Again we return to the admission that adaptive solutions to our problems causes changes that will bring conflict. I'm fond of repeating Jesus' words "Where two or three are gathered together, I am there," but altering them to say "Where two are three are gathered together there's gonna be a fight." That fight, or conflict can be orchestrated, according to the authors, to effect a positive outcome. In the world of Church business the only outcome that makes sense is one what makes a positive impact on effecting a difference in the lives of others; a difference that brings others to Christ.
The four ideas that the authors offer make a lot of sense. A holding environment is like floating trial baloons. It allows an idea to evolve within a group of people. I've used this bry bringing together "think tanks" in a church. When you involve people representing a wide range of groups within the church you can come to a proper understanding of where the Spirit of God is leading.
The second step, controlling the temperature, begins to sound manipulative. I don't like manipulation but I do have an appreciation of leading a congregation toward needed adaptations that allow it to live its mission. Controlling the temperature in the church involves celebrating each of the small changes. As people begin to see each small change has an effect on ushering in the Kingdom, they will begin to demand more change sooner. Eventually a congregations is turning up its own temperature.
The third step is to pace the work. This is the actual changes that you make and celebrate on the way. I've never been one to make hard and fast schedules for change. Schedules of a particular pace do not allow for course corrections that come when God sends us new people, with new talents, and new passions. But if we mean by "pace" taking it slow enough to honor every voice and bring all along with us to the Kingdom, then it has merit.
The final step is showing the future. This is the issue of vision casting and is the number one job of Church leadership. Vision is developed through a dilligence in prayer and Bible study coupled with an understanding of the needs of a community and the assets (financial, property, and people) that God has provided to accomplish a mission. Vision, properly cast, can cause a people to hear the Lord's calling on their lives to effect God's preferred future.
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