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Eight Principles for a Change Agent

If you are a leader in your church or organization, you often have the challenge of leading change and finding resistance; that is, people don't want to change. Church Growth leaders are telling us the institutional church is failing. What type of change is needed? How should this be led? It reminds me of the tension between the institutional religion in Acts 4 and what the Holy Spirit was doing as it called the Church into action. Here are eight basic rules for a change agent today.

1. Start where people are. People often have trouble with new vocabularies, the rush of too much technology too fast, and unproven tactics. Everyone will not agree on the method. There should be plenty of give and take with plenty of communication channels, interpersonal communications, and small groups. Know the people you work with. Get in touch with their feelings. A true leader leads from where people are and never gets too far ahead of them.

2. A change agent does not cause change for the sake of change. There must be a vision, goal, passion, and calling. The change agent must be able to visualize the goal and communicate it effectively to those that follow. The goal must involve God's redemptive purpose in the world and in history. There must be a redemptive purpose in the change. This must be communicated in a way people can understand.

3. Change agents must be supported by communities. Change is resisted, and resistance brings stress, anxiety, and tension. Some type of support group is needed to minister to those involved. If your church does not support the ministry and vision to which God is calling you, perhaps it is time to move to a new community that can support your calling.

4. Creativity and ideas are not enough. In today's world experience is needed. Involve experienced people in the change. If you are short on funds to pay fo this experience, at least involve experienced people at a consulting level periodically.

5. The end does not justify the means. Do not assume the goal is so importance that violence, unjust, or illegal means are necessary to reach the goal. Living under the Lordship of Christ means following the Way. The means is as important as the ends. Review ethical and moral positions.

6. The change agent must develop win/win strategies. Avoid win/lose strategies. Everyone should be a winner.

7. All strategies and goals must have an absolute to which decisions can be referenced. For the Christians, the Bible is the absolute reference.

8. The Holy Spirit is both the envisioner for the community as well as the source of its power. The Spirit enables use to see the vision of the future (and the goals), the strategy, and gives us the power to create the change.