Looking into the Future: The Top 10 Changes for the American Church
9. Less Formal
| Formal | Informal |
| Dress up in Sunday best to attend | Come as you are (wear what you normally do) |
| Formal titles used when known, especially for clergy and church leaders (i.e. The Rev. Dr.) | Names not titles are normative |
| Extensive worship guides/bulletins | Limited or no print materials used in worship |
| Positional leadership | Functional leadership |
| Join the club | Participate in the family or on the team |
So What?
A given local congregation does not have to be informal to be successful in the future. There is room in the American culture for churches in both categories to flourish. However, I do believe that the more informal, less institutional model is a better fit in an increasingly postmodern culture.
Consider inviting un/non/marginally-churched members of your community to visit on a Sunday morning and get their take on how formal or informal your congregational culture is. It is often hard to fully assess by those who live within the system.
- Is your overall congregational culture formal or informal?
- What is one example in your church of being formal that you believe should be reevaluated?
- What do you believe are some practical benefits of the informal model?