Leadership Academy

Research based on a national database of over 200,000 churches reveals that the

overall population growth rate far outpaces the church’s rate of growth.

Part 1 – Church Growth Statistics

Population growth in the U.S. - 52,000,000Church attendance virtually the same - 52,000,000

92,000,000 people live here that did not 16 years ago

1. Mainly older churches

2. Severe shortage of new churches

3. 50 years ago, very good at starting new churches

4. Leaders unable to articulate the root problems

•After 40 years old – constant decline

•Less flexible, move more slowly, no longer respond well to change

•Top 3 gainers - Evangelicals, nondenominational, profess no religion

•South and West had significant church growth

•No region matched population growth

•“At the beginning of the 20th century, evangelicalism gave up much of it’s wealth and social status so that it could be more faithful to the gospel.”

•“A century later, North American evangelicalism has recouped its lost wealth, and then some.”

•Churches close through old age, environmental change, fierce competition, predators and low birth weight.

•By far, the highest closure rates come from new churches

Part 2 – Root of the Problem – Cultural Change

Three Critical Transitions

•Christian to Post-Christian

•Modern to Post-Modern

•Monoethnic to multiethnic

Part 2 – Root of the Problem – Cultural Change

Christian

•Christendom•Close relationship between church and culture

•Focus on institution•needs of insiders most important

•People brought needs to church

•Preaching the Word, sacraments, pastoral care

Part 2 – Root of the Problem – Cultural Change

Post-Christian

•Church needs to operate more like early church

•Needs of outsiders most important•More like missionary work

•Equip to live mission of Jesus outside the church

•Not traditional vs. contemporary (dated)•Missional – live the mission – not separate

Part 2 – Root of the Problem – Cultural Change

Modern

•Main influence – Enlightenment•Observation, logic, and reason

•Move from world of mythology to engage physical reality

•Science was king

•Self all-powerful

•Everything Discoverable

•National Park – Easum Image

•Neat and organized – clearly defined trails

Part 2 – Root of the Problem – Cultural Change

Post-Modern

•Characterized by Uncertainty

•Skepticism and cynicism about over certainty

•Communal life replaces individualism

•History and tradition rise in value

•Spiritual curiosity is present

•Jungle – Video Game (Easum image)•No clear rules – discover on own

Part 2 – Root of the Problem – Cultural Change

Monoethnic to Multiethnic

•Previous church only had to understand own culture•Limits gospel

•Acts 2

•Gospel applies to all cultures

•Beef Stew

•All ingredients recognizable yet form something new

Part 3 – Ways to Read Those Changes

Method For Reading Cultural Texts

•Locution•Employs medium

•Illocution•Act of Doing Something in Saying

•Perlocution•Certain Effects

Part 3 – Ways to Read Those Changes

Method For Reading Cultural Texts

•World Behind the Work•Background Context

•World of the Work•Way of doing life as embodied in text

•World in Front of the Work•Make decision about What to Do

Part 3 – Ways to Read Those Changes

From cell phones to mp3 players to the internet, no previous age has

seen such profound change manifested so quickly. But these

thrilling, dizzying transformations are forcing the church to decide where it

fits in all this progress.

Part 3 – Ways to Read Those Changes

Media Shapes the Message

•Way we tell the story is part of the story (Media we use)

•Doug Pagitt “Preaching Re-Imagined”

•Major medium of modern age

•Printed Word

•Major medium of post-modern age

•Electronic media

Part 3 – Ways to Read Those Changes

Roots of Internet Age 1850-1900

•Telegraph

•Radio

•Graphic Revolution

Part 3 – Ways to Read Those Changes

Knowledge as Building Knowledge as Web

•Derived from Print

•Linear – bottom up

•Mirrors printed word

•Derived from Telegraph

•Conditioned by experience and truth claims

•Two way dialogue

Part 3 – Ways to Read Those Changes

Radio – A Return to Tribal Campfires

•Shared songs, experiences and stories

•Ways of knowing corporate

•Reversal of individualism of printed word

Part 3 – Ways to Read Those Changes

Graphic Revolution

•Dissolving dependence on literacy•Corporate logos

•Preference for concrete, holistic, non-linear view of world

•Doesn’t eliminate need for print, just the bias towards

Part 3 – Ways to Read Those Changes

The Girl is Sad

Part 3 – Ways to Read Those Changes

Part 3 – Ways to Read Those Changes

Print Age•Reductionist formulaic faith

•Importance of personal relationship

•Unlocked rational theology

Electronic Age•Power of truth and story

•Importance of following Jesus holistically not just believe

•Emphasizes corporate understanding of faith

Church 2.0Need for Community

Create Framework for User Contribution

Part 4 – Marketing Overview

•Put tools in hands of people

•when time is right will come

•Shape perceptions - outbound communication

•Live in overcommunicated world

•how can be heard

Authenticity

Part 4 – Marketing Overview

Brand Matters

•Promise (from church)

•Mental Picture (person)

•Perception is Reality

Logo Influences Perception

•What People Think Of

•Perception is Brand

•Goal is to Carve out Position

Part 4 – Marketing Overview

Part 4 – Marketing Overview

Roots - Mission, Vision, Values •Direction to the Brand

Trunk - Brand Positioning•What’s Unique•Who target / What About / Why Trust / Personality

Branches - Identity•Reminds of Message•Name / Logo / Visual Style•Using Same Phrases•Shapes How People Talk About Church

Leaves - Brand Expressions•Every Interaction Shapes Perception•Print / Web / Ambience of Site•Buzz in Community

Part 4 – Marketing Overview

Six Non-Negotiables

1.Be Authentic

2.Be Excellent

3.Be Surprising

4.Be Consistent

5.Be Strategic

6.Be Realistic

Part 4 – Marketing Overview

Goals of Marketing

•Influence Perceptions

•Increase Awareness

•More sowing than Reaping

•Inviting to Action When Ready

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