Category Archives: congregational life

Five Signs of an Anxious Leader

Posted on March 30, 2026 by Israel Galindo

An anxious leader whose primary concern is to be liked, affirmed, or appreciated will find their effectiveness compromised. Here are five signs of an anxious leader. Continue reading →

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Four Facts About Reactivity

Posted on March 23, 2026 by Israel Galindo

Reactivity typically is misdirected at the wrong object. Because leaders occupy the position of greatest responsibility in the system they often are the focus of misdirected and misplaced reactivity. Leaders who have the capacity to remember and accept that “This is not about me” can avoid taking it personally or making the expressions, messages, and behaviors of reactivity a personal issue. Continue reading →

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A Leader’s Response When Self-Interest Becomes an Impasse

Posted on March 11, 2026 by Israel Galindo

Every leader will encounter the challenge when self-interest becomes an impasse to progress, especially when significant changes need to be made in the system. When new initiatives threaten change, people protect status, resources, identity, and autonomy. In healthy doses, self-interest … Continue reading →

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Homeostasis finds a way

Posted on March 2, 2026 by Israel Galindo

Every move toward change seems to be met with a countermove in the form of resistance, sabotage, entrenchment, confrontation, opposition, passive aggressive strategies, or sheer stubbornness. Experienced leaders never underestimate the power of homeostasis to reestablish systemic equilibrium. Continue reading →

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Lead like a pirate!

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Israel Galindo

I have a couple of friends who are really into “Talk Like a Pirate Day” (September 19 in case you’re wondering). One dresses up like a pirate for the day  (in Johnny Depp “Pirates of the Caribbean” style) and plays … Continue reading →

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Emotional Integration in Organizations

Posted on February 2, 2026 by Israel Galindo

At the conclusion to a recent presentation on leadership in organizations someone asked, “How would you define emotional integration in an organization?” While I did not use that phrase in my presentation, it was a good question. The term integration … Continue reading →

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Phrases You Should Never Use Around Church Members

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Israel Galindo

We all have that painful memory of a moment when our emotions got the better of us during a moment of reactivity. As soon as we said those words we regretted them, or, if not immediately, then eventually, as the … Continue reading →

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Your Mother Was Right: Life’s Not Fair

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Israel Galindo

New post on the Perspectives on Congregational Leadership blog: “Your Mother Was Right: Life’s Not Fair (and sometimes you should not be).” A reflection on trying to be fair in an anxious system.

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Family Life Cycle in the Church

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Israel Galindo

From the Along the Journey blog of the Center for Lifelong Learning: “Family Life Cycle Programming in the Church.”

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On church growth and rural churches

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Israel Galindo

I recently visited with a pastor of a small rural congregation (average Sunday morning attendance is between 40 to 50). He’s been at that church for ten years and enjoys pastoral ministry. He is intelligent and well-educated, with a divinity … Continue reading →

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