KevMcCord

Old Churches Can Change!

I go to church every week in an OLD church building that has a very YOUNG ministry format.

Earlier this year we took out the pews, replaced carpet, painted the building, gave away the organ, vanished the hymnals, painted the ceiling black, expanded the stage, added lighting and speakers, and mixed in tables in our general seating area. 

Those are just the cosmetic changes we made.  While we were merging with the First Baptist Church of North Miami we changed our name to Oasis Church!  They started out talking with us while we were still the First Baptist Church of Pembroke Pines (dba Church of Pembroke Pines).  At the same time we introduced the concept of the Campus Pastor and the concept of a Teaching Team.   

Let me summarize that.  We changed all the stuff people fret about in less than 9 months without a single fight.  I don't even remember who picked the carpet colors.  The music style went from island flavored classic hymns to passion conference style worship.  We did lose a family over worship, but that was the extent of the controversy.

Seriously, from the perspective of the old timers we nearly made a night club out of their beloved church.  Most of them made the transition with us and they are still an integral part of our church. 

I firmly believe what we did could be repeated.

You can change an old church including the people's habits,the property, and the programs, but you have to follow a few guidelines.

1. Be Invited!  We didn't push our way in.  They wanted to continue to reach their community and they decided we could help.
2. Check Your Compatibility.  These folks were older than us and they did things differently than us, but we had the same heartbeat to reach people for Jesus.
3. Build Trust.  We gave ourselves to the support of their ministry long before the merger happened.  We then worked through dozens of logistical and administrative issues for months after the merger.  Before we changed the outward manifestation of church we journeyed together through enough decisions to begin to trust one another's intentions.
4. Bring a Plan. We didn't have all the details worked out, but we did have a plan.
5. Set Expectations.  This means you tell them the good and the bad and work through their concerns.  Don't start without clear expectations.
6. Invest. We invested people and money into this effort!
7. Genuinely Work to Include Everyone. We need them as much as they needed us to transform rather than replace, to merge rather than co-opt, to carry on rather than eclipse the ministry of 80 years that we inherited.
8. Let people leave graciously.  Seriously, there is a way to do this!  It generally involves hugging.

9. Be Honest.  Don't pretend this stuff is just happening or that it is definitely going to work. Don't spring changes on people.  Don't coddle them by saying they will like it or it won't be so bad or we'll do some of the old stuff if you don't plan to do that.

That's my list.  Today there is no longer "Them" and "Us".  There is only a newly combined "Us."  I wouldn't want to go to church without getting a hug from my friend Vick or watching my friend Ruth serve in KidsWorld for a 6th uninterrupted decade!

Old churches can change because older people can tolerate and participate in change if they believe in the mission.  I plan to be one of those older people who can change one day, but I'm going to give you holy hell if you don't follow my advice.

Recession Proof Your Life

Make someone happy.

Charge a fair price.

Save some of that money.

Repeat.

Be Normal

I'm not really a bumper sticker guy.  My car is not a billboard. I would rather impale myself with a pin under my shirt than go around wearing one outside my shirt.  However, I think it is a useful exercise to come up with bumper stickers and slogans that truly do sum up how I feel now and again.

I keep running into people who are trying too hard to be unique or interesting or distinguished.  The thing I want to say to them is to just

Be Normal

The biggest problem with that statement is that no one remembers what normal is anymore so I need another clarifying statement to go with that statement like "Be Like ____________".  I need someone who is normal that everyone would know.  I thought long and hard and came up with ... NOBODY.

Can you do any better?

 

 

My Resignation To Follow

Is your resignation letter typed up?  Mine is.

I decided a long time ago that I was called specifically to serve my senior pastor as an administrator of my church.  They day he retires or resigns I will do the same.  I won't abandon my post.  I'll simply offer my services back to my church as a consultant with a month-to-month retainer.

Logistically I needed to prepare a few things to make this plan work.

1. I need to be prepared to explain this change to the church leadership.
2. I need to make sure my wife understands this and how it will impact our family.
3. I need to be prepared to have my offer to change capacities rejected.
4. I need savings to weather such a situation.
5. I need to have a big network of friends who would want to offer me a job or some contract work.

6. I need to have a consulting practice setup.  I already had this, but you might consider setting up a blog, a D.B.A, and a bank account for this purpose.

I would look forward to meeting the new senior pastor.  Even if we liked each other we might not want to work together as closely as I work with my senior pastor.  He might not like blog posts like this one, or this one, and most especially not this one.  Not many pastors do ;-).  In fact, given those three blog posts it is a wonder I still have a job.

PS.  Pastor Guy isn't going anywhere so I'm not either.  This post occurred to me because of the controversy I've seen in OTHER churches recently.

iPhone Evolution

My blog has been way too serious lately and I don't know any new jokes.  A friend of mine was in the hospital the other day and he repeated himself like 150 times.  That was kind of funny, but only because he has recovered fully.  So, I need something that is NOT controversial and NOT serious.  That brings me to my 1-year-old iPhone.

I'm still on iPhone Not-3G (the original one).  I didn't move up since I am hardly ever away from WiFi long enough to care.  It is the best gadget I've ever owned.

However, the new 2.x software has caused my iPhone to evolve.  Maybe in a few years it will have a tail or something.  For now the evolution is limited to new applications that paradoxically make the iPhone more useful while making me less productive.

Facebook, Email, SMS, and TwitterFon dominate the iPhone landscape because they live in the main app bar at the bottom.  That bar is always visible.  While the actual phone is important I can double tap the home button to get there.  Facebook and TwitterFon win for the most used apps not developed by Apple.

This first page (above) of applications has the main things I use on my phone.  Fox News and Google Mobile App (new this week) are the non-standard apps that I use the most right now.  Fox News is just a website, but it consistently lists news of interest to me.

This second page (above) is full of utilities I actually use.  The trick with free iPhone apps is to download, try, then delete.  Most of what is on this page is very cool, but I don't use these tools daily even if I do access the content daily in other ways.

The third and final page (above) is made up of games and novelties. If I keep the games that means I like it alot or it means my 7-year-old son likes it a lot.  Lux Touch is probably the best time-waster on this page.  It's a turn based strategy game for taking over the world.  Are you thinking what I'm thinking Pinky? 

For the anti-gamblers out there the dice are for Yatzee.  Lay off!

In case you are wondering, this article was made possible by the accidental discovery that I can take a screen shot of the iPhone by pressing the home button and the power button at the same time. 

The app store is an amazing way to increase the usefulness of the iPhone.  I've come to expect some interesting innovation every week.

Google Analytics - Custom Segments

Google Analytics has been improved.  All the same great reports on visitor traffic to your website can now be segmented.  Among other things, this makes it easier to compare how returning guests behave compared to new guests.  Custom segments are even nicer.  I quickly created two custom segements: "Outside Florida" and "Florida Guests".   It is interesting to note how these groups differ when they hit the site.

Loyalty Embezzled

If I took the money entrusted to me because of my position in an organization and used it for my own personal purposes I would be guilty of embezzlement.

I propose that the same can be done with loyalty.  I propose that loyalty can be embezzled by anyone in a position of trust.  Pastors are given more trust than most.

When someone gives loyalty to their pastor that pastor has the duty to direct that loyalty into constructive purposes.  In the church our purpose is the great commission and our methods need to be checked against the 1st and 2nd greatest commandments.'

When is the loyalty entrusted to a pastor diverted to selfish purposes?

1. Loyalty is embezzled when the pastor uses it to build his reputation.

2. Loyalty is embezzled when the pastor uses it to protect himself from his critics.

3. Loyalty is embezzled when the pastor uses others to move his agenda forward while maintaining a safe distance.

4. Loyalty is embezzled when it is used to force people to take sides.

5. Loyalty is embezzled when it is used to conceal the truth or to reveal private pain.

Virtually every pastor has critics.  Success does lead to criticism.  Change does lead to criticism.  A leader is tested and proven when he is criticized.  In itself, the existence of criticism is not vindication.  It is an opportunity to demonstrate character and strength.   The pastors I admire would ask those most loyal to show restraint, patience and charity in confronting their critics.

Virtually every pastor also has supporters.  Some are simply called to love their pastor and have a special joy in encouraging him or her.  Some are personally blessed by the pastor's ministry to the point where their loyalty is unshakable.  Still other people want desperately to be close to the pastor in order to feel close to God or important in their church.  The pastors I've grown up around recognize this last group and they are very careful to surround themselves with people who challenge them rather than with people who coddle them.

What does a pastor's use of loyalty tell us about him?

1. How your pastor decides to use the loyalty entrusted to him is evidence of his character.

2. How your pastor allows those loyal to him to behave is evidence of his maturity.

3. How clearly your pastor can separate loyalty to himself from loyalty to his position is evidence of his humility.

4. The degree to which your pastor re-directs loyalty towards Christ is evidence of his authenticity.

5. The frequency with which your pastor intentionally tests the loyalty of others is evidence of his self-control and his self-confidence.

Those who embezzle money will often do some very good things with the money they embezzle.  The same is true of those who embezzle loyalty.  I've seen churches fire an embezzler of money instantly.  Those who embezzle loyalty are sometimes tolerated and occasionally even admired.

Wisdom For Tough Times

Dad continues to amaze me.  This week he is going to Portugal to talk about The Satisfying Life we can experience by abiding in Christ.  Meanwhile he threw up a simple blog post that is right on target for those who are looking for the right words and the right perspective to offer loved ones going through difficult times.

In just 3 years dad has had an opportunity to influence Christians in Brazil, Peru, India, China, the USA, and now Portugal.  There was no PR team.  He just went from one conversation to another reminding each person with whom he talked that we have the DNA of the Christian life in us if we have Jesus in us.  Dad's simple refrain is that abiding in Christ is as simple as receiving (Faith), rejoicing (Hope), and releasing (Love).  In this way we can enjoy a moment by moment relationship with Christ and produce fruit for those around us.

As his son I see how far he has come in that journey.  It even irks me that I can't get a rise from him anymore!  At the same time, he is lovingly waiting and encouraging me to depend more fully on Christ and to work less at making the outcome I desire a reality.

If you ask how my mom is participating that journey, she is behind him just as she is in this picture.  She supports him and quietly wins souls for Christ by having one conversation at a time and loving one person at a time.  She isn't going to Portugal with dad this time, but she won't be idle in Brazil.

Pastors Weigh In

Monday Morning Insights picked up the Ocala story I've been blogging about.

This is a widely read blog followed by many pastors.  MMI missed the investigative article on Pastor Mark Cummins past.  It also has an audience of pastors so the blog was oriented at helping pastors who might find themselves in a situation like the one Pastor Mark Cummins finds himself in. 

MMI author Todd Rhoades presented the issue as an unfortunate but common disagreement between old staff and new pastor who have different "ways to grow the church."   Mr. Rhoades, like all of us, can only guess where the truth might lie in this specific situation, but the investigative article shows that the issue in Ocala is not as simple as "old ways" versus "new ways".

I feel compelled to answer Todd's questions in his article in light of the Ocala situation.  His questions are good, but they presuppose that the hypothetical situation is happening to a Pastor because of his strategy as opposed to happening because of the pastor's tactics.  All of us love pastors and we presuppose that pastors have some level of integrity and accountability.  I'm sure the pastors who read the MMI blog have integrity and accountability, but without those things the answers are severely impacted.

1.  If you’re the senior pastor of a church with multiple staff, what would you do if you had a situation of staff mutiny?

If six men with known integrity and 86 years of service questioned the integrity of the senior pastor of 12 months in the manner appropriate to their bylaws after trying unsuccessfully to work with him then the only way to deal with it is through a meeting of the leadership of the church.  By making this a "personnel committee" matter the men were silenced.

2.  If you have one person who needs to be fired, that’s tough enough.  But what if the problem extends to more than one staff members, or a group of staff members?  Are you willing to take the risk to do what you need to do?

The risk is to submit to the church bylaws if the subject of the inquiry is you.  We're dealing with congregational church polity here.  Firing the staff is not a solution to the problem since the staff were trying to bring problems with their boss and their pastor to light and were not allowed to do so.  They are not just staff, they are also members of the church.  

3.  If you’re a staff member and you have a problem with your senior pastor, how do you proceed?  Forming a coalition and emailing bad stuff and blowing off meetings with the personnel team didn’t work in this case?  How should you voice your concern?

That is how the events were presented by the pastor.  The 6 pastors did send an email to the deacons that did get out.  We don't know how the email "got out".  The email did explain why they were requesting a meeting with deacons.  They voiced their concern in a manner appropriate to their church and they have remained quiet ever since they were maneuvered out of having the opportunity to share with the deacons what they experienced.

4.  What would you do if you were shouted down in a service, or if a good number of your people started chanting ‘we want the truth’.

Give them the truth, in love, then recuse yourself from officiating or controlling any meetings where other members in good standing in the church will discuss the issue and present their concerns.

5.  How do you respond to the secular press, who always seem to have a heyday with this kind of thing?

In normal cases you say as little as possible and handle the matter internally.  This should not be public and given the track record of this pastor it became public because he would not allow the discussion to happen internally according to the bylaws.

I appreciate that Todd Rhoades is a catalyst and a conversation starter.  Because I am close to this situation I sensed in his article a perspective that may generally be true, but is off in this specific case.

The key question for those of us in South Florida related to this issue is:

What responsibility do those of us in ministry have to future churches that might suffer when a pastor with a track record for pain moves on to a new church?

This series of blogs is my answer to that question.

Pastor Power - New Bylaws

I am still on the sad topic of Pastor Mark Cummins who is embroiled in turmoil at the First Baptist Church of Ocala.  Their pain is far more public than similar events that transpired at FBC W. Hollywood (aka The CenterPointe, aka Hollywood Community Church) while Mark was senior pastor there.

As a church administrator I get to see lots of church documents.  I had never seen any Church Bylaws (governing documents) as devoid of accountability for the senior pastor as the Bylaws that Pastor Mark Cummins was able to implement at First Baptist Church of West Hollywood when he changed their name to The CenterPointe.  I want to share this document and the original bylaws with my readers as well as point out a couple of key points in the new bylaws.

Download The CenterPointe Bylaws enacted under Pastor Mark Cummins

The most important point to note in the new bylaws is that there is only one leadership structure in the document.  It is a Leadership Team that "shall be considered the board of directors".

The leadership team of 3-9 members has the Senior Pastor as permanent chair and it has all corporate powers save the power to vote for the purchase, sale, or transfer of the church real estate.  This requires a simple majority at a church meeting.  Also, calling or firing a Senior Pastor is their exclusive right though it must be confirmed by a 75% vote of the congregation.  The Senior Pastor must be both present and officiating at all meetings of this sole governing entity (no exceptions).

The real problem and the thing that makes this Leadership Team structure completely lacking in accountability is the manner in which the leadership team is selected.

ARTICLE 5 -- Ministry Leadership Team
5.03 Nomination and Selection
Church members shall submit nominations to the Senior Pastor on behalf of the persons (members) who exhibit godly qualities in their lives.  Nominees shall be interviewed, trained, equipped, and appointed by the Senior Pastor to assist in fulfilling the church's established purposes as stated in Article 2.

An important observation is that Mark was successful in getting this document established at the The CenterPointe in April 2007 only to leave at the end of that same summer.  He had everything he wanted.  He had complete control, but he still left.  South Florida seems to have proved a very hard place to grow his audience.

I also found it interesting that the document has an "Indemnification" article that allows the Leadership Team to vote to cover all personal costs a pastor or officer might incur if they are sued.  it also contains a Binding Arbitration article that prevents any lawsuits between members and brings all matters unresolved after 60 days before the Leadership Team.

FBC Ocala hired "Team Cummins" will they get a "Leadership Team Cummins"?  I cannot predict the future to say if such a structure will be imposed upon FBC Ocala.  I do offer both the old Bylaws (below) of the First Baptist Church of West Hollywood and the Bylaws put through by Mark Cummins (Above) as reference documents for any interested parties to read and compare.

I believe this sad document is inadequate on so many levels.  However, in this free country and in keeping with the autonomy of the local church such documents can be enacted.  What should concern anyone in a church with existing By Laws that do provide for pastoral accountability and congregational involvement is the effort to remove existing controls to centralize power in one man's hands.

Based upon this document, it is reasonable to assume that:

If you are a board member, committe member or a deacon in a church pastored by Mark Cummins he would not want or need you in a leadership role unless you are one of the 3-9 people he wanted to appoint to his leadership team.  Granted, a much smaller leadership team was needed at FBCWH towards the end of his tenure since there were only 3 ministry staff and 300 people attending.

Download The Original Bylaws of FBC West Hollywood page 1-3 

Download the Original Bylaws of FBC West Hollywood page 4 (sorry, scanning error)