Brett February 5, 2018

I normally publish every Monday but this week is special. I will post each day (Mon-Fri) anticipating the Archdiocesan Conference we are hosting in Vancouver on Saturday February 10th. ONE Conference

If you do what you’ve always done, you will get what you’ve always got. It’s craziness to think we can get different results in the new evangelization if we keep doing the same thing.

When John Paul the Great first exhorted the Church to embrace the new evangelization in 1983, he wasn’t proposing a new message. Neither have his successors. Their challenge to the people of God has been to find new ardour, new methods and new expression. I would also add – new leadership.

The Church's challenge for the new evangelization is to find new ardour, new methods and new expression. I would also add - new leadership. Click To Tweet

In the five-part blog series this week, I will propose 5 leaderSHIFTS for the new evangelization.

LeaderSHIFT #1 – Confront the Brutal Facts

Productive change begins when you confront current reality as it truly is. Not the way it was in the good old days and not the way you wish it were now.

We need to shift from superficial analysis that scratches the surface, to embrace deep inquiry into the systems and culture that shaped where we are now. This shift requires both discipline and hope.

It takes discipline to confront the most sobering facts about the lay of the land and it takes unwavering hope to know that spiritual transformation is possible, regardless of the obstacles.

Without hope, disciplined analysis is depressing. Without discipline, hope is not a strategy. Both are needed.

It takes discipline to confront the sobering facts & unwavering hope to know that spiritual transformation is possible. Both are needed from leaders in the new evangelization. Click To Tweet

You might ask, “How do we motivate people with brutal facts?”  One thing is certain – the quickest way to de-motivate your top leaders is to ignore the brutal facts of the situation.

Real vision that inspires people to take action contains two dimensions: 1) an accurate, even sobering assessment of current reality and, 2) a clear picture of the preferred future. Real vision is about dreams and facts.

Real vision that inspires people to take action contains two dimensions: 1) an accurate, even sobering assessment of current reality and, 2) a clear picture of the preferred future. Click To Tweet

Consider when you make a trip to the shopping mall. You know the store name but you don’t have a plan or vision for how to get there. What do you do? Find the map of the shopping mall!  Within seconds, you locate the desired store but it’s not enough to see where you want to go. What is missing? Current reality – the little red dot that says, “You are here.”

Confronting the most brutal facts about current reality is the same as starting with the little red dot.  When you start with an honest and diligent effort to determine the truth of your situation, the right decisions and right strategy become self-evident.

Leaders must create a culture where people are free to flag concerns. Ignore those whispers and you will be forced to deal with their screams later on. The disciplines of the organization must produce realistic assessments of current reality.

We must create a culture where people are free to flag concerns. Ignore those whispers & you'll be forced to deal with screams later on. Organizational disciplines must produce realistic assessments of current reality. Click To Tweet

New leadership for the new evangelization is both disciplined and hopeful; prophetic and strategic. The first leaderSHIFT needed for the new evangelization is to confront the brutal facts about current reality and refuse superficial or sentimental analysis. Leaders create a culture where that becomes expected and normal.

On the macro-level, Sherry Weddell (Forming Intentional Disciples) has provided some statistics about current reality in the US. The Angus Reid Institute has completed a robust inquiry on the state of faith and religion in Canada. Check it out here: Angus Reid Study

Individual parishes are now conducting analysis on the micro-level. Many have used the ME25 created by the Gallup Group to survey member engagement. Others are partnering with the St. Catherine of Sienna Institute for measuring specific metrics.

These are good signs that leaders in the new evangelization are shifting from superficial, or sentimental analysis, to something concrete and real. Something on which they can prayerfully discern a path for improvement.

Too many leaders shy away from confronting the brutal facts about current reality. They resist that kind of analysis for fear of losing hope. But real hope, the hope Jesus gives, is attracted to this kind of reality check. Jesus’ hope is always enough for the situation, It doesn’t cower or shrink but stands strong. It isn’t changed by the circumstances, it changes circumstances.

What is your parish doing to measure current reality?

Tomorrow’s post will focus on the leader’s passion to challenge the process and the relentless quest to eliminate the status quo from the Church.