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Category Archives: Leadership
On Bad Elders: Doing a Better Job of Selecting Elders, Part 1 (Training the Members)
Removing lousy elders can be really ugly. It’s never pleasant for the man being removed or for those confronting him and asking him to step down. It’s far, far better to ordain men who will make into good elders. Lots … Continue reading
On Bad Elders: Removing Lousy Elders, a Story
A long time ago, in a land far, far away (not that far, actually), the men of a church gathered in a classroom. Two men had organized the meeting, and one acted as chair. “Most of you know why we’re … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Elders, Uncategorized
Tagged All, elders, overseers, pastors, rebuking an elder, shepherds
1 Comment
On Bad Elders: Removing Lousy Elders, Toward a Solution, Part 2
Public rebuke of sin In 1 Tim 5:19 we are taught how to “rebuke” an elder — (1 Tim 5:19-20) Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 Those who … Continue reading
On Bad Elders: Removing Lousy Elders, Toward a Solution, Part 1
In the last post, I proposed three much-need reforms, one of which is coming up with a mechanism for getting rid of elders who shouldn’t be elders. The difficulty of judging an elder As problematic as it is to come … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Elders, Uncategorized
Tagged All, elders, overseers, pastors, shepherds
Comments Off on On Bad Elders: Removing Lousy Elders, Toward a Solution, Part 1
On Bad Elders: Thinking Out Loud
One of the biggest challenges facing the Churches of Christ today is how to deal with lousy elders. Of course, many churches have excellent elderships, but there are far too many congregations being held back by weak, ineffective, or downright … Continue reading
Dealing with Murmurers
In a comment to an earlier post, Dell Kimberly asked, One of our deacons has not come on board. He and his wife are upset with the change of direction. They continue to work just below the surface. They question … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, Uncategorized
Tagged All, complainers, elders, murmurers, overseers, pastors, shepherds
4 Comments
Too Good Not to Share: How to Sabotage Your Church
This is a link to a .pdf of a 1944 CIA manual on how to sabotage an organization, called “Simple Sabotage Field Manual.’ Here are the highlights — (1) Insist on doing everything through “channels.” Never permit short-cuts to be … Continue reading
Good to Great (Discipline, Flywheels, Core values, Goals)
A culture of discipline Collins recommends these four disciplines — 1) Focus on your Hedgehog. 2) Build a system of freedom and responsibility within a framework. 3) Manage the system, not the people. 4) Practice extreme commitment. Focusing on your … Continue reading
Posted in Good to Great, Uncategorized
Tagged All, Good to Great, Jim Collins
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On Fired Ministers Starting Competing New Churches
[Consider this a draft. I wrestle with the right and wrong of these issues, especially having had first hand experience with this circumstance — and having many friends caught up such situations as well. And so, maybe I’m missing something. … Continue reading
Posted in Ministers, Uncategorized
Tagged All
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How Not to Have to Fire Your Preacher: Keeping the Right Guy, Part 2
i. Help your ministers stay out of financial trouble Well, it sounded good when I was typing it. I’m not entirely sure how to do this. Here’s one thought: Every church that’s large enough should have a standing committee of … Continue reading
Posted in Ministers, Uncategorized
Tagged All
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