	NATURAL CHURCH DEVELOPMENT An Internet Study		Archbold United Methodist Church

Change

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Posted by George Howard on February 08, 2005 at 16:54:06:

QUESTION: Do you think there are ever times when it is important to work for change in a congregation even if the congregation does not appear to be eager to embrace the change? For example, in the 1970s I was the pastor of a church that did not welcome African Americans. We had an African American family move to town from New Jersey. After they visited the church one Sunday they received an anonymous letter telling them that they were not welcome at the church. If you were a member of that church would you have worked to bring change even though it was unlikely to be successful? How important is it to work for the full inclusion of people regardless of sexual orientation? The NCD process asks us to set program priorities according to our weakest quality characteristic. Do you think there are ever times when something else should determine the program priorities of the church? If so, what?

REPLY: NCD is an asset based understanding of change and growth. It suggests that we address our weakest characteristic by focusing not on it, but on our strengths. We use our stronger characteristics to bolster our weaker characteristic.

It is not necessarily about starting a new program. It is about using the gifts and strengths God has already placed in our midst to their full advantage. That includes focusing them on areas where we need help. You can see an example of this on page 57.

Program priorities emerge from a variety of settings and reasons. Our focus is on developing a healthy church. We have a particular value in mind.

All too often we think that a new program will "solve" our problem. We rush to quick answers. Lets take our time and look at the systems and attitudes and behaviors that give us a clue as to what we are doing well and then where to move next.- George Howard

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