1. UNDERSTANDING THE ADAPTIVE CHALLENGES THAT ARE CONFRONTING SYNODS TODAY Bishop’s Convocation Lower Susquehanna Synod, ELCA By Craig Van Gelder, Ph.D. Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

2. DENOMINATIONAL CHURCH LIFE IN THE U.S. AND ORGANIZATIONAL LIFE-CYCLES Five Historical Periods Three Organizational Phases Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

3. Organizational Life Cycle Alan Roxburgh & Fred Romanuk, The Missional Leader, Jossey Bass, 2006 Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

4. Period 1—Foundations 1600s-late 1700s: Early Schools and Institutions Context Immigration: Colonies settled by European immigrants Church/Congregations – Reformation – churches from the “left” (state churches) – Reformation – churches from the “right” (sects) – Influence of Great Awakening – Planting “Ethnic Immigrant Churches” Theological Education – Ministers from Europe – Initial Schools (Wm & Mary, Harvard, Yale, + informal) Pastor as the RESIDENT THEOLOGIAN Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

5. Period 2—Expansion late 1700s-mid 1800s: Developing Denominational Systems Context Frontier : Frontier opens across Allegany Mountains Church/Congregations – 2 nd Awakening on Frontier – Made in America denominations: Methodists, Baptists, Disciples – Planting “Village Churches” Theological Education – Numerous Denominational Seminaries->30 (Andover model) Small: 3-5 faculty and 15-30 students – Emphasis on moral formation and example The GENTLEMAN PASTOR Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

6. Organizational Beginning: Emergent Leadership – New Actions Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

7. Period 3—Maturing late 1800s-1930s: Denominational Institutional Systems Context Urbanization: Cities and Corporate Denomination Church/Congregations – Migration to cities and Southern & Eastern Europe immigration – Streetcar lines and planting “City Neighborhood Churches” Theological Education – Ministerial Standards – Social Gospel and Modernist & Fundamentalist Split – New Schools of Theology—the Research Graduate School Model – New Seminaries Protestant— many as alternatives others as late immigration traditions The CHURCHLY PASTOR (from cradle to grave) Number Church Buildings 18701920 70,000 225,000 Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

8. Period 4—Expansion mid 1940s-1970s: Professional Ministry in Corporate Denomination Context Suburbanization: Baby Boom & suburban growth Church/Congregations – Suburban Congregations Success or captivity? – Civil Religion – God and country – Planting “Family Suburban Churches” Theological Education – Expansion of seminaries Many Evangelical – Establishment of standards (ATS) – Formal Study Published 1950s The PASTORAL DIRECTOR (Professional Minister with Expanding Skills for Ministry from Social Sciences) Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

9. Organizational Institutionalization: Performative Organization and Leadership Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

10. Transition: Social Upheaval 1960s-1970s Key Shifts – Civil rights – Counter Culture – Viet Nam War and Anti-War – The multiple movements Feminist, Ecological, etc. Implications – 3 rd Disestablishment – Mainline churches stopped growing – Growth of conservative and evangelical churches as well as rise of the media church The THERAPEUTIC PASTOR (CPE and non-directive counseling) Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

11. Period 5—Searching for New Directions at the Beginning of the 21 st Century Context Diversity: Globalization, Immigration, & Postmodern Church/Congregations – Congregations starting congregations – Planting “Mega, Community, Immigrant, and Emerging Churches” Theological Education – Critical self-reflection in TE – Diversified formation processes – Alternative Routes in systems The Entrepreneurial Leader (late modern 80s-90s) The Participatory Leader ( postmodern 2000s) Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

12. Organizational Decline: Reactive Leadership and Regulative Agency Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

13. REACTIVE AND REGULATIVE STRATEGIES TO REGAIN PERFORMATIVE Technical Approaches Downsizing and/or consolidating Planning with Values, Mission, and Vision Shift from “programming” to “consultative” Rules and procedures added to secure compliance (in midst of loss of trust) Staff dealing with conflict management and crisis interventions Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

14. Utilizing Technical Change to Address Presenting Issues Technical Problem is typically clear and can be named Known methods are available to solve the challenge Expertise is available to use for addressing the challenge Basic approach is to use a planning model (e.g. strategic planning) Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

15. STRATEGIC PLANNING AS PRIMARY MODE OF OPERATION WITH TECHNICAL SWOC—the environmental scan V/M/V – Values – Mission (purpose) – Vision S/G/O – Strategies – Goals – Objectives Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

16. BUT TECHNICAL APPROACHES INSUFFICIENT IN BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS MANY OF THE SYSTEMIC ISSUES NOW BEING FACED Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

17. Utilizing Adaptive Change to Address Systemic Issues Technical Problem is typically clear and can be named Known methods are available to solve the challenge Expertise is available to use for addressing the challenge Basic approach: use a planning model (e.g. strategic planning) Adaptive Real challenge underlying presenting issues murky New learning is required to address the challenge God’s ordinary people on the front lines innovating experimental change Basic approach: use a discernment approach (e.g. communal Spirit-led learning) Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

18. THE ADAPTIVE CHALLENGE QUESTION: “What issue(s) are we currently facing, for which we do not presently have an answer, but which we must address, if we are to live into God’s future? Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

19. Example #1: Theological Education Presenting Issues Declining enrollments Rising student debt Increase part-time students Less resident campus participation Availability of virtual alterantives Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

20. Example #1: Theological Education Presenting Issues Declining enrollments Rising student debt Increase part-time students Less resident campus participation Availability of non- formal and virtual alternatives Adaptive Challenge We have created an approach to graduate theological education that for many is not affordable or financially sustainable, which is also increasingly out of step with many in the next generation of church leaders. Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

21. Example #: Congregation in a Changing Context Presenting Issues Changing ethnicity of neighborhood Declining membership and plateaued finances Fewer young families with children Programs to meet needs of community Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

22. Example #: Congregation in a Changing Context Presenting Issues Changing ethnicity of neighborhood Declining membership and plateaued finances Fewer young families with children Programs to meet needs of community Adaptive Challenge Our congregation is yet to develop genuine relationships with the “other” in our neighborhood where there is a reciprocity of mutual sharing and learning. Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

23. THE ADAPTIVE CHANGE PROCESS God’s ordinary people... Participating in Spirit-led communal discernment... Utilizing an action-learning approach... To engage in a variety of experiments... For discovering new ways to address the adaptive challenges confronting them. Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

24. Example #3: Lower Susquehanna Synod ELCA—Presenting Issues 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

25. Example #3: Lower Susquehanna Synod ELCA—An Adaptive Challenge Our synod... Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder

26. DISCUSSION Copyrights 2011 Craig Van Gelder