I have been invited to lead one of the workshops at the Annual Conference of the International Council of Community Churches in Jacksonville, Florida, July 14-19. The workshop will be entitled, “Leading a Congregation Through
Change.” It’s an honor to be asked to lead one of the workshops for the second year in a row.
The magazine Business Weekly recently offered this explanation as the primary reason why many businesses run into trouble: “failure to react and respond to change.” One of the realities for business is true for churches as well; it’s that yesterday’s successes are no guarantee for tomorrow’s survival.
As I look out into the future, I have become convinced of the following needs that churches must meet in order to grow (deepen in faith and witness as well as in numerical strength) in the coming decades:
We need to continually reinforce the gospel as the center of the church’s common life. The gospel is the good news of God’s unconditional love for all, and justice for all. The gospel transforms individuals and communities. The methods of sharing the good news can be varied and creative, but we need to be led afresh into the gracious words of the gospel.
We need innovative ways of organizing for Christian community and witness that are appropriate to the gospel and that are consistent with the spirit of our time. People today are less interested in maintaining institutional structures — such as committees — and are more committed to relationships, and to investing their time in ways that make a difference in the world beyond 
themselves. Innovation is risky. But it carries with it the high energy of adventure, and people often feel like they’re pioneers.
We need worship that is energized by an awareness of the presence of the living God. The difference between vital and lethargic worship is that the former communicates a permeating awareness of the gospel, while the latter does not. At Imagine Church, we seek to find forms that help the community express itself through worship, and that help direct the community’s conscience to God’s purpose and power.
Many churchgoers have known the church only as it has existed up until now. They have a hard time envisioning a more vital Christian community. Consequently, we need vision — imagination — to picture how things might be different. What better act of preparation for the future than to imagine together all we can do through Christ who strengthens us?
