So – we come to the final installment of the Possible vs. Probable series, focusing on viability. As a reminder, Scripture does say that all things are possible with God, but I say that, though all things are possible, not all things are probable. Such is the case of the declining church.
Over the past four weeks I have made the case that an evaluation needs to be made of a declining church in terms of its viability. We have looked at two elements, (1) Financial Viability and (2) Core Congregation Viability. The third and final element is Pastor Viability.
Take Note: If the church is on the backside of the lifecycle, in decline, the pastor who attempts to lead the church out of decline and back to health, growth and multiplication needs to have church planting skills. There will be a need to assess, not only the congregation, but the community. Who is it that the church is endeavoring to reach? A vision must be discerned and articulated, a strategy must be developed, and a team must be recruited and mobilized, much like a church plant starting from scratch.
At the same time, the pastor must be more than a church planter, what I call a Church Planter Plus. There is more to be done because the church is not simply being planted from scratch. There are reasons for the decline and these must be addressed. The remnant congregation often does not have the attributes of an entrepreneurial start up team and these folks rightly expect to receive ministry.
This is a tall order – someone skilled at creating ministry from scratch and someone skilled in working with a remnant congregation – a Church Planter Plus. So, if the church is to do the virtually impossible and get turned around, the viability of the pastor is of supreme importance.
Here are several questions to be considered:
a. Is the pastor skilled in the methods and disciplines of church planting? Has the pastor completed a church planter assessment? If so, what were the findings of the assessment?
b. Is the pastor strong in the area of Vision, i.e. discerning God’s Great Commission vision for the church, articulating that vision in a clear and concise manner, recruiting others to own that vision, and mobilizing others to serve that vision?
c. What does the history and track record of the pastor reveal regarding the pastor’s ability to establish a healthy, growing and multiplying church?
d. Does the natural “wiring” of the pastor indicate strong Great Commission church development capability? How so?
e. What training in church planting has the pastor received? What coaching options for the pastor have been or are available?
f. In what ways does the pastor connect with people in the core?
g. In what ways does the pastor connect with people in the community?
h. Is the energy level of the pastor high? If so, how long can this energy level be sustained?
i. Does the pastor have the gifts, experience and passion to multiply himself/herself through recruiting and mobilizing called believers and through evangelizing non-believers? How so?
Wow – I’m exhausted just thinking about the magnitude of the job. Bottom line, if the church is lacking Financial Viability, Core Congregation Viability and/or Pastor Viability, it is not PROBABLE that this church will get turned around. I surely don’t want to ignore the fact that all things are POSSIBLE with God, but a good dose of common sense doesn’t hurt. Don’t test God or dare God to do the impossible. Do your homework and evaluate these viability elements. Then pray earnestly for God to guide you forward in a way that is honoring to Him, even if that means closing the church and turning its resources over to a new ministry with a bright future.
