Renovate or Die

I am changing the focus of this blog from the weekly sermon discussion to the more general theme of the vision, mission and ministry at Georgetown United Methodist Church.  I hope this facilitates discussion which moves our church forward in 2012.

Bob Farr is the Director of Congregational Excellence for the Missouri Conference, United Methodist Church.  He recently published a book titled, “Renovate or Die.”  The title comes from his experience with houses.  When he was younger and had time, Farr would buy a home and renovate it.  He relates a story about a friend who asked him over to see the renovation he had done on his house.  Farr recounts how the friend showed him new carpet, new window treatments and new paint.  His friend had not actually renovated his home.  The home had only been redecorated.  Farr knew from his experience that real renovation means going much deeper into the house.  Renovation means taking up floors and sub floors to repair deeper problems.  It also means completely rewiring the house, taking plaster off walls to verify their internal integrity, taking out old pipes and installing new plumbing.  Renovation involves making the house more energy efficient, too.  Redecorating looks nice.  A fresh coat of paint and new carpet can do wonders.  Redecorating is only surface work, though.  Renovation involves a lot more work and can be messier.  Renovation may reveal a job that is bigger than anticipated once it is begun.

Farr uses the metaphor to say that most churches periodically redecorate.  They make small changes at the surface level while ignoring deeper concerns that slowly lead the church down a path of decline.  Decline in churches happens so slowly that it often goes unnoticed.  People get used to it and so it becomes the normal state of affairs.  Farr suggests that most churches need to renovate rather than redecorate if they are to be vital congregations.

I have spent the month of January doing research on our church.  I have also looked at other churches like ours in the West Michigan Conference.  I have met with several people for consultations.  I have considered our past several years and I have contemplated the future of our church.  I am convinced that our present model for ministry is not sustainable beyond the next 12-18 months.  If we continue according to our present habits we will reach a point of dramatic change being thrust upon us.  Therefore I think it is imperative that we begin a process of renovation for our church.  We can engage a process of planned renovation now rather than having changes thrust upon us later.  I will begin to lay out what I think that process should look like in February.  One of the first steps will be for as many people as possible to read “Renovate or Die” and participate in discussion groups.  That will begin to provide us with focus and direction for visioning.  I also want us to go through the “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations” program this spring.  Beyond that, I recommend that we participate in The Vital Church Initiative.  This is a fairly lengthy and thorough process of training leaders in the church and evaluating all aspects of our programming and ministry.

All of this represents what I consider a thorough renovation project.  I will be scheduling a number of groups at various times to look at “Renovate or Die” and discuss our churches future.  I also plan to ask our education groups and small groups to spend some time with the book.  If you are willing to facilitate a group go to the church web site and send me an email saying so.  You don’t need to be an expert on anything to facilitate a group.  You need to be willing to get involved in the renovation project and get a little bit dirty.

Advertisement