I'll provide a little background and then pray for wisdom and godly advice.
I've been a part of a church that has transitioned from a traditonal institutional church to a contemporary institutional church. Situated in the applachain mountains (West Va.) sets us a little further back on the postmodern curve. Many good changes have been made but most of the change has been in form. Great worship, superb worship leader, a peer group who wants to move forward but at times seems afraid and admittedly doesn't know how to get from point A to point B.

The problem I am facing is that I am only one of seven shepherds. In this leadership group there's also 3 paid ministers. We meet once a week to discuss members; problems and ideas. With the plurality of leaders and such a diverse group it's not often we end with conclusions. Often I pass ideas along. The comment is something like, "Fred's making us think out of the box." But that's where it dies as with most other ideas. We have a campus ministry and I made the suggestion that we pay $25 a head to have a college student share their perceptions, experiences and understanding of church and Christians. The investment to learn from someone outside our four walls about perceptions and impressions of us and, at the same time, afford us opportunities with the pre-Christian is, I feel a good investment. I suggested Credit Card Debt Revival where we pay off someone's credit card once every month or two. I suggested we create safe places for the pre-Christian similar to the Andrew's idea stated in his blurb of The Court of the Gentiles. No movement. They listen, but it seems to end there. We did discuss an inheritance the chuch is going to receive in the next couple of months and, interestingly, there was decsion there.

As a fisher of men; my tackle box is filling with new tools and ideas. More and more it's a passion and desire of mine to incorporate and take ideas from theory to practice. But, my is it frustrating! I have to be honest and admit that I am not sure how or when one can proceed in a group such as ours. Should I expect the consensus of the group? Should I take risk and act on my ideas without the groups blessing? Anyone want to jump in here ____