Grand Canyon Synod of the ELCA

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Church Leadership Q&A: How to Lead Change When Your Congregation Resists

Discover how to move beyond quick fixes and embrace a deeper transformation in your church with Dr. Michael Goheen. Listen to the latest Pivot podcast from faith+lead here.

“I lost five council members when I tried to make changes.”

This candid admission from a church leader captures the real challenges of leading congregations today. In this special Q&A episode, hosts Alicia Granholm, Dwight Zscheile, and Terri Elton tackle your most pressing questions about church leadership and change.

Drawing from questions submitted by listeners in the field, our hosts explore how to build motivation for change, ways to discern God’s will as a community, practical approaches to neighborhood ministry for commuter churches, and strategies for building trust while leading through lament. Whether you’re facing council resistance or seeking to guide your congregation into God’s future, this episode offers both practical wisdom and spiritual encouragement for the journey. Featuring insights on the “five whys” exercise, storytelling practices for building trust, and scripture-based approaches to discernment from Acts 16.