Transforming Church

There are two questions that need to be asked. The first is this: program or process? Can a leader or team go away to a conference and bring back something that will work in their situation, especially when the model has been built in a very large congregation in size and scale, and they are serving a much smaller congregation with quite different purpose, mission, vision and values? In fact, processes based on an action/reflection/action or fire/aim/fire model work far better. Leaders need to see how any new idea or paradigm will play in their own situation, and there are no guarantees. Programs are like exotic hothouse plants that grew well in the special culture in which they were formed, but convert to other situations with far less ease.

The second question is this: build on strengths or deal with weaknesses? For years, the mantra has been that a congregation best builds on its strengths, those ways in which the Spirit has called and uniquely formed that specific congregation and called together those people in this unique place and time. There is much evidence to suggest that a lot can be gained from knowing what is unique about your congregation and building on that. In addition, when leaders begin to focus on a congregation’s weaknesses, perhaps because Christians often seem to have a propensity for obsessing about their failings, the list of places to improve and renew the congregation’s ministries soon becomes overwhelming. The result is that strategies to build ministry in those areas where you are weak are often met with a passive and palpable sense of duty, obligation, countless meetings, and, in the end, little accomplishment.

The gift of NCD is that, through the process of survey, a congregation can discover ONE area of weakness out of the eight identified characteristics of growing and healthy congregations, and focus energies on just that area of need. The NCD research is very clear: if you deal with your greatest weakness, and continue to do the rest of your ministry as it is, like a boat on a rising tide, all of your indicators will rise. For example of inspiring worship is your lowest indicator, and you discover that you have many people who can't worship because of the poor childcare your congregation offers (resulting in unhappy kids and even more unhappy adults of all ages in worship, as well as worried parents trying to focus on praise, but concerned about what little Kevin is experiencing down the hall), then correcting this weakness in the worship experience will provide a better climate for ministry throughout the whole congregation.

The gift of NCD is that it is entirely process oriented. Creation of an NCD ministry team to oversee the survey, focus on the results and the lowest indicator, implement programs and enhance ministries to correct the identified weakness in the life of the congregation. Then, survey again, and target the new lowest indicator, and so on. This process builds the congregation, and creates increasing health over the months and years. NCD is not for any group of leaders who want a quick fix. But for those who want to invest a minimum of money and be willing to put in consistent and continual time building ministry in the specific place where God has planted your congregation, it is one of the most effective processes currently available to leaders.

If you want to know more about NCD or to get started in the process: here are some resources to consider:
The basic resource to read as you begin your journey with NCD is Natural Church Development, Christian A. Schwartz, Church Smart Resources, Carol Stream, Illinois.