I first heard this illustration from a friend many many years ago, so I’ll give him a shoutout in recognition – cheers Neil. Is this idea of church life and leadership in a book somewhere? You tell me. Please, if it is let me know. So, here’s my recollection of the concept plus some personal spin after 25 years of church-based pastoral ministry.
Imagine your congregation is a train consisting of four pieces of rolling stock,
a locomotive
coach 1
coach 2
and a brake van
Each piece represents a percentage of the congregation, 10-40-40-10.
The Locomotive – represents 10% of the congregation. These people carry the vision of the church, they can motivate and enthuse others, support the leadership in their endeavours and are very probably in leadership themselves of some kind within the congregation. Here we have GOOD PEOPLE. Take care of them.
Coach 1 – represents 40% of the congregation. These people are keen, excited and supportive. They’ve been waiting for this – especially if you’re the new minister in post. You’re the answer to their prayers. They want to go on a journey, they don’t want things to stay the same, or get stale or boring. They’re worried their kids (especially their teenagers) might lose interest and stop coming to church. These people may not be in church leadership, they might be busy professionals, or simply great followers but not necessarily initiative takers. Anyway, these are GOOD PEOPLE. Invest in them.
Coach 2 – another 40%, here you’ll find some friendly yet suspicious faces. Anxious people, worried by change and probably influenced by anecdotal stories of other churches that have gone off the rails (no pun intended). They’re not particularly hostile, but neither are they your biggest fans. These people are still precious and to be valued, though perhaps not in their present state. Be wary.
The Brake Van – and finally, 10% of the congregation are not with you or the vision - don’t take this too personally. These people generally fall into three categories.
The seriously passive. They want church to ‘tick a box’ of some sort, but they’re never going to engage beyond attendance. Though in reality, they are more than happy to engage with others in complaining.
The passive aggressive. They don’t like what’s going on. But they’ll probably only share that with others but never to your face, or your leadership team.
The hostile. They tell you you’re wrong! To your face, to others and in extensive emails. They might even try and gather a similar group of likeminded agitators together to plot their counterattack.
Welcome to the train!
Lessons I’ve learnt
First, never over analyse this allegory. Don’t keep looking at your congregation and doing the maths! The metaphor really only has THREE things to say.
Though in prayer and supplication you want to uncouple the Brake Van, in reality even if some people here leave, the percentage remains the same – you’ll always have 10% in the Brake Van. So to summarise, my experience has shown these people only ever leave the Brake Van by actually leaving the train, and though you may want to briefly celebrate such an event, remember this 10% will always somehow materialise and so exist.
Our pastoral heart will want to minister to the folk in Coach 2 – obviously. If you don’t have a pastoral heart you shouldn’t be in ministry – FULL STOP. But don’t let their misplaced anxiety eclipse the apostolic and missional agenda of the congregation. Because… and take this next point very seriously…
If you overly invest in the worried folk of Coach 2, your fan club in Coach 1 will soon (and legitimately) lose their zeal and enthusiasm. You’ll always have the anxious, nervous and fearful; but it’s more important to keep the flame of the zealous burning for His Kingdom. Boring church is an insult to every one of God’s revelations. And anyway, we already have way too many mediocre congregations – don’t add to the list with your misguided pastoral heart for the irrationally anxious. Prioritise the enthusiasm found in Coach 1, without neglecting the vision in The Locomotive. In this regard, one of my biggest regrets is probably not loving and supporting my co-leaders enough!
So there you have it, the 10-40-40-10 train. You don’t need to catch it – you’re already on board… somewhere.
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