Occasional Thoughts for the
week of October 27, 2008
Clergy Day Apart:
Sedalia Oct. 21, Celebration Center First Sedalia UMC
Local Pastor's Day
Apart: Lee's Summit Oct. 25 Grace UMC
Click on pictures to see larger
image
Dear Colleagues,
I have been reflecting upon
Paul Borden’s timely book,
Direct Hit – Aiming Real Leaders at the Mission Field.
The author discusses three vital teams needed today in order to
move dysfunctional churches to healthy, and declining to growing
churches.
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Team one is the prayer
team who will commit themselves to praying regularly for
changes that lead to health, growth and what Borden
calls reproduction.
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Team two is the vision
team or dream team. These are the idea people who help
with sharing the urgency and create vision in order to
address the urgency.
-
And then there are team
three leaders whom the pastor recruits and trains to
help implement change. The pastor teaches the team that
leaders are passionate, courageous, flexible, missional,
wise, and positive people who take responsibility for
leading.
I would also contend that the
pastor should model these vital characteristics.
In addition, one of the most
important statements Paul Borden makes, which I believe is
critical for the success of ministry today, is the following,
“Leading change is a difficult and risky task. The more one is
alone in attempting the task, the greater challenge.”
We have had a number of
outstanding opportunities recently for gathering together for
learning in our district and conference: the Pastors’ Day Apart
in Sedalia and the Local Pastors’ Day Apart in Lee’s Summit
(pictures above of some of the participants at the events), the
recent Church on the Move Conference, Boundaries Training, the
Pastor’s Leadership Development group meeting monthly at Woods
Chapel, the Mid-Size and Large-Size Church gathering, the Pettis
County 2020 team, the Clinton cooperative ministries and shared
youth groups meeting throughout the district. These all reflect
opportunities for us to connect and remember our need to pray
for one another, share creative ideas of what we do well, and
develop skills for preparing leaders for change as we work as
change agents.
It is exciting and heart
warming for me to see the many ways we are a part of the renewal
of the church and that we as leaders are choosing to work
together for transformational change in our local church. A few
sit alone in dying, dysfunctional churches across our
denomination, overwhelmed, depressed, complaining about too many
meetings, often cynical, and feeling unappreciated, waiting for
the right appointment. They miss the power of community and the
powerful witness of what God is doing within our covenant
community.
Although we may not meet very
much or be able to attend all of the learning events of our
district and conference, I am thankful that I see many of you
reaching out to identify the spiritual leaders that cause your
soul to sing, write, teach, preach, witness to the hope of
Christ. For me the best part of ministry is the fun, fellowship
and faith of colleagues in risk-taking mission and service to
the world.
May we never lose the value of
constantly having a deep and abiding walk with God and our
sisters and brothers on the journey!
Blessings,
Cody
