Is legacy really a liability or an opportunity? I don’t think “legacy” should be thought of in a binary fashion. People long for stability and routine, not constant chance and upheaval. Just because people are moving from brand to brand doesn’t mean it is preferred….
What if there was a church that took orthodox tennets but didn’t assume people knew them in a deep and intricate way, but rather took them and offered them up in refreshing, non-assumptive ways?
Brand and products mights be younger, but not the deep human need that drives those decisions. Church leaders and communicators need to know the difference in my opinion.
I can’t agree with you more, Kenny. Church goer’s regardless of their age and stage in life are looking for consistency. Not for the starchy and mundane, but a routine that will allow them the time and venue for personal and spiritual growth.
There is however an eminent problem with age old denominations, established churches, and their bureaucracies. They have a to grapple with this image in and of itself.
Reinvent themselves because of the skepticism that is attached to having to go through hoops instead of having direct contact and make quick decisions. In this fast pace age, society meetings and ceremonies are dated and have become intolerable for everyone’s patience. They’ve lost their relevance they’ve become political charades!
This is the brand and image that has become the “church” and needs to be dropped. No church should aspire to be anything like the politics we see today, it leaves everyone with a bad taste in their mouth.
Instead church need to offer authentic and refreshing experiences coming to the table with new comers and old in “good” faith. That is the reputation and brand we must try to build upon.
[…] 40 years ago. Being around for a long time can be seen as a liability with the next generation. (Rich Birch has a great info-graphic on this.) How are you showing the relevance of an ancient faith to the current […]
[…] 40 years ago. Being around for a long time can be seen as a liability with the next generation. (Rich Birch has a great info-graphic on this.) How are you showing the relevance of an ancient faith to the current […]
I have multiple problems with this… first of all… the brands are getting younger because the companies who owned the older brands are dying. It isn’t the brand that is dying; it is the organization itself. If we really took this as a model then older churches should go and do likewise.
Beyond this, the main debate in the comments is whether Church goers want stability or change. Simply “going to church” is a legacy action and thus reflects a self-selecting subgroup that skews the analysis. Are we seeking a retention plan, a recruiting plan or a plan to “be” Christian?
Consider the Great Commission (in more meaningful Greek grammatical structure). “Make disciples” by “going”, “baptizing”, and “training”.
The Field of Dreams concept of build it and they will come is the opposite of the Great Commission. We are commanded to “go”, not get “them” to “come to us”. Mother Teresa went to the poor. Think about the “brand” that built. Pope Francis gets out of the popemobile… Think about that brand. Take a page from Guy Kawasaki’s play book (a “chief evangelist”). Think about the “brands” that work.
Sorry, but this ancient engineer just turns OFF when he sees statements like “Mass Media Has Lost It’s Impact.” Mass media has lost “it is” impact? Really?????? And 22 year olds are worse at grammar than ever before.
[…] 40 years ago. Being around for a long time can be seen as a liability with the next generation. (Rich Birch has a great info-graphic on this.) How are you showing the relevance of an ancient faith to the current […]
Rich Birch is one of the early multi-site church pioneers in North America. He led the charge in helping The Meeting House in Toronto to become the leading multi-site church in Canada with over 5,000+ people in 18 locations. In addition, he served on the leadership team of Connexus Church in Ontario, a North Point Community Church Strategic Partner. He has also been a part of the lead team at Liquid Church - a 5 location multisite church serving the Manhattan facing suburbs of New Jersey. Liquid is known for it’s innovative approach to outreach and community impact. Rich is passionate about helping churches reach more people, more quickly through excellent execution.His latest book Church Growth Flywheel: 5 Practical Systems to Drive Growth at Your Church is an Amazon bestseller and is design to help your church reach more people in your community.
Is legacy really a liability or an opportunity? I don’t think “legacy” should be thought of in a binary fashion. People long for stability and routine, not constant chance and upheaval. Just because people are moving from brand to brand doesn’t mean it is preferred….
What if there was a church that took orthodox tennets but didn’t assume people knew them in a deep and intricate way, but rather took them and offered them up in refreshing, non-assumptive ways?
Brand and products mights be younger, but not the deep human need that drives those decisions. Church leaders and communicators need to know the difference in my opinion.
I can’t agree with you more, Kenny. Church goer’s regardless of their age and stage in life are looking for consistency. Not for the starchy and mundane, but a routine that will allow them the time and venue for personal and spiritual growth.
There is however an eminent problem with age old denominations, established churches, and their bureaucracies. They have a to grapple with this image in and of itself.
Reinvent themselves because of the skepticism that is attached to having to go through hoops instead of having direct contact and make quick decisions. In this fast pace age, society meetings and ceremonies are dated and have become intolerable for everyone’s patience. They’ve lost their relevance they’ve become political charades!
This is the brand and image that has become the “church” and needs to be dropped. No church should aspire to be anything like the politics we see today, it leaves everyone with a bad taste in their mouth.
Instead church need to offer authentic and refreshing experiences coming to the table with new comers and old in “good” faith. That is the reputation and brand we must try to build upon.
[…] 40 years ago. Being around for a long time can be seen as a liability with the next generation. (Rich Birch has a great info-graphic on this.) How are you showing the relevance of an ancient faith to the current […]
[…] 40 years ago. Being around for a long time can be seen as a liability with the next generation. (Rich Birch has a great info-graphic on this.) How are you showing the relevance of an ancient faith to the current […]
I have multiple problems with this… first of all… the brands are getting younger because the companies who owned the older brands are dying. It isn’t the brand that is dying; it is the organization itself. If we really took this as a model then older churches should go and do likewise.
Beyond this, the main debate in the comments is whether Church goers want stability or change. Simply “going to church” is a legacy action and thus reflects a self-selecting subgroup that skews the analysis. Are we seeking a retention plan, a recruiting plan or a plan to “be” Christian?
Consider the Great Commission (in more meaningful Greek grammatical structure). “Make disciples” by “going”, “baptizing”, and “training”.
The Field of Dreams concept of build it and they will come is the opposite of the Great Commission. We are commanded to “go”, not get “them” to “come to us”. Mother Teresa went to the poor. Think about the “brand” that built. Pope Francis gets out of the popemobile… Think about that brand. Take a page from Guy Kawasaki’s play book (a “chief evangelist”). Think about the “brands” that work.
Sorry, but this ancient engineer just turns OFF when he sees statements like “Mass Media Has Lost It’s Impact.” Mass media has lost “it is” impact? Really?????? And 22 year olds are worse at grammar than ever before.
Robert!
Thanks so much … clearly grammar isn’t my strength! 😉
Now to figure out where that original file is.
– Rich
[…] How Global Consumer Trends are Impacting Your Church. [infographic] | unSeminary unseminary.com/how-global-con… […]
[…] 40 years ago. Being around for a long time can be seen as a liability with the next generation. (Rich Birch has a great info-graphic on this.) How are you showing the relevance of an ancient faith to the current […]