We get up on Sunday morning and head out to our local church. We see friends and often family. We gather for bible study, lift our hearts in praise, and listen to the proclamation of God’s Word. It is healing. It is renewing. It prepares us for the week ahead.
Churches take almost every imaginable form. From small country congregations to huge multi-site congregations spread over wide areas of cities, from deeply ingrained in denominational identity to intentionally non-denominational, from theologically progressive to markedly conservative, local gatherings of believers come together to worship, learn, and grow.
The last fifty years may have been the most tumultuous period for the church since the Reformation. Coming out of the social and political conversations that deeply impacted our culture in the 1960s, the Church was challenged to reinvent itself in many ways to reach what we now refer to as the Boomer generation. The church growth movement, purpose driven and seeker driven models for church ministries, and changing worship styles swept across the church confronting long held practices. The changes were not always easily absorbed.
Twenty-five years ago, we began to see noticeable declines in church participation and new terms surfaced like the “nones” which tried to describe people who had no interest in religion of any kind and the “dones” who are done with organized religion even while they hold to their faith. Throw in a pandemic and the onslaught of social media, and a pastor trying to shepherd a congregation wakes up each day with plenty of challenges to meet.
We should remember, though, that the Gospel is the power of God saving all who believe (Rom. 1:16). No pastor or member of a church is all alone. The work of the Church is the work of the Gospel that has changed communities and cultures across the world for two millennia.
We have work to do and a Gospel to empower us through the work of the Holy Spirit.
About six years ago some colleagues and I visited six major American cities to learn from pastors and churches who had reinvented and repurposed themselves as their communities changed around them. Out of those conversations with twelve churches we identified seven traits common in their thriving congregations that were not tied to denomination, location, or theology. They are the Gospel at work in local churches.
Since then, we have been working with churches to identify one or more of these traits as a point of focus for achieving the life of the Gospel in their congregation. It is an effective way to bring life and ministry to local congregations.
These seven traits are not surprising. They are practical. They are mission-oriented and fit any size congregation. We have learned to focus not on what is broke in the church but on the strengths of the church, of the Gospel alive and at work in the congregation.
We have seen pastors and congregations take any one of these seven traits and build good leadership initiatives around them. Look at this list. Where do they suggest you can do new work with your congregation?
- A missional fervor born out of hopeful imagination rather than fear-driven urgency.
- A spirit of creativity, innovation, and imagination.
- Mutually dependent partnerships with outside organizations.
- Meaningful engagement with community through carefully curated relationships.
- Non-traditional leadership modeling that allows adaptability, passion, and vision.
- Expanded understanding of Christian Practices and Sacraments.
- Abiding church identity and missional focus.
You will find success not in attempting to fix what appears to be broken, but to affirm what is working or what has the potential to work. Someone else’s success story or program has no guarantee for your congregation because it reflects their work and ministry. Look at where the Gospel works among you. That is the best place to start.
These traits point to serving out of hope and imagination and the creativity that builds on relationships and strengths in the church and the community. These traits remind us that non-traditional leadership and innovative approaches often offer new solutions to old problems. Among all things, though, the key is a focus on what makes the Church the Church—worship and proclamation of the Word with a focus on mission.
After some time in prayer asking God to lead your heart and spirit, choose any one or two of these traits, write them out on a whiteboard or clean sheet of paper, and then begin brainstorming how they might point you to new opportunities to experience thriving. What goals rise up to meet you? What opportunities for fresh conversations?
Which trait gives you hope for new ministry? How can you be innovative and take new approaches to Gospel opportunities? Who can be a new partner to collaborate with you and join your work? All of these are good questions that can bring energy and thriving to your ministry in your congregation.
The Moench Center for Church Leadership at Belmont Universities does this kind of work with pastors and congregations out of our commitment to our communities and the local church. We are always glad to walk alongside congregations in our Healthy Congregations initiative, and we would be glad to walk with you. I would want each pastor to remember the Gospel empowers all you do and these seven traits of thriving congregations offers a great place to start the new work God calls you to bring new energy to your congregation.
Dr. Darrell Gwaltney, executive director of the Moench Center for Church Leadership at Belmont University. Dr. Gwaltney has dedicated over four decades to strengthening local congregations and cultivating thriving pastoral leadership as pastor, educator and thought leader globally.
