Low control and high accountability

I will post more later about the InterVarsity chapter planting conference, Ambition (from Rom 15:20). But a phrase that came up often was "low control and high accountability." I've been pondering it ever since. I have had jobs that were high control and high accountability (like working in a warehouse one summer). Everything about the job was prescribed. No freedom; no creativity; no fun. I have also had jobs that were low control and low accountability. I was always wondering, "What am I supposed to be doing? And who cares?" Some parishes allow their clergy to live in this realm (or so I've heard).

But, the most satisfying jobs and ministries have had the combination of low control (making lots of room for creativity and initiative) and high accountability (clear objectives that formed the basis for periodic review and mid-course correction). What would it look like if our diocese was low-control-high-accountability? To what would we hold each other accountable? What would be the 5 questions the Bishop would ask every priest in a regular phone conversation with them?

Still pondering!

Leadership Books: In case you are looking for something to read

From the CatalystSpace Blog:

40 Great Leadership Books to Read

By Brad Lomenick, check out more of his thoughts here & follow him here!
I love leadership. And I read a lot. So I wanted to provide you with a list of some of the books I recommend.
These are not the only leadership books you should read. There are hundreds of others that are great. But these are just simply 40 of my favorites.

So here you go. And please share this list with your friends, team, and other leaders who might benefit.


40 leadership books to read:
1. Good to Great- Jim Collins
2. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership- John Maxwell
3. Courageous Leadership- Bill Hybels
4. The Next Generation Leader- Andy Stanley
5. Now, Discover Your Strengths- Marcus Buckingham
6. Love is the Killer App- Tim Sanders
7. The Tipping Point- Malcolm Gladwell
8. Tribes- Seth Godin
9. It: How Churches and Leaders can Get it and Keep it- Craig Groeschel
10. Integrity- Henry Cloud
11. In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership- Henri Nouwen
12. Axiom- Bill Hybels
13. In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day- Mark Batterson
14. Five Dysfunctions of a Team- Patrick Lencioni
15. Visioneering- Andy Stanley
16. Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us- Daniel Pink
17. Silos, Politics and Turf Wars- Patrick Lencioni
18. Linchpin- Seth Godin
19. How to Win Friends and Influence People- Dale Carnegie
20. Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization- John Wooden
21. Leadership is an Art- Max Depree
22. The Leadership Challenge- Barry Posner and Jim Kouzes
23. Leading with the Heart- Coach Mike Krzyzewski
24. unChristian- Gabe Lyons and David Kinnaman
25. True North- Bill George
26. Built to Last- Jim Collins
27. Execution- Ram Charan and Larry Bossidy
28. In Search of Excellence- Tom Peters
29. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People- Stephen Covey
30. The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork- John Maxwell
31. What the CEO Wants You to Know- Ram Charan
32. Rework- Jason Fried and David Hansson
33. The Experience Economy- Joseph Pine and James Gilmore
34. Made to Stick- Chip and Dan Heath
35. Blink- Malcolm Gladwell
36. Making Ideas Happen- Scott Belsky
37. The Effective Executive- Peter Drucker
38. Emotional Intelligence- Daniel Goleman
39. On Becoming a Leader- Warren Bennis
40. Leading Change- John Kotter

I'm passing this along from Shawn Lovejoy of ChurchPlanters.org.

12 Lessons Learned in 12 years

Twelve years ago this week, we launched weekly worship services at Mountain Lake Church. Wow. What a ride! God has used me despite my stupidity; and I have learned so much along the way. Here's the first part of my top twelve lessons I've learned in the last twelve years.

1. Having a vision is easy. Sticking to the vision takes extraordinary discipline and effort.  

Every pastor and church has a vision. Every one of them I've ever seen is Biblical. However, even most church planters get sidetracked form their vision within the first few years. We have stuck to our guns. We've been "mean about the vision." It's made all of the difference!

2. Conviction and Courage are more important than strategy.

My passion and sense of conviction, along with the courage to stay the course are more important than any brilliant strategy I could come up with that no one has ever done before.

3. No plan's perfect; so work our Plan!

Our ministry plan is not perfect. However, we've worked the plan every year the last twelve years and every year we've gotten better at what God has called us to do. We don't have "vision flavor of the month" or "small group method of the year." We've worked our plan. We've been consistent in our ministry approach. It's made all the difference.

4. People come. People Go. Go with the Go-ers.

Don't focus who's leaving; focus on who stays. The ones that stay will see the mission through and experience the fruit of mission accomplished! When one leaves, God will bring five to replace them...if we stay focused!

5. God does things the way He wants.

It has almost NEVER happened exactly the way we drew it up. However, that's the precise thing that has kept us dependent on Him! Proverbs 16:9 (NIV) says, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Prophetic verse in my life these last twelve years! So many times, what I deemed as a failure was God's sharpening and sovereignty at work in my life and church!

6. In God's Story, ordinary matters.

 God loves to use ordinary people. I am one. The very reasons or excuses I might use to disqualify myself from being used greatly by Him make me the perfect candidate for extraordinary ministry! What are your excuses as to why God can't use you? Those are the very reasons God wants to use you; because you'll know it's not about you!

7. Change the way people think about church

In the first year of our church, we made a decision: In everything we do, we're going to seek to change the way people think about church. This is so much bigger than the type of music we do, or our dress, even though they are part of the equation! It affects everything we do. Examples? Folks don't have to be "Christians" to go on a mission trip. They might become one by going! They don't have to be a "Christian" to volunteer at our church, much less be a member! Our small groups are always not only open to new people, but are going after people who don't go to church and inviting them to be a part of their group! Every group is responsible to "get off the couch" and serve and care missionally for people groups in our community. Just small simple example of how we're changing the way people think about church both inside and outside our church in our community.

8. Go after unchurched people
We're not worried about swapping sheep or reaching professional Christians. If they want to join our mission to reach the lost, great. If not, great. We are here to help as many people as possible find a relationship with God through Jesus. That's our laser beam focus. Take us or leave us! We're here to reach people who don't like Jesus or Christians.

9. Be careful what you ask for
Did you know unchurched people don't walk in and start tithing? And it probably won't be a three-month process, either; probably more like three years! Unchurched people smoke and curse in the parking lot, and maybe even in the sound booth! All of these things really happen in our church. Being a hospital for sinners is messy!

10. The right team in the right seats makes all the difference
We've always had a great Ministry Team at our church. I am thankful for every one of them, however, the right team members with the right gifts and skills, in the right seats, in the right seasons of the church, allows a church to continue to breath and grow and reach people for Jesus Christ. The wrong team members in the wrong seats for too long will put a lid on the church's effectiveness.

11. I must measure success God's Way
Success is being who God called me to be and being obedient to what God has called me to do. I am so tempted to measure success by this week's attendance. However, I'm never as good as people think I am when we're exploding numerically; and I'm not as bad as I think I am when we're not. My role is to be obedient to the call and stay sane, centered, and happily married in the process. That is success!

12. God is faithful.
God never gives up: on me; or on my ministry! He hasn't given up on you, either! Don't give up on yourself. We only fail when we give up. God never gives up. He is faithful!

 Shawn Lovejoy

 

Demographics - Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Here is a wealth of information for you to ponder -

Demographics - Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life