Strategies for Confronting

the Tyranny of the Minority

Part 2

After much discussion and study, and considerations of mission and evangelism, the church council decided unanimously to change the worship time from 11a.m. to 9:30a.m.  When the  decision was publicized, a group of four couples demanded that a special meeting of the council be called to reconsider the decision.  They threatened that if the decision was not rescinded they would boycott worship and would withhold their gifts because they had been meeting for brunch at 9:30a.m. for fourteen years, were longstanding members and good supporters, and we had no right to ask them to change their brunch time.  Interesting enough, they actually agreed with the council that the earlier time would probably increase membership and attendance, but they felt that as elder members, their rights took priority.

Experienced pastors have run into situations when a person or small group felt that their rights were abused or neglected by the plans or decisions of the church leadership.  Maybe the argument is that a worn item cannot be replaced because it was given as a memorial to someone's aunt, or the worship style cannot be altered because some do not like singing words projected on the wall.  A spiritual problem arises when people feel that their personal needs are more important than the corporate needs of the congregation.  Jan Linn wrote two weeks ago about the problem of individualism in the church, and one of the key strategies to overcoming the tyranny of the minority is to help Christians realize that their relationship with God is also a relationship with a community.  Sometimes the community can bend to meet our personal needs, but we also need to be able to bend to meet the needs of the community, especially in areas that relate to mission and core values.

One of the things we have been trying to learn as leaders of our congregation is that although we bring certain gifts and expertise to the table, it is more important for us to be able to listen together for God's guidance than to state our opinions.  How does it change the character of a leadership team if the most important criterion is how well a person listens for God's voice rather than how many other leadership positions he or she holds in the community?  When listening as a leadership community is more important than professional expertise, then maybe an individual does not feel as invested in protecting ego, and does not feel motivated to block decisions that do not go along with one's personal opinion.

This attitude can be developed during the sabbatical year during which the congregation moves away from much of its usual work to focus on the spiritual side of community life.  If our members do not have a feeling that they are spiritual people, it is difficult to get them to commit to some of the concepts we use in The Jesus Connection.  If they do not listen to God alone, they are not going to value ten minutes of silent prayer and reflection in the midst of a decision.  Opposition and road blocks to the structural change will soften as people find meaning in the process that underlies the change.  If people are listening together, they are less likely to use political strategies, threats, and manipulation to promote their self-interest.  Still, even people influenced by The Jesus Connection have not attained perfection.  What happens when the minority throws up road blocks to inhibit change?  See Part 3 next week.