Category Archives: Leadership

Small Groups: My Presentation From Our January 23, 2011 Service

My church is going through three weeks of special services centered around the congregation’s vision. The first week’s presentation was last Sunday (January 23, 2011). We arranged the seating to have the speakers in the middle of the auditorium. We … Continue reading

Posted in Small Groups, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Ministers: Why We Should Do Background Checks on Ministers Before We Hire Them

The Christian Chronicle just ran this astonishing story. The full story is from the Washington Post, and it’s a fascinating, disturbing read. It seems that a Virginia Church of Christ hired a minister who had been convicted of beating his … Continue reading

Posted in Ministers, Uncategorized | 38 Comments

Ministers Guilty of Sexual Sin: Christian Chronicle Editorial

From the January 2011 edition of the Christian Chronicle — The automatic reaction of some is to attribute the recent cases [of sex between a minister and a teen] to young, single ministers. In the cases referenced, though, the ministers … Continue reading

Posted in Sexual Ethics, Uncategorized | 12 Comments

Ministers Guilty of Sexual Sin: The Three-Strike Pastor

Insightful article from MondayMorningInsight about a pastor caught on film spending countless hours at a strip club — This guy had absolutely no accountability, it seems.  He took off for hours from the church; and when the reporters called the … Continue reading

Posted in Sexual Ethics, Uncategorized | 19 Comments

Church Growth: Buildings Aren’t the Problem

Does the use of a traditional church building interfere with converting the unchurched? Some argue that we need to move to house churches or meet in other non-traditional venues to attract the lost. A recent study disagrees — [W]e asked, … Continue reading

Posted in Church Growth, Uncategorized | 16 Comments

Small Groups: An Inquiry

I get emails — We are specifically looking at defining the role of small groups in our “process.” Currently, we have done no training of small group leaders, haven’t really reached any type of consensus on the goals and objectives … Continue reading

Posted in Small Groups, Uncategorized | 26 Comments

Elders: The Care and Feeding of Elders in a Progressive Congregation: Micromanagement

* Don’t whine about micromanagement I know this will sound terribly cynical — largely because it is. But in my experience (not speaking of present staff), when a minister complains of “micromanagement,” he’s actually complaining of management. But elders are … Continue reading

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Elders: The Care and Feeding of Elders in a Progressive Congregation: Duties to the Whole Flock

* The flock Elders are shepherds, and shepherds care passionately about the flock — all the flock. Ministers are often placed over one or two programs. Sometimes they let their passion for their ministry overwhelm their passion for their flock. … Continue reading

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Elders: The Care and Feeding of Elders in a Progressive Congregation: Five Dysfunctions of a Team

* Pat Lencioni is the expert It’s my opinion that every eldership and every group of ministers should study these two books together: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable and Silos, Politics and Turf Wars: A Leadership … Continue reading

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Elders: The Care and Feeding of Elders in a Progressive Congregation: Retreat

* Retreat I imagine it’s pretty common for elders and staff to occasionally take a weekend off together, to sort through church issues and build relationships. It’s a good idea. Here are some keys to making it work — — … Continue reading

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