I discovered I was not alone. I ended up with a group of (mostly) ex-CofC types who embraced everything the Bible described, and asked God for any and all gifts and rivers of life that He wanted to give us. Since then, there has been salvation, healing, prophecy, tongues, worship in the very tangible presence of God, and other life-giving events just as the Scripture describes.

You will not find the terms "church work", "conservative", "progressive", or even "inerrancy" there. The terms you will hear are "Jesus", "life-giving", "praise God!", "love", "faith", "hope", "service", "salvation", "truth", "let's pray for that church down the street because they're having an outreach this week," and "it's God's story".

The solution is twofold: "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up," and, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you as well."

It is not true that people are running away from God. On the contrary, they go where there is life – where God is obvious, and where man does not think of himself more highly than he ought.

This would be a great start, if at the next lectureship or gathering, have this as the opening prayer and topic for the entire thing:

"Have mercy on us: sinners – all! We have shamed you with our good intentions. We have shut the door to the Kingdom in people's faces. We have tried to do your job, God. For this we repent!

"We want to humble ourselves before you, please show us how. We want to seek you first, so please show us how. We want to be a part of your kingdom that is still coming to men's hearts. We are sorry we have tried to take leadership of your church away from you. Show us what to do."

Then spend the rest of the time listening, and watch what God does. I have chills just thinking about it, because I've seen what God has done in those situations. It's life-changing!

You are a great teacher. If I knew where to start I would have done it. Most elders and members are in denial to the problems and how to fix it. I am amazed that my experience in management and building things has not been a factor that the church recognizes. Most have a bunker mentality when it comes to fixing things.

We need to be community, a ministry to the community and an example of Christ in us. Then we will soar.

Keep up the work Jay. More recognize your thoughts and postings than you know.

Again this is "right on" with the problem we face in the church and as church leaders. My response to this – (and I pray you are already way ahead of me) is "what are we going to do about this? Since this is part one of the Cure, I look forward to still more, however it is not enough, and will not be enough until we can build a model to work from. Until we can help ourselves and others to see what it will look like to use strategic thinking in these areas in problem solving. Until we can see how we can get the members more involved. What would traininig programs for Elders look like? Content?
I have worked in training and management development for years, and it is easy to be a "finder" to point out things that need to be done better, but it is much more to be a "fixer". That is the challenge in business, and in the church!
I contend that we need to develop that model, but then where do we start? Do we put together a weekend seminar where we can come together to develop such a plan? I say yes, and I will step up and help do this. Will you consider this? Would others on this site attend?
My mother is 83 and a great woman. She can talk, but she can't do much else. My question to you and to others is "are we just going to talk about this, vent our frustrations, and argue with those whose viewpoints we may not ever change, OR are we actually going to step up and do something.

I say let's do something. What do you say, Jay, would you help facilitate a weekend event for this?

Blessings,

Great comment. As members WE need to study at home with our spouse and children as well as pray with them. You are right we bare the brunt of blame. It is the members who chose elders as a projection of how they want it.

Jay

Brother, you just get better. In my industry, petroleum, we continually trained folks who possessed leadership qualities on the skills of leadership and management..
These were expensive and time consuming schools, but the rewards were tremendous. A happy and productive workforce that believed in the synergy of working together was more productive that working as individuals.

Unfortunately, not all candidates made good leaders, but that was ok. we found a productive work slot for them anyway.

Our process for choosing elders and deacons need to be slanted toward developing good spiritual managers who learn to delegate to others more qualified. .