The Leader's Journey: Accepting the Call to Personal and Congregational Transformation Review

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The Leader's Journey: Accepting the Call to Personal and Congregational Transformation ReviewI was honored to do some editing work on this book. The book is primarily an application of Bowen family systems theory to the Christian life. Its target audience is Christian leaders in that the anecdotal evidence is drawn from leaders' lives and the results are applied to congregational settings.
One important message for leaders is that the important elements of Bowen family systems theory --seeing systems instead of merely looking for simple cause and effect, identifying one's own habitual responses to anxiety and conflict, disciplining one's self to be a present, calm, loving influence in the midst of conflict, etc.-- are essential components of the leaders toolkit. I believe that done properly, as acts of surrendering control to Christ and choosing to love others unconditionally, the material in this book comprises some new spiritual disciplines.
I believe that this book is important for several reasons:
* It is one of the most articulate, secular or Christian, explanations of Bowen family systems theory
* It explains the theory in the context of Scripture and Christ; frankly, it is only in Christ that we can have the hope of truly being free to love and free from the influence of our anxious world
* It recognizes that all the church growth how-to books in the world are worthless if the leader lives life reacting to others and being an anxious presence in the life of the church
* It calls the leader to take responsibility for his/her own behavior, recognizing that learning to love others will result in them learning to love, too
Leader, is their a cold war of silence going on between you and one or more of your immediate family or between you and one or more of your church leaders or parishioners? Are you engaged in a power struggle with somebody else in your family or church? You need to read this book. It will help you to take responsibility for your part and to develop a capacity for choosing to love others even in the midst of conflict.
While the target audience is Christian leaders, this book will benefit anyone, particularly any Christian. For we all lead in some way, whether that is just in a family setting or some responsibility in our jobs. And we all our leaders regardless of position if we will obey Jesus' instructions to lead by serving.The Leader's Journey: Accepting the Call to Personal and Congregational Transformation Overview

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Reverse Mentoring: How Young Leaders Can Transform the Church and Why We Should Let Them (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) Review

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Reverse Mentoring: How Young Leaders Can Transform the Church and Why We Should Let Them (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) ReviewI have been thinking about mentoring for some time. I was excited to see this book, which really expanded upon a chapter of his very excellent book, Off-Road Disciplines. Reverse Mentoring by Earl Creps is a handbook that I will keep on my current reading bookshelf for reference.
When I was in business a few years ago and trying to understand the internet and how it would eventually impact our business model, I would often engage young men and women in conversation about various aspects of the net and quickly it was apparent that my thoughts were geared to the economic business model and their perspective was a community or social model. That is a big difference. Depending on where you start in the conversation you can find yourself in the center of the action or way out in left field. Earl provides "road signs" along the way of this whole R-Mentoring process.
In Reverse Mentoring, Earl points out that many, either do not want to push themselves out of their comfort zone or are fearful of looking like they are stupid about things that are intuitive to the rising generations. Any hope of maintaining relevance depends upon allowing ourselves to be mentored by young men who are wise about things that with every passing day we run the risk of becoming obsolescent. Earl has done a good job of putting in one volume principles and ideas that will serve those of us who have a desire to speak into the hearts of the next generation by allowing to them to speak into our hearts. This guide book is like a manual for someone who is about to engage in foreign missions.
Earl was gracious to use some quotes of mine from a blog entry I wrote on this topic. As I said in that entry, "Every day I get a little more disconnected unless I intentionally work at staying connected." (p21) Further as I said when we allow ourselves to be transparent to the next generation it is "easy to think that things change so rapidly just to keep me [us] off balance or on the edge of the conversation." (p78) This is rarely the case, though we must exercise some common sense, there probably some things that we should allow to be exclusively their domain - no need to look stupid trying to be something we are not. I really do believe that the story of Elisha and Joash in 2 Kings 13 provides a glimpse of inter-generational strength and wisdom working together. I summarized that interaction as follows, "Young and old, old and young working together taking advantage of the strengths that both have to offer...I am willing to submit to the next generation to learn from them the things I should and trust that I will be able to impart the few things I have gleaned in living life. Life on life investing in the lives of a few. What could one give himself to that would compare to this?" (p183)
Throughout the book, Earl provides real world illustrations of how R-mentoring might work itself out for those who have the desire to join in this exciting endeavor. For me the principles in this book are working themselves out in my life as I allow Carson Peterson, Jason Rodriguez, Lane Moon, Brad Wolfrom, Scott Hamilton, Martin Elvington and Eugen Cozonac to speak into my heart and have the permission to challenge me when necessary. In the short time that I have been with these men, they are shaping me and equipping me to maintain connectedness in this very dynamic world in which we live. When I press them, they return the favor and they are fast becoming my friends.
One of my big takeaways from this very important book, is that we must take this challenge, and if we are to be successful we must allow humility to temper our interactions with the next generation. Earl has done us a great service. I trust this book will find its way into the hands of men and women who will rise to the call issued by Earl to engage in the conversation, to run with the herd and experience the excitement of embracing those things that excite the next generation. When we find ourselves at that point we may then have the privilege of speaking into their hearts when their souls are in the grip of fear. Life on life, there is no bigger nor better call.Reverse Mentoring: How Young Leaders Can Transform the Church and Why We Should Let Them (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) Overview

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Church Turned Inside Out: A Guide for Designers, Refiners, and Re-Aligners (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) Review

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Church Turned Inside Out: A Guide for Designers, Refiners, and Re-Aligners (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) ReviewMy family and I live in a city where the church cannot keep up with our life or our urban pace. This book addresses why so many outsiders see the church as a bounded institution and insiders feel over taxed and detached from the world. So much of our life and resources are drained by these struggling and demanding models. Could it be that much of our problem is in our design and the loss of our center? Linda and Allan make the case that we need to design unique models for cities, people groups, and so many new realities. The pages of this book are filled with theology, history and new metaphors to consider. There is no "how to" or "silver bullet", the authors call Pastors and leaders to invite designers and re aligners to the party if they are to transition existing churches and establish new churches that are fruit bearing and release the fragrance of Christ in this amazing new world. I believe this is a pioneer book, moving us away from the dissatisfied and narcissistic dialogues. It is not a fearful and deconstructive read but one filled with resolve and hope. The authors write from practice. They are friends and peers, but also unique in their exchange. Thank you Linda and Allen for inspiring the designer in me.Church Turned Inside Out: A Guide for Designers, Refiners, and Re-Aligners (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) Overview

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The Externally Focused Quest: Becoming the Best Church for the Community (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) Review

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The Externally Focused Quest: Becoming the Best Church for the Community (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) ReviewOver time it is very easy for a church to become so focused on itself that it forgets to reach out to the community. Having led a church that was over 150 years old, I learned this first hand. But if a church will just begin to touch its community by meeting some felt need, the community will begin to respond. The more the community responds, the more needs the church finds to meet. It becomes a cycle of health instead of a long slow decline.
This book gives both real life examples and philosophical concepts to help a church make the transition from inward focused to outward focused. I would strongly urge any pastor to read this, but especially pastors who are serving congregations that have been in existance for 50 years or more.
Helping a church become externally focused is not easy, but it can be done.The Externally Focused Quest: Becoming the Best Church for the Community (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) Overview

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Beyond Megachurch Myths: What We Can Learn from America's Largest Churches (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) Review

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Beyond Megachurch Myths: What We Can Learn from America's Largest Churches (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) ReviewBeyond Megachurch Myths offers a counterpoint to megachurch critics, using survey data to overturn nine myths about megachurches, including the charge that the megachurch era is quickly fading into history. Scott Thumma and Dave Travis believe that the data demonstrates that not only will megachurches be with us for the foreseeable future, but that they are a much more complex phenomenon than most of us give them credit for being.
To understand this phenomenon, we must first have a definition. According to Thumma and Travis, a megachurch is "a Protestant church that averages at least two thousand total attendees in their weekend services" (p. xviii). More than 1250 congregations fit this description.
The nine myths are as follows: They're all alike, they're just too big, they're based on personality cults, they're concerned only about themselves and their attendees, they water down the faith, are bad for other churches, are homogeneous in race, class, and political affiliation, grow because they entertain, and finally, that they're in the process of dying because young people don't like them. As with any stereotype there is truth to the critiques, but the very fact that the movement is extraordinarily diverse means that the stereotypes easily fall apart. Megachurches may not be for everyone, but many people find them just right - and for many different reasons. And, whether we're fans of them or not, they have left a significant footprint on American religious life.
Megachurches have been with us for some time, but their numbers are increasing rapidly - almost exponentially. In demonstrating that megachurches aren't all alike, they authors distinguish four basic types- the "old-line/program-based" church, the "seeker church," the Charismatic/pastor-focused church, and finally the New Wave/Re-Envisioned Church. The first type tends to be the oldest, the New Wave the newest, and the Seeker church may be the focus of many of our stereotypes. Some megachurches are quite homogeneous, many are conservative, but there are many that are quite diverse and even quite liberal. While some are personality centered, many others aren't.
Although some of the older churches - which tend to be more liturgical in nature - buck the trend of modern culture, most of these churches are very in tune with modern culture - choosing an informal, pop music oriented format for worship, while being increasingly tech savvy. Most of all, these congregations have discovered how to adapt and evolve - something churches of all sizes need to consider.
Although the shadow side of this movement doesn't get the attention the positives do, the authors are quite aware that pastoral care and assimilation happens in very different ways. These churches have to be much more intentional about their work and it's quite likely that the person in the pew will have little contact with the senior leadership.
The future poses significant questions to these churches - most pressing of which might be logistical. Things like land use restrictions and rising gas prices, both of which are acknowledged in the book, though not considered overwhelming obstacles at this point.
One issue that some readers might be interested in is largely avoided, and that's theology. The authors generally steer clear of the topic, except to say that largeness doesn't necessarily lead to the watering down of the Christian message. What would be interesting to pursue would be the question of the role theology does play in growing churches, that question would simply be, does a conservative theology better enable this kind of growth - not because it's correct but because it offers more security to people.
Whether you're involved in leadership of large or small churches, there is something to be learned from reading this book. The very fact that each chapter ends with lessons to be learned suggests that the authors intended this not to be just an apologia for megachurches. They intend for this book to enhance the ministries of churches of all sizes. You don't have to aspire to mega status to learn a few lessons!
Rev. Dr. Robert Cornwall
Editor, Sharing the Practice (Academy of Parish Clergy)
Beyond Megachurch Myths: What We Can Learn from America's Largest Churches (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) Overview

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The Millennium Matrix: Reclaiming the Past, Reframing the Future of the Church (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) Review

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The Millennium Matrix: Reclaiming the Past, Reframing the Future of the Church (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) ReviewWithout over-generalizing Rex Miller explains many trends we see around us and helps us consider where they will lead. He helps us understand how we got where we are today in a way that makes me thankful to be alive at this turning point in human history. While it was written with church leaders in mind, thinkers and leaders of all organizations will benefit from this timely work.The Millennium Matrix: Reclaiming the Past, Reframing the Future of the Church (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) Overview

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