Training
For the week of February 07, 2005 Training By: Tom Bandy In most Congregational Mission Assessments, the most common failure in the system story of a growing, out-of-the-box church is that they are not rigorous and intentional enough training leaders. Perhaps they are too hasty to develop programs for increasing numbers of people; or perhaps […]
Radical Hospitality
For the week of January 31, 2005 Radical Hospitality By: Tom Bandy Most churches have learned that hospitality increases worship attendance … but they rarely go far enough. Radical hospitality is the readiness, not just to do what you like only better, but to do what you do not like for the sake of the […]
The Purpose of Worship
For the week of January 24, 2005 The Purpose of Worship By: Tom Bandy Although there are plenty of theological definitions of worship, the wise church leader will understand the organizational and systemic purpose of worship. In this perspective, there are only two reasons why worship deserves dedicated time, space, and staff: • Worship is […]
From Program Manager to Transformational Leader
For the week of January 17, 2005 From Program Manager to Transformational Leader By: Tom Bandy One of the hardest shifts for clergy to make is the shift from program manager to transformational leader. This is a shift from program development to leader development, or, a shift from “shepherding” to “midwifing”. The key is to […]
Separating Vision and Management
Separating Visioning and Management By: Tom Bandy Whatever your organizational model might be, it is crucial to separate the visionary and management functions. Most churches (especially small churches) fail to do so, even though their polities might designate “elders” and “stewards”, or “deacons” and “trustees” and so on. As soon as the separation becomes […]
Mission Statements
For the week of January 03, 2005 Mission Statements By: Tom Bandy Biblical visions are revealed, never created. That principle is forgotten so often! Churches accommodate to the corporate culture around them by assuming vision to be a function of strategic planning. Instead, vision is a function of adult faith formation … an extension of […]