Mennonite Church USA Leader Shares Three Faith-Based Practices for Navigating Change

Change leadership begins within: Three faith-based practices for navigating transformation

Mennonite Church USA’s Iris de León-Hartshorn shares three faith-based practices for leading change — letting go, embracing experimentation and modeling the way of Jesus — to help church leaders navigate transformation with hope and grace.

Iris de León-Hartshorn serves as associate executive director of Operations and director of Human Resources for Mennonite Church USA. She represents the staff on MC USA’s Leadership Discernment Committee and works to promote anti-racism and intercultural competency.

There’s no simple formula for leading change successfully, especially in a way that offers care, encouragement and support for people as we move through change together.

It is human nature to be leery of change. What is familiar gives us a sense of safety and comfort, but it does not always lead us toward lasting well-being. There are also those who thrive on change and constant movement, which can meet the human need for excitement and growth, but may keep us from pausing for healthy reflection, stillness and quiet.

When I think about change, I think of Jesus — how he challenged the structures of his day that were no longer giving life, while also holding familiar traditions and turning them upside down in ways that revealed deeper meaning. One example is when he washed the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper. By washing their feet, Jesus demonstrated tender care and made the everyday ritual of foot washing something richer and more meaningful.

As I have gotten older — and hopefully a bit wiser — I have come to understand that challenging structures or injustices is not enough. We need faithful and life-giving ways to replace or to turn those structures upside down, so they can meet the needs of the church, as we seek to follow Jesus. I believe leading that kind of change begins within ourselves. Here are three ways we can prepare for change:

Change often brings anxiety. We may set a path for change, but there will always be twists and turns along the way. We must learn to adapt, and often that includes gently letting go of the belief that “this is the way things are done.” This can be difficult because that phrase is often at the core of the culture of our workplace, family life or whatever area where we are experiencing change. When I experience the anxiety of loss, I use meditation as a spiritual practice to visualize letting go and reaching toward what God has next. There are many ways to approach meditation. This practice has helped me adapt to change and embrace new possibilities with hope.

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