Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Change for the Long Haul

Hello Pastor Elmore,

I hope this letter finds you doing well. I can give you some answers.

First, always remember that there is a higher right than being right. Love covers a multitude of wrong doctrine, immaturity, and sins. Let it do so.

Second, guard like the plague becoming tight shoed and getting your skivvies in a knot. The temptation, as your church studies doctrine, will be to become students of the word instead of  worshippers of God. Don't let that happen. Knowledge of God is only good as long as it is expressed in worship of God and devotion to one another.
Third, change slowly. It took us around 10 years to have all wine in in the communion trays after Pastor Wilson decided that we should be doing that. He taught on it, and mentioned it, and made oblique references to it until everyone was screaming at him for taking so long to actually do it. This doesn't mean that you have to wait until every single person in your congregation is behind you, but wait until the vast majority are board. There will always be curmudgeons who won't want to change no matter what it is about. Just blow right by these folks, kindly, but don't let them hold you back.

Fourth plan for the long haul. This goes with the third one, but it can't be emphasized enough. Try very hard to keep your sights on the horizon without letting that view keep you from ministering to the flock at your feet.

Fifth, and this goes to one of the earlier ones too. Make worship on Sunday mornings central to all that you do as a church. Make fellowship, parties, feasts, hoop-la second. And have a great time. Make joy in the presence of God the aim. Hold that vision in front of the people all the time.

Sixth, be careful not to be heavy handed in your leadership. You'll need to incarnate the love of Jesus in all that you propose to do. If what you want is not godly and reflecting the love of Christ, you might as well hang it all up.

Some books to read to start would be Mother Kirk and Angels in the Architecture both by Doug Wilson the second was written with Doug Jones.

I hope this helps. If you have any more questions feel free to ask.

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