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Tag Archives: challenges
Church Leadership is Boring (sometimes).
I recently sent out a tweet that said “Sometimes, Church leadership is boring”. It got a lot of reactions!
Here’s the deal. Every job is boring on occasion. There are no exceptions. Even when you are serving the most Holy and Awesome God.
When you think about it, you know that it is true. “Bored” is literally a state of mental being. I have been in incredible places with my boys, where opportunity and adventures abound – and I still hear the phrase ” I’m bored.”
I have met with some incredible, cutting edge, type “A” leaders in both the church and business worlds and heard the phrase “I’m bored.”
Tagged boring, challenges, leadership
Tough Leadership Decisions
There is a great story (probably true) about a leadership decision that Mike Slaughter of Ginghamsburg Church made several years ago. The church had been meeting for worship in a gymnatorium kind of space and as the church grew, so did the quality of the worship service. That quality was one of the big draws for people who attended.
As many churches do, Ginghamsburg decided that it was time to build a large “state-of-the-art” worship center. When they were in the meeting to finalize the blueprints, as the story goes, Mike Slaughter took a step back and made a tough call. “We have always said that we will focus on youth and children. This expensive building does nothing for them. We need to abandon this project and put up a youth center instead.” And that is exactly what happened.
Tagged challenges, Difficult decisions
Change in the Church
I spend the majority of my time working with leaders of local churches. Talk about a group that struggles with change!! One of the most significant ongoing “challenges” that these leaders face is that they have experienced success with something in the past, and are having trouble adjusting to the currently reality.
Churches have a great deal of trouble distinguishing between their “methods” and their “work”. No product or service delivery “method” is effective forever, but the “work” of the church never changes. When it is being effective, suffering is being relieved, people are finding hope, and lives are being changed for the better. It is vital that the church finds ways to be effective.
Tagged challenges, change, Leading change, vision
Avoiding Burnout
Elizabeth Gilbert gives an interesting talk on the “dangers” of feeling personally responsible for the creative process. For pastors, writers, and others in the church who must create on a schedule, these thoughts are highly valuable. Although she is not coming from a Christian perspective – the concepts of “genius” and job are well suited for anyone who feels the responsibility to communicate what the Holy Spirit inspires.
Tagged burnout, challenges, emotional health
Changing the Church
I will never understand why people don’t understand why it’s hard to change a church. Think about it. The church has been in in existence for 1500 years. During that time it has changed very little. In some cases the changes are so minor that they shouldn’t really count as change. They would more appropriately be called a “tweak”.
Our current society values rapid change. Look how quickly your iPod becomes out of date. While the church is made up of visible people, it is driven by principles and dynamics that are invisible. The truth is that most people who are in leadership positions in the church choose that role because it fulfills their personal issues. Psychological studies of those who answered a call to Ministry show that many of those men and women come from a place of brokenness and/or insecurity. Within the walls of the church they find a place where they are loved and accepted and secure. Asking these men and women to risk all of that to bring change to their local church is more than many of them are able to do…
The irony is that the same deep-seated issues are often what drives them to be successful leaders and pastors in our churches. If you’ve ever spent time working in the church you have seen what I’m talking about. On the other hand, if you’ve ever spent time working in a church – you may be one of the broken ones and not be aware of the same deep issues within you.
There are somethings in the church that should never change such as the basic teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, the methods in which we teach that message need to constantly change. I imagine everyone would agree that we do a better job teaching in our education system now than we did 50 years ago. It is foolish to think that the methods of teaching should always stay the same.
The church itself expects people’s actions to change quickly once they embrace the teachings of the church. But at the same time the church itself refuses to change its actions. Either you believe in change or you don’t.
Change can come to the church. The challenge is finding healthy leaders who are willing to take a stand, and make the needed changes (and get good counseling!)
Tagged challenges, change
The Secrets to Financal Success
Whats the secret to surviving the current financial challenges that churches face? Is it simply to spend less, or maybe hire a financial consultant? Right now, fear is leading the way on this topic. Most churches are behaving as if they have no control over their financial future. In fact, they have complete control. They just are not taking advantage of it.
Several posts back, I talked about the budgeting process and a few other money issues. Today I want to focus on the core of what the church is doing wrong in the face of this issue.
1. They are not dealing with reality
2. They are asking in the wrong way
3. They are not spending strategically
1. Deal with reality. Every study out there shows the increased usage of Debit and Credit cards as the primary way that people spend money. Checks and cash are now in the minority. So what way do most churches rely upon to get money? A basket that takes the 2 forms of spending that people are using less and less. I have churches tell me that the weekly offering is key to paying the bills. So why would you make it difficult for your people to give? Look into setting up electronic funds transfers and even the new Giving Kiosks. And if you need to make the point “real”…ask your finance team if they personally have cash or checks with them at the next finance meeting.
2. Ask correctly. For years, our church members supported the ministry out of obligation. If you told them what the church needed, they would give. Those days are GONE. Even our older members are no longer motivated by that method. Your people are courted by hundreds of entities that have a more compelling approach than you and that is where they are choosing to give. It may be their Alma mater, a local non-profit, or an animal shelter. But they are giving - just not to you. Why? Because you have not asked in a way that connects with their heart. You know this stuff – it is the basis of a million sermons. People act on what connects with their heart. Tell the stories of lives that have been changed through your ministry. Let them see what their giving does. Give them the opportunity to be apart of making someones life better. Tell the stories.
3. Spend strategically. In tough economic times, people are very aware of how money is being spent. Many church finance people gain more power during this time than any other time. Everyone defers to the money people who always say the same thing. “STOP SPENDING!” And so they do. It creates a short term fix for a long term problem.
Here is the paradigm shift -
If people don’t see their money spent, then people don’t give.
Let me say that again. You have to show them that you are spending their money in order to get them to give more money. Lots of churches have taken the absolute wrong approach by cutting “all unnecessary spending”. This usually means anything other than payroll and utility bills. This is a HUGE demotivator to givers. Spend money on things that people can SEE and TOUCH. Paint the lobby to show that you are alive and expecting guests, send kids to camp, buy a car for someone in the community, or anything that says ” We are making a difference!”
Historically, giving to charities has weathered all economic downturns. People understand that giving what they can really matters during these times.
Make it easy for them to give,
tell them the stories of changed lives,
and let them see some results.
Tagged challenges, giving, money