Consider the communication issues in the following three scenarios...
Scenario One
Your church has embarked on a vision for ministry whose implementation is going to cost at least two to three times its annual budget. As a result, the leadership team wants to introduce the idea of a formal capital fundraising campaign, but it first wants to check the “pulse” of the congregation for such a venture. If the people like the idea, the leadership will move forward with their plans.
Scenario Two
The pastor had grown tired of hearing the youth minister “ask” about space needs, so in a fit of frustration one morning, the youth minister was instructed to “go figure it out yourself.” Now, two months later the pastor walks into the church board room and is greeted by charts, diagrams, renderings and detailed plans for a three-year church capital campaign.
Scenario Three
The governing board of your church barely meets twice a year and you as “Executive Director” cannot seem to get them to understand the disconnect between a capital fund and general operating expenses. So you invite a capital campaign consultant to your next meeting. The consultant’s appearance crashes like the proverbial lead balloon.
Cut! Stop! Rewind!
After reading the three scenarios above, your friends at Catalyst Faithworks hope you are able to see one of the most basic communication needs for church capital campaigns.
Clear communication at the leadership level
Please note, we did not say that “clear leadership communication” was the most basic of element, only “one” of them. In genuine Christian ministry, there is no debate that the most basic communication need comes from the top … the highest heavens where Almighty God sits enthroned in majesty!All visions, dreams, hopes and directions must be initiated by the Lord. However, once you are convinced the Lord has prompted you toward a capital campaign, then you must make sure your leadership team is crystal clear on the details. In other words, clear communication among leadership is paramount before you share anything with your congregation.
"Clarity of what works is an ethical imperative."
Michael Novak, Theologian, author, and former U.S. ambassador
One basic communication model identifies three parts: Sender, Receiver and Message. Catalyst Faithworks would amend the model and insist that a fourth element be included. We believe communication is not successful unless the “message” is communicated in the exact manner intended by the sender for the particular receiver.
You can easily see from our three scenarios that something was lacking in each. Call it fuzzy vision, misinterpretation, garbled dialogue or low expectations; the “message” was not successfully received in the exact manner communicated by the sender.
We are reminded of the scene from the The Silver Chair in the Chronicles of Narnia series when the hard-of-hearing dwarf, the Lord Trumpkin, mistakenly believes the children are all “killed” after being introduced to the girl named “Jill.” Although there was a sender (Eustace Scrubb) and receiver (Lord Trumpkin) and a message (“her name is Jill”) .. the message was garbled, hence not communicated in the exact manner intended. In the narrative, this communication delay coupled with other events led to almost disastrous circumstances for the main characters.
In church capital campaign communications, it is vital that the vision and its needs for the particular organization be clearly understood by those in leadership first and foremost. Until it is, and there is agreement, any ideas or plans should go no further!
“Give to us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for.”
Peter Marshall, Chaplain to the U. S. Senate
So, long before any consultants are hired, or architects and builders are retained, or any related matter is made public, church leadership must be clear among itself:
- What is the Lord’s direction for the church?
- How does a capital campaign connect with the overall vision for ministry?
- Who will this decision affect?
- Why do we believe a capital campaign is the right solution?
- When is the best time to begin?
- Where will our detractors find their ammunition?
Naturally, there will be many other related questions to be considered before church leadership boards the ship on a capital campaign journey. Yet it should not attempt to leave the harbor without agreement and commitment among itself.
