The way you lead in a man-made, top-down organization and
the way you catalyze the outward spread of influence in a movement are not only
different but are actually polar opposites. Everything the leader has learned
to date about how to succeed in the institution must be questioned, and
replaced with a new sense of identity and practice.
We have devoted several chapters to how leadership needs to change. The leader must first die to him/herself because if the church ministry is about a dynamic and demanding personality it is doomed. The leader must not operate out of insecurity but find a sense of security in his/her identity in Christ. The leaders must not create a dependency upon themselves. And finally, they need to shift the way they lead to empowering and releasing rather than corralling and controlling. We have lots of helpful information on each of these subjects with a chapter on each because the way influence occurs in a missional movement releasing church is so different than in an attractional warehouse church.
We have devoted several chapters to how leadership needs to change. The leader must first die to him/herself because if the church ministry is about a dynamic and demanding personality it is doomed. The leader must not operate out of insecurity but find a sense of security in his/her identity in Christ. The leaders must not create a dependency upon themselves. And finally, they need to shift the way they lead to empowering and releasing rather than corralling and controlling. We have lots of helpful information on each of these subjects with a chapter on each because the way influence occurs in a missional movement releasing church is so different than in an attractional warehouse church.
4 comments:
Seems pretty unrealistic to expect this of traditional church leaders - betrter in my opinion to focus time and energy on fresh starts without so much baggage to get rid of.
Peace,
Lee
Yeah, I was wondering, too, whether it's possible to change an existing church. The mindset is so oriented on building a business, controlling public impressions, protecting against liability, etc.
Lee, Megan, you make a good point.
But there is no reason to think that encouraging change in established congregations should prevent new starts.
There's considerable interest in using organic approaches in some existing organisations. Wherever we can help we should do so. See this story of organic methods in a New Frontiers small group, for example.
It is easier to give birth than to raise the dead, true. But while I love Christmas (birth), I also love Easter (raising the dead). God does both and values both.
In fact, to raise the dead requires a death, and we make much of that in the book. You cannot simply add a behavior to a leaders already full agenda and expect different outcomes. The book spells this out in greater detail.
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