Characteristics of Successful Spiritual Organizations
Two main characteristics of present and future spiritual organizations are: 1) the Domain in which they operate and 2) Activities that achieve desired goals. Within these spheres research indicates spiritual organizations that wish to persevere must be both highly adaptable and willing reach out to meet the spiritual needs of people who may not wish to be affiliated with them. These people are known as “Nones”. Like it or not, “Nones” are the fastest growing worldwide sector for potential membership of any future spiritual organization.
The Domain
Church in These VUCA Times: Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous
Jake Morrill, minister of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Ridge, TN created this brilliant explanation of where spiritual organizations were at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they would need to adapt to a future environment of uncertainty.
Entrepreneurial Innovation Will Drive Future Growth
The Domain encompasses the environment in which a spiritual organization operates and the innovation necessary to maintain itself. The Domain is, essentially, the “market”, or the constantly changing realm of activity and its forces that must be responded to. The Church 2.0 organization must innovate to face the future. This is done by embracing a more entrepreneurial mode of operation, incorporating technology, and integrating social trends into its programs. The movie below describes why and how entrepreneurship can be incorporated into the operations of all spiritual organizations.
The environment of all spiritual organizations is one of:
- Constant Uncertainty and Disruption
- Dwindling Resources
- Competition
- The tension to maintain Traditional Roles
- Adopting more entrepreneurial modes for producing revenues
- Exploring different modes of worship
- Embracing appropriate technologies to effectively communicate with members
Activities
Activities are all the organizational features that are typical of a religious organization. That includes the membership (or congregation), operation and management, and events that provide meaning and worth to members.
A New Approach to Future Success
A snapshot of essential elements for successfully navigating the future are the following:
- Recognizing that the potential to gain membership is greater than the potential to lose membership if the goal of serving more people is maintained
- The spiritual organization must be mission-oriented. It is imperative that the mission is clearly, and constantly, articulated
- Physical gatherings are preferable to online meetings for most people. If in person services or activities are not possible use the most appropriate technology to reach as many people as possible.
- Selflessness and authenticity is better than style and substance
- Cultivating a culture of giving is paramount
- Meaningful engagement will drive attendance
- Spiritual offerings, ministry, and liturgy must be simplified and focused
- Online services must be supportive of the journey and mission
- Online services will become more prevalent. “Hybrid” services are a nice idea, but they may be more difficult to manage than either all online or attendance limited by public health concerns
- Multi-site conglomeration of houses of worship will increase, while smaller intimate groups of like-minded people (millennials and others) will also increase.