Resistance can be a sign of vital, high quality, and faithful life in a congregation and a learning opportunity for congregational leaders who recognize the value of hearing from those who resist ministry initiatives, inviting their output and listening to their response. So argues Chris Hobgood, based on his research in eight congregations growing in their practice of stewardship, evangelism, spiritual formation, and compassion. Hobgood proposes a “continuum of interventions” that can be made by pastors and lay leaders. He also observes that the degree of resistance will intensify as the degree of change deepens, but suggests that when we try to squelch resistance, we threaten the congregation’s very existence. While it may be tempting to believe that battles have been won when resistance is gone, it is in the give-and-take of change initiators and resisters interacting openly and with mutual respect, that congregations become lively and richer places. Alban Institute.
