Thom S. Rainer
Tyndale Momemtum, 128 pages
One of my favorite TV shows is “Friends.” In one episode, the character Ross buys a couch and tries to get it up narrow stairs with his friends’ help. As the couch scrapes the walls and the characters squish against the walls, he repeatedly (and uselessly) yells, “Pivot!” All year, I have heard Ross in my head as we continually pivot with ministry and life. With more people vaccinated, and churches resuming in-person ministries, I recently read “The Post-Quarantine Church” and found it enormously helpful when thinking about what the future of church may be.
Thom Rainer tackles six urgent challenges and opportunities for church leaders to think through in this post-pandemic world:
- How to gather differently,
- Engage the digital world,
- Reconnect with the community near the church,
- Pray,
- Rethink facilities,
- Make lasting change.
With over 40 years of church leadership experience, Rainer brings insights to the local church that are clear and stark. His conclusion: the church will never “go back” to the way it was before, so we must think differently about how we do ministry.
I particularly found his perceptions about facilities helpful. He reminds us that many churches have more than they need, but that does not have to be a death knell. We can open our churches to the community, offering places to celebrate, work, serve and play. We can partner with organizations that help pay for our buildings andserve the community, reminding us that every time someone comes into our church buildings, they are going to church, even if it is not on a Sunday morning.
Rainer stresses that churches must look outward and become less inwardly focused. We must think about the communities in which our church resides with the mindset of “How can we welcome them?” What do our “No Trespassing” signs communicate to those outside the church? How do our rules of building usage communicate the message “use at your own risk” rather than “come and see!”? Rainer says that Jesus came to throw open the doors to all people, and we must do the same.
While I found his insights and strategies useful, my Reformed theology did not always agree with Rainer’s Southern Baptist background. Overall, however, I concur with Rainer’s view of the relationship of the church with the world and believe he offers extremely useful wisdom in how we live out the Great Commission.
The last chapter of the book focuses exclusively on leadership — how it too must pivot to keep up with the changing vision, expectations and culture of a post-pandemic world. Since I finished the book, I have been thinking a lot about Rainer’s belief that long-term planning does not exist anymore. No more 5- and 7-year plans — yesterday’s long-term plans must become today’s short-term action.
Perhaps “pivot” will be the word that best defines leadership in the church of the future. If you wonder how to lead the church with confidence, authenticity and vision, I encourage you to read this book, share it with other leaders in the congregation, and grow together into this new age of ministry with joy and hope!
Sarah Dennis is a pastor at Tuckahoe Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Virginia.
