More in common than you might think…
Pioneers and parish leaders, when they are apart, often talk like there is little common ground with each other.
Artwork by Sophie Killingley of Perish + Fade
Over the years, I have walked away from many of these siloed gatherings thinking, ‘Pioneers and parish leaders have much in common; they simply aren’t doing the work to notice it.’
by Rev Greg Bakker
Much of this commonality is rooted in the stress and hurt of working in an institutional church culture under significant strain. Both parish leaders and pioneers lament the lack of sustained resource, the enormous expectation to reverse the decline narrative quickly, and the demoralising and angry feelings that go with not being appreciated. And in failing to notice the shared experiences, tension between pioneers and parish leaders can easily escalate.
Jenn Foster, an emerging thinker on behaviour in schools, writes, ‘Really, what we all want, in ANY relationship is to feel seen and valued for who we really are.’
At the grassroots, pioneers and congregational leaders can give this gift to each other in the midst of the significant strain within the church.
What might this look like? For pioneers, being championed is powerful. Pioneers feel acknowledged and valued when their advocates relentlessly and passionately explain to all what pioneers are attempting and why it is necessary for the mission of God. When pioneers listen to congregational leaders for meaning, attuning the ears to the longings, aspirations, and the unspoken, an unbearable isolation is diminished.
Doing the work of noticing conveys much to our colleagues. Noticing our shared experiences means we can become a gift to each other, a gift which results in pioneers and parish leaders feeling seen, heard, and valued.
Discover how much you have in common with colleagues through our next Culture Change in Practice course. Book your place now.
