Many conflicts between a host and immigrant church are the result of unfulfilled expectations. Unfulfilled because they were not expressed and written down prior to launching the immigrant ministry.
Here is a three step process I use to create a spirit of unity. It takes me an average of eight months to walk a church through the first two steps.
1. SOW the Vision. Helping people take ownership of a vision cannot be done in one 45-minute presentation. People need time to process the vision.
· The Pastor. The pastor is the key person. Nothing will be accomplished without the pastor’s full support.
· The Leadership. The leadership needs to work through the issues and ask all of the questions necessary before moving ahead. Only then can they confidently respond to questions from the congregation.
· The Congregation. The congregation should receive the same information that the pastor and the leadership received. They are the ones that will have to give up exclusive use of facilities, worship styles, and leadership positions to reach all levels of assimilation within an immigrant group.
2. SURVEY the Body.
· Determine your acceptable losses. The leadership should determine the number of families or individuals they are willing to loose in order to implement an ethnic ministry. Whether you change your style of worship music, name, or drop Sunday school for small groups, there are always some who will leave the church. It’s no different with starting an immigrant ministry.
· Conduct an informal survey. Following the Vision Casting to the congregation (I recommend a series of messages) divide the families of the church among the leadership and ask them what they think about the possibility of starting an ethnic ministry. This casual survey will help you get some idea if you are within the range of acceptable losses. If not, go back to casting the vision. Consider some of the negative feedback received from the casual survey. Address these concerns from a biblical perspective. Remember we are not asking for permission, we are preparing the hearts of our people for transition.
· Conduct a formal survey. Proceed with this step if the informal survey is positive. The purpose is to solicit the opinions, concerns and fears of the people so they can be addressed at an announced congregational meeting for this purpose.
3. SECURE a Covenant.
A covenant outlines the commitments the church is wiling to make to launch an immigrant ministry.
· Facility Use. The usage of rooms, days, and times for regular services and a process for requesting usage for special events and activities. Rooms are no longer for the exclusive use of any one person or ministry.
· Equipment Use. The usage of audio/visual equipment for regular services and a process for requesting usage for special events and activities.
· Chain of Command.
o Ministry Leaders: Children’s, Youth, Audio-Video, Greeters, Ushers, etc… should provide training for counter parts in the immigrant church for continuity across language ministries regarding church policies, practices, and care of facilities and equipment.
o The Immigrant Pastor and congregation must be aware of the church’s process and protocol for dealing with issues.
· Finances. Since the immigrant ministry is part of the local church then all offerings go into the church treasury. The church should create a line item(s) to cover the expenses of the immigrant ministry. This should include, as soon as possible, the immigrant pastor’s compensation package.
That’s my opinion. I welcome yours.
Healthy Diversity 