Keep in mind, there is much more to say but I’m trying to boil it down as much as possible.

Our Senior Leadership Team took a couple of days this week to attempt a final wrestling with the Edge /  Summit debate.  We knew we needed to make a decision and move forward.  And we have.

Here is a “Top 10″ list of things to keep in mind about our proposed solution:

PROBLEM.  We have an undeniable problem. We have never attempted to ignore, hide or NOT be proactive about solving it.   The problem is that the Edge is growing and needs more space to continue to grow, while the Summit is declining.

PROCESS.  We have tried to be very open in our discussion about the process and challenges.

DISCUSSION.  This was a conversation between the Senior Leadership Team as well as Summit and Edge leaders, Trustees and our GPS leaders.

OPTIONS. We seriously considered several options. All options were presented in “proposal” form knowing many unseen problems could derail things. The most seriously considered options were:

a) Two church sites — Lincoln for Summit, Washington Square Mall for Edge;

b) Edge in the Big Room at 9 AM, and a new form of the Summit in the gym at 9 AM.

There have been many variations offered of those basic ideas (Edge “lite” at 9, Edge at another venue at 11, Edge on Saturday night, etc.).

ALTERNATIVES:  There was NEVER an option where we did not plan to offer a worship alternative. A key principle of the Edge is that  we have never forced it on anyone nor do we ever want to.  The main question was:  where?  Space and time were always the greatest challenge in discussing an alternative worship experience.

SOLUTION.  We decided to move forward with a hybrid form of plan “a”: The Summit will stay at 9 AM in the Big Room but will be more intentional and proactive links to the mission of the church fueled by leadership from both Pastor Dave and Pastor Steve. I will also have an active role but those two will take first responsibility.   The Edge will pursue continued growth and actively seek to get a “foot in the door” at Washington Square Mall (300-500-seats in Elder Beerman as a first phase) – forming 2 sites between Lincoln and WSM with the hope of moving to the Mall completely in the next several years.

STYLE. The Summit will not be a new “Edge,” it will seek to minister to those currently in the room using the talents and skills of those currently in the room.

NAMES.  We debated dropping names for the services.  But, being in the same building, offering very different experiences and styles still needs a way to identify them to the newcomer.  But, “the Summit” as a name will slowly fade off because it seems to have been identified with something that is on the fade.  “Catalyst” seemed to define best what we would like to see the service become.  However, changing the name is not a priority.

PLAN.  Our plan is not to abruptly change anything but to listen to those who have lived and served in the Summit world and get the best feel possible for what will truly touch the hearts of Summit attenders.  We will also actively seek ways to link the Summit to what is happening in the rest of the church.  Pastors Dave and Steve will co-lead that process.  I will also be involved, but my first priority will continue to be actively leading the Edge towards its next stage of development.

UNITY.  The Summit’s greatest need has been vision, mission and a sense of unity with the whole.  Edge and Summit need to complement one another.  We are one church.  We all have roles to play.  The Edge has been critical to forward movement and outreach. The Summit has played a key role in the past and can embrace a strong role in the future for all that God is doing in and through our church.  Each should be celebrated for what it has accomplished.  We want to do this TOGETHER.

We might as well say it:  we’re in a weird spot with more questions than answers at this point.

Edge growth at 11 is stuck for the time being.  It’s prime time and we have filled it.  Edge 9 has enabled us to move more people in and we should continue to do what we can do to fill it too.  Then what?  Where do we go in the short term?  Do we invest in setting up another site even before the mall?  The mall is currently beyond our reach financially. We have to grow into it.

And, it’s no secret – the Summit is in decline.

It’s not radical but it has been steady over the last few years.  Rising on one side and falling on the other is a strange place to be.  As you can imagine – it makes for a lot of animated discussions and problem solving attempts with no easy answers.  I commented on my Facebook status a few days ago that I was working on leadership solutions and it felt like working a Rubik’s Cube.   I never could work one of those things.

The good side of it all is – feeling that sense of total dependence upon God.  I’m confident of the vision and I believe the greatest solution of all is to get radical with the vision and mission and create an environment where you have to do radical things to keep moving.  Life’s more fun that way.  The Kingdom is always about outward movement.  It is dynamic not static.  Praise God – sure beats being bored.

Thanks to everyone who made the effort to make space this past Sunday.

Some things to think about when deciding which service to go to this Easter Sunday.