This week we’re putting together mgpc’s 2013 proposed ministry and mission plan and budget.
I mentioned last year why it will be always be planned in deficit, because maintenance is death.
But another concern is expressed in these points from a post by Thom Rainer which deals with the drift which all institutions and groups experience, an ongoing temptation to forsake their original purpose by allowing a historical expression by which they sought to achieve that purpose to become their new reason for existing.
Read Rainer’s whole post here.
Here are five signs of inward drift for churches.
Signs of Inward Drift in Established Churches
The signs of inward drift in an established church are clear even though the members don’t often recognize them:
- Most of the ministries and programs are focused on meeting the desires and needs of the members.
- The budget of the congregation is directed primarily at funding the projects and even comforts of the members.
- Conflict in the congregation is not uncommon since members are more concerned about getting their perceived needs and desires met.
- There is little to no focus on evangelism, reaching out to the community, and getting the gospel to the nations.
- Leadership is weak and reticent to address the problems, because that leadership emphasis could disrupt the status quo.
These points are never far from our thinking.
Additionally the challenge of not simply casting a communal vision, but enabling everyone to feel they are an active part in striving toward that vision is always before us.
We’re not complacent about how we’re going.
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