The community based congregation suddenly finds itself in a changing community where established church and community members are moving out into the suburbs leaving their old homes to be turned into condos or community dwellings for new people groups moving into the town. Church attendance is dwindling, leadership base is narrowing, finances getting tight. Congregational leaders become frightened at what seems to be new realities and begin making decisions that place the congregation in a maintenance mode.

What are some possible transforming solutions for these leaders and congregations?

• Pray for God to raise up the remnant
• Pastor/staff invest in the remnant to birth new vision
• Build partnerships with community groups, agencies and other congregations
• Create parallel tracks to maintain ministry to established church and another track to birth the new to reach newcomers
• Pastor and key leaders join face to face or online learning communities or enlist a personal coach to support and help them grow forward (See links section of this website)
• Provide resources to help leaders catch a new vision, understand new culture and evaluate their personal preferences for church (See Resources for Transitioning Churches)
  • Suggested Resources: Fling Open the Doors: Giving the Church Away to the Community by Paul Nixon. Abingdon press, 2002.
  • Making the Church Work: Converting the Church for the 21st Century by Edward Hammett, Smyth and Helwys, 2001.
  • Outgrowing an Ingrown Church by John Miller. Zondervon, 2002

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