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Three Questions to Ask When Making RISKY Decisions

Really been enjoying Jim Collin's book How The Mighty Fall.  In one of his chapters, Collins gives three important questions to ask when "making risky bets and decisions in the face of ambiguous or conflicting data."  Here they are:

1. What's the upside, if events turn out well?
   
2. What's the downside, if events go very badly?
   
3. Can you live with the downside?  Truly?
   

Interesting Observation...and an invite to RESPOND.

Seems like 2 or 3 years ago, most conversation about church change/transition was happening among SMALLER (100-300) to MEDIUM sized (300-500) churches who were seeking to move from a “traditional” format to a more “contemporary” style/approach.

Now.....in many of my conversations with pastors and church leaders, it seems like there are whole lot more LARGER sized (1,000-3,000+) “contemporary” churches who are now seeking to transition to something new & different.

Your turn.  And I’m serious when I say this.  I would LOVE to hear from you - ESPECIALLY if you are in the midst of a change/transition initiative. 

(And since it’s likely that smaller sized and “less known” church leaders will feel more “freedom” to reply, please...BIG DOGS...feel free to comment anonymously because I know many of you read my blog.  Or at least USED TO - before being referred to as a “big dog”.  LOL.)

Also, I would love for you to include three pieces of info in your response:

1. Church Size

2. Type of Transition (Philosophical or Stylistic?  From WHAT to WHAT?)

3. What is the SINGLE GREATEST CHALLENGE you are facing in leading your church through this change?

Bring it!  And thanks.

Orlando...Austin...Atlanta.....and next, Uganda.

Ok, I'm diving back in to the blog.  It's been way too long.  My lame excuse: I've been running 200MPH since a few weeks before Easter with writing, travel, etc... and blogging just hasn't been that high on my priority list.  Sorry faithful folks.

So anyway...  Rather than try to knock out a bunch of amazing blog posts, I thought I'd throw out a few random thoughts of what's been happening over these past few weeks.  Here we go:

• Easter.  This year's Easter weekend The Orchard was a record-breaking weekend!  Our teams did an amazing job and I think my head is still spinning after a HUGELY successful Helicopter Easter Egg Drop.  All I can say is WOW.  If you missed the video review, click here.
  
  
• Orlando.  Had a great time at Exponential in Orlando.  Exponential is sort of a like a big family reunion (but without the weird uncle and the funky potato salad).  This is actually the largest church planting conference in North America and one that I would definitely encourage all church planters to attend in 2010.  Had fun teaching a session with Gary Lamb (did he really say "wanker"??) and then participating in some great conversations in the Exponential Lounge with guys like Erwin McManus, Francis Chan, Dave Ferguson, Craig Groeschel, Matt Chandler, and others. 
  
  
• Austin. After a couple of days home I found myself in the amazing city of Austin, TX to be a part of Q.  Q is one of my favorite gatherings of the year.  It's small and all about influencing and changing culture.  Think TED format.  Loved connecting with a bunch of friends - both new and old.  People like Kem Meyer, Mike Foster, Jeff Shinabarger, Tim Stevens, Alan Hirsch, Kyle Zimmerman, John Burke, Rick McKinley, Chris Seay, Gabe Lyons, Mel McGowan, Charles Lee, and a bunch of other amazing people. Next year, Q will be here - in Chicago!
  
  
• Austin II.  All I can say is - what a cool city.  And with a slogan that's all about keeping it "weird" what do you expect??  Check out a few photos I posted in Facebook.
  
  
• Jackie Huba.  Writer, Author, Speaker, Blogger, Marketing Guru-ess, co-founder of the Society for Word of Mouth.  Forbes calls her work "the word of mouth gospel."  Anyway....  Had a chance to grab lunch with Jackie while in Austin.  That was worth the trip alone.  If you don't follow her twitter you need to. 
  
  
• Atlanta.  Orange.  It's THE premier and the BEST family ministry conference in the flippin' universe.  Loved being a part of this and having the opportunity to share The Orchard's story and some thoughts/ideas on the topic of navigating change with a room full of Lead Pastors and Senior Leaders.  Just wish I could have stuck around for more than a few hours, but was glad to be able to hang with a few of our staff who were attending and introduce them to some killer Korean BBQ. 
  
  
• Uganda.  In a couple of weeks.  More on this later, but looking forward to getting my heart messed up by this trip. 
  
  
• Study.  It's what I should be doing right now.  So I'm done.  Hopefully back in the groove of blogging.  We'll see.  Thanks for the encouragement folks.

Interviewed by Cynthia Ware

While at The Idea Camp, I was honored to be interviewed by my new friend, Cynthia Ware from The Digital Sanctuary. We talked about Twittering, church leadership, transition, etc... 

Side note: the audio is a little bit off from the video - looks kinda like a cheap kung fu movie.  :)

The Idea Camp - Scott Hodge Interview from The Idea Camp on Vimeo.

Watch other videos from The Idea Camp here.

Sacred Reminder

The programs aren't sacred.
The methods aren't sacred.
The ministries aren't sacred.
The service times aren't sacred.
The communication style isn't sacred.
The committees aren't sacred.
The bylaws aren't sacred.
The denomination isn't sacred.
The style of music isn't sacred.
The color of carpet isn't sacred.
The font that's used on in the bulletin isn't sacred.

The only thing that's sacred is the mission of Jesus.

Sometimes we just need to be reminded...

Turning The Wheel

Here's a recent question I received via email:

"Most of the times, established churches are set on tracks that move in one direction. No matter how much you turn the steering wheel, you cannot change the direction the church is moving. What things did you do/change to help the organization adapt to moving in a new direction quickly?"

Ok....a few thoughts I'll throw out.

First of all, the only person who can really initiate change in the direction of the organization/church is the senior leader.  The staff, the leaders, the volunteers, etc... can turn the wheel all they want, but if the senior leader is not fully committed to taking things a new direction.......then forget it! 

(And on a side note - if the senior leader is NOT committed to change, DON'T try to bring it!  All you'll do is bring chaos and division - and that is WRONG.)

But even if the senior leader is committed to change, there is still a very important question that needs to be considered before making the leap.  Here it is:

Is our organization structured for change? 

In other words, do the current bylaws, structure, governance, etc... allow us to make the necessary changes? 

The last thing a senior leader (and the church for that matter) needs during a tough season of change and transition is dissension among a pastor and the elders, deacons, or key decision makers. 

The bottom line is - if you're not structured for change, it doesn't matter how passionate or committed you might be to it - there will always be a chance that the wrong people could step in to infiltrate, hijack, or sabotage what God is leading you to do. 

Another thing...  The number one concern shouldn't necessarily be to get the church members or even the staff 100% unified on the transition.  The MOST IMPORTANT THING is having a strong, unified leadership team.  For us, it was my dad (the lead pastor at that time), me (his executive pastor at the time), and our elder team.  Without all of us being united and on the same page, we knew that there was no way we would be able to push through the resistance and pain of turning an 80 year old church an entirely new direction. 

Well thankfully, we were united.  And believe it or not, today our elder team is made up of the SAME guys who were on it PRIOR TO our transition. 

Now THAT'S a miracle!  :)

Sunday Morning......A.D.D. post

I'm sitting in my office getting ready to go out and speak at our 10:45am service, so I thought I'd throw out a bunch of stuff that's spinnin' in my head.  It's been a while....  Plus, I noticed that I received the hatchet on Ben's blogroll.  So I figured I better blog again SOON.  :)

• Very, very convicting talk this weekend...  Teaching on the subject of "expectations" in our relationships - week #3 in our series, "Inked." 
  
  
• Had a great time at the Related Leaders event in Peoria, Illinois this past week.  Talked a lot about change and expounded on three important questions for pastors: 1) Who has God best positioned us to reach?  2) What is it going to take to reach them? and 3) Am I willing to pay the price? 
  
  
• REALLY enjoyed touring the Dream Center Peoria while I was there with Aaron Escamilla and a few guys from The Orchard team.  Riverside's work in Peoria blows my mind!  Definitely inspired the daylights out of me!
  
  
• Our Christmas Eve Candlelight service planning is well underway!  This is one of our largest attended events of the year.  Last year we had four services.  This year we are planning five spread out over two days.  It's a ton of work, but we see it as quite a privilege and an AWESOME opportunity to reach TONS of people who don't normally attend church. 
  
  
• Barack Obama is our next President.  Wow...  What a historic election!  And let me just say...  Christians who are freaking out about this election are getting on my nerves - BAD.  Grow up and trust God!  I don't remember seeing fear, anxiety, and worry listed as "fruits of the Spirit."  Let's pray for President-Elect Obama and ask God to guide and direct him as our new leader.  I think God can bless that a heck of a lot more than He can bless all the badmouthing and disrespectful attitudes. 

Ok, with all that said....it's time to go teach!  Have a great Sunday!

Kickin' it......Peoria style!

 

I definitely look smarter with my glasses ON. 

But anyway....

Are you near Central Illinois?  If so, you should check out an event happening next week called Related Leaders.  It's hosted by an awesome church - Riverside Community Church in Peoria, Illinois. 

I'll be there sharing The Orchard's story and talking about CHANGE, leadership and whatever else the conversation guides us to.

It's happening next week - Thursday, November 6th. 

More info & registration here.

Hope to see you there!

You Asked: Simplicity

Question: We've been talking a lot as a church about "simplifying" -- the most difficult question we wrestle with is when someone says, "we need X ministry - to single moms or new moms or alcoholics or divorce recovery etc etc" We feel like we're in a no-win situation because if we say, "no" we sound like we don't care about single moms or we don't love the poor or what have you. And if we say, we don't have the resources, the person pushes back with, "well, I can serve there and I can recruit people to help me etc etc"?? Any ways you could help us communicate with people - I'd love a phrase or two to use in addition to any thoughts you have on the subject???  Thanks!  Jason

Great question Jason!  A few years ago, we made the decision to simplify our entire approach to  ministry at The Orchard.  It was a tough decision, but one that we haven’t looked back on since!

Simplifying involves two things: 1) Making the decision to simplify and 2) Being committed to STAYING simple.  Both involve the need to be very, very clear about what God has called your church to be and do. 

Here are a few thoughts about simplicity....

1.  We are unapologetically focused on doing a few things we know we can be great at.
   
   I typically tell people that there are about five or six things that we are committed to doing very, very well and anything above that should probably be considered a “bonus.”   We try to be very clear about this with people from day one because we know that there are people who are looking for a church that can do a great job at meeting every need for every segment of every member of their family.  And the bottom line is......we’re just not going to do a very good job at that.  Which means, that The Orchard is not going to be the right church for everyone.  And that’s ok!
   
   
2.  I have never seen an unchurched woman get upset that we don’t have a women’s ministry.
   
   Selah.
   
   
3. Being simple is costly.....but in a good way.  

   
   We know that being “simple” has cost us.  But that’s ok.  Because in my opinion, the greater cost is ending up with a church full of consumers who think that church is all about them and meeting all of their needs.
   
   
4. Being simple provides a greater degree of equity - all the way around.  (Volunteer equity, giving equity, asking equity, etc....)
   
   Less truly is more!  When people aren’t being asked to give to “special projects” twelve times a year or be at the church three or four times a week, it builds equity!  And as a result, people end up being more committed to a few things instead of getting burned out and giving their half-arsed leftovers to a million things. 

   
   
5. Being simple is a lot easier when you talk openly about it and help people understand why it’s important! 
   
   The bottom line is that simplicity MAKES SENSE!  And when you take the time to explain and cast vision for WHY it’s important, people will respect that!  I constantly hear from people how much they appreciate and respect our commitment to simplicity!  In fact, there are people who use our “simplicity” as a “selling point” in inviting their unchurched friends to The Orchard.  It’s amazing!
   
   
6. It’s awfully hard to empower people to live missionally when they are expected to be in church four or five times a week. 

So.......instead of starting or joining a church softball league or some other church program, why not pop the bubble and get out in the community and be a part of one that already exists? 

Listen....a lot of ministry ideas that people have are actually awesome ideas that could turn into incredible opportunities to reach out and love our community! 

I recently had a woman in our church share her desire to start a reading program for disadvantaged children in our local community.  She didn’t share this with me hoping that the church would assume responsibility by starting it, funding it, promoting it, staffing it.  Instead, she shared the idea because she simply needed someone to empower and encourage her to go for it!  I love that!  And ultimately, that’s one of the ways that our churches can truly become irreplaceable in our communities.  


Do you have a question about transition/change/leadership/ministry?  Shoot 'em to me at scott (AT) orchardvalleyonline (DOT) com.

Questions about Change/Transition

Almost weekly, I receive a handful of emails and phone calls from pastors and church leaders from all over the map who have heard about The Orchard and who have specific questions about change and transition in their own organizations. 

So.....starting next week, I am going to do my best to devote one day a week to answering some of those questions here on my blog.

All you need to do is email your questions to: scott (at) orchardvalleyonline (dot) com.  We'll collect them and then I'll do my best to answer what I can and at least get some good discussion going on the ones I can't!  :)

Should be fun!  So bring 'em!