Change Agents.

This is a term that Bishop Graham Cray used on Saturday night when speaking about ‘Ministry and Church’. People working in the church, ministers in particular, need to be change agents. People that can both work within change and not be threatened by it, as well as being able to see an opportunity and instigate change to be able to take that opportunity.

He outlined some research from Steven Croft from Fresh Expressions that shows that as things stand, as the church exists at the moment, only 40% of the nation is within our grasp. Times have changed, and we need to change if we are to make any sort of impact on the 60%, a figure that will grow as years progress if unchecked.

Graham also spoke of his belief that this culture avoids commitment. He actually used the term ‘corrosive to commitment’. For some things I agree, but on reflection, this does not seem entirely true. I am part of 4000 or so people who are committed to the Gills with my season ticket, and we go week in and out despite the fact they are playing abysmally football fans are just as committed.

Other commitments I see are a commitment to a gang, to a brand, to a location, to a club, to a music genre. Commitment to church, to family, to company is being corroded. But commitment in other areas in strong.

Is it commitment that is being corroded by our culture, or is our culture only committing to that in which it sees as valuable?