Jason Savage’s recent explanation of his decision to leave parish based ministry is an excellent example of the-grass-is-always-greener-on-the-other-side-of-the-fence thinking.
Savage is concerned by a decades long trend in the church toward what he calls “professionalism,” a broad term that seems to include everything from leveraging the best marketing and management practices from the wider non-profit and for-profit world to accepting the evolving demands of leadership and roles of denominations. His response was to walk away from his own “paid” work in congregational ministry at the end of 2013 in order to pursue consulting work to help reform the church.
So What?
I am unsure how Savage can hope to succeed in his new role without understanding and applying some of the same principles he loathes in order to generate the new business he envisions. In short order he will be faced with branding his new business, defining what it is about this entity that adds value to churches, and reaching out to prospective clients.
As someone who is passionate about the ongoing work of reformation in the church (and at every level!), I am thankful that there are many who seek to focus on issues they find most troublesome. As someone who dreams of a brighter tomorrow for the American church, I am left wondering what Savage’s new venture has to offer.
- Name the one reform you feel is most needed in the American church today. How are you or how would you like to be involved in working on enacting that change?
- What words of wisdom would you offer Savage as he begins his new ministry?