August 8, 2018
Leading Ideas from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary
5 Ways Female Leaders Undermine Themselves
Church consultant Susan Beaumont says that power accrues more easily to men than women in our culture, so women need to be especially savvy about how they use their power. She outlines five common ways that women can undermine themselves when it comes to using power. Read more now: https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/5-ways-female-leaders-undermine-themselves?id=li20180808
Episode 16
Leading Ideas Talks Podcast: “Women and the Power Dynamics of Leadership”
Why do women leaders sometimes struggle with using their power and influence? In this episode Lewis Center Associate Director Ann Michel speaks with church consultant Susan Beaumont about how women leaders can learn to use power constructively in leadership relationships. Listen now: https://www.churchleadership.com/podcast/episode-16-women-and-the-power-dynamics-of-relationships-featuring-susan-beaumont?id=li20180808
Who is Looking for a Church Home?
John Zehring, author of Get Your Church Ready to Grow, says that it’s helpful for a church to focus its outreach on categories of people who might be more receptive to finding a new church home, such as recently divorced or widowed persons, those new to the neighborhood, or inactive members interested in reengaging. Read more now: https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/who-is-looking-for-a-church-home?id=li20180808
The Right Question
“Leaders do not need answers. Leaders must have the right questions.”
Kristi Hedges developed a method to discover how a person can discover how they are perceived at work. After selecting five people who know your work well, all of whom you trust to give honest feedback, meet with each and ask these questions:
* What’s the general perception of me?
* What could I do differently that would have the greatest impact on my success?
Want more Right Questions? Read “Right Questions for Church Leaders” at https://www.churchleadership.com/books/right-questions-for-church-leaders/
What Next Faithful Step is God Calling Your Church to Take?
Discovering God’s Future for Your Church is a turnkey tool kit to help your congregation discern and implement God’s vision for its future. The resource guides your church in discovering clues to your vision in your history and culture, your current congregational strengths and weaknesses, and the needs of your surrounding community. The tool kit features videos, leader’s guides, discussion exercises, planning tools, handouts, diagrams, worksheets, and more. Learn more and watch an introductory video now: https://www.churchleadership.com/product/discovering-gods-future-church?id=li20180808
50 Ways to Welcome New People
One key to effective outreach is making sure that worship visitors feel truly welcome. From helping newcomers feel at home in worship to following up with visitors, the strategies and tips in 50 Ways to Welcome New People will help your congregation make a good first impression and extend hospitality in meaningful ways. Read now and download free: https://www.churchleadership.com/50-ways/50-ways-to-welcome-new-people?id=li20180808
Support the Lewis Center
Leading Ideas is made possible by contributions to the Lewis Center for Church Leadership from readers like you. Thank you.
Donate now: https://www.churchleadership.com/support-the-lewis-center?id=leadingideas
It’s Good for Girls to Have Clergywomen, Study Shows
What effect do clergywomen have on girls? A great one, it turns out. Women who grew up with female clergy as role models do better psychologically and educationally than those who did not, writes Jana Riess for Religion News Service. Read more now: https://religionnews.com/2018/07/17/its-good-for-girls-to-have-clergywomen-study-shows?id=li20180808
Quotable Leadership
“The 20th century will see as great a change in the position and progress of woman in the world as has been accomplished in this century, but it will have ceased to cause comment and will be accepted as a matter of course.” — Susan B. Anthony, 1901
Adult Small Group Study: “Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense”
This 10-session video-based congregational study featuring biblical scholar N. T. Wright addresses questions of the reasonableness of the Christian faith in the modern world. Simply Christian is an excellent course for both established believers and seekers and is ideal for your congregation’s small groups, adult Bible studies, and Sunday School classes. Learn more now: https://www.churchleadership.com/product/simply-christian/?id=li20180808