The Mother of all Change (at Least in Churchworld)

Posted on September 21, 2011 by petetackett

Perhaps you noticed yesterday that the president of the Southern Baptist Convention named a committee to evaluate the need for and cost of changing the name of the organization. To be perfectly clear, he did not name a committee to change the name of the convention. It is a committee that will study and may recommend to him who may recommend to the Executive Board who may recommend to the convention who will ultimately vote no to changing the name. I have an opinion both about the process and the end result, but will keep that to myself for now.

What amuses me today is the hue and cry of pastors after the announcement. To be sure, there are those who are open-minded about it, but so many immediately started tweeting, facebooking, and blogging about the dangers of it. These are some of the same pastors who spend their Monday morning coffee times comparing war stories about church committees and leadership teams that continually say no to their ideas of change without giving them a legitimate hearing. Ironic, isn’t it?

What disappoints me more than that is my own reaction. I got to thinking about how hard it would be for me to learn a new language; how much trouble it would be to sell the church on the idea; what it would take to change a brand worldwide; could I trust them to choose an appropriate name, what about heritage, etc. Turns out I don’t like change as much I thought I did.

My friend, David Guinn, reminds me from time to time that the only people who like change are wet babies. I suppose he is right. Most of us are perfectly willing to change something in which we have little time or money invested OR to change something for someone else, but few of us are as excited about changes to our own life and organizations. I think the next few months with this committee will give SBC pastors on both sides of this issue a look into their own willingness to make necessary change to advance the Kingdom. It should be an interesting ride.

I would love to hear your opinion about the need for this change or why it should just be left alone.