Futuring; Leading Your Church Into Tomorrow

Futuring; Leading Your Church Into Tomorrow. (c) 2002 Baker Books, Grand Rapids, M. pp.197. price 32.95.
Samuel R. Chand- president, Beulah Heights Bible College, Atlanta.
Cecil Murphy- author of seventy-five books.
Book available at Leadership Centre- 1-800-804-0777

1. This Ain’t Your Daddy’s Church.
For the church to be relevant and effective methods need to be adjusted. This calls for leaders who "look at new paradigms of ministry, are future focused, embrace relevancy as a core issue, and are vision-and-purpose driven". p.17.
2. The Futurefaith Church.
Church leaders need to answer the questions, What? Why? How? and When? in that order. An example is presented of how this was done at Beulah Heights Bible College (BHBC). "Futurefaith leaders" p.31, are aware of, and respond to the changes of society and culture. The greatest need for change has to do with how leaders think.
3. Immigrants vs Natives. (this is a Leonard Sweet term)
Natives resist change. Immigrants recognize the need for assimilation through change. These mindsets, natives-immigrants, exist in all churches. How these groups communicate is crucial. Natives are threatened by the question, why?. To move from native to immigrant country is moving "from transaction to transformation". p.43.
4.Change Readiness.
To maintain a balanced view of change we need to consider the positives and negatives of change. Ten "traits of futuring leadership"p.46 are listed. We need to ask ourselves what needs to change in our thinking and what is keeping us from making those changes. Part of change readiness is preparing for change. This will involve some unlearning. Change must be promoted through effective vision casting. Remember there are no guarantees in change there is always an element of risk. Successful change requires toughness and sensitivity. "Change readiness means that leaders must prepare for change, promote change and lead change." p.62.
5. Expecting The Unexpected.
Adaptability is basic to futuring leadership. Change is increasing in speed and frequency. A list of lifestyles and practices is given that churches never had to deal with in the past. e.g. cohabitation before marriage, people with AIDS, etc. Thinking has to change from linear to looped. (processing numerous ideas at the same time). One concept that has changed in importance is the concept of a home church. People attend more than one church.
6. Sensitive Issues.
Sensitivity is to be applied to cultural issues, gender issues and generational issues. Differences should be celebrated not used as reasons for confrontation. The us vrs them mindset must go. "Futuring leaders continue to grow by staying aware of emerging sensitive issues.."p.85.
7. Communicating Today.
Communication must be cross generational. The author identifies five generations and looks at differences in communication between them. Electronic communication comes with some serious negatives. It tends to be poorly thought through and hoaxes and inaccuracies are too common.
8. Technophilia and Technophobia.
Technophilia- "openness to technology."p.97. Information technology should not be feared. The same is true for industrial technology and business technology.
9. Healthy Lifestyles.
This topic is discussed under the subheadings balance, behavior and biotechnology. Our lifestyles make balance in our lives a real challenge. Our behavior is impacted by the different levels of relationships. Technology has made it possible for people to be a part of our lives who in past generations would not be survivors (due to aging or sickness) or would have been permanently removed from society in institutions. How do we respond to such people?
10. Lifelong Learning.
Continuous learning through the various media is essential. Leadership styles in churches have changed. There has been a huge shift from power to influence. More than ever, "knowledge is power".p.114. We live in a culture where the best currency is information. Innovation is a valuable tool for survival and success.
11. Creative Leadership.
You cannot be a futuring leader without creativity. This will involve "strategic, genius and oblique"p.123 thinking. These types of thinking are defined and illustrated.
12. Timing.
"Being prepared for the future is more important than planning for it."p.131. Planning ahead is not adapting the past. Planning should always be practical.
13. Future Gazing.
This the tenth trait of futuring leaders. Chapters four to twelve deal with the first nine traits. Growing churches demonstrate characteristics are absent in nongrowing churches. The focus is a major difference.
14. Forty-four Trends.
These trends reflect changes that have happened in the last forty years. They are identified and discussed briefly. The terms native and immigrant are use frequently in the discussion. Futuring churches are immigrant focused. In these trends the author is attempting to "point out the issues that futuring church leaders and all Christian congregations are facing or will face in the near future". p.179.
15. Five Major Appeals.
They are also called motivational fuels. They are "compassion, community, challenge, reasonability, commitment."p.182. Churches who do well in the first two will thrive. Compassion results in connectedness at a level that is very much needed. In an individualistic society, community meets are a basic need.
16. Living in Epic Times.
"Experiential, Participatory, Icon-driven, Connection."p.185
17. New Leadership Styles.
In this last chapter the author identifies and briefly discusses five challenges for futuring leaders. They are:
"1. Focus the majority of your efforts on the future.
2. Understand the fundamental nature of change.
3. Appreciate complex systems and how they work.
4. Examine your leadership style.
5. Create a shared vision to build bridges to the future. "p.188.
Comment. HD.
This is a valuable book for any church leader who is serious about the future and all its challenges.. Dr. Chand has presented relevant information that is helpful to understand the importance of what he calls futuring. His suggestions about how to prepare for that future are very thought provoking. I learned a lot from this book. I think I can appreciate my past (heritage) more as I honestly give myself to making the most of the future.