March 7, 2018
Leading Ideas from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary
When Churches Hire Members
It is increasingly common for churches to hire their own members. Ann Michel of the Lewis Center suggests we need to consider how congregations and the church members in their employ can best navigate what is admittedly a gray area with potential risks and rewards for both employee and employer. Read more: https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/churches-hire-members?id=li20180307
Leading Ideas Talks Podcast: “Toward More Synergistic Leadership”
What practices lead to synergistic leadership? In this Leading Ideas Talks episode Lewis Center Director Douglas Powe interviews Ann Michel about her book Synergy: A Leadership Guide for Church Staff and Volunteers. Listen now: https://www.churchleadership.com/podcast/synergy-leadership-guide-church-staff-volunteers-featuring-ann-michel?id=li20180307
What is Your Signature Ministry?
In their book Small Church Check Up, Kay Kotan and Phil Schroeder say stable, smaller churches can remain vital by focusing on a “signature ministry,” providing one key ministry with excellence, rather than trying to be everything to everybody. Read more: https://www.churchleadership.com/leading-ideas/what-is-your-signature-ministry?id=li20180307
The Right Question
“Leaders do not need answers. Leaders must have the right questions.”
When a church decides to add a staff person for a particular ministry area, they often will focus the position description and announcement around tasks they want this person to do. A more helpful approach might be to begin with the purpose of adding the position and go from there using these questions as a way of describing the position.
* What do we expect to be different in our church because of this position?
* What attributes are essential in the person we seek?
* What tasks go with this position?
Want more Right Questions? Read “Right Questions for Church Leaders” at https://www.churchleadership.com/books/right-questions-for-church-leaders/
Doing Community Ministry in the Small Church
How can a small congregation engage the community in a significant way? With the right approach, a small church can make a big impact in the world through partnerships, creative use of resources, and a focus on relational ministry. Read “To the Point: Doing Community Ministry in the Small Church” to learn how. Read now and download free: https://www.churchleadership.com/to-the-point/point-community-ministry-small-church?id=li20180307
Register Now for “Protect, Sustain, Grow: Best Practices for Handling Your Church’s Money”
Conference and Livestream, Sat., March 10, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Eastern Time, Washington, DC
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 register now: https://www.churchleadership.com/events/protect-sustain-grow-best-practices-for-handling-your-churchs-money-conference-and-livestream?id=li20180307
Quotable Leadership
“Too many trivial projects are like seeds sown on stony ground — they might sprout, but they do not take root and grow into anything useful.” — Rosabeth Moss Kanter
50 Ways to Multiply Your Church’s Leadership Capacity
This free resource in our popular 50 Ways series provides strategies to identify and support new leaders and build and maintain effective ministry teams. Topics include: helping new leaders get started, inviting people effectively, making meetings matter, supporting and affirming existing leaders, and more. Read now and download free: https://www.churchleadership.com/50-ways/50-ways-multiply-churchs-leadership-capacity?id=li20180307