Leadership Ruminations: 2-year Summary

Last week I wrapped up a 2-year journey with other pastors in a group put together by Leadership Network. This type of experience was new to me but something I needed.  As I reflect back on the journey, here's some things that come to mind:

• Leaders must pay attention not only to the organizational health but also the emotional health of the teams they lead.


• Churches must continue to take risks for the sake of the Gospel.


• Pastors must not use "guilt" to motivate and lead their congregations.  {Larry Osborne famously calls this "drive-by guiltings"}


• We can't confuse methodology with theology.  Methods will always change while our theology (beliefs) should never change.


• We have to have margin (space) in our lives to be effective.  God gave us the Sabbath for a reason.  We need margin emotionally, relationally, and in our schedules.


• The financial landscape of America is changed for the foreseeable future.  How will this affect giving in the church? It will require more visionary leadership.  For example, candidate Barack Obama raised more money than any other presidential candidate in history during the worst recession in recent memory.  People will give to causes they believe in ... what cause is greater than the cause of Christ?


• Churches must develop new and younger leaders.  "Young eagles" must be allowed to fly. What are we doing to develop the "future" leadership of Rock Bridge?


• Student ministry is perhaps the most difficult "ministry nut" to crack today in the church.  Why? Because it is becoming less & less about the program of ministry and more & more about significant relationships facilitated by the ministry with adults and other students {This is our model at RBCC!!}


• Multi-site and multi-venues are here to stay.  In a resource challenged world, they are excellent ways to multiple the impact of the church.


• More churches will use the concept "volunteer" staff to meet the demands of ministry. Retirees, college students, interns, and those who have a "passion" to work in the local church will fill these roles as their time allows.  Volunteer staff will not be paid in the traditional sense; they will be paid with official positions, positive experiences & compelling ministry opportunities, insider influence, and perhaps even a desk or office or other "perk".


• As churches grow, the pastor has to lead more and do less.


• We must be comfortable being ourselves, living secure in our identity in Christ.