The Needs of the One: The Awkward Balance of Ministry and Leadership

Without apologies, I’m a bit of a Trek fan … both the bicycle kind and the sci-fi kind. Most of the time I indulge my Trekness for pure fun and escape; however, I’m a believer that if you keep your eyes open there’s something to be learned in and from almost everything.

And so, it […]

Breaking Through to a New Sense of Mission

Leading congregational leaders to deepening their spiritual discipline and breaking through to a new sense of mission…a story…

What happens when denominational issues impact upon the local congregation? What happens when these issues cause people to leave and de-stabilize the congregation? What happens when the Senior Minister decides to leave and takes significant leadership and […]

Leadership Pipeline 1

For the week of January 30, 2006

Leadership Pipeline 1

By: John Laster

What does your pool of emerging leaders look like? Do you ever experience frustration around the absence of men and women who are willing and capable of providing leadership in the various facets of congregational life? If new leaders are not bubbling to the […]

Flip Your Church Step 3: Develop Congregational Unity

For some, the thought of congregational unity may be more like a fantasy than a vision of reality, and yet there are churches dotted across the nation that are not only missionally aligned, but they are unified in all they do. That doesn’t mean the members are all automatons or that everyone agrees with everything. […]

Three Leadership Metaphors

I like metaphors because they encourage the imagination to run wild rather than just focus on a definition. In the case of leadership, I like three primary metaphors that shed light on the role of a leader without confining leadership to the definition. Here they are.
Shepherd
Let your imagination run wild here. Do you think […]

First Among Equals

We all are familiar with the legend of the boy Arthur who the wizard Merlin prophesized would be the one to pull the magical sword, Excalibur from the stone and become the king. You may even know the part where King Arthur and his knights of the round table set out in search of […]

Work Towards Role Clarity

Inculating a Shared Leadership DNA

The most common threat to shared leadership DNA in organizations is role confusion among the organization’s various leadership elements. This shows up as an absence of clarity regarding the specific boundaries and functions of the board and the operational management team.   Regardless of the type of organization, it is common […]

Tip Two: Work Towards Role Clarity

Inculating a Shared Leadership DNA

The most common threat to shared leadership DNA in organizations is role confusion among the organization’s various leadership elements. This shows up as an absence of clarity regarding the specific boundaries and functions of the board and the operational management team.   Regardless of the type of organization, it is common […]

The Spiritual Leadership of the Board

Most churches underestimate the importance of the board members as “spiritual leaders”. Board members are often elected or appointed because of specific skills (teaching, finance, property management, etc.). However, as management responsibilities are delegated to a trusted, gifted few, it becomes more important that the board members be models for the spiritual life. They need to […]