As I contemplate this vision and how to communicate it to the church, I see that there are options: the first is continued complacency and eventual death, the second is new methods and a new heart. Neither option is pretty, but God has declared that if we refuse to, he will make the rocks cry out instead. Basically, if we choose not to take on a new life as a congregation, God will make a new start without us. Our community is too ripe for harvesting for our self-centeredness to deny God's will.
So, for this vision: The first essential element in new life as a congregation will be establishing and equipping strong and transformative leadership. A protective leadership that is in survival mode will no longer do for this vision. Leadership must exhibit the hope and power that is found only in Christ.
This need for leadership is the hinge on which the entire vision is developed. Last year, we began making strides in establishing new leadership that will begin to look more objectively and optimistically at the future and current ministries of Mt. Bethel. In some cases, this has meant moving some of the old guard into new, unfamiliar leadership roles where they will use past experience to re-learn ministry. In other cases, it has meant retiring some of the old guard and bringing in new leaders who have never been considered for any leadership position.
My new Staff-Parish Relations Chair had to be convinced that he has leadership qualities and would be better than one of the six eligible veteran candidates!
Older members have asked me from the first day why there haven't been any younger leaders in the congregation since they were young and my answer to them is this: If you, as a leader, don't disciple someone and call them into those roles, they'll never have the confidence or awareness to do so. My challenge to all of my older members who want to retire from official leadership positions is to take 3 younger people, inside or outside the church - doesn't matter, and disciple them. Take some time and go for coffee or buy them lunch. Invite them into your life as you would a son or daughter and teach them what you know.
Compare the disciples early in the Gospels to the disciples as they ventured out in Acts and see the difference that discipleship makes. Read through Timothy and see what it takes to bring up the next generation of leaders.
Our strong lay-leadership is vital to setting the communal vision, and keeping focus on Christ as we move into the future. Without leadership, we are destined to wander in the wilderness and lose identity as a church. With key leadership, we fulfill the great commission and live the greatest commandments.
5.15.2008
Vision of Strong and Transformative Leadership (2 of 6)
Posted by Alex at 11:00 AM
Labels: leadership, vision
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1 comments:
Christ doesn't call us to be stagnant in life or in church. We get comfortable and sometimes fight change, maybe a fear of being forgotten or left out sometimes. Transitions are tough, no doubt about it. Transitioning in music can involve abrupt minor key changes, immediate beat changes jarring your ear or thundering blasts from soft whispers causing reverberations in your chest, physically feeling the music moving.
Changes in life and at church can cause these same sensations…which can be scary. Composers know transitions can make or break the beauty of music…responding and writing down an emotion, a message, a vision, onto a staff to be lived through fingers, lips, voices…the body of Christ. There are times for nursery rhymes and Sunday school songs as pabulum, soft nourishment, eaten early in our Christian lives…when challenges are few and we savor being cuddled.
But we must not remain as infants…in life or in church. Prayer and intentional Bible study grow us in His Word, to be about “”His business rather than “our business”. These are the moments sometime coming at us in minor keys and in an abrupt manner. We often fight what the Holy Spirit is directing us to do, and I believe He sometimes has to throw “blast” our way to get our ear. How much time have I spent this week praying for and desiring to grow others in the knowledge of Christ as their Savior? Not enough, I must confess to you.
We must not center on carrying our own tune of “what do I get when I come to church”. We must pray and center ourselves on His Masterpiece Manuscript and ask “what did I give to someone for Christ’s sake?”…my patience?...a friendly greeting?...a shared “God incidence” or confession?...”when we are weak, then He is strong.” When these type things become our refrain, the richness of the maturity in Christ becomes a loved Cokesbury hymn, rich in words and melody, or the fullness explodes in our hearts like the Hallelujah Chorus, which cannot be sung quietly, by the way! A true wanting, pounding through your chest, desiring others to hear and understand our Lord’s grace which He sings every day, forgiving each of us in his strains of love.
You keep YAWPING, Brother…He has his hand on you and his composition is greater than anything we can imagine! And I want to be at the singin!
Praise God!
Ephes. 4:13-16 "... to train Christians in skilled servant work (working within Christ's body)the church, until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ."
"...to grow up, to know the whole truth...tell it in love - like Christ in everything."
"...our lead from Christ, the source of everything we do."
"...grow up healthy in God, robust in love. The Old Way Has to Go."
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