Case 1 Lancaster Community Church.
What dynamics do you observe?
It seems that the ship is going to sink, and a new captain appear to the rescue.
Financial problems, declining membership, uncomfortable staff, the absence of officials in the first view, a multiple ethnics groups in a small congregation, etc. It shows a really messy reality as a Church has to be.
A serious situation that shows an evident lack of leadership and teamwork; and poor management.
What other information would you want?
I listened carefully to Mary, Marjorie, Ralph (assuming all white) and Jose (hispanic) and perceived a preliminary state that nothing really good is going on.
As soon as possible updated reports in all the critical fields that I mentioned.
What would be your next step?
Meeting in two days with the Leadership Board I will ask the exact situation of the Church. Evaluate the reports together and define the central points to elaborate:
1 Emergency Plan. To survive. Taking care all the urgent issues.
2 Evangelism and Discipleship Plan. To grow and rebuild a new and fresh vision and mission to the Church.
A plan with two parts. First, to train 12 volunteers with some conditions and the desire to stay and be a leader, from the ethnic groups. The second part, working in the implementation of a sustain Cell Home System, beyond the establishment of small groups. Based in the proposal that I bringing to grrow sistematicly, and open to disscuss and enrich it.