wfn.org | New Church Development: Creating Balance Out of Clashing Ideas

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14-June-1998 
GA98018 
 
 
    New Church Development: Creating Balance Out of Clashing Ideas 
 
    by Allison Politinsky 
 
CHARLOTTE, N.C.--How can congregations balance the need to maintain 
tradition while adapting to the musical and language tastes of the next 
generation of churchgoer? That was the subject of the open hearing held by 
the Church Growth Strategy Team.  The Team was appointed last fall to plan 
for the evolution and creation of a plan for the Presbyterian Church 
(U.S.A.) to grow into the next millenium despite years of falling 
membership. 
     Pastors, elders and lay leaders from across the country shared their 
challenges and successes in new church development. Wesley P. Woodruff of 
the Presbytery of the Pacific recounted how his church of 1,000 members has 
created balance out of the clash of ideas. 
     "I can't pretend to interpret for my grandkids when they speak in 
their own language," Woodruff said. "I think I'm quite open-minded but I 
like my worship service the way it is." The congregation is solving this 
problem by allowing lay leaders to create an alternative worship service 
where not even the pastor's presence is required. Staff of the church will 
be resource people but the worship will be entirely planned and led by the 
congregation members. 
     Brant Baker, a pastor of a New Church Development in Mobile, Ala., 
says his congregation has merged the two styles of worship in the same 
"blended service." One hymn will be accompanied by the traditional organ, 
another by a bass and drums. There was some consternation expressed, he 
said, particularly by leaders of the local governing bodies. "This is not a 
Presbyterian Church," were comments reportedly murmured during the service. 
"How can we get past this mind set that worship always has to be the same 
way?" he asked of the committee. 
     Other new church development pastors shared their frustration with 
barriers to bringing in new church members from the "under 35" crowd. 
     Some shared concern over: 
  *  Presbytery and governmental meetings which are held during work hours 
creating an inconvenience for dual-career parents. 
  *  Frustration with the bureaucratic and confusing paperwork which is 
required. 
  *  The concept that Presbyterians are "mainline"which  implies that 
members see themselves as "normal" when in fact mainline churches are "out 
of the mainstream" in today's society. 
    "We need a new sense of mission," said Tim Beal, pastor of Emmanuel 
Presbyterian Church in Thousand Oaks, Calif.  "We don't choose our 
identity, it is chosen for us by God. We must become more committed to 
developing disciples of Christ." 
    Dennis Zimmerman, a new church pastor in Cleveland, Ohio, said what he 
wants from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)  is more resources for 
training, specifically in the area of  new church growth area. "We need a 
church planners tool kit that is specifically tailored to the needs of the 
Presbyterian Church," he said. 
    The voices of the new church pastors appeared to be heard. The Team 
introduced a new General Assembly staff member, John F. Haberlin, Associate 
for Church Growth and New Church Development. Haberlin's job is gathering 
testimonials like the ones at this open hearing to develop exactly this 
type of training material. 
    "We're not talking about just developing manuals that sit and rust," 
Haberlin said. "We're talking about New Church Development planning; New 
Church Development visions." 
    Members of the Team promised to take these ideas to heart, to read them 
and pray over them before the group writes its report next year. 

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