The Leading Lay Leaders design guide assists the pastor in the area of general church leadership. The uniqueness of this design guide is that it is only for the pastor. Leadinga church through a church revitalization effort must start with the pastor. Renewed passion, preaching, and prayer are all important to church revitalization, but so is godly leadership.

Preliminary Considerations: • Learn about yourself as a leader • Personality type…leadership style…preaching style • Learn about your lay leaders • Personality types and leadership styles • Learn about the previous pastors • What were their strengths, weaknesses, failures, and success • Learn the history and personality of the church • When? Who? How? Why? • Major changes? Major problems? Major successes

LEADING LAY LEADERS

Level 1: Leading Effective Meetings

Level 2: Enlisting the Right People

Level 3: Empowering Lay Leaders to Lead

Level 4: Increasing Trust, Influence, and Credibility

Level 5: Leading the Church through Significant Change

Level 6: Dealing with Difficult People

Level 1: Leading Effective Meetings• Create a written agenda for the meeting.• Take notes or ask someone else in the meeting to do so.• Review the previous meeting. What was discussed, decided, or tabled?• Facilitate discussion effectively.

Level 2: Enlisting the Right People• Determine the characteristics of a quality lay leader.• Determine the qualities needed for the specific role.• Personally and privately recruit.• Share expectations of commitment length, attitudes, confidentiality, and unity before you let them commit.

Level 3: Empowering Lay Leaders to Lead• Provide a clear description of the lay leader’s responsibility.• Provide training needed to allow for the greatest possibility of ministry effectiveness.• Regularly meet with the lay leader to discuss effectiveness.• Recognize and affirm the lay leader privately and publicly.• Encourage lay leaders to share with the church about their work.

Level 4: Increasing Trust, Influence, and Credibility• Learn the three sources of authority.• Intentionally strive to increase professional authority.• Intentionally strive to increase relational authority.

• Be patient as you earn the right to lead.• Keep your word.• Over deliver on what you promise.

Level 5: Leading the Church through Significant Change• Commit to the process.• Identify areas needing attention.• Design a customize plan.• Cast vision of a desired future.• Implement the plan.• Adjust the plan as needed.• Celebrate faithfulness and results.

Level 6: Dealing with Difficult People• Appeasing an antagonist is not healthy for the church.• Become educated and equipped before engaging an antagonist.• Enlist a coach or peer from outside the church to pray for you, hold you accountable, be an objective source of wisdom, and encouragement.

Recommended Resources• Getting Things Done (Lyle Schaller)• Leading Change (John Kotter)• Leading Congregational Change (Jim Herrington, Mike Donem, and James Furr)• Every Congregation Needs a Little Conflict (George Bullard)• Antagonists in the Church (Kenneth Haugk)

For specific information about implementing the recommendations listed here, download the complete version of the “Leading Lay Leaders” design guide at www.revitalizearkansas.com.