Trusting Households: Openness to Change
By: Jonathan Wu
The author writes, “A sign of health in emerging Asian American churches is the willingness to embrace and to learn and grow through change.” (102)
The author describes the dynamic of what they call “the silent exodus” where second and third generation Asian Americans are leaving the church around the time of the college years and not returning. Wu suggests, “They may have grown weary of being consistently reminded that they are children in their parents’ church.” (107) He argues that this is a sign that healthy change must be the norm in the church. He writes, “Change is costly. And change, or even its remote possibilities, can feel threatening to a culture that prides itself on cohesiveness, continuity and stability.” (107) For a culture that has sacrificed so much for the sake of preserving cultural and familial identity, change can be a very threatening entity.
He also suggests comments that, “Individual and corporate shame can be another significant hindrance toward stepping into the waters of change.” (108) Questioning leadership or those in authority, rocking the boat, can lead to one being identified as a “troublemaker” and can cause a leader to try to “save face” publicly. In a community with some of the previously discussed values and unspoken rules, the kind of openness and healthy conflict that is necessary to leading healthy change can really be problematic.
Wu notes that, “The most important commodity in change dynamics is trust. People are most open to influence and action when they are strengthened in their faith in God and in God’s good purposes for them, and when they have confidence in those who are leading them.” (109) This places much more of a priority on the character and trustworthiness of the leaders. Culturally speaking, many AA leaders often struggle with vulnerability, which is a significant component to building trust with followers. Wu writes, “People will go where their leaders have gone. They will be more willing to go through change as they witness their leaders being transformed and changed.” (111)
On Change and Learning
“…this journey toward change cannot be an individual initiative; it must become a collective commitment to learning and growing through this process.” (112) “A community that changes starts with being a community that learns and discerns together.” (112)
“The genuine health of a congregation is not primarily evaluated on the basis of what it accomplished or how much it achieves, but more so on who they are becoming and how they feel about that transformational process and about their community.” (1112) “Learning provokes change. The byproduct of a learning community is transformation.” (from Cha, 115)
“What marks a church as a discerning community? It begins with the pastor and other key leaders acknowledging and expressing their commitment to learn and to be shaped with the congregation. It is equally critical that people sense that those whom they have given the charge of spiritual responsibility are receptive and responsive to the leading of God through others.” (113)
“Any change process begins with a definite need. People will not change unless there is a compelling motivation to do so.” (115) “Leaders should take sufficient time to consider whether initiating change is appropriate for that particular season of their church’s life.” (116) “Openness to change is also enhanced by a compelling vision.” (117)
On Cultivating the Right Ethos for Change
“First, a congregation must begin by understanding God’s purposes for the church and appreciating the more unique calling and priorities for its particular community.” (119)
“Second, a congregation must be given sufficient time to cultivate the right ethos and prospects for positive change.” (119)
“Third, a congregational openness to change is greater when leaders develop a comprehensive yet flexible process.” (120)
Other Quotes on Change in Chapter 5:
On change Robert Quinn comments, “We would rather experience the pain of slow death than the threat of changing oneself.”1 (102)
“Pastor Erwin McManus puts it this way, “Repentance is change, conversion is change, regeneration is change, transformation is change, and sanctification is change. All of the deeply theological constructs that we have embraced and understand to be true cannot exist outside of a theology of change.”2 (104)
Chinese proverb, “If one must suffer, it is much better to shorten the pain.” (117)
