~900 words. Less than 3 minutes.
“My church would be great without the people. If they would just let our staff do the work, we would be fine.”
That is an exaggeration, but it is close to what I have heard many times from some Senior Pastors and other staff leaders in a church wanting to execute their style of programming .“We want you to attend, give, and serve, but not have input or leadership” seems to be the pattern.
And a warning - this is tongue in cheek, so don’t take my advice. Do the George Constanza and do the opposite.
One of the 50 image cards I use when doing our Senior Pastor Smart Succession ™ is asking participants to pick the photo that describes their church.
There is a photo of a college football team on the field surrounded by a full stadium of fans.
“This is our church. A few people doing the work and everyone else watching.”
Both ideas are symptoms of a passive congregation. An oversized “crowd,” but not much of a core army of servants and leaders on the mission.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to create a beautifully passive congregation. Follow these simple steps, and you'll be well on your way to having a church where everyone is content to just sit and watch!!
Step 1: Micromanage Everything
Take Control: Ensure that you or your staff tightly controls every aspect of church life. This includes everything from worship services to community outreach programs. The less autonomy your congregation has, the more likely they are to become passive.
Don't Let Them Try: If someone from the congregation suggests an idea or wants to take on a project, politely decline or "refine" their idea until it's unrecognizable. This will discourage them from trying again.
(I think this image is what you want to see)
Step 2: Focus on Presentation Over Participation
Make It a Show: Design your worship services more like performances than participatory experiences. Use a large stage, professional lighting, and a talented praise team. Pay as many of those as possible to make them committed to a long rehearsal schedule. This will make your congregation feel like they're at a concert rather than a worship service. Don’t worry; the excellence will overwhelm them.
Limit Interaction: Keep the congregation's role to a minimum. Let them sing along to the music, but make sure the band is loud enough that their voices aren't really needed. Avoid interactive elements like prayer requests or testimonies. And don’t ever let a regular lay leader do anything in front of the congregation!
Story continues after this word from our sponsor
I am headed down to Houston on May 1-3 for the Beyond These Walls conference.
It’s a similar theme to today’s newsletter. How can we activate people to be on mission?
The registration link is here.
Greg Ligon and I will both be there with a booth advocating for Senior Pastor Smart Succession ™.
But if you want to book a private conversation/consultation with either of us for that time frame, let me know. The conference is out in the Woodlands and we can meet somewhere nearby if you are from that area.
Just email me directly at dave.travis@generis.com.
Story continues…
Step 3: Foster a Culture of Consumerism
Treat Them Like Customers: Encourage your congregation to think of themselves as consumers rather than contributors. Use language like "come and be fed" rather than "come and participate." This mindset will help them feel entitled to receive without giving back.
Efficiency Over Engagement: Streamline your services to be quick and efficient, like a fast-food experience. This will reinforce the idea that church is something you attend rather than something you actively participate in. Do the same for your other ministries. Make it seamless and frictionless with as little commitment as possible.
Avoid Vision and Purpose
Don't Inspire: Tell the people all the time how well things are going. Describe how we are the best congregation. Do this without giving a clear challenge of a vision.
Focus on Survival: Instead of talking about growth or mission, focus on survival. Discuss budget constraints and the need to "keep the doors open." This will create a sense of desperation rather than purpose. “We are 5% behind on the budget, help us catch up.” But don’t give any other reason than that.
Step 5: Handle Criticism Poorly
Dismiss Feedback: When someone criticizes your approach or suggests changes, dismiss their concerns. Tell them they just don't understand the "vision" or that they're being negative.
Create a Culture of Fear: Make sure that anyone who speaks up is met with resistance or even ostracized. This will ensure that no one dares to challenge the status quo.
Step 6: Celebrate Passive Successes
Praise the Performers: Publicly praise the staff and volunteers who are doing all the work. This will reinforce the idea that only a select few are truly important to the church's success. Let the people know they are doing their part by just showing up.
Ignore the Inactive: Don't try to engage or motivate those not participating. Instead, focus on the few who are actively involved and let the rest remain passive. Work on overworking the core leaders and keep expanding the ministry programs even when you can’t recruit team members. After all, you can always hire more staff right?
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating a happy congregation to sit back and let you do all the work. Remember, a passive congregation is a sign of a job well done.
On the other hand, try doing some of the opposites above to increase engagement and the church's work.
When staff members become doers more than equippers, we can create passivity in the congregation that we do not intend. (See this link for my prior post on the doer-developer dilemma)
MORE FREE STUFF FROM ME
Next Sunday Podcast – Featuring Jim Sheppard and Frank Bealer from Generis.
33 Basic Statements on Senior Pastor Succession – free booklet for US mailing addresses. Request here.
Emergency Succession Plan Template Request - every pastor and church needs one. Just email me for a free template you can use. Dave.Travis@Generis.com