Ridgell's Originals

How do you change a church? One way is to brand the new image everywhere. Get signage up proclaiming the kind of church you want to be known as. Repeat often from the pulpit that you are that kind of church. Remodel or build facilities that look like that kind of church. Form focus groups to center in on the clear vision. Have as many meetings as needed to get everyone on the same page.

Remind everyone that your worship style is to facilitate the new emphasis, especially if you want to change something.

With strong marketing, you can grow your membership by attracting members from elsewhere who want to belong to a church like that. It is very possible your staff will soon be holding workshops and lectureship classes on how to remake a church.

All of this will require lots of resources in time, money, and energy. It may consume your staff and eldership. Members may exhaust themselves to accomplish this rebranding.

But someday, your church image will be rebranded and you -- and the church world -- will all be convinced you are what your new image says.

Of course, changing an image doesn't change a church. Having an image does not mean you are what your image says. Ask the church in Sardis (Revelation 3): they had the reputation of being alive and Jesus said they were dead.

So if you want to change a church ... forget all the above.

Start doing. And soon your image and reputation will reflect that. Forget rebranding. Try recommiting.

When the church is really bought in and doing the new emphasis, then see if any of the things above need to be done.

In other words, change the reality first -- then the image.

But most churches I know work much more on the image. It's easier than real change.