Chapter Seven

So we have two questions, in a general and a specific to our congregation form: can we have effective congregations without full-time clergy on staff, and is our future viable as a congregation in the 150-200 AWA niche?

I have a confident "Yes" to offer on both counts. I also think our future at Newark Central is MORE than just being a congregation with two worship services and 200 or so a Sunday in attendance.

This is where the practical and the theological can constructively intersect.


I read the following link two years ago and thought "he understands our situation very, very well!" Both for Newark Central and Ohio Disciples more generally.

This brother in Christ is speaking to the challenges being faced right now in the United Methodist Church, but his "Chapter One" (which is not as long as a standard book chapter at all) has great relevance to our current circumstances at Newark Central:


To sum up what he's talking about, regarding types of problems faced by institutions and organizations:

A simple problem is one where there is broad agreement on the nature of the problem and on the best course of action to resolve it. The only institutional question is how to implement the course of action.

A complex problem is a second type of problem faced by an institution. All agree on the nature of the problem but serious disagreement exists as to the best response. Both actions considered and implementation are in question.

A wicked problem reflects a challenging and muddled collision of realities that combine to defy traditional solutions -- or, there is not agreement either on the nature of the problem, nor about potential responses. There is only agreement that there IS a problem.

I would argue that, in a modest way, we are facing a sort of "wicked problem" in our congregational life right now. There is unease with our situation and status, but there is not consensus either on what the actual problem is -- is it lack of growth? lack of youth? lack of diversity, ethnic, economic, or otherwise? lack of funds? lack of a future for the neighborhood? -- or what we should do as a course of action -- change worship format drastically? buy the "middle" property to our west, tear down three houses, and build a more adaptable structure? relocate entirely?

Any organization faces some unique challenges when there is neither agreement on the problem's nature, nor consensus on steps to move forward. That's essentially where we are as a church.

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Chapter Nine

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