Leadership in Ministry Workshops summer newsletter

Posted on August 18, 2009 by igalindo

The current issue of the Leadership in Ministry Workshops newsletters is now available. In this issue: Continue reading →

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How could they act that way?

Posted on August 7, 2009 by igalindo

Times of high anxiety tend to bring out reactivity. There’s no question we’re living in anxious times, and the increase in consultation phone calls from leaders dealing with staff and employee issues only confirms the obvious. I’m getting an increase in the number of cases of employees or church members “behaving badly” lately. One common lament among hapless leaders is, “I don’t understand how they can act that way!” Continue reading →

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Speaking the truth in love

Posted on August 3, 2009 by igalindo

I’m revisiting some of the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Few have written better on the matter of community. I came across his thoughts on speaking the truth in love in community that I find timely. I’ll confess I remain perpetually puzzled at people’s inability to be frank with each other. I spent too many of my formative years growing up in New York City, where they didn’t mince words and more conversations than not tended to be delivered with an in-your-face attitude. I find Bonhoeffer’s words worth considering. Continue reading →

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Cynics live longer (or maybe it just feels that way)

Posted on July 31, 2009 by igalindo

I’m not a morning person, and, I’m a glass-half-full kind of person. I long for Lent, a season that fits my demeanor best. Perky bubbly morning persons drive me crazy. Lately I seem to be surrounded by them and their kin. To my morning sunshine friends I offer “The Cynics Guide to Life” as a corrective to a saccharine frame of mind with a plea to please, let me have my third cup of coffee before telling me all about your pet’s unique personality and fascinating interior life. Continue reading →

Posted in humor, world view | 3 Comments

Summer book contest

Posted on July 29, 2009 by igalindo

It’s been a while since we’ve had a GRACE Writes blog contest. Here’s a summer book contest for our readers and visitors. The first person to correctly identify the authors of four of the five works listed below correctly will win the book prize. Continue reading →

Posted in books, theology, world view | 2 Comments

We could do with some rules around here

Posted on July 7, 2009 by igalindo

Compared to other denominations and faith traditions, Baptists can be rather antinomian. Like many things religious, that can be a blessing and a curse. Dealing with other denominations on matters related to theological education and academic administration can leave me feeling caught in a bureaucratic twilight zone of Kafkian proportions. Faith traditions often have their own internal logic that makes little sense to outsiders. Seeking understanding from insiders inevitable yields mumbled talk about “tradition” followed by a coda of a shrugged shoulder that communicates a helpless “What can you do?” At those moments I prefer my free church roots that will as likely yield a response of “Yeah, sure, we can do that. Why not?” as a “We’ve never done it that way before.” Continue reading →

Posted in congregational life, ecumenical, theology | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Back to basics: The Triangle 7

Posted on July 1, 2009 by igalindo

We continue the series on basic concepts in Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST). Today’s question: Does “thinking triangles” make leadership easier? Continue reading →

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Back to basics: The Triangle 6

Posted on June 30, 2009 by igalindo

We continue the series on basic concepts in Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST). Today’s question: What suggestions do you have for pastoral leaders for seeing triangles more clearly? What about how they manage themselves in the inevitable triangles? Continue reading →

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Back to basics: The Triangle 5

Posted on June 29, 2009 by igalindo

We continue the series on basic concepts in Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST). Today’s question:How does our family of origin influence how we function in triangles? Continue reading →

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Back to basics: The Triangle 4

Posted on June 26, 2009 by igalindo

We continue the series on basic concepts in Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST). Today’s question: Are there “healthy” and “unhealthy” triangles (or ways of being in key triangles)? If so, what’s the difference? Continue reading →

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