The Listening Church
Oct 2, 2025 | by Dr. Darren M. McClellan
Dear APUMC Family,
Every now and then I come across something and think, “yes, that’s it!” That’s what I’ve been doing all along, but never knew what to call it.”
I recently read a piece from Luke Edwards and his newsletter on The Listening Church, in which he applies what psychologist Kurt Lewin described as the ‘action research spiral.’ The idea is simple: meaningful change almost never unfolds in a straight line. Instead, it happens through a repeating cycle of steps:
1. Observe (or Plan): Notice what’s really happening.
2. Act: Try something—preferably something small and concrete.
3. Reflect: Step back and honestly assess what happened—what worked, what didn’t, and how people responded.
4. Revise: Adjust your approach and begin again, a little wiser and closer to the goal.
Then you spiral through again—observe, act, reflect, revise—each round building on what came before. This is a rather sophisticated way of outlining what I call “learn by doing.”
I imagine that this method works at some level in most any organization. Family life, too! We all need to stop and think about why we do what we do sometimes, and whether or not our current routine is producing the kind of fruit that we had originally hoped. It is important to give ourselves the permission to do so, to engage these steps openly, to give things a try in good faith and then be ready to reevaluate.
This seems to be an important tool for us as the people of APUMC. We’ve tried some new things this year, and tried to revitalize a few other initiatives based on original feedback that I received when I arrived in 2024. Some of it has worked great, or is at least a work in progress. Other initiatives–not so much…and that is okay!
Take Wednesday Night Supper as an example. Since we returned from the summer, our attendance has been extremely low. With feedback from others, it is clear that particular practice does not meet a present need or desire for the congregation or community at this time. The experiment has been completed, and now we know: it does not fit our present context. Thus, we are discontinuing the regular Wednesday Night Supper offering.
Rest assured, I am not devastated by this discovery. It is yet another chance to learn, grow, and try something new. No harm. No foul. Just an expressed commitment to good stewardship for us all.
As we lean into the future together, I want to ask for your help in our ongoing reflection and discernment as a church body. Where or how is God calling us to reach out? To you or through you? Where is the hunger in our community? Or even in ourselves?
I hope you take a moment to respond to this simple survey with your input. Your voice matters a great deal to the health of this church. I hope to hear from you soon!
Grace to You,
Darren