Surface To Soul

An essential component for creating healthy congregations involves turning leadership teams into spiritual communities. Communities like these help congregations identify and celebrate their history, reflect on scripture, think theologically, and prayerfully discern God’s preferred future for their congregation. Board members are seen as spiritual leaders rather than political representatives. The board is seen as the people of God in community rather than a group of corporate managers. Through this angle of vision, the church board become a nucleus for the renewal of the church where every board member is a pastor, a serious Bible student, a teacher and a learner. Meetings can be one one of the primary vehicles for building leaders who are lifelong disciples. This happens when meetings are viewed as worshipful work rather than a litany of reports and decisions held together by book-end prayers. Viewing meetings as worshipful work also results in energized leaders who:

• stay engaged in the life of the congregation when they rotate off the board or counse
• bring more energy and insight to meetings while growing in vitality and spiritual maturity
• are empowered to the share ministry with clergy and members at large.

Meetings as Worshipful Work

If we redefine the activity of the people of God serving on boards and see it as worshipful work, then prayer no longer can be relegated to a book-end role; it will saturate the agenda and thread it’s way throughout the meeting. Consider framing prayers to the agenda. Offer prayers of confession and intersperse prayers of thanksgiving throughout agenda. Listed below is a sample of how you can make meetings more worshipful.

Assembling in God’s

• Name Call to order and service
• Read our mission statement and center ourselves in prayer
• Light the Christ candle

We offer a prayer of confession (reflect on the following questions)

• Whom do I need to forgive to be more fully present here?
• To whom do I need to ask for forgiveness from?
• What assumptions, slights and past history do I need to let go of be fully present and engaged?
• Am I operating in a need to win or need to save face mode?
• How would a servant leader approach the decision we’re facing at this time?

We hear the Good News

• Spend time dwelling on the Word of God
• Share an affirmation of faith

We Present our Offering

• Sharing of 30-day ministry goals
• Sharing of new 30-day ministry goals
• Address stated action items

We give Thanks to God

• Offer thanks for God’s transforming presence in our lives and ministries
• Offer prayers for one another and prayers of intercession

We Go Out in God’s Name

• Charge and benediction (with sharing the peace of God with one another)
• Adjourn to serve

What might you do to make your meetings a more worshipful experience?
Download “Understanding Meetings As Worshipful Work”

Leaders are people of influence who model the way for others.  Their behaviors allow others to follow and move forward in new ways. When congregations move slower than anticipated or seem to be “stuck,” I ask myself these 10 questions to see if leaders have quit modeling the way.

1. Are leaders creating a sense of urgency?  Complacency among leaders is a huge red flag for me.  To create and sustain energy around desired changes, people need to see and hear that consistent progress is being made. Other people won’t engage in the process if it seems like just another good idea that’s never realized.
2. Are leaders positive and proactive?  Leaders are culture creators who build up the body of Christ. They inspire hope and possibilities and have a mindset of abundance rather than scarcity.
3. Do leaders practice faith 24/7?  Leaders should be known for praying daily, worshiping weekly, reading the Bible, giving generously, engaging in caring conversations, and serving at and beyond the congregation. If they’re not doing what we ask every member to do, why should others follow?
4. Do leaders set 30 day ministry goals – for themselves? Leaders should constantly be asking, “What can I do this month to grow deeper in faith, encourage others, and help our congregation fulfill its mission and goals?  When assembling teams, I look for leaders who have a bias toward action and don’t wait for others to tell them what to do.
5. Do leaders offer encouragement? Leaders should be known for celebrating the gifts of members and the contributions they make – both privately and publicly.  They play the role of cheerleaders, bringing out the best in others.
6. Do leaders address counterproductive behavior as it occurs? Leaders refuse to engage in gossip and call out others who do.  Leaders make note of when balls are being dropped and are willing to ask, “How do we get things back on track?”  Leaders make note of when trust has broken down among individuals and teams and challenge leaders to address these issues in a timely manner. Leaders find ways to speak their truth in grace-filled ways that allow the congregation to thrive.
7. Do leaders share life and faith stories?  Thriving congregations are typically storytelling congregations where the people of God share God sightings and stories of how they experience God in daily life.  Leaders make their faith transparent by sharing  stories about how they practice faith and experience God throughout the week.
8.  Do leaders “lead by proposal?”  Understanding that, “if you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem,” leaders find ways to become unstuck and move forward by offering new ideas and proposals to consider.
9. Do leaders “find out” when they don’t know?  Good leaders are naturally curious. If members start missing worship or become less involved, they call and find out what’s going on.  If a leader misses a meeting or doesn’t complete a project, they make contact and find out.  When they see good things happening within the congregation they find out how these “bright spots” might be replicated elsewhere.  If they’re wondering what other members are thinking and doing, they “find out” by asking. They don’t assume – they take time to ask!
10. Do they display ongoing regard for others?  Knowing that trust is the glue that holds together all relationships and organizations, leaders do everything in their power to maintain a sense of ongoing regard for one another.

What areas of modeling do you need to pay closer attention to in the future? In what ways has your organization been impacted when these behaviors have NOT been present?
 

The assumptions we hold about ministry may be the reason we feel like we’re in a rut rather than a groove. Listed below are  5 myths I frequently observe when coaching congregations.

Myth 1: We cannot place expectations on our members.
Community organizations and sports clubs have no problem communicating clear expectations about people’s involvement yet churches are often reluctant to do so.  When growing up, I remember hearing that I must worship at least once a year to remain a member at my home congregation.  I can’t think of any organization I’ve been involved in that had such lax standards.

Myth 2: People today are unwilling to serve.
This myth results from a lack of  vision, a lack of understanding about people’s gifts and passions, and a lack of options in which people can choose to contribute. Most members are willing give their time, energy and resources to ministries when they are passionate about the cause, when they know that their time will be well-spent, when they know they’ll make a difference, and when they are personally invited.

Myth 3: Discipleship and evangelism are two separate things.
As Christians, we are called to “go and make disciples.” I’m not sure how one does that without one being a being a vibrant and verbal witness for Him. Evangelism is the joyful task of every Christ follower, not just those who are “gifted.”  The role of Evangelism Committees should be to equip people how reflect upon and share their faith stories with others, inviting others to do the same.

Myth 4: Christian education is for young people.
We forget that faith formation is a lifelong process where everyone has a next step for going deeper as a follower of Christ.  If we want Christian children and youth, then we need Christian adults who model a vibrant faith for all ages.

Myth 5: Programs are the primary way to fulfill our mission.
People often become more committed to a program than to fulfilling the purpose of the church. Programs are launched without listing desired outcomes nor having any plans for how the program will be evaluated. My roles is to ask what seem like dumb questions such as, “What are you are seeking to accomplish through offering this program?” and “Is this the BEST way to achieve the result your looking for?”  Our focus on offering “good” programs can prevent us from providing “great” opportunities for fulfilling our mission.

Myths limit our impact for being a transformational presence in our world and rob our capacities to maximize our efforts and fulfill our mission. What ministry myths or assumption are you holding on to that no longer serve God’s mission for your congregation?  What might you do to begin to dismantle the things that hinder rather than help?

I often hear people, particularly young adults, comment that they disengaged from their congregation due to their inability to establish significant relationships with other members. One young adult commented, “My church was interested in getting me involved on a committee so that there would be young adult representation, but they really weren’t  interested in learning about me as a person, nor my viewpoints about the church.”

Sometimes we hear resistance from congregational leaders when we stress the importance of making caring conversations part of every home and congregational experience. Board members will say “We have more important things to tend to.”  I usually respond with, “What’s more important than building relationships with each other, particularly when God is the subject of our conversations?”  Caring conversations deepen relationships which lead to increased trust among team members. Board meetings are almost always more productive, and shorter, when there’s trust among team members.

Here’s another comment I frequently hear: “Some churches may need to have caring conversations, but around here, everyone knows each other”  I usually respond with saying, “Really?  Do you know the yearnings of each person in this room? Do you know their faith journey and what brought them to this faith community?  Do you know what keeps them here and why?  Do you know what their next step for growing in faith is and how you might support them?”

We usually know a fair amount ABOUT others but rarely do they really know them  To move beyond a superficial relationship, we need to learn about each other’s hopes and dreams, gifts and graces, as well as the significant transitions and challenges in people’s lives.  An indicator for me that I don’t know someone well is when I have a difficult time praying for their specific needs and concerns.

I view faith formation as a lifelong process where everyone has a “next step” for growing deeper in faith.  I also  view forming significant relationships as a lifelong process where everyone has a “next step” for growing deeper in their relationships.

If you’d like a few tools to help you “go deeper” in your relationships with friends, family members, co-workers and members of your congregation, consider downloading one or both of these forms:

How Has God Shaped You?
Sharing My Story

Today is my youngest son’s 11th birthday. As our family celebrates the gift he’s been to our family, I’m reminded of the 10 things I hope I do as a father.

1. Tell my 2 boys daily that I love them, am proud of them, and that they’re loved unconditionally by God.
2. Spend time with them doing the things they love and value and to see life through their eyes.
3. Help them see life through the eyes of Jesus and to find ways to be a blessing to others every day.
4. Remind them that they can make a difference in the lives of others through their words and actions, and through their time, talents and treasures.
5. Create meaningful moments with them that they’ll cherish for the rest of their lives.
6. Pray for them daily and teach them to pray often and to be aware of God’s presence in their life.
7. Show them how to love and respect women by modeling a loving relationship with my wife.
8. Teach them to be curious about life, see life as an adventure and view every experience as a learning opportunity.
9. Acknowledge my fears and regrets, reminding them that it’s okay to be vulnerable, to make mistakes. They’re sufficient “as is” and do not have to apologize for who God made them to be.
10. Teach them how to live fully each day – to be fully present, always grateful and with a sense of wonder.

What are your hopes for your children? I value your insights.