{"id":18514,"date":"2018-06-28T10:23:02","date_gmt":"2018-06-28T17:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/?p=18514"},"modified":"2018-06-28T10:23:02","modified_gmt":"2018-06-28T17:23:02","slug":"walking-naked-into-uncertainty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/walking-naked-into-uncertainty\/","title":{"rendered":"Walking naked into uncertainty"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>As this first year of our DMin studies concludes, I\u2019m grateful to end with reflections on Robert Quinn\u2019s Deep Change Field Guide <\/em>as a bridge to moving forward with understanding ministry leadership in our globalized settings.<\/em> Ministry practitioners such as those of us in this cohort must grapple with a world that is convulsing with change. Old, stagnant models, even current successful models, are already obsolete for tomorrow. Adaptive change and an embrace of fluidity is required, for gospel leadership to have impact in our world and to next generations emerging in our societies.<\/p>\n

We resist change. We crave predictability and routine and order. But as Quinn reveals, clinging to the tried-and-true is a sure pathway to irrelevance. The following post highlights ideas from this book which can be applied to our ministry situations, from philanthropy to pastoral care to social work to mission outreach. I\u2019ll apply them to my philanthropy context, but I encourage you to consider how to understand these truths in your ministry environment.<\/p>\n

Adapt now, or a slow death will overtake you<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just like every human being on the planet, all organizations are moving towards a slow death. This is a mostly true statement, unless they are moving towards a quick death. Quinn writes: \u201cSlow death is a normal organizational process. Unless work is done to the contrary, organizations move toward rigidity or chaos. To avoid slow death, an organization must move into a state of adaptive order. This order emerges when the people in an organization pursue a vision.\u201d[1]<\/a><\/p>\n

Large-scale Christian philanthropy must invest its considerable capital into ministry initiatives that enable churches and charities to innovate for tomorrow. Without the infusion of significant capital for visionary change, ministries remain mired in the status quo. Large investments into existing ministry are good, but much better is strategic investment into moving organizations into a place of greater future relevancy for the Gospel.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t fall into the denial trap<\/strong><\/p>\n

In ministry we frequently find ourselves operating within atmospheres that deny the reality of this slow death. We are propelled forward by feel-good marketing slogans: \u201cYou can change the world!\u201d and \u201cYour investment is making a difference!\u201d Quinn states, \u201cWe often resort to denial when we are presented with painful information about ourselves, especially when the information suggests that we need to make a deep change.\u201d[2]<\/a><\/p>\n

In 2011, Canadian research by James Penner and Associates surveyed 2,049 millennials. Research revealed:<\/p>\n