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Category Archives: leadership
The pastor’s function as coach
I’m often surprised at the disconnect that we clergy have from our congregation in several areas. One I see especially seems counterintuitive. We go to conferences to feed our own growth about spirituality and faith, and then fail to share … Continue reading
Posted in bowen family systems theory, leadership
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It only takes a few of them
Forced terminations of clergy remains one of the most difficult, and often tragic, issues for congregations. A congregation can take years to recover from the forced termination o a pastor—and so also for the pastor. A single episode can become … Continue reading
Posted in bowen family systems theory, congregational life, leadership
Tagged church crisis, clergy, factions, forced termination, Israel Galindo, ministering to ministers foundation
Comments Off on It only takes a few of them
The five ‘must do’ things for ministry staff success
Previously we shared some thoughts from Lynn Turner, Associate Pastor of Youth, Career, and Discipleship at the First Baptist Church of Richmond, VA. We asked Lynn to share her thoughts about how to success in ministry with seminarians in my … Continue reading
Posted in congregational life, leadership, second chair
Tagged church staff, Israel Galindo, second chair
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Five hazards for second chair leaders
Previously we shared some thoughts from Lynn Turner, Associate Pastor of Youth, Career, and Discipleship at the First Baptist Church of Richmond, VA. We asked Lynn to share her thoughts about ministry to seminarians in my course on “Thriving and … Continue reading
Posted in congregational life, leadership, second chair
Tagged church staff, Israel Galindo, second chair
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What pastors want staff to know
I’m teaching a new course titled “How to Thrive and Succeed as a Congregational Ministry Associate.†The course features a narrative component that consists of visits from “practitioners.†These are ministry associates, “second chair†leaders, currently in congregations. The visitors … Continue reading
Posted in leadership, second chair
Tagged Israel Galindo, pastors and staff, second chair, staff
3 Comments
Are humans a “pack animal”?
I finally got around to doing a presentation on “Leadership Lessons from the Dog Whisperer.†It was a fun presentation and seemed well-received. As often happens in plenary presentations participants will focus on the immediate concepts as a frame of … Continue reading
Book review: Becoming a Healthy Church, by Macchia
What are the two greatest gifts given to us? According to Stephen A. Macchia in Becoming a Healthy Church: 10 Traits of a Vital Ministry (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books 2003) the Word of God and prayer are the two … Continue reading
Posted in books, congregational life, leadership
1 Comment
Roles vs. Function in BFST
I recently received an e-mail from a Leadership in Ministry Workshops participant asking about the distinction between role and function often made in Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST). This distinction is often difficult for folks to make, but I think … Continue reading
Posted in bowen family systems theory, congregational life, leadership
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Book review: They Smell Like Sheep, by Anderson
Who in the life of the Church can we look at as a clear leadership model for the church in the 21st century? Dr. Lynn Anderson answered this question in They Smell Like Sheep: Spiritual Leadership for the 21st Century … Continue reading
Posted in books, congregational life, leadership
Tagged Jon Messer, Lynn Anderson, They Smell Like Sheep
1 Comment
Book review: The Apathetic and Bored Church Member by Savage
Just about every year one of our doctoral students approaches me wanting to do a study on why church members leave their congregation. About half the time it’s clear about what’s behind the motivation for the study: anxiety from church … Continue reading
Posted in books, congregational life, leadership
1 Comment
