"We want to grow" is easy to say. But when growth actually requires change—a second service, new ideas, diverse voices—many churches pull back. The truth? Most congregations want stability, not growth. And that's okay—if you're honest about it. Six questions every church leader needs to answer first.

The warmth of Christmas Eve fades by the following Sunday. Church calendars go empty in January. But what if those folks who came on Christmas Eve need more of that light in the new year? What if December is invitation and January is engagement?

The question at the root of considerations around new or different times for gathering is: Are we building the church for the people, or requiring people to conform to the institution? That is a deeply theological question every congregation should ask itself regularly.