It's Cultural
When coaching church planters, I spend much of my time talking about the vision, values, and culture of the church. In the early stages (pre-launch) these conversations often lead to sermon series, web, and printed communication pieces. When pulled together with a lot of time, prayer, and purpose these statements serve the church, the board, and the staff in providing a grid for making decisions.
Most people understand the importance of writing out vision statements and value statements. But most often the culture piece is left out. Never underestimate the power of culture. As the pastor/planter, you are the chief cultural architect for the church and what it becomes. As a result, you have to spend time thinking intentionally about the culture you want to see in the church. If you need a little motivation in this area remember the fact that "culture eats vision for breakfast." Most people won't come back because you have a cute and clever vision statement on the wall. They come back because they like who you are and they want to be apart of what they see and experience. In other words, they like the culture. Culture is everything.
Here are some important questions to consider as thinking through the cultural question.
These are a few questions that are good to wrestle with as you have the culture conversation. Practice writing them out in concise statements with the intention of getting to 5-7 statements that define who you are and where you are going.
In my next blog, I will write out some of my favorite cultural statements I have seen.
Most people understand the importance of writing out vision statements and value statements. But most often the culture piece is left out. Never underestimate the power of culture. As the pastor/planter, you are the chief cultural architect for the church and what it becomes. As a result, you have to spend time thinking intentionally about the culture you want to see in the church. If you need a little motivation in this area remember the fact that "culture eats vision for breakfast." Most people won't come back because you have a cute and clever vision statement on the wall. They come back because they like who you are and they want to be apart of what they see and experience. In other words, they like the culture. Culture is everything.
Here are some important questions to consider as thinking through the cultural question.
- What does our culture say about us?
- What do we want out culture to say about us?
- If I were new, would I like our culture?
- How did our culture become our culture?
- Who does our culture speak too? (Church people? People looking for answers?)
- Where are we going and why?
These are a few questions that are good to wrestle with as you have the culture conversation. Practice writing them out in concise statements with the intention of getting to 5-7 statements that define who you are and where you are going.
In my next blog, I will write out some of my favorite cultural statements I have seen.