2006-2007 District 2006-2007 District Presentations on Healthy Presentations on Healthy

Congregations and Effective Congregations and Effective Clergy and Lay LeadershipClergy and Lay Leadership

““Thankful for your partnership in the gospel Thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” from the first day until now”

Philippians 1:5Philippians 1:5

THE KEY QUESTIONTHE KEY QUESTION

How does EXCELLENCE fit into our Christian How does EXCELLENCE fit into our Christian Context?Context?

(Does it have any real place in our Faith Story?)(Does it have any real place in our Faith Story?)

What light does Scripture shed on What light does Scripture shed on this question:this question:

““Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ ...” (Philippians 1:27)gospel of Christ ...” (Philippians 1:27)

““Let the same mind be in you that was in Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in humanin human likeness. And being found in human

form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.” (Phil. 2:5-8)point of death – even death on a cross.” (Phil. 2:5-8)

““Finally , beloved, whatever is true, whatever is Finally , beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil. 4:8)of praise, think about these things. (Phil. 4:8)

““And I will show you a still more excellent And I will show you a still more excellent way.” (I Cor. 12:31)way.” (I Cor. 12:31)

““I pray that you may have the power to I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all of the saints, what is the comprehend, with all of the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with the knowledge, so that you may be filled with the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:18-19)fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:18-19)

In Christian Community then:In Christian Community then:

Excellence is DEFINED by the Triune God.Excellence is DEFINED by the Triune God.

The KEY WORD for excellence is The KEY WORD for excellence is Resurrection.Resurrection.

The IMAGE of excellence is the Cross.The IMAGE of excellence is the Cross.

ExcellenceExcellence

Is nothing more and nothing less than:Is nothing more and nothing less than:

THINKINGTHINKING

ACTINGACTING

FEELINGFEELING

THE MIND OF CHRIST.THE MIND OF CHRIST.

Excellence is not:Excellence is not:

The raising of a bar.The raising of a bar.

Rather, it is calling us out, back, up and to what Rather, it is calling us out, back, up and to what has always been.has always been.

What was set at our baptism (and our ordination)What was set at our baptism (and our ordination)

Jones and Armstrong remind us:Jones and Armstrong remind us:

Excellence happens at the intersection where Excellence happens at the intersection where the horizontal and vertical intersect. the horizontal and vertical intersect.

Excellence is inhabiting and living at the Excellence is inhabiting and living at the intersection.intersection.

It is bearing witness to the power of God in It is bearing witness to the power of God in our presence.our presence.

This speaks of:This speaks of:

The Interior as well as Exterior in our The Interior as well as Exterior in our lives.lives.

HOLY FRIENDSHIPSHOLY FRIENDSHIPS

1. 1. With GodWith God

2.2. With OthersWith Others

Excellence is about CALLExcellence is about CALL

It is not about a “nice career.”It is not about a “nice career.”

It is an act of the heart.It is an act of the heart.

The road to excellence is paved with The road to excellence is paved with obedience.obedience.

Non-excellence comes from heart trouble.Non-excellence comes from heart trouble.

Excellence happens in Excellence happens in COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY

Water is thicker than blood.Water is thicker than blood.

We need someone to tell us the truth about where we We need someone to tell us the truth about where we are living.are living.

We need someone to encourage us.We need someone to encourage us.

We need someone to help us identify the “contrary to We need someone to help us identify the “contrary to both.”both.”

The staples of our Gathered Life:The staples of our Gathered Life:

Intrinsic practicesIntrinsic practices SingingSinging PrayingPraying Learning scripture and doctrineLearning scripture and doctrine EucharistEucharist Fasting or abstinenceFasting or abstinence Acts of mercyActs of mercy

Excellence then:Excellence then:

Is qualitative as well as quantitative.Is qualitative as well as quantitative. Excellence is a learning, not a learned Excellence is a learning, not a learned

ministry.ministry. It is being an apprentice.It is being an apprentice. It is being FULLY alive.It is being FULLY alive. It is having an ENLIVENED vision.It is having an ENLIVENED vision.

Context MattersContext Matters

Never forget: “Love transforms perception.” Never forget: “Love transforms perception.” Heidi Neumark, Transfiguration Lutheran Church in South BronxHeidi Neumark, Transfiguration Lutheran Church in South Bronx..

How we learn:How we learn: Hardships – 34%Hardships – 34% Challenging assignments – 27%Challenging assignments – 27% From others – 22%From others – 22% From events, workshops, etc. – 17%From events, workshops, etc. – 17%

By the way!By the way!

20% - Active Learners – don’t need any 20% - Active Learners – don’t need any structure.structure.

60% - Passive Learners – need structured 60% - Passive Learners – need structured experiences, coaching relationship, peer experiences, coaching relationship, peer relationship.relationship.

20% - Blocked Learners – I’ve heard all of this 20% - Blocked Learners – I’ve heard all of this before.before.

So What? What are Implications?So What? What are Implications?

Cabinet is going to live differently. We expect Cabinet is going to live differently. We expect this to change our lives!this to change our lives!

Board of Ordained MinistryBoard of Ordained Ministry Board of LaityBoard of Laity ClergyClergy CongregationsCongregations

ANDAND

We are going to Shine the Light on We are going to Shine the Light on Excellence.Excellence.

We are going to Celebrate Excellence.We are going to Celebrate Excellence.

We are going to thank God for the Synergistic We are going to thank God for the Synergistic Spirals of Beauty, Vitality and Flourishing Spirals of Beauty, Vitality and Flourishing lives God raises up before us!lives God raises up before us!

We Claim These Characteristics:We Claim These Characteristics:

Our Conference Task Force On Sustaining Our Conference Task Force On Sustaining Effective Clergy Leadership begins by Effective Clergy Leadership begins by reminding us we are Centered In Christreminding us we are Centered In Christ

““An effective clergy leader in The North An effective clergy leader in The North Carolina Conference is centered in Christ and Carolina Conference is centered in Christ and demonstrates strengths in demonstrates strengths in pastoringpastoring, , proclaimingproclaiming, and , and leadingleading.” .” (Identifying and Sustaining (Identifying and Sustaining Effective Clergy Leadership, The North Carolina Conference)Effective Clergy Leadership, The North Carolina Conference)

An UnStoppable ForceAn UnStoppable Force(Erwin McManus)(Erwin McManus)

The life of the church is the heart of God. The heart The life of the church is the heart of God. The heart of God is to serve a broken world. P.23of God is to serve a broken world. P.23

Church Leaders today are valued for their ability to Church Leaders today are valued for their ability to bring and keep order rather than for their ability to bring and keep order rather than for their ability to bring and lead change. The reality is that church bring and lead change. The reality is that church leaders are being equipped to preserve the past rather leaders are being equipped to preserve the past rather than to create the future. P.25than to create the future. P.25

We have forgotten that our major work as a church isn’t increased attendance figures, dynamic programs, growing budgets and expanded facilities – it’s spiritual formation. That is what the Great Commission is all about – making disciples.

Effective Leadership:Effective Leadership: Where We Start Where We Start

Obedience – It is only and completely about Obedience – It is only and completely about obedience to Godobedience to God

““Are we going to obey God? Or are we going to do Are we going to obey God? Or are we going to do it ‘our’ way?it ‘our’ way?

It is a move from self-centeredness to Christ-It is a move from self-centeredness to Christ-centerednesscenteredness

It is a “Spiritual” issue. The way we live in It is a “Spiritual” issue. The way we live in community with others, and work with others, is a community with others, and work with others, is a spiritual issue.spiritual issue.

It is a transition from disobedience to ObedienceIt is a transition from disobedience to Obedience

JOYFUL OBEDIENCEJOYFUL OBEDIENCE

McManus, “When those who hold positions of McManus, “When those who hold positions of leadership in the church of Jesus Christ stand leadership in the church of Jesus Christ stand opposed to the very heart of God and refuse to opposed to the very heart of God and refuse to submit their lives to his Word, it is the death of submit their lives to his Word, it is the death of the life of that church.” p.35the life of that church.” p.35

God does not appear nor bless us where there is God does not appear nor bless us where there is disobedience.disobedience.

Our GoalOur Goal

Every congregation can be an obedient, vital, Every congregation can be an obedient, vital, missional congregation regardless of size.missional congregation regardless of size.

Every pastor can be an effective, spiritual, Every pastor can be an effective, spiritual, obedient, visionary leader.obedient, visionary leader.

Spiritual Leadership is not about getting people Spiritual Leadership is not about getting people to show up, it is insuring that God shows up. to show up, it is insuring that God shows up.

The Biblical RoadmapThe Biblical Roadmap

Jesus’ invitation to deny self and follow Him Jesus’ invitation to deny self and follow Him is the same invitation to us. It is the place we is the same invitation to us. It is the place we start.start.

We are obedient leaders who first and We are obedient leaders who first and foremost deny ourselves and follow Jesus.foremost deny ourselves and follow Jesus.

Excellence in pastoral leadership comes when Excellence in pastoral leadership comes when we learn to exchange a self-centered world for we learn to exchange a self-centered world for one where Christ and kingdom values are one where Christ and kingdom values are prioritized.prioritized.

Excellence in MinistryExcellence in Ministry

Excellence in ministry is not a yardstick Excellence in ministry is not a yardstick placed before us to “measure up.”placed before us to “measure up.”

Excellence is an attitude. It is a matter of the Excellence is an attitude. It is a matter of the heart to willingly give ourselves to the One we heart to willingly give ourselves to the One we love to do our best – always.love to do our best – always.

This Is The Way We BeginThis Is The Way We Begin

Obedience to God.Obedience to God. This means letting go of our personal This means letting go of our personal

preferencespreferences This means embracing a commitment to This means embracing a commitment to

Christ’s missional agendaChrist’s missional agenda We invite God to take control and reign among We invite God to take control and reign among

usus

You Begin By DevelopingYou Begin By DevelopingSpiritual LeadershipSpiritual Leadership

Everyday, Your Influence is being Strengthened or Everyday, Your Influence is being Strengthened or Weakened by how you are perceived.Weakened by how you are perceived.

Are you perceived as being immersed in the Means of Are you perceived as being immersed in the Means of Grace and the Means of Mercy?Grace and the Means of Mercy?

Are you perceived as being immersed in Self?Are you perceived as being immersed in Self?

This is About Obedience and This is About Obedience and Faithfulness!Faithfulness!

This is not about your success.This is not about your success.

When you select a path to success, you choose When you select a path to success, you choose the direction, make the choices, focus on self-interest the direction, make the choices, focus on self-interest to better your situation.to better your situation.

This is about your CALLING.This is about your CALLING.

You submit to Christ to go or stay where God You submit to Christ to go or stay where God wants you to serve, even if it is difficult. wants you to serve, even if it is difficult.

If pastoral leadership is a ministry of Christ, and in obedience to Christ, it makes no sense to climb the ladder of leadership positions.

The distinction is clear. If pastoral leadership is about success, you get to call the shots. If it’s a calling, you’re required to be a disciple of Jesus.

No one serves two masters – especially if one of the masters is you.

What Does God Want Me To Do?What Does God Want Me To Do?

This is the WRONG question! This is the WRONG question!

It is NOT “what” God wants you to It is NOT “what” God wants you to dodo, but the , but the “way” God wants you to “way” God wants you to bebe!!

Those who manipulate things and people, find it Those who manipulate things and people, find it difficult to be “shaped” by God.difficult to be “shaped” by God.

The Fruit of The Spirit:The Fruit of The Spirit:

LoveLove JoyJoy PeacePeace PatiencePatience KindnessKindness

GenerosityGenerosity FaithfulnessFaithfulness GentlenessGentleness Self-ControlSelf-Control This is the Way This is the Way

God wants you to God wants you to be!be!

Here is the test regarding Here is the test regarding Sanctification in Your LifeSanctification in Your Life

Are you more patient than you were a year Are you more patient than you were a year ago?ago?

More generous than six months ago?More generous than six months ago? More likely to listen than a month ago?More likely to listen than a month ago? Less likely to be angry than you were last Less likely to be angry than you were last

week?week? More loving today than yesterday?More loving today than yesterday?

This is the only way I know to find the emotional, spiritual and moral toughness to get through the days ahead: To do our best for Christ – always and everywhere.

Perhaps we might learn to agonize over the things that break God’s heart rather than despair over our own disappointments and failures.

To be engaged in a calling means to die to our To be engaged in a calling means to die to our own interests and center our energy on own interests and center our energy on Christ’s interests.Christ’s interests.

We place ourselves under the Obedience of We place ourselves under the Obedience of Christ. 1 Peter 4:2.Christ. 1 Peter 4:2.

We place ourselves under the Obedience of the We place ourselves under the Obedience of the Church (through those whom the church has Church (through those whom the church has given authority) 3 John 9-12.given authority) 3 John 9-12.

We live only in the Fear of The Lord.We live only in the Fear of The Lord.