When Your Church's Politics Are Pushing People Out the Door

In this episode of the Healthy Church Staff podcast, Todd Rhoades from Chemistry Staffing discusses the impact of perceived political affiliations on church growth, especially among Gen Z Christians. Many young potential churchgoers feel alienated due to presumed political stands, which may deter them from attending. Todd advises church leaders to focus on the gospel and equip their staff to navigate conversations without letting political biases hinder their mission. The podcast emphasizes the need to differentiate between biblical conviction and cultural allegiance, encouraging clarity and inclusivity over tribalism. • Perception of political biases in churches deters Gen Z Christians. • Young church staff feel caught between personal beliefs and church perceptions. • Importance of leading with clarity and not tribalism. • Distinguish between biblical conviction and cultural allegiance. • Leaders should remove barriers to the gospel. • Equip staff to handle political conversations without compromising the gospel.

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Transcript

The Interview Question You Dread

SPEAKER_00 0:08

You're interviewing a really stark young leader for your world team. Great theology, she loves Jesus, killer references,

Why Gen Z Walks Away

SPEAKER_00 0:18

and then she asks you, how does your church handle physical stuff? And you just breathe because you know what she's really asking. I was reading an article recently from the Religion News Service. There's an article about a news survey that came out that says that half of Zen Gen Z Christians, say half of Gen Z as a group, says that Christians' support of Trump keeps them from church. Half. Now listen, this isn't about Trump or any other politician or any candidate, and we're headed into the midterm season. That's not what this podcast is about today. But it is about what happens when the people you're trying to reach think they have to pass a political test to belong. And if that's something that's rearing its ugly head in your church, you're in the right place today, because we're going to talk about that on today's Healthy Church Staff Podcast. Hi there, my name's Todd Rhodes. I'm one of the co-founders over at Chemistry Staffing, who produces this actual podcast. Here's what's happening, and it could be affecting your staff a lot more than you

Perception Inside The Lobby

SPEAKER_00 1:32

think. Your church might not be political from the inside. You're not endorsing candidates, you're not preaching anything partisan in any of your sermons or messages. But perception isn't always the reality. Maybe there's a flag in the lobby, maybe a meme that somebody shared, one of your staff members. The way certain issues get airtime and other issues don't. Young leaders see that. Matter of fact, they're looking for it and they feel it. And they're making decisions because of that and based on that. And your staff, maybe particularly your Gen C staff, feels a little bit caught in the middle wanting to reach people without betraying their convictions. And here's where it gets tricky for your team. You lose people before they even walk in, not because of Jesus, but because of the baggage they think comes with Jesus. Your younger staff members feel it the most. They're feeling questions that you, as an older person, different generation, we just don't hear. They're defending the church to their friends. Meanwhile, your older members wonder why you're even in why you're even talking about this. And your staff, they're exhausted from being the bridge. Silence doesn't protect unity. It just pushes the tension underground.

Clarity Without Tribalism

SPEAKER_00 2:51

Here's what I'm not saying. Okay, I'm not saying that your church needs to apologize for any of its theology or compromise the gospel in any way. But I do think that your staff, particularly your younger staff, do need to hear something maybe a little bit different from you, maybe something that maybe you've just never even thought about. They need permission to lead with clarity, not tribalism. Help them articulate what the church is for and not just what it's against. And train them to say we don't require to vote a certain way to follow Jesus here. That's not compromise, that's the actual gospel. So give your staff language for the difference between biblical convention, conviction, and cultural allegiance. Because here's the truth when people can't tell the difference, you lose them. Create space in staff meetings to talk about this without fear, without judgment, without getting all political. Your team is navigating this whether you acknowledge it or not. So it's better to equip them than leave them alone with it. So, all right, Todd. I kinda get it, I kinda don't. And you're with me, I'm still trying to pick this stuff up too. What does this look like though, from a practical standpoint?

Remove Barriers To The Gospel

SPEAKER_00 4:09

As a leader, I don't think you have to become politically neutral to be spiritually clear. And I think that's really important. I'm not asking you to give up. Everybody has political beliefs. I have my political beliefs, and I don't share them here. I wouldn't share them from the pulpit either. You don't have to become politically neutral to be spiritually clear. So teach your staff that. Teach your staff to major on what Jesus majored in. That's justice, that's mercy, that's truth, that's grace, it's conviction, it's humility. And when political assumptions become barriers to the gospel, your job is really, you might not like this, but your job is to remove anything that's a barrier to the gospel. Your job is to remove the barrier, not to defend it. So ask yourself your staff, what are people assuming about us even before they meet us? And then ask, is that assumption true? And if it is, is it worth it? Now, sometimes your answer honestly is going to be yes. But sometimes your answer is going to be no, it's not worth it. But you can't lead from what you won't name. Your younger staff members aren't asking you to abandon any convictions. They're asking you to help them reach people who think they already know what you believe, and that's totally different. So here's the bottom line for today.

Your Reputation Shapes The Mission

SPEAKER_00 5:28

Your church's reputation, political or otherwise, is either opening doors to the gospel or closing them. And your staff is the one standing in the gap. You're not called to be any kind of political leader. You're called to lead people to Jesus, and sometimes that means clearing away the stuff that's blocking the path.

Pushback And How To Reach Us

SPEAKER_00 5:53

Now, I realize this might be a little controversial, especially for some that are listening. And if you want to pick a little fight with me, feel free. Feel free. I'd love to have a conversation with you over email. The email is podcast at chemistry staffing, podcast at chemistry staffing.com. You gotta lead with the gospel. You gotta lead with the gospel. And we have we work with tons of churches every day. And I can tell you, in the last ten years, the church has become unbelievably pol some parts of the church have become incredibly political to where it's changed the way that we onboard churches and the questions that we ask churches, because we find that many churches, while they don't say they have a political agenda, they have a political agenda, and the people you're trying to reach actually do see right through it. All right, off my high horse, podcast at chemistry staffing.com. If there's any way that I can help you or anybody on our team of chemistry staffing can help you and your church, feel free to reach out, podcast at chemistry staffing. All right, that's it for this week. Hope you have a great weekend. We're right back here again on Monday at a break.