January 20, 1999

Thinking about change?
Prepare for opposition
___FORT WORTH--Anyone thinking about leading a congregation to change should be prepared for opposition and conflict, James Reeves warned participants at the Innovative Church Ministries Conference.
___Reeves should know. He has been pastor of Celebration Baptist Church in Tarrant Baptist Association for 15 years, leading the congregation to transition from traditional to ultra-contemporary.
___"There is nothing more dangerous than being a change agent, a point person in transition," he said. "It is precarious because any and all change ticks somebody off."
___He described five categories of people:
___ Innovators or entrepreneurs make up 2 percent of the people.
___ Early adopters make up 10 percent.
___ Middle adopters, who can be influenced to accept change, are 60 percent.
___ Late adopters, who generally oppose any change, represent 20 percent.
___ Laggards make up 8 percent, and they are opposed to any change.
___"When you start to make a change, you have only 12 percent of the people for you, and 88 percent against you," he noted.
___Those opposing change generally oppose it until they drive nails into the doors of the church, he said. Their reasons are the status quo is easier, their comfort zone is threatened and they no longer have control.
___A pastor leading change must tell the laggards they are no longer driving the boat, Reeves said. "Tell them to get on board with you or get out. If you think that is unkind, ask whether it is more unkind to let this small percentage of people run the church than to tell them to get out of the way."
___Celebration has transformed itself from a traditional church averaging 60 in attendance to an innovative church with more than 2,000 present each week.

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