Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities in Current Church Dynamics

CONNECTIVITY

AND

COMMUNITY

THRIVING IN THE NEW

NORMAL

Rev. Dr. Amantha Barbee (she/hers)

WHY ME, WHY YOU?

Building i

nclusive leadership

to nurture strategies and

practices pertinent to specific

ministry contexts

Barbee

PROBLEM

SOCIETAL GAP

Where are our

gaps?

WHO IS THE

CHURCH

•

20% of Americans attend church every week

•

41% of Americans are in monthly church attendance or

more

•

57% of Americans are seldom or never in religious

service attendance

•

67% of US adults who typically went to church or other

religious services at least monthly prior to the pandemic

say they actually attended in person in the last month

FINANCIALS

How has this

change affected

the church?

COSTS

QUALITY

Barbee

OPPORTUNITY

     YOU HAVE A CHOICE

CLOSE THE GAP

LIVE IN THE NOW

TARGET – ASK WHY

WHAT CHOICES MUST YOU MAKE?

Barbee

FOLLOW THE MONEY.

DOES YOUR MATH

WORK FOR

SUSTAINABLE

MINISTRY?

PROBLEM (2)

FINANCIALS

COSTS

QUALITY

Barbee

Charlotte Observer

Live Comfortably at $62,110

BUT

– Average income needed

to BUY a house is $76,503

1. Personnel: 40-50 percent

2. Operations: 20-30 percent

3. Programs: 10-20 percent

4. Missions: 10-25 percent

BIBLE STUDY

Luke 9:24-25

For those who want to save

their life will lose it, and

those who lose their life for

my sake will save it. What

does it profit them if they

gain the whole world, but

lose or forfeit themselves?

Barbee

TRADING IN THE CANOE

FOR HIKING SHOES

I don’t know anything about hiking. Who can teach

you?

I don’t know anything about Social Media. Who can

teach you?

I don’t know those people in the new condos. Why?

By keeping your canoe, who are you serving? How

will you get to the top of the mountain?

It’s in the DOING! Collaboration, partnerships,

mergers, sharing resources, embracing the new,

celebrating diversity, and getting out of the way of

God doing and creating something new.

Barbee

THIS IS

CONGREGATIONAL

WORK

NOT SESSION

WORK

Barbee

THRIVE STRATEGY

How we’ll live abundantly in the future

PHASE 1: WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY

Start with the church leadership and make sure to train them for the task of

hearing the voices of all. (They are not all elders)

PHASE 2: WHEN, HOW, WHY

How will we gather this information? What are our checkpoints, ways of

communicating our findings, and organizing our work?

PHASE 3: THE REAL WORK

Gather feedback, design a plan, and put the plan into action. Start over again.

Barbee

WORK MODEL

RESEARCH

Learn your

community

ABSTRACT

What are you

willing to offer

the community

for the sake of

the Kin-dom?

VISION

How will the

work be

done?

Barbee

SUMMARY

We must believe in giving 110%. By using

our next-generation, forward-

looking/thinking mindset and investing for

the future, you can be the next generation

of churches. We thrive because of Jesus

Christ, led by the power of the Holy Spirit. It

is not always easy. As Arthur Brooks says,

“Conflict is the cost of abundant love.” This

work is life-giving, faithful, and filled with the

love of God. We must be transforming

disciples to be true to the gospel.

Barbee

THANK YOU

Rev. Dr. Amantha Barbee

704-386-3233

amanthabarbee@gmail.com

www.amanthabarbee.com

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Explore the shifting landscape of church attendance and financial realities in the modern age through the lens of inclusive leadership, societal gaps, and sustainable ministry practices. Dr. Amantha Barbee delves into the impact of connectivity, community building, and strategic decision-making for congregations to thrive and adapt in the new normal, urging a fresh perspective on traditional methods. Embrace collaboration, diversity, and innovative approaches to address the evolving needs of congregations and enhance congregational work.

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CONNECTIVITY AND COMMUNITY THRIVING IN THE NEW NORMAL Rev. Dr. Amantha Barbee (she/hers)

WHY ME, WHY YOU? Building inclusive leadership to nurture strategies and practices pertinent to specific ministry contexts Barbee 2024 2

PROBLEM QUALITY COSTS FINANCIALS SOCIETAL GAP Where are our gaps? WHO IS THE CHURCH 20% of Americans attend church every week 41% of Americans are in monthly church attendance or more 57% of Americans are seldom or never in religious service attendance 67% of US adults who typically went to church or other religious services at least monthly prior to the pandemic say they actually attended in person in the last month How has this change affected the church? Barbee 2024 3

OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE A CHOICE WHAT CHOICES MUST YOU MAKE? CLOSE THE GAP TARGET ASK WHY LIVE IN THE NOW FOLLOW THE MONEY. DOES YOUR MATH WORK FOR SUSTAINABLE MINISTRY? Barbee 2024 4

PROBLEM (2) QUALITY COSTS FINANCIALS Charlotte Observer Live Comfortably at $62,110 BUT Average income needed to BUY a house is $76,503 1. Personnel: 40-50 percent 2. Operations: 20-30 percent 3. Programs: 10-20 percent 4. Missions: 10-25 percent Barbee 2024 5

BIBLE STUDY Luke 9:24-25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? 2024 Barbee 6

TRADING IN THE CANOE FOR HIKING SHOES I don t know anything about hiking. Who can teach you? I don t know anything about Social Media. Who can teach you? I don t know those people in the new condos. Why? By keeping your canoe, who are you serving? How will you get to the top of the mountain? It s in the DOING! Collaboration, partnerships, mergers, sharing resources, embracing the new, celebrating diversity, and getting out of the way of God doing and creating something new. 2024 Barbee 7

THIS IS CONGREGATIONAL WORK NOT SESSION WORK Barbee 2024 8

THRIVE STRATEGY How we ll live abundantly in the future PHASE 1: WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY Start with the church leadership and make sure to train them for the task of hearing the voices of all. (They are not all elders) PHASE 2: WHEN, HOW, WHY How will we gather this information? What are our checkpoints, ways of communicating our findings, and organizing our work? PHASE 3: THE REAL WORK Gather feedback, design a plan, and put the plan into action. Start over again. Barbee 2024 9

WORK MODEL ABSTRACT What are you willing to offer the community for the sake of the Kin-dom? VISION RESEARCH Learn your community How will the work be done? Barbee 2024 10

SUMMARY We must believe in giving 110%. By using our next-generation, forward- looking/thinking mindset and investing for the future, you can be the next generation of churches. We thrive because of Jesus Christ, led by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is not always easy. As Arthur Brooks says, Conflict is the cost of abundant love. This work is life-giving, faithful, and filled with the love of God. We must be transforming disciples to be true to the gospel. Barbee 2024 11