Let me begin with three basic statements which I will illustrate with three personal experiences:

1. See as God sees; do as God says.

2. Without a clear vision, without a strategic plan, without a focused commitment and determination -- failure is reality.

3. There is no improvement without change -- change must start at the top.

As a brief introduction, let me explain where I am coming from. I am a Congregationalist, and I believe in the Congregational Way. In the same breath I must add that denominationalism, with all its political maneuvering for survival, is for me a waste of time and energy. In my extensive travel around the world, I have encountered many Congregationalists who have lost the fire and yet put a great deal of effort into keeping together the ashes of their yesterdays – a sad, indeed fatal, exercise. I have also met Congregationalists whose “Great Commission” values serve as foundation blocks for the building of God’s Kingdom for today, in whom the flames of jubilant life vibrate through their entire being and their ministry and spread into their congregations and into wider movements. I belong to the latter group of Congregationalists, and I wish to clearly distance myself from the former. Congregationalists (not Congregationalism) need to make a new beginning, putting first things first again, experiencing a revival, focusing on the essentials.

1. See As God Sees; Do As God Says
This is a simple but powerful statement based on the presupposition that there is a living and loving God as demonstrated in Holy Scripture; that Jesus Christ is a historical reality, who died and rose for us; and that the Holy Spirit is real and guides us daily.
To see as God sees requires that we focus on the divine attributes. God dislikes all forms of evil, even if culturally approved or accepted by society, and kingdom values reject all manifestations of the sinful nature described in Galatians 5:19-21. The Creator has always had a loving eye for his creation, even more so after the incomprehensible act of redemption. He sees mankind – all of us – with eyes of love and compassion and is ready to bless us with forgiving grace and lasting peace. We too must see people – all people – with such eyes of love and compassion. The same applies not only to people but also to our local environment and to the natural resources of our entire planet. We continue to destroy God’s creation because we do not have the eyes of the loving Creator. That must change.
To do as God says requires knowing the divine instructions and being willing to obey. Phrases such as “Forgive and forget,” “Share with those in need,” “Regard others as higher than yourself,” “Practice servant leadership,” “Seek unity,” “Demonstrate your faith,” “Practice what you preach” – to list only a few –will never become reality if we are not prepared to put them into practice. Theological debate and philosophical explanations must come to an end. We must do what God says.

Experience in Africa :
A few years ago I was asked to coordinate and direct a major film production for European national television about the devastating drought situation in Africa . We began in Accra , the capital of Ghana, the West African country formerly known as “the Gold Coast.” We interviewed on film a number of missionaries, priests, and pastors from the various churches and parachurch organizations.

Early in the morning of the last day of filming, we visited the Roman Catholic headquarters to film and interview, but there seemed to be no one there. I felt quite disappointed, because I wanted to have a statement from the Catholic sisters and brothers, who were doing an exceptional job of alleviating human suffering in that area. Just as we were about to leave the premises again, I heard noises in the basement where, on investigation, I found an old African man in the kitchen preparing breakfast for himself. He greeted me with a broad smile and invited me to join him in the meal that he was in the midst of preparing. It was quite obvious that that man had no gift either for cooking or for cleanliness. I assumed that he was a helper in the maintenance of the property. However, he served me with a big smile, treating me with dignity = probably, I thought, because of my white skin. As I enjoyed the wonderful fellowship with this old man, I remembered that the entire film crew – six people – was waiting outside for action. Attempting to redeem something of our lost opportunity, I asked the old fellow if he would be willing to answer some questions to be recorded on camera, assuring him that I would ask very simple questions which would require only brief and simple answers. The filming went very well, and after half an hour the entire interview was over. In parting, I asked the man’s name so that he could be included in the credits. Since it was a name with seventeen letters and impossible to pronounce, I asked for his job title as an alternative. He smiled, and said simply, “I am the Archbishop of Cape Coast , West Africa .” 

That was undoubtedly one of the most embarrassing moments of my entire life! Suddenly I remembered that I had in fact seen his name before; he was the African advisor to the Vatican, the author of many theological textbooks, etc., etc. – indeed, one of the greatest Catholic theologians of Africa.

This was a demonstration of servant leadership. Here was a man who practiced what God wanted him to do. (Mark 10:43 )

2. Without a Clear Vision, Without a Strategic Plan, Without a Focused Commitment and Determination -- Failure Is Reality.
In terms of Christian ministry, most pastors and Christian leaders have a passion for the past; some have a concern for the present, but few care about or plan for the future. In my teaching seminars on leadership formation around the world, I am constantly amazed at how little our leaders care about tomorrow and how inadequately they are prepared to make strategic plans. Without a clear vision our future will be faced with and determined by chaos, ineffectiveness, or fear. A clearly formulated vision for our personal lives, our families, our ministries, our churches and institutions is essential, and such a vision is the basis for a well-defined strategic plan. It would be very helpful if, for instance, Christian leaders would learn from the secular business world how to transfer vision into plans and actions. Every evangelist should take a course from the Coca-Cola Company, and every pastor working with children and youth should take lessons from the strategic marketing departments of MacDonald’s and MTV. These companies indeed know how to transfer dreams into plans, plans into actions, and actions into results.

One lesson we can learn from our Congregational fathers and mothers is their focused commitment and determination. They never gave up, even in the most devastating circumstances. No wonder they accomplished so much! Congregationalists can be proud of all their achievements. I believe that since the time of Jesus, when the concept of the fellowship of believers (the congregation) came into existence, few events have done more to shape society than the Mayflower Compact and the events of 1620.

In my present position I focus on helping Christian leaders to spend quality time in formulating a vision which goes beyond a simple dream. This is followed by preparing a vision statement and a mission statement which lead into a strategic plan, which in turn translates into a plan of action with objectives and goals that have to be reviewed and evaluated on a regular basis.

Experience in the former Soviet Union :

Last month I went to Kiev , the capital of Ukraine , part of the former Soviet Union . For eighty years communism made all kinds of Christian worship and ministry very difficult. Christians were severely persecuted. After Glasnost / Perestroica and the fall of the Berlin wall, new possibilities opened up for Christians. In Kiev , a church founded a theological seminary from nothing. After much prayer, fasting, and planning on the part of the leadership, it was decided to get rid of all the traditions and ballast of past theological education and to develop a clear vision for the church and for the country. The vision and mission statements included how best to impact every section of society, including the business community, the academic sector, the parliament, and government employees.

Their plan covers a defined period of three years and is reviewed and adjusted every year. The overall results have been overwhelming. The leadership learned how to delegate authority and how to focus on outcome-oriented effectiveness. The entire leadership is eager to learn and to improve. For instance, when I spoke last May to more than 350 pastors at a conference in Kiev , I mentioned that the media (print and electronic) should have been invited. We must plan to reach beyond our church walls to the millions in the country who have not heard about the Christian message of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Two months later, on my next visit to Kiev , the president of the school and I were interviewed by national television. This resulted in a four-minute segment on the evening news which was seen by approximately 35 million people. The daily newspapers are also beginning to report on what the seminary and the churches are doing throughout the country. Members of the older generation, who so often suffered in prison camps for their faith, are encouraging the new generation to make their dreams a reality, not hindered by obstacles or excuses. (Acts 2:17b)

3. There Is No Improvement without Change - Change Must Start at the Top
Keeping the “status quo” seems often to be seen as sanctification, and holding on to tradition for tradition’s sake as something special and even holy. Many of our churches are barely surviving; others exist solely from bequests made decades or even centuries ago. I believe it is time that our entire ministry, our forms of worship, our singing and preaching, and our theological education and leadership structure reflect more of today’s needs – the needs of the people to whom we are called to minister. Only then will our congregations come alive again, renew their faith, commit themselves to outreach programs and expansion, and be willing to give sacrificially.

We have to learn that today’s people think more with their emotions, and hear more with their eyes. We need to understand that for them matters of faith can only become reality if seen to be demonstrated in the lives of their leaders. People want to see that what we say is identical with what we do.

We also can not expect people just to come to our church buildings, as beautiful as they may be. The time has come when we have to go where the people are, and we must change our entire ministry based on the question “Can it be done better? More effectively? With more lasting fruit?”

We have to be willing and ready to get rid of some of our traditions, and to seek more innovative and creative ways to do effective ministry. Remember: every tradition once began as an innovation!

Experience in Palestine:

Last week, while thinking about and preparing this speech, I visited the Holy Land (Israel and Palestine). In Bethlehem I was asked to speak at the theological school located only a few yards from the Israeli check point with all its violence, shooting, and stone throwing. It was in Bethlehem that the Prince of Peace was born, and where shepherds received the angelic proclamation “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased.” (Luke 2:14)

I also traveled through the Jordan valley, the place where John the Baptist preached and baptized. John followed tradition, and he broke with tradition. He took the ritual of purification out of the Temple and into the wilderness, and broadened its scope; never before had baptism been made available to everyone - rich and poor, men and women alike. He emphasized not the old ritual of sacrifice, but a new commitment to obedience and repentance, and with this change he began a revolution. This was devastating to the top leadership, since change is always difficult at the top level. As a fisherman at the Sea of Galilee said to me, “The fish in the market usually starts to smell at the head,” and a housewife said, “When I clean the stairways I always start at the very top.” (Jeremiah 7:5ff.)

Congregationalists of the past were known for their creativity and innovating spirit. This very spirit is the hallmark of the entire Congregational movement and it has always begun with the leadership at the top.

In the 1980’s Dr. Edwin Orr of the School of World Mission in Pasadena, CA, called historians and theologians from around the world to gather each year for a symposium in Oxford, England. The purpose was to investigate the great revival movements throughout history. I was privileged to participate in these symposia, presenting a paper each year on revival in Congregationalism, in Pietism and in other European movements in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.  Everyone participating at these conferences was surprised to discover that every major revival, every major new beginning, started with the leadership, the theologians, and the pastors.

We are here as leaders of our movement of Congregationalism; if we want to see a new beginning, new life, new excitement, and lasting results, the process has to begin with us. Let us be what we say we are. Let us see as God sees and do as God says, and begin the process of change today.


Manfred Waldemar Kohl (MTh, ThD, Harvard University and American Center for Congregational Studies; DMin, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) serves as Vice-President for International Development for Overseas Council International, an organization which assists theological schools, primarily in the non-western world. He served as minister at the First Congregational Church in Middleboro, Massachusetts, and as moderator of the International Congregational Fellowship. He is presently a member of the executive committee of the ICF and co-chair of its theological commission.