Fence principles: sledgehammers and hedges

Two principles I have learned – am learning – concerning making changes or starting new traditions in a church.

Fence Principle #1 – FOR OLDER CHURCHES:

“Don’t ever take a fence down until you know the reason it was put up.”

This quote from the English Christian writer G.K. Chesterton is wise advice for any leader dealing with an older organization, especially one in which he is wishing to birth change. It’s easy to walk into a church and immediately see glaring examples of things that need to be changed, improved – or killed!

But before you start the demolition, ask yourself – or better yet, ask someone who has been there for a long time – “Why was this tradition started in the first place? Where did this policy, practice or program come from? What is its history?” There may be a very good reason the fence was put up in the first place. You may unleash unwanted consequences if you pull it down without understanding it.

I am re-introducing myself to this principle in leading at a 52 year old church. At times I can be impatient, wanting to see change happen faster. Our pastor is actually a good balance in this – he is courageous enough to make changes, but picks the right timing, which makes the process longer. But in doing so he is gaining more support for the change. And in some cases, we are finding we don’t need to change a certain area.

Fence Principle #2 – FOR YOUNGER CHURCHES:

“Don’t build a fence when a hedge will do”

This was a personal lesson I learned while working at a church plant. At an older church you walk around with a sledghammer, looking for fences to knock down. At a young church, you walk out into an empty field – because no fences have been built yet! In church planting you start with a clean slate. There are no policies, procedures, programs or practices. No rules, no traditions. No “this is what we have always done”, or “this is what we have always taught.”

Fun, right? But fences serve a purpose. They help bring structure, boundaries, etc. We need what fences offer. So the balancing act is to bring structure to your church, ministry, organization, without building rigid, inflexible policies, procedures, programs, practices, rules, and traditions. Very challenging.

One way to do this is to look for natural boundaries –“hedges” - and be slow to build anything that does not have a purpose. Don’t try to make a comprehensive list of rules or policies for staff, volunteers, church members that include issues that aren’t a problem. If there is a natural “hedge”, if your people aren’t abusing “x”, then don’t make a rule – don’t build a fence. Maybe later the situation will change, and a fence will be needed – but not today. Don’t over-communicate expectations. Too many fences, even good ones, limit the movement of the sheep, and hinders their growth in listening to your leadership and to the shepherding of the Spirit. Legalism produces well-behaved people, but not passionate, thinking, studying, followers of Christ.

You can either start an organization by leading from rules or by leading with grace and encouraging growth. The second option is hard, it takes more time and patience – but true disciples are produced. The first option answers everyone’s questions and nails down every issue – but it may squash a unique work the Spirit wants to do in these people’s lives. If you live by the list, you’ll die by the list.

Shepherd people beside natural hedges as much as possible, and use the sledgehammer with great caution.