February 27, 2019
Leading Ideas from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary
Confess Your Mess
Marv Nelson explains that leaders gain respect when they own their failures and shortcomings, not when they ignore problems or shift blame. In confessing your mistakes, you model humility and become more able to learn from failure. Read more now. https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/confess-your-mess?id=li20190227
7 Policies Every Church Needs for Trust and Transparency
Trust is fragile, says Bonnie Ives Marden. And finances, if not handled correctly, can be a source of worry rather than security. She outlines seven policies for institutional trust and financial integrity that reduce confusion and conflict while at the same time encouraging generosity to support your mission. Read more now. https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/7-policies-every-church-needs-for-trust-and-transparency?id=li20190227
The Right Question
“Leaders do not need answers. Leaders must have the right questions.”
Peter Senge says that good news travels upward in an organization faster than the speed of light, but failure is ignored or denied. His right question for measuring openness to innovation for any organization is:
* How fast does bad news travel upward?
Want more Right Questions? Read “Right Questions for Church Leaders” at https://www.churchleadership.com/books/right-questions-for-church-leaders/
Learn to Protect, Sustain and Grow Your Church’s Money
Managing church finances requires skill, dedication, and know-how, but also the heart of a steward. Protect, Sustain, Grow: Best Practices for Handling Your Church’s Money provides practical advice, best practices, and resources for pastors, finance committee members, church treasurers, financial secretaries, and bookkeepers — all those charged with the sacred trust of protecting, sustaining, and growing the resources God has entrusted to your church. Learn more and watch an introductory video. https://www.churchleadership.com/product/protect-sustain-grow-best-practices-for-handling-your-churchs-money?id=li20190227
Watch “Why Community Engagement Matters”
The most vital congregations always do two things: connect people with God and connect with their communities. Learn about the latter in this five-minute video from Lovett H. Weems, Jr., as he provides an overview of the importance of community engagement to your church. Watch now free. https://www.churchleadership.com/videos/why-community-engagement-matters/?id=li20190227
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
#YouToo
Protect your congregation and your ministry with Keeping Our Sacred Trust — online training on the ethical boundaries in ministry. Courses include “Understanding Clergy Sexual Ethics” and “Maintaining Boundaries in a Digital Age.” Keeping Our Sacred Trust is open to clergy of any denomination and non-denominational pastors. Courses are $49 and include .5 CEU. Learn more and enroll today. https://www.lewisonlinelearning.org/?id=li20190227
Quotable Leadership
“Leaders are more powerful role models when they learn than when they teach.” — Rosabeth Moss Kanter
Apply Now for Doctor of Ministry in Church Leadership Excellence at Wesley
New cohort begins May 2019 in Washington, DC
Two years ago, four clergy colleagues decided to pursue their Doctor of Ministry in Church Leadership together at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. We asked them, “Why Wesley?”
We invite you to follow in their footsteps. We’re accepting applications for the May 2019 cohort through March 4.
Learn more and apply today. https://www.churchleadership.com/doctor-of-ministry-in-church-leadership-excellence?id=li20180227
Read “Take the Next Step: Leading Lasting Change in the Church”
Too often church advocates insist that if genuine change is to occur in the church, then they must throw out everything that has gone before. The problem with such calls for radical change is that they are not true to the way that genuine and lasting change takes place, says author Lovett H. Weems, Jr. In his book Take the Next Step he offers congregational leaders essential insights into how they can work with and through their churches’ ministries to bring about authentic and faithful growth. Learn more and order now. https://www.churchleadership.com/books/take-the-next-step-leading-lasting-change-in-the-church?id=li20190227
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