When preparing for a new pastor, discussions about future direction of the church comes into focus. One of the issues to be aware of is the impact of moving in a new direction will have on your congregation. A classic example is the desire for the church to “grow.”

People are complicated.

They will process and interpret “grow” differently.

It’s due to their personalities, thought processes, experiences, cultures, and expectations.

Ken Priddy, our Founder, has worked with hundreds of pastors, elders, and key leaders for 25 years on the changes that come with moving in a new direction. He notes that people intuitively gravitate to one of four types of thought.

• A theorist can evaluate a proposed vision in its theoretical form and then form a firm conclusion.
• A realist is not going to be able to commit to the strength of the idea alone. He needs to see the new direction in reality.
• A pragmatist is not going to be moved by either the idea or the reality but will need to know, “Does this work?”
• A preservationist is married to a former way of doing things. The idea, reality, and results are not enough to sway him.

A Helpful Tool When Considering a New Direction

In the early 1960s, American sociologist Everett Rogers developed a theory of how people adopt new ideas and products.

He used a bell curve to illustrate how five different people groups reacted to those ideas and products. We’ve bumped it up a notch by overlaying our four types of personalities to change.

When reviewing the expansion of Christianity, we see strong parallels between his theory and the historical growth Christianity experienced.

Let’s start with the theorists.

Theorists

Biblical Evidence
The disciples were the innovators of the day. Jesus said to Simon and Andrew, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17) They heard a compelling idea and committed to Jesus. The 5,000 who came to faith when listening to Peter’s sermon in Acts 3 are a good example of early adopters. They also heard a compelling idea, the gospel, and committed to it. They are the theorists.

Apply It To Your Situation
When talking about a new direction, a theorist evaluates the proposed new direction in its theoretical form and then forms a firm conclusion. In terms of “growth”, when he hears a plan:

• project into the future
• believe that it will work
• make certain predictions or assumptions as to how that idea is going to play out
• fully commit to the idea alone

Casting a new direction to a theorist is straightforward.

Realists

The people who joined the church community in Acts 2:42-47 were part of the early majority and realists. They hung out, ate, prayed, learned and discussed the Scriptures. They sold their possessions to provide a safety net for the church. They were joyous and generous. They had favor with outsiders. They grew. Acts 2:47 states, “the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

They grew because the outsiders saw what they were doing was real. They saw how it made a difference. Then they committed and joined in the fun.

Apply It To Your Situation
When talking about a new direction, a realist is not going to be able to commit to the strength of the idea alone. He needs to see it in reality. 34% of people are realists so you can’t ignore them.

If part of the new direction is to develop a community, the realist needs to experience community before he will commit.

• Who is a part of the community?
• Do I like it?
• Are there people I like?
• Do I see myself belonging here?

Casting a new direction to a realist must be accompanied by action.

Pragmatists

Biblical Evidence 
The Apostle Thomas is an example of the late majority and a pragamatists. He was the last apostle to accept Jesus as who Jesus said he was. He had to see and feel that Jesus in his resurrected state was not a ghost, but a real man. “Show me” was his manta.

The many who were added to the Kingdom in Acts 5 were also pragmatists. They needed to see if Christianity lived up to its billing. “Many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles … and more than ever believers were added to the multitudes of both men and women.”

Apply It To Your Situation
A pragmatist is not going to be moved by either the idea or the reality but will need to know, “Does this work?” before he commits.

The pragmatist will get on board when he sees the predicted result or promise in the new direction. Small wins are important here. Communicating those small wins is even more important. It is how you build credibility and buy-in with a pragmatist. You can’t blow these people off either because they represent one-third of all people.

Casting a new direction to a pragmatist must be accompanied by results.

Preservationists

The inhabitants of Samaritan town in John 4 are a good example of laggards and preservationists. They had distinct beliefs and a lifestyle born from their ancestry. They were racially mixed between Jews and Gentiles and were disdained by both groups. They lived in the middle of Israel between Judea and Galilee. They had their own Pentateuch, temple, Old Testament history, and a stronger sexual ethic than the Jews.

So when the Samaritan woman scampered back to town after meeting Jesus at the well and having her life irrevocably transformed by him, many came to faith because of her testimony.

Apply It To Your Situation
A preservationist is married to a former way of doing things. The idea, reality, and results are not enough to sway him.

“Old School” personifies him. He will gladly agree to move in a new direction so long it’s operated following his views of a traditional way. He is interested in protecting the way and all its trappings. Unless your new direction has strong ties to a methodology or doctrine, you won’t find many preservationists jumping immediately on board.

A preservationist can be persuaded in two additional ways:

• if someone he trusts and respects jumps on board before him.
• if evidence is so compelling he can’t deny it.

It takes time for preservationists to adopt a new direction. Some never will. You have to be comfortable with that reality. So walk shoulder-to-shoulder with them when you can. Challenge their assumptions while deeply supporting them. Point them to Jesus. Introduce them to former preservationists when possible.

Remember to prioritize your time and energy to work with the willing. You are not neglecting this group, just putting the situation in proper perspective. Pray for them and let the Spirit work on them. Answer their questions. Take them to coffee. In due time, some will warm up.

Casting a new direction to a preservationist must be accompanied by social proof.

SO WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

One of the keys of a faithful and fruitful ministry is alignment. The new pastor, the existing leadership, and the congregation need to be aligned. When they are not, the pastor’s stay is usually short. Then you have to start the process over.

Misalignment could set you back five years or more.

Understanding how different people in your congregation respond to a new direction is vital to getting most of your congregation on the same page.

We will help you navigate through this process. We will work with the search committee, the elders, and the short list of pastors to get everyone aligned. We will coach you on how to bring the congregation into alignment too.