Leadership First

3 short studies on Christian Leadership

2010-10-01T11:35:00.000-07:00

Learning About Christian Leadership

Acts 20:17-37

1. Who has served as a spiritual role model for you? What about that person has rubbed off on you?

2. What characterized Paul's ministry?

3. What does it mean to “keep watch”?

4. How & why is their appointment as elders divine, humbling & dangerous?

1 Thessalonians 2:1-13

1. What was one of your most memorable failures? (church, work, sports)

2. What does 'ethical' ministry look like? & the opposite?

3. How would Paul's example of perseverance in the face of persecution encourage them?

4. What characteristics of a faithful Christian leader are listed?

1 Timothy 3:1-15

1. When you were young, what did you aspire to be when you grew up?

2. Why a list of qualifications only, and not duties?

3. What kind of 'test' do you suppose the deacons were given?

4. Are these qualities important for all Christians?

the insane cycle of church shopping

2010-06-24T12:42:00.000-07:00

We all see it but don't want to talk about it. Ours is a culture of consumerism, and the church is not exempt. People come, people go. People stray and then return. People stay and pout, people stay away and pout. And God loves them all. Those in church leadership have to be patient, prayerful, tactful, respectful and loving with this dynamic. Yet a good smile is necessary to keep one's sanity in the midst of it all.

Brian McLaren helps me out. He writes in A New Kind of Christianity (Harper One 2010)

Catholics are saved from ritualism by becoming Pentacostal. Pentacostals are saved from emotionalism by becoming Presbyterian. Presbyterians are saved from rationalism by becoming Eastern Orthodox. Eastern Orthodox are saved from clericalism by becoming Baptist. Baptists are saved from historical amnesia by becoming Catholic.

Simple churches save people from complexity and complex churches save people from simplicity.

Exciting churches save people from boredom and quiet churches save people from hoopla and hype.

Around and around the cycle goes.

:-)

the hard work of preaching

2009-12-11T06:59:00.000-08:00

I am not sure if this should encourage me, motivate me or what! Not sure if this is a good thing or not. I have been re-reading a book from my Seminary days (those days when all young theology students imagined themselves as "giants in the preaching world" after the order of Charles Spurgeon or Billy Graham!)

The book is Warren Wiersbe's Walking with the Giants, Baker 1976. Chapter 3 is about Alexander Maclaren, 1826 - 1910.
....it seems Maclaren "often said he could never prepare sermons while wearing slippers; he always wore his outdoor boots" - to suggest how hard the work of study and preparation really is. Wiersbe says "when you read his sermons, you can quickly tell that they were not manufactured between conferences and committee meetings" ....thus "he took it seriously" ... hmmm

Maclaren was born in Glasgow. He started in a few small quiet places and then did 45 years at Union Chapel in Manchester. Maclaren told ministerial students "I thank God that I was stuck down in a quiet, little obscure place to begin my ministry; for that is what spoils half of you young fellows. You get pitched into prominent positions at once, and then fritter yourselves away in all manner of little engagements that you call duties.... instead of stopping at home and reading your Bibles and getting near to God".

I recall being taught by the late great Harold Ockenga that sermon preparation time should be one hour for every minute of speaking.

My cynical response to Wiersbe and Ockenga is "ya, right".

And we are still waiting for some publisher to request my sermons or some biographer to research my career (LOL) - so, after 40 years of preaching I think it is time to turn over a new leaf of discipline and time management.

trends that will impact how the church does ministry

2009-11-18T06:54:00.000-08:00

5 TRENDS THAT WILL IMPACT THE WAY WE DO MINISTRY

Shifting demographics. With new generations dreaming of their place at the table, churches must learn to share leadership with younger congregants. Top-down leadership gets rejected by next generation believers in favor of team dynamics. Thus, it’s critical to allow baby boomers to step sideways and share leadership opportunities at every level of church operations.
Technological advances. Social-media technologies provide churches the opportunity to gain greater exposure, but they also require church leadership to be comfortable giving more people a chance to speak out. And we must accept the reality that conversation is going on whether or not we’re participating in it. We’ve known for quite some time that the broadcast model is dead - dialog over monologue, conversation over one person megaphoning, etc. The perceived threat of opening up the backchannel is now a moot concern - since most people have access to cell phone browsers in their pockets.
New ways to collaborate. With the advent of new technologies, churches (and parachurch organizations) can just as easily work with an individual located across the country (or world) as they can through their local parish or church. And today, individuals would rather connect with those they share values with rather than those who are simply geographically close. Furthermore, these connections often morph into movements, networks, alliances, etc. (formerly known as denominations). Collaboration itself is seen as a fundamental value, so isolation / independence is viewed as a dead end.
Greater interest in service. There’s no doubt about it, the next generation speaks the language of volunteerism, but churches need to keep in mind that people have many different reasons for serving and ought to tailor their opportunities to individuals’ interests, gifts & talents. In fact, if your church ministry philosophy is straight, rather than have people to get the jobs done, you have “jobs” to get the people done. Serving is the key to each individual discovering their individual gifts & calling in God, so the fact that it’s en vogue right now to do so is a sure fire win.
Blurred lines between nonprofit and for-profit. There’s a greater emphasis on corporate social responsibility & justice and the emergence of organizations whose primary aim is to “do good”. These groups are challenging the Church’s postmodern identity. Formerly, it was the church who was to care about society. But the Church fell down on it’s responsibilities in many people’s eyes, creating opportunity for other organizations to rise and take on some of the responsibilities that might have been the Church’s. And, social justice & global environmental concerns aren’t just for rock stars anymore. Masses of conscencious people believe these are stewardship issues. Churches now have opportunities for new partnerships with these groups and can link with everything from recycling organizations to social services. In fact, for many young people, feeding & clothing the planet, eradicating stupid poverty, ending the slave trade, etc. are considered the outward works of their faith.
Understanding these trends can greatly benefit the Church at large. And, can often explain why rather than build a multi-million dollar building, young people are more given to using free technology to facilitate their ministry endeavours, networking and collaborating (even globally if necessary), tithing their time and working to improve the common good, rather than just the good of their own church facility or members.

2009-07-28T16:07:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

I must tell you, there were some very interesting responses indeed! I asked two questions on twitter/facebook yesterday:

#1. if Jesus had our technology, would he use Twitter & FB?
#2. which celeb is really worth my time to follow on twitter?

I also sent to the ministry mailing group (you) a link to an article about church and technology. It prompted responses as well, and I will mention some of them when I comment on the results of Q. #2.

Let me deal with #2 first, as it is was really meant to be fun, and it had less responses: You will /might remember a month or two ago, when there was a race on to see who could get more than a million followers on Twitter first. CNN or Ashton Kutcher. Larry King ended up interviewing Ashton as the ‘king of twitter’. Now all sorts of celebrities, (entertainment, political, sports, religious) are using Twitter. So I thought I really needed to as k the questions.

Cor from BC (sarcastically, ‘tongue in cheek’ I hope) responded to #2 “well Brittany Spears, obviously” – like, how could I ignore her! Cindy F. in Brockville was emphatic with her bold letters, preaching to the preacher, “NONE”! And Chris from New Hampshire suggested Rick Warren of Saddleback Church.

Q. #1 was more successful in generating responses.
• Amanda from Brockville was clever: “I don’t think Jesus would be twitterpated”. She obviously had been reading her Urban dictionary.

• Christi-Anne from Calgary said yes to FB (“because lots of people would want to be his virtual friend”) but was unsure about Twitter.

• Marg from Brockville says yes to both.

• Chris from NH says “Definitely! And the Church should really be using them more, too! Some churches already are seeing great things happening as a result. Continuing the Sunday AM connection to 24/7 networking can be great for building unity in a local body, clearly communicating vision, fostering a better sense of connection and familiarity between congregations and pastors, and between the ‘early service’ members and ‘late service’ members of the same church”. It was Chris who directed me to a very good read on why a pastor is using Twitter and FB. Check it out here John Piper Here is a sample of what Piper writes: But it seems to us that aggressive efforts to saturate a media with the supremacy of God, the truth of Scripture, the glory of Christ, the joy of the gospel, the insanity of sin, and the radical nature of Christian living is a good choice for some Christians….I find Twitter to be a kind of taunt: "Okay, truth-lover, see what you can do with 140 characters! You say your mission is to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things! Well, this is one of those 'all things.' Can you magnify Christ with this thimble-full of letters?" To which I respond:
The sovereign Lord of the earth and sky
Puts camels through a needle's eye.
And if his wisdom see it mete,
He will put worlds inside a tweet.
• Cor from BC had actually thought about that same thing: “could he cut down his parables to however many characters twitter allows? 'Rich man grows lots of corn and doesn't share. Dies in sleep.’ Think that would work?”
• Yvonne from Brockville thinks it just might work due to people’s shortened attention spans these days.

• David from Brockville raises the question about church members that don’t have computers or cell phones. How prudent is technology if a high percentage of the church people are not connected via technology?

• Lou from Florida legitimately points out that modern technology does not guarantee faithful discipleship, righteous behaviour or the prevention of hypocrisy.

___________________

I am so grateful to all who took time to give their opinion. Thanks!

My brief comments (an remember I sometimes overstate to make my point! – and that’s an understatement, just ask my family!):

1. Whether we like it or not, it is now a world of instant communication. The faster you can do it, the more effective you will be. Those who live and breathe in the digital/virtual communication age see it as essential and legitimate. Critics can tell us it isn’t the same as ‘face to face’ or even telephone – it isn’t; but don’t try to tell us that it isn’t legitimate. Try suggesting to your teen that the text message they just got from their best friend is less real, less significant, than a letter that arrives in the mail later in the week saying the exact same thing.

2. Whether we like it or not, it is now a visual world. Much more than baby boomers who were raised on TV, or their children who were raised on computers. It is the world of YouTube. Short video clips speak to young adults and youth in a phenomenal way. Cell phones are not for talking!! Churches must learn to speak the language of the people. We would not think of reading/preaching from the Bible in Latin or a foreign language and expect people to stick around, never mind love it, obey it, embrace it. Ya, I’ll take the Gospel to a long lost tribe in the Amazon, I’ll help them with hygiene and food cultivation, but I won’t attempt to learn their language. They better learn to read and write and speak my language first, or they don’t deserve any help! Yup, that will work won’t it. Interesting: I just read a newspaper article on a new form of mystery/novel writing. A younger generation has trouble with books. Movies are preferred. This author has written a novel, and after every few chapters, a password is given to go online and watch a professional movie quality video that leads you into the next series of chapters. Mixing the media to tell the story. Can the church learn something here?

3. If I’m looking for a new Dentist, I will choose one that has the newest technology and expertise. I expect x-ray equipment and something more than just a pair of pliers and drill from Canadian Tire. If I am going to a travel agent (actually I don’t anymore, but let’s just pretend) I want one who has a computer, not just a phone and a few brochures. If I am looking for a house to buy I want a real estate agent who actually at least has photos to show me, and preferably on line virtual tours. If I am trying to sell my house I want an agent who does MLS not just ‘word of mouth’. So why is it we think that people looking for a church set out hoping to find one that still uses gestetners, flannel graphs and unrecognizable religious terminology and ritual. Replica churches at Upper Canada Village are quaint. When someone is desperately searching (‘shopping’?) for God they don’t want quaint!

4. In a past church I started an email ministry (just like this one, safe@first, leadership first). I updated the website as well. One elder/leader came to me and insisted that nothing should be communicated by email or on the website that is not communicated by mouth from the pulpit or at least in the bulletin – lest those without computers miss something. The compromise was to make paper copies for a half dozen leaders every time an email was sent. Carry this thinking to its logical conclusion. I’d better not say anything on Sunday just in case some people are missing. Only speak/preach if every single person is there…. Because some don’t tweet and some don’t surf is no reason to back off on new forms of communication/contact. (Granted care must be taken not to make one group feel like second class citizens – and I have probably been guilty of that sometimes – and care must be taken to make sure traditional forms of communication, like talking face to face, are not abandoned – LOL) … Some churches long ago junked the paper bulletin for power point, website and email announcements.

BOTTOM LINE: Church is about connecting people to God, to each other and to their community. Whatever makes that happen – let’s go for it!

Blessings,
Doug

significance

2009-02-14T15:25:00.000-08:00

Let's face it: everyone wants to know they are valued - both for who they are and what they do. Now the 'good news' about this Jesus stuff is that God accepts us for who we are and not because of what we do. All of us are loved by God. Clearly the Bible tells us that occupation, status and wealth are not the controlling factors when it comes to divine acceptance and a sense of significance in the Lord's eyes. But the Bible also teaches that action counts and service is valued.

Again I am indebted to Carey Nieuwhof for drawing this next point to our attention. "You can tell people they are significant, but until you give them something significant to do, they won't feel significant. Maybe the problem of burnout in churches is not that we have given people too much to do; maybe it's that we've given people too many insignificant things to do."

Let's take it a step further: everything we do in church needs to support the significant goal of connecting people with God. Teaching children, making music, serving food, examining $ signs - these are truly significant when understood in the light of God's grand scheme. God's desire is to connect with people of all ages. Significant people (those treasured by God) do significant things (connect others to God).

outsourcing

2009-02-06T15:25:00.000-08:00

My sister-in-law gives exceptional international leadership to a company that specializes in outsourcing solutions. She travels the world negotiating multi-million dollar contracts. SUCCESS in business often depends on outsourcing – the delegating of everything you don't want to do, to someone who will do it for you. Some of this makes sense. No one person or group can possibly do everything! Nor should they, especially if the gifting/talent/money is not present. Things should be done well and efficiently.

I am thankful for Carey Nieuwhof for bringing this subject to the attention of Christians and churches through his ‘Life Matters’ blog. Carey notes:

“But the shadow side of outsourcing is that it can lead to an abdication of responsibility. When I was in high school, I thought math was so awful I remember thinking "when I get older I'm just going to hire someone to do my math." Right. Then I ended up in ministry. Glad I married a smart woman and have smart kids. And that I have a calculator. And that I don't do the finances at our church. Nothing wrong with not being good at something, but I cannot absolve myself of responsibility.”

So here is the ‘big idea’: Some Christians want to outsource their spiritual development/growth. As if leaving it to the Pastor or Sunday School Teacher or my spouse will really work. I cannot delegate my own spiritual growth. I must take responsibility. A decision to participate in the 40 Days of Love campaign makes sense doesn’t it?

SEARCHING FOR?

2009-01-30T12:04:00.000-08:00

Leadership Journal (winter 2009) reports on Yahoo!’s disclosure of the “top searches of 2008”. Using the Yahoo! search engine, here are the top ten topics people all around the world are looking up.

1. Britney Spears
2. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
3. Barak Obama
4. Miley Cyrus
5. RuneScape (web-based multi-player role-playing game)
6. Jessica Alba
7. Naruto (hero of Japanese comic books, cartoons, and video games)
8. Lindsay Lohan
9. Angelina Jolie
10. American Idol

Question: How does the Christian Church relate to and communicate with people who have these matters as their top priorities? If the above items are ‘top and centre’ in people’s lives and minds, we may want to evaluate how we initiate our discussions about Jesus. Just ‘sayin’.

the leadership transfer

2009-01-27T08:51:00.000-08:00

The Leadership Dilemma: Jimmy Long’s new book, The Leadership Jump, (Inter Varsity Press), is an attempt to assist the church in its current dilemma with the struggle to transfer leadership to the younger generation of emerging leaders. I suggest that this dilemma is not just due to the fact that a leadership transfer must occur sooner than later, but that leadership style is changing. The sense of urgency results in panic and agitation. Two different approaches or philosophies result in confusion and conflict. As a result, trust, co-operation, and partnership are subverted by suspicion, competition, and even paranoia.

The Leadership Shift: Long points out that leadership now is less about directing followers to a particular destination and more about empowering others on a shared journey. As well, leadership authority is no longer derived from positional status but is earned from relational credibility.

The Implications? New leaders will rise, if not in our existing institutional structures, in fresh innovative models for spiritual community. Traditional churches must adjust to have any chance for survival. Existing leaders cannot afford to write off emerging leaders because they work differently. Nor can younger leaders dismiss the contributions of those who have gone before.

How do we know what God wants?

2008-08-26T12:48:00.000-07:00

I recently read two articles in the Summer 2008 issue of Leadership which offer help here. Gordon Macdonald tackled the issue of a leader’s intuition and Ruth Haley Barton wrote about discernment. Barton said that “our most important leadership role is hearing and obeying God’s voice – together”. She broke it down into three concepts:

1. Recognize God’s presence
2. Respond to God’s presence by following
3. Both are done in the context of spiritual community

The whole process succeeds in a climate of God directed discernment/intuition. Unlike Moses, we don’t get to talk with God face to face or listen to his voice thundering on the mountain. We must listen deeply and rely on the often subtle affirmations of the Holy Spirit. It’s not automatic and rarely easy. This leads us to the importance of #3, the involvement of trusted Christians in the process, and, to what MacDonald writes about: recognition that some leaders are more inclined to intuition than others by virtue of their temperament. Yet he believes even non-intuitives can hone these leadership instincts. Both would value spiritual disciplines/practices to make this climate/culture happen: reading scripture, reflection, silence, self-examination, prayer.

Leadership’s Most Difficult Word

2008-08-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

Kenneth Gangel wrote his book So You Want to Be A Leader! 35 years ago, but his title of chapter 12 will always remain relevant: “How to Change Things (and live to tell about it).”

He says “it is without a doubt the responsibility of the leader to initiate improvement, and that necessitates innovation.” Of course the challenge, the difficulty, the repercussions, the casualties – they all come because of
• Poor vision communication
• Unwillingness to pay the cost of change
• Choosing the comfort of the familiar instead of the challenge of uncertainty

Here are some things to focus on when we are asked to participate in change:
• Faith – God will not abandon us; God leads us;
• Jesus challenged for change in the spheres of religious practice, views on social relationships, entrenched theology
• Most of us have successfully embraced electricity, automobiles, air travel, large flat screen TV’s, cell phones, computers, internet and texting … so why does the church continue to live in a different century and yet expect to influence people living in this century?
• The Bible places a lot of emphasis on “new”

The Ambiguity of the Church

2008-08-10T14:28:00.000-07:00

John Stott, the great 20th century Anglican preacher and writer from England, wrote the 2002 Inter Varsity Press book Basic Christian Leadership. He points out that the Corinthian Church had leadership limitations, doctrinal difficulties, communal contradictions and practical problems. Yet Paul still gave thanks for the church and emphasized its giftedness (1 Corinthians 1:4-9). He also emphasized the unity of the church (1 Corinthians 1:10-17). A good leader will acknowledge and address imperfections while at the same time affirm strengths. Motivating an organization and its people to higher levels requires a balance of praise and ‘push’, a combination of commendation and correction. In fact the risen Jesus does this so well in his messages to the seven Asian churches in Revelation chapters 2 & 3.

Think about it:
• As a leader, do you dwell on the positive or the negative? What are the dangers of weighing in on one side to the exclusion of the other?
• Do you lead into defeatism (“we are not perfect, never will be, so let’s not even worry about imperfections!”) or do you lead as a perfectionist (“you are not getting it right, so shape up now!”)
• Does one aim too low? … too high?
• What has been your experience? Is there a best way to lead?

Is Christian leadership distinct?

2008-08-10T14:27:00.001-07:00

According to John Stott in his 2002 Inter Varsity Press book Basic Christian Leadership, the answer is an obvious ‘yes’. Leadership is a word shared by Christians and non-Christians alike, but this does not mean that their concept of it is the same. Jesus noted this in Mark 10:42-44 where he introduced the surprising & distinctive element of “servant hood” as opposed to the arrogant, ‘bossy’ authority of the world.

Paul calls himself a servant in 1 Corinthians 3:5 & 4:1. He uses two different Greek words though.
• 1st = diakonos = servants used as instruments by God to bring the Corinthians to Christian faith = used by a higher power to accomplish a noble task through the servant’s willingness to surrender his/her will
• 2nd = huperetes = underlings, subordinates (original root meaning = the lowest rowing platform of a three-tiered warship)

The Lesson? The Apostle accomplished much for God’s Kingdom. We can too. It will require regarding (see 4:1) ourselves, our church, our office and calling in terms of submission and humility. Are you willing to stoop low and give up your claim to fame?

A leadership Vacuum?

2008-08-04T07:51:00.000-07:00

This is a question Leighton Ford raises early in his 1991 book Transforming Leadership. A gap that is about to create a leadership catastrophe in many organizations and institutions could have been avoided if …

1. vision and energy had been transferred effectively. The leaders who emerged post World War II were movers and shakers, people of large dreams, who confidently built to success. A reluctance to ‘trust the treasure’ to new emerging leaders ended up creating a team of professional managers, who, by nature and position, are unable to see in the distance and alter the course as needed. When the leader dies, so does the vision. It may also be that those at the helm saw their crew as competitors instead of companions.

2. a climate of fear and reluctance had not infiltrated the ranks. Somehow everyone in the organization must buy into the call to courage and mission. This latter kind of culture nurtures and welcomes those who sense a call and embrace a passion to improve, expand, and excel. Emerging leaders are cultivated and affirmed. Grand causes that regularly remember the reasons for aiming at a high target birth courageous leaders who will also be remembered – remembered as leaders who build movements not monuments.

So the Questions are: What kind of leader will you be? How will you be remembered? How would you describe the ‘Emerging Leadership Culture’ in your church or organization?

STAYING ON MISSION

2008-08-01T09:42:00.000-07:00

It happens in most organizations and institutions. It is a cycle that must be broken. Missions become movements, movements evolve into machines, and machines become monuments. Leaders must provide not only a legacy but lessons on maintaining momentum. Momentum is sustained by keeping the mission in front, highly visible. So quickly the purpose is lost in the everyday demands and mazes of management bureaucracy. It is the vision and mission that amazes people and compels them to commit.

Leighton Ford quotes an unknown source: “the last act of a dying organization is to produce a new edition of the rule book.” He goes on to suggest that “no doubt Jesus’ followers wished he had given them a detailed road map instead of Go into all the world and preach the gospel.” Direction was more important than detail. This was brilliant strategy that turned the world upside down. What direction are we going? What direction are you going?

CHASING CHIPMUNKS

2008-07-18T05:38:00.000-07:00

Leighton Ford understands how important it is for effective leaders to offset or ‘intercept entropy’ (see LF #21). When an organization is ‘new’, it’s like eight small boys chasing a chipmunk: lots of noise and confusion, lots of wasted energy, but great flexibility and motivation. As the organization matures, the challenge of the leader is to keep the youthful zest without youthful disorder, to grow into maturity without taking on an aging rigidity.

Have you ever seen this struggle played out in your church or institution? So what can be done to prevent the implosion? I will offer some suggestions next week. Until then, observe and assess your present location on the ‘entropy spectrum’.

I think the Church of Ephesus in Revelation 2 reflects what we are talking about here. In their zeal to remain doctrinally pure (a good thing) they became so narrowly rigid that what they were known for (love of God and love of others) disappeared (a not so good thing). They had lost their first love.

The challenge: how to keep youthful passion alive while embracing the wisdom of maturity.

Intercepting Entropy

2008-07-12T06:29:00.001-07:00

This is a profound leadership principle. Leighton Ford’s 1991 IVP book Transforming Leadership: Jesus’ Way of Creating Vision, shaping Values & Empowering Change, captures the concept wonderfully. Everything has a tendency to deteriorate, and a leader must learn the signals of impending deterioration. Some of these are:
- A tendency toward superficiality
- A “dark tension” among key people
- No time for celebration
- Problem-makers outnumber problem-solvers
- Day-to-day pressures push aside vision and risk
Have you ever seen this in a church? One of the most important jobs of a leader is to SUSTAIN. Spiritual leaders need to learn this before it’s too late.
(In coming weeks: what remains unchanged for the church? How to sustain, what to sustain; the ‘chasing chipmunks’ leadership style ;)

The Leadership Strategy of Jesus

2008-07-03T07:46:00.000-07:00

According to Leighton Ford, who wrote Transforming Leadership in1991 (Inter Varsity Press), here are the leadership strategies of Jesus:
• HE SHOWED HIS WAY: Early followers were called people belonging “to the Way” (Acts 9:2). Jesus said “I am the way” (John 14:6). He set the direction, not so much by a detailed road map, but by His very person.
• HE SHAPED HIS PEOPLE: Jesus had succession in mind. Future leaders must be fostered. Jesus carefully picked and developed his inner core of followers and let them share the centre of His life. When the time came for him to leave, he did not need to put together a crash program of leadership development. No election was needed. The curriculum had been taught, lived out for three years among the next group of leaders who would carry his mission.
So what does this mean for the church? Certainly Jesus understood leadership to be much more than just filling vacant positions! He ‘groomed’ future leaders, not just by classroom instruction, but by the popular term of our day – mentoring. Effective leadership strategy is a long term process that involves so much more than memorizing information content.

At the Centre

2008-06-28T14:09:00.000-07:00

Christian leaders interested in excellence must constantly keep before them core beliefs that will guide decision making and keep the organization on course. Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Church stays out of the chaos that sometimes traps church leaders by remaining convinced of, and committed to, these three bedrock beliefs:
1. Honour God in everything
2. People matter to God
3. The local church is the hope of the world

What core convictions guide your life? your ministry? your work?

BEYOND EXCELLENCE

2008-06-21T06:43:00.000-07:00

The Ottawa Sun recently ran a review of a new book authored by elite motivational speaker Mike Lipkin. His emphasis: push beyond excellence to pre-eminence in business and service. What does it take to be outstanding? According to Lipkin it is the ability to consistently go above and beyond what people expect; it is the ability to anticipate needs before they are expressed; the desire to demonstrate care; and it is a commitment to show more depth and speed in response to others.
Above & Beyond: Christians should know something about this:
• Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God – 1 Corinthians 10:31
• Go the extra mile – Matthew 5:41
• The Good Samaritan – Luke 10:25-37
There is no shortcut on this journey. It is a high calling requiring focus and discipline. Are you up to the challenge?

Questions Leaders Ask - of themselves

2008-06-14T13:26:00.001-07:00

More insight from Bill Hybels, Courageous Leadership, Zondervan 2002

Questions a leader asks of self:

1. Is my calling sure?
2. Is my vision clear?
3. Is my passion hot?
4. Am I developing my gifts?
5. Is my pride subdued?
6. Am I overcoming fear?
7. Is my pace sustainable?

WHAT KIND OF LEADER ARE YOU?

2008-06-03T08:24:00.000-07:00

Not all leaders are alike. We have different styles and different skills. Without a ‘good fit’, a leadership position can quickly turn to frustration and failure. In his book, Courageous Leadership, Bill Hybels identifies ten leadership styles, each of which, in the right context, can qualify as “HIGH IMPACT LEADING. “

1. Visionary
2. Directional
3. Strategic
4. Managing
5. Motivational
6. Shepherding
7. Team-building
8. Entrepreneurial
9. Reengineering
10. Bridge building
The natural question is this: Do we have all these styles represented in our church and are they in the right places?

DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP

2008-05-23T14:38:00.000-07:00

It never happens accidentally. The church could learn some lessons from the sports world. Scouts for the team are always looking for potential players. Then there is an investment in a prospect, an invitation to a training camp and ultimately an opportunity offer. Intentional leadership development done now secures the future. It accepts that the leadership team will change over time. It presupposes an understanding that leadership is not “holding onto power”. Leaders are groomed. Invite – Invest – Inspire – Impact. Did Jesus know anything about this?

SLOGANS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

2008-05-17T09:45:00.000-07:00

These radical sayings sure have a ‘kick’ to them! They come from inspirational spiritual leaders via Carey Nieuwhof of Connexus Community Church in Barrie. Are you willing to embrace the radical? – because that is what it will take to do church successfully in the 21st century!

· If you are going to reach people no one else is reaching, you are going to have to do things no one else is doing.

· When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near. Church life sometimes feels like its 90% nostalgia, not 90% vision.

The next generation’s visionary accomplishments almost never come from the previous generation. You can fight the next generation of leaders, or you can fund them. You can stifle them or you can inspire them.

· Focus on the people you want to reach, not the people you want to keep. This requires a heart for the prodigal generation. It also requires those who are ‘here’ to work not watch.

A CONUNDRUM

2008-05-09T11:43:00.000-07:00

Leaders are to be bold and persevere (see the last leadership post). Leaders are also to be sensitive to God’s leading, and sometimes that means change. Romans 8:14,15 confirms that we dump fear (first point) and are led by the Spirit (second point). How do we do the right thing at the right time? I write this at Pentecost. Acts 2 is all about the Holy Spirit indwelling, strengthening and building joy and confidence into the lives of disciples. Wait for the promise. The breakthrough will come. And then what sweet success! But in Acts 16:1-10 I see Paul, Silas and Timothy being redirected by the Spirit. They wanted to go to Asia and Bithynia but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow it. Then God’s call comes through the ‘Macedonian Vision’ where significant conversions take place (Acts 16:11-40). Perhaps we can express it differently: “you gotta know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em”. I guess wisdom and experience fit into discerning the Spirit’s leading too?

What Shapes a Leader?

2008-05-01T08:46:00.000-07:00

Calling … personality … strengths, talents, gifts … tasks/job descriptions … mentors – I think these are some of the more obvious answers. But what about the less obvious? Perhaps we can call this the “darker side of leadership” or the “hard side of leadership”. Leaders develop by experiencing the challenges of temptation, criticism and discouragement. Perhaps this why we say leaders must be courageous. Perhaps this is why the “duck and cover” syndrome sets in when the call for leaders goes out. Leadership brings visibility with responsibility. Wide open to the arrows and grenades of criticism, the discouragement of defeat, the lure of temptation, the leader is refined. This kind of shaping is sometimes rough, but never without reward: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)

Leadership Ripples

2008-04-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

Good leaders keep the organization moving. And this requires a strong leadership team that will enthusiastically assist, support and sell the vision. All this comes with repercussions or ripples So what are the ripples? – the requirement of renewed energy, the necessity of revision, requests for funds and flexibility, recommitment … Watch the ripples closely, as they can beautifully awaken and revitalize a pond gone stagnant. But these ripples can also be a source of irritation to those living comfortably on lily pads and logs, soaking up the sun and staring at their reflections in the calm water. Jesus did provide rest for the weary (Matthew 11:28) and he did calm stormy waters (Matthew 8:23-27), but he also stirred calm waters with his often agitating teaching and actions John 7 – 10). In fact his leadership team turned the whole world upside down (Acts 17:6). Leaders: don’t be afraid of the ripples!

ambition?

2008-04-10T06:44:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago we considered the servant ‘aspect’ of leadership: a willingness to wash feet and a desire to see others succeed. While it is true that effective leaders have ambition, this ambition must never be driven by a desire for worldly acclaim. Nor should leadership destroy others while pushing towards the goal of accomplishment. Consider John the Baptizer: he did not allow his ego to be in competition with Jesus. John’s role was to be the set-up man for Jesus. He didn’t allow his temporary popularity to create a false sense of self-importance. Lesson: when Jesus wishes to make an appearance, never let your high self-opinion get in the way.

facing resistance

2008-04-07T06:51:00.000-07:00

Leaders understand that their character and capacities are both revealed and refined by how they respond to criticism, conflict and resistance. Antagonism can obviously be most aggravating but it can also be a potential ally in a leader’s quest for more maturity in Christ, as well as increased wisdom and influence. Jesus faced so much resistance yet handled it in a way that actually increased his stature and influence. The resilience and potency of his leadership is due to intimate communion with his Father – the source of love, wisdom and power. Good leaders know how important it is to live in the Father’s presence.

Discover Your Design

2008-03-31T10:48:00.000-07:00

Self-awareness is definitely a key to leadership. Strong leaders know where their strengths and limitations lie. You are a unique being, and even if you have an identical twin, there will never be another person exactly like you. God has shaped your personality and temperament in a particular way and this design is intentional. Just look at the stunning variety of characters Jesus first selected for his service: from doubting Thomas to aggressive Peter to sensitive John to compulsive Martha and outgoing Mary. We almost get the impression that Christ was purposefully assembling a mosaic of personalities, each offering something that could advance the purposes of God. Rick Warren suggests that people of God are like different pieces of stained glass through which the light of the Lord pours in brilliant array. The “glass” that is you may need polishing. It may be cracked or chipped in places. But your design matters. Understand these truths and your leadership will be stronger.

THE SURPRISING SIDE OF LEADERSHIP

2008-03-21T13:32:00.000-07:00

Servants of Jesus are not to be motivated by the lure of control or power, or by the need to fill a personality self-worth deficit-disorder. Beware of those dark sides of leadership. Surprisingly, a true leader finds joy and fulfillment in empowering and equipping others so they can contribute in service – you can read about it in Ephesians 4:11-13, Mark 10:35-45, and John 13:1-17. The freedom/courage to be a servant-leader like Jesus, who stooped to wash feet, comes from being secure in your mission, and in your identity as a child of God.

TO SEE OR NOT TO SEE

2008-03-06T08:58:00.000-08:00

Helping Others See – Visionary leadership is the art of picturing God’s preferred future for people in terms that inspire their souls and invigorate their wills. It also helps people discern and discipline themselves to the principles and practices God uses to transform that dream into reality

“The Reluctant Leader”

2008-02-28T09:08:00.001-08:00

Maybe you’ve shied away from leadership roles because you feel unsure about your abilities. Or perhaps you are reluctant due to the common fear that you will be criticized and underappreciated. Please know that your leadership is needed! In every sector of society (family, business, church) leadership roles remain empty, waiting for people like you to take the bold step. Sure there are reasons to be fearful, but the satisfaction of knowing you helped just one person makes the risk worthwhile. Those willing to be led and shaped by Christ will lead with passion, strength and wisdom. Remember this: many Biblical leaders were reluctant when first called.

rules or results?

2008-02-25T08:50:00.000-08:00

I think Jesus got himself in trouble with the 'religious managers' of his day because he continually pushed their 'bureaucratic buttons'! The Pharisaical position is "here is what we do, here's why, and here's how - because tradition tells us". They shake therir fist at Jesus and mumble to their neighbor over coffee at Tim's. Yet Jesus, being neither a bureaucrat nor a manager, does the 'leadership thing'. He places the focus on results, not rules. If someone needs to be healed on the Sabbath, then get it done! Forget the stupid policy. Leaders get it done. If it offends those tied up in tradition, so be it. Good leaders will accomplish the mission/purpose/mandate and you would think that should be enough to speak for itself. The 'proof is in the pudding thing'. Yet even then, after so many miracles and so many inspirational sermons, and after so many of those living on the fringes experience grace, the best leader the world has known is still given the death penalty. Politicians learn to placate the opposition. Usually this means compromising the results. Leaders like Jesus go for the results and sometimes face an unjust lynching. I'd vote for courageous leaders any day. At least it makes life more interesting. Here's to the adventure of leading.

position or charachter?

2008-02-20T07:09:00.000-08:00

Some foolishly think that leadership is defined by office rather than character. Actually, it is more about the person than the position. The Bible tells us that Jesus did not insist on His rightful place but humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8). This kind of leadership has inspired followers for over 2000 years!

What will set the church straight?

2008-02-11T16:27:00.000-08:00

The. Rev. Cheol Soon Park, a candidate for Moderator of the PCC 2008 General Assembly, says that the church's future depends on the church's leadership. He says "the local church should be a place that makes a joyful noise and wakes up people's hearts and minds. In order to achieve it, renewal of leadership is a pre-requisite."

Let out the leader in you!

2008-02-08T06:21:00.000-08:00

You have insights, passion and life experience! all of these can inspire, help and motivate others. And don't forget that God has built spiritual gifts into each person in His Church, so that by pulling together, so much can be accomplished!