Over time churches can become quite change-averse communities. There are some positives to that of course - stability is important in any family. But sooner or later an aversion to change will prevent any community carrying out its purpose. People will join because they like it as it is at present not in order to join themselves to a vision for the future. They invest a large part of themselves in creating something they like and enjoy. Structures, activities and expectations build up over time until you get a mismatch between the church’s purpose - reaching its area with the gospel - and the structures that are meant to assist it. Maybe they were good 25 years, but they aren’t now and they aren’t easy to change.
Churches can suffer from inertia in the following ways:
- Individual inertia: Individual self-interest, and self-perception about why I am here
- Structural inertia: Activities are perceived to be the essence that makes church attractive rather than gospel vision; outdated but unchangeable structures and strategies from a previous age
- Vision inertia: Lack of clarity of purpose
- Leader inertia: Factors that make leaders unwilling or unable to lead
All of which are likely to demotivate change and to paralyze.
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