New Social Dynamics & New Opportunities.

Change brings both challenges and opportunities. Here’s a change you’ve likely felt at church over the last 20 years, and how you can turn it into an opportunity.

Information Symmetry.

This was a new concept for me, introduced to me by Kurt Earl (my guest for Episode 004). Now I see it everywhere. The term was popularized by Daniel Pink, and his explanation goes something like this:

The internet has become an incredible equalizer. Each of us now have roughly the same access to information, meaning those who sat in the ‘expert role’ don’t necessarily occupy that space now socially. Important conversations used to be mostly one-way. Now the power dynamic is more two-way.

Here’s two ways to turn this dynamic into an opportunity.

1.      Turn Transparency Into Currency.

People are used to the sense of having instant access to whatever they want to know. The church shouldn’t run against that current. Communicate as openly as possible about how decisions are made, money is spent, or other concerns. Public trust in institutions is very low right now, and people might even view the church with cynicism. Real transparency is an opportunity for the church to stand out when no one feels trustworthy. This goes double in any allegations of abuse.

2.      People’s Spiritual Process May Be More Two-Way.

Preaching (one-way communication) should be done with confidence, but avoid the pitfall of hiding behind the expert/professor façade. In smaller conversations welcome the two-way interaction. If people are asking ‘why,’ that means they are engaging. We want to encourage this! People may need space to try on different ideas. Be prepared to let a little ‘wrongness’ sit while the person works it out. Don’t shut down their own curiosity and agency, but affirm it while drawing closer to have a chance to guide it.

In the end, of course an outsider to your church doesn’t know more than the pastor or leaders. You know this… and so do they. But they will likely want to be a partner as they move toward full belonging and following Christ with you.

Bonus Content: Here’s a few places I see this idea of Information Symmetry at work

College and Professional athletics has been impacted by this trend. Even at the highest levels, coaches who just demand respect and insist their players ‘just do as I say’ aren’t succeeding, and even losing their jobs.

The relationship between doctors and their patients has been radically impacted by this trend. 1000s of online sources, written by credentialed MDs, with studies cited, means more and more patients are coming to their Dr. with a plan of care already in mind.

A number of laboratory services have begun giving customers the option to order their own blood tests.

Pharmaceutical companies have also leaned into this by advertising directly to prospective patients.

Related, more people are open to trying natural medical options, or a combination of natural & conventional options because of so much information available to them.

In short, people increasingly expect to be an active partner with their health, and maybe the driving partner.

The same effect with pet owners and their veterinarians.

This trend is spreading to public education as well.

The number of people choosing to educate their children themselves (homeschooling) continues to grow for both religious and non-religious reasons.

Facebooks sale groups, and other online selling forums have empowered us all to go directly to one another to buy or sell things, some evening making it a side-hustle.

The last decades have seen an incredible erosion of the ratings and influence of so-called legacy media, and the proliferation of indie journalists, podcasters, and content creators going directly to their audience. The traditional gatekeepers are increasingly sidelined.

Churches and abuse reporting: The expectation for real, meaningful transparency is more critical now than ever if churches and institutions want to maintain credibility in the public eye.