruses are, too. Changes in music styles need to be prayerfully approached with a great deal of patience.
I discovered it takes time for a congregation to accept and begin using new songs on a regular basis. Be patient when it comes to using new music in a congregation that has not had new songs introduced very much. This is true for any group, even a congregation that is composed of young couples who have usually sung contemporary music, although I’ve noticed that young people will accept different music quicker than older folks simply because they are younger and have not been singing the same songs for forty years.
Sidebar—If you want to introduce a new song or a new music style to an older congregation, it might help if the singer/musician is a child or grandchild of someone who has been associated with the congregation for a long time. People can be more accepting if the new sound comes from a family member.
I made these statements about music because I have seen instances in which a pastor introduced new songs or styles to a congregation with what appeared to be some success. However, as soon as the pastor moved on to another location, the music reverted back to older, more familiar songs. The song leaders were cooperating with the pastor in the new music, but they did so only because the pastor was leading in that direction. As soon as a new pastor arrived, the old preferences for a different music style prevailed, and the new music disappeared. Do be patient about creating an atmosphere of acceptance for new songs. This particular change might take more time than you could ever imagine.
It has been quoted that the city of Rome was not built in a day. According to Discover Magazine, it took roughly 800 years from its foundation in 735 B.C. for Rome to reach its peak in its construction. Hopefully the changes the Holy Spirit leads you to introduce will not take that much time. But remember, replacing old habits and preferences will take time. You’ll need to constantly remind yourself of this reality. Be patient.
Sincerely,
A Small Church Pastor