Category Archives: leadership

Thoughts on leadership

How to Handle a Dysfunctional Staff Colleague

I’ve had a string of conversations recently with supervisors related to troubling staff. Few things seem as frustrating as working with underfunctioning or incompetent staff persons. Ironically, the overwhelming feeling by supervisors is one of powerlessness in the face of … Continue reading

Posted in administration, bowen family systems theory, congregational life, leadership, personal growth, second chair | 5 Comments

Can you stop sabotage?

I received a cryptic e-mail from a friend recently. She’s less than a year into a new church staff position. In her e-mail she asked the question, “Can you stop sabotage?” She didn’t go into details, but obviously, something’s going … Continue reading

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Feeling like a skunk lately?

I just learned that my friend Susannah Smith will soon have her website blog up and running. I’m looking forward to her blog. Currently she sends out a monthly reflection via email titled “Inspirited Leadership: A monthly reflection for religious/spiritual … Continue reading

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A basic BFST reading list

Every once in a while I get a request for a basic reading list for studying Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST). The good news is that I find I need to update that basic list as more good resources become … Continue reading

Posted in books, bowen family systems theory, leadership, personal growth | 2 Comments

What your mother said

Most of us carry a little tape in our heads of things our mothers said repeatedly. And sometimes we repeat those things, often unintentionally mimicking mom’s voice. One of those things your mother probably said, especially if you had siblings, … Continue reading

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Possibility and potentiality

I had an interesting conversation with a local church minister who expressed frustration about his congregation’s failure to live fully into its possibility. That’s not an uncommon frustration for pastors and local church leaders. But I’ve found it helpful to … Continue reading

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Will or willfulness?

A reader on Margaret Marcuson’s blog, The Leadership Circle blog, asked a good question that comes up every now and again. He asked about the difference between having a will and willfulness. It’s a point of misunderstanding I hear now … Continue reading

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Kudos to Meg Hess in CC

I was gratified to read a fine article by Margaret “Meg” Hess in the current issue of the Christian Century magazine. Meg is a participant in the Leadership in Ministry Workshops (LIM) and has written a couple of articles for … Continue reading

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What’s in a name?

A colleague is making a change in his church staff position. He’s struggling with coming up with a new ministry job title. He says, “While I realize the main thing is how one functions, job titles are suggestive and important.” … Continue reading

Posted in administration, Christian Education, congregational life, leadership | 2 Comments

Enlisting Leaders by Functions and/or Qualities?

I discovered the book, Becoming A Community of Salt and Light, by Peggy Prevoznik Heins (Ava Maria Press, Notre Dame, Indiana) while I was researching our (Galindo and Canaday) soon-to-be-published book, Organizing for Christian Education Formation: A Faith Community Approach. … Continue reading

Posted in Christian Education, leadership | Tagged , , | 2 Comments