When Church Culture Gets in the Way

Traditions and routines can be comforting, but when they’re never examined, they can quietly become barriers to growth.

It’s no secret that congregational life in many churches today can feel stuck. There’s a sense that the same events happen year after year, the same small group of people show up to do all the work, and despite best intentions, very little actually changes. The ministry of Invite Welcome Connect acknowledges that this sense of inertia is one of the biggest obstacles churches face—and also one of their greatest opportunities.

At the heart of this conversation is a bold question: What’s holding your church back? Not in terms of what’s wrong with it, but in terms of what keeps it from being more open, more dynamic, more alive with the Spirit?

For some churches, it’s a deeply ingrained pattern of doing things “the way we’ve always done them.” Traditions and routines can be comforting, but when they’re never examined, they can quietly become barriers to growth. Maybe it’s a cherished annual event that no longer draws people like it used to. Maybe it’s a committee structure that makes decisions slowly or leaves out new voices. Maybe it’s an unspoken feeling that certain seats, roles, or ministries belong to a select few.

Invite Welcome Connect encourages churches to name these patterns—not with judgment or blame, but with curiosity and openness. Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with us?” the better question is, “What could we do differently that might help us be more welcoming, more inviting, more connected?”

Facing Fear and Letting Go of the Familiar

To begin this work, congregations have to confront the reality of complacency. Complacency doesn’t mean people don’t care. It often shows up as caring so much about preserving the familiar that it becomes difficult to embrace the new. A congregation might truly want to grow but still resist the changes that growth often requires.

One of the reasons this happens is fear—fear of failing, fear of conflict, fear of letting go of something beloved. Invite Welcome Connect invites leaders to recognize that fear, but not be ruled by it. After all, Scripture is filled with stories of people stepping into the unknown, trusting that God is already there. Abraham left his homeland. Moses faced Pharaoh. The disciples left their fishing nets. If they could follow God into uncertain places, surely modern churches can, too.

Another subtle but powerful barrier can be the idea that the church belongs to “us”—those who are already here, who built it, who keep it going. That sense of ownership can unintentionally send the message that newcomers are guests in someone else’s house, rather than fellow members of the body of Christ. Invite Welcome Connect challenges churches to move from an inward to an outward mindset, one that sees each visitor not just as a potential member but as someone already beloved by God, already part of the story.

From Honest Reflection to Holy Experimentation

So how can churches begin turning obstacles into opportunities?

It starts with honest self-reflection. What systems, events, or routines are no longer bearing fruit? Where do we see decline in participation, energy, or spiritual engagement? It takes courage to ask those questions—and even more to answer them truthfully.

From there, the work becomes spiritual as much as strategic. It involves prayerful discernment, listening for the movement of the Holy Spirit, and letting go of things that may have served a purpose in the past but no longer do. Letting go isn’t a failure; it’s an act of faithful trust that God is calling the church into something new.

Equally important is the willingness to experiment. Not everything needs to be perfect before it’s launched. In fact, waiting for perfection is often just another form of procrastination. Invite Welcome Connect encourages congregations to try small, low-risk experiments: a new way of greeting visitors, a fresh format for fellowship, a different approach to communication. These kinds of experiments don’t require major overhauls, just a spirit of curiosity and openness to learning.

A Culture of Listening, Empowerment, and Resilience

This approach also invites a broader definition of leadership. Everyone in the congregation has a role to play. The shift from maintenance to mission isn’t just the work of clergy or a dedicated few. It’s about cultivating a culture where laypeople are empowered to take initiative, to imagine new ways of living into the gospel, and to help each other grow.

That includes listening—truly listening—to the experiences and insights of newcomers, younger members, and those who may feel on the margins of church life. Too often, feedback is sought only after decisions are made. A more inclusive model invites people into the process early, valuing their voices as essential to the church’s future.

It’s also important to embrace failure as part of the process. Not every new idea will take root. Not every experiment will lead to immediate results. But even failed attempts can teach something valuable—and they create a culture of resilience and learning.

At its core, Invite Welcome Connect is about transformation, and transformation rarely comes without disruption. But it’s the kind of disruption that clears space for new life. The church that clings too tightly to the familiar may protect what it knows but risks missing what God is trying to do next.

In today’s world, where so many people long for meaning, connection, and hope, churches have a unique opportunity. But they must be willing to look in the mirror, listen deeply, and ask: Are we creating space for the Spirit to move? Or are we unknowingly getting in the way?

When churches move beyond their comfort zones, the fruits can be remarkable. Invite Welcome Connect isn’t just a strategy—it’s a shift in mindset, from preserving the past to embracing the possibilities of the present. It’s about opening the door wider, making room for new stories, and trusting that the church’s best days aren’t behind it, but still to come.

Want to learn more about how to navigate the obstacles in your own congregation? Chapter 6 of Invite Welcome Connect provides thoughtful reflections and tools to get you started.