For many churches the changes contemplated by the model Relational Commitments require a significant departure from previous practices (for example, reinstituting church discipline after decades of neglect). If leaders try to downplay the significance of these changes, they may actually trigger greater skepticism or opposition by some members.

The best way to prevent this kind of doubt or backlash is for leaders to tell the congregation that through their study of biblical peacemaking they have realized that they have failed to practice consistently God’s principles for peacemaking, accountability, and other issues addressed in the Relational Commitments. When you do this, ask God and your congregation to forgive you for this failure, and indicate that you are recommitting yourselves to teach and practice faithfully whatever God commands regarding these issues (a sample confession is included in the Supplemental Materials binder of The Leadership Opportunity).

This type of confession has a rich biblical precedent. When young King Josiah blew the dust off the Book of the Law and realized that he and his people had been neglecting God’s Word, he repented without delay. He called an assembly of the people and showed them how the nation had drifted away from the Lord. He then “renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD” (2 Kings 23:3). The people were inspired by his honesty and humility, and followed his example by rededicating themselves to the Lord. God blessed this corporate repentance and rededication, and poured out his grace and blessing on the nation.

Most Christians are hungry for this type of humble and courageous leadership in the church today. Therefore, if adopting the Relational Commitments and making other policy changes requires a major change from existing practices, treat the process as an act of repentance and rededication to God. Then ask God to keep his promise to bless those who humble themselves under his mighty hand (1 Pet. 5:5-6; 2 Chron. 7:14).