ISSUE 3 - Platform to Pastoral
Reading Time: 1150 words - 4 minutes, Skim time - 2 minutes, but it needs pondering
In a few earlier ebooks during the corona season, I highlighted the wave of church leaders moving “from platform to pastoral.”
This was happening BEFORE the current corona season.The virus accelerated many ideas by a decade.
What is it?
Simply - the model of focusing on weekend worship experiences focused on what happens on the stage was creaking and cracking. And 80% of time, energy and effort was focused here.
It was a relevant model in prior seasons, especially where many in the culture had some religious memory and heritage.
But the approach over invested time, energy and resources into what happens on the platform as the primary expression of the gospel to our community.
That is exaggerated intentionally. We also invested heavily in other expressions and ministries that happen during the weekend experiences, from first impressions to kid environments.
The corona season has revealed the limitations of those expressions.
Platform is not going away, but the over emphasis on excellence there may keep us from important relational emphases in our ministry. We are moving from production focused to transformation focused.
How we see it:
While the platform expression is important, responsiveness now is more about pastoral authenticity.
When an outside observer would look at paid staff roles, how many are actively engaged in pastoring individuals under their care? And how many people are they engaged with?
Many times we had staff that were engaged with a small group to lead and manage them towards the platform experience. While they pastored that group, they had less contact and engagement with regular participants. We now must move team members toward shepherding and transforming experiences with people at a broader level.
My colleague at Generis, Geoff Surratt, said it best early in the crisis, people want to see THEIR pastor on a screen speaking to THEM, not big time pastor in another city. True, there are a minority of people that will relate to Mr. or Ms. Big Time Pastor, but for those already engaged and a part of a vital community, they want their pastor.
People are willing to form a relationship and be mentored in all sorts of areas of their life right now. Pastors that realize this and guide their teams to do so will prosper in the next season. People want spiritual direction and someone speaking the words of life with them regularly, praying for them personally. How are we empowering all of our staff, small group leaders and others to take responsibility for pastoring people?
The challenge is that so many larger church staff teams are set up for weekend and platform that they are reluctant to engage in the one to one, life on life ministry we are now asking them to do.
Some churches are exploring and exploiting this very effectively. Some of the ways:
“Family chats” or Facebook live ask me anything sessions. Is it risky? Of course. As one pastor told me: “I am amazed that 600 people join my Facebook live and just want to hear me call their name as they comment.”
“Coffee break with a pastor” where attenders are told when the windows open to register for 15 minute virtual “coffees” to connect with a pastor or chaplain just to listen to one another, check in and pray.
Virtual skeptic classes, or inquiry classes where a pastor patiently explains the truths of the gospel.
Multiple virtual and live gathered groups such as Alpha, Rooted or the like that help people explore faith in a safe way.
The churches that are reorganizing all staff roles away from the focus on platform weekend experiences to transformational everyday encounters.
This is a massive mental model shift for many larger churches. We have been content to let our content be the driver and connection point. We have been content to work primarily in mass ways instead of smaller ways.
Content is crucial, but relational equity with people is where we will drive deep.
The good news is that for the first time, many pastors and staff are becoming real shepherds, not only to their own attenders, but to friends and networks around their attenders.
This is part of the reason that those churches that had robust small group systems that were engaged in this season have seen increased engagement even through the summer season.
Those prospering are being very aggressive at focusing on moving from platform to pastoral.
Next month, I will share the next shift that goes beyond this one.
IFTVI ( I found this very interesting)
From Jon Meacham’s new book - His Truth is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope.
“In the final analysis, we are one people, one family, one house – not just the house of black and white, but the house of the South, the house of America,” Lewis said. “We can move ahead, we can move forward, we can create a multiracial community, a truly democratic society. I think we’re on our way there. There may be some setbacks. But we are going to get there. We have to be hopeful. Never give up, never give in, keep moving on.” Devoted to the ideal of a soul’s pilgrimage from sin to redemption, from wilderness of the world to the Kingdom of God, Lewis walked with faith that tomorrow could be better than today, and that tomorrow was but a prelude to a yet more glorious day after that.” (p.6)
WEEKLY FORUM: Apply for an invitation to a space-limited, weekly group one-hour call with other large church Senior Pastors: Linda.Stanley@generis.com
(We’ve been talking about Platform to Pastoral there.)But mostly the call is helping each other out through this season.
Schedule a free call to talk about your current situation or predicament: Dave.Travis@generis.com. See my web page at generis.com/dave-travis for more information and resources.
SPECIAL FREE OFFER
Back in June I did a special session with our weekly pastor forum on FIVE MODELS OF ONLINE CAMPUS with Todd Rhoades. Every pastor that attended has used that material to rethink and recraft their online campus thinking and execution to great benefit. Many wanted their team to be briefed as well so now we will do it for a larger group.
I’ve asked Todd and his business partner to do it again for a larger group on September 17 at 4 p.m. EDT.
Bring and invite your whole team but they have to have an invitation. Get one here at this link.
IT WILL BE LIVE and not recorded so you must be there or have a team member there. Don’t miss out.
Great Things God Has Done –
I believe it’s hard to teach anything, but you can create environments to learn. The Great Things God Has Done podcast is my interview series with Lead/Senior Pastors. Learn from their story, history and life. Now available on Apple podcasts, Stitcher and other platforms. Or just go direct to the site.
New episode just released: Mike Woodruff of Christ Church Lake Forest.
Prior episodes with Larry Osborne and Toby Slough.
Go to www.greathingsgodhasdone.substack.com to listen in and subscribe. Or hit your favorite podcast app.