Finding the Rhythm:Finding the Rhythm:Becoming an Equipping ChurchBecoming an Equipping Church

Sources:

Brad Smith, Harry Jackson, Randy Pope

What Leaders DoWhat Leaders Do

The role of leaders is to “equip the saints”

Equipping is not the purpose of the church, but is the purpose of church leaders

Equipping = “fixing the net”

“The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” – Ephesians 4:11-12

The Goal of EquippingThe Goal of Equipping

Goal: “Ministry that results in community maturity

– Not just knowledge, but active ministry

– Not just ministry, but that which results in maturity

– Not just individual maturity, but communal

But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love. -- Ephesians 4:15-16

Engineered vs. Organic EquippingEngineered vs. Organic Equipping Good “leader-cultures”

understand the dance between:

– intentional schedules of leadership development and

– contextual opportunities to respond to people at teachable moments with care, support, and mentorship

The Four Rhythms of the Dance

4 Rhythms of Leader-4 Rhythms of Leader-Developing ChurchesDeveloping Churches

1. They are quite particular about the character and quality of leaders at the top level …

… but have easy on-ramps and minimal barriers at entry-level leadership roles

4 Rhythms of Leader-4 Rhythms of Leader-Developing ChurchesDeveloping Churches

2. 80% of leadership is showing up … they create time, space, and budget for the task of leadership development

– Teaching spiritual discernment and strategic decision-making

– Creating opps for mentoring

4 Rhythms of Leader-4 Rhythms of Leader-Developing ChurchesDeveloping Churches

3. Leader-rich churches create an environment of leadership development that pops up on the calendar and in conversations.

– It permeates board and committee meetings, one-on-one conversations, and congregational interactions

– Retreats, seminars, ConEd are valued in time and budget

4 Rhythms of Leader-4 Rhythms of Leader-Developing ChurchesDeveloping Churches

4. They develop leaders in ways that are consistent with who the leaders are …

… yet allow others to develop leaders in ways consistent with who they are.

How to find leadersHow to find leaders

Look for them in different places!

There is more than one kind of leader– Not all are the up-front,

vision-casting speakers

9 types of leaders– In 3 sets of 3

Directional LeadersDirectional Leaders

Visionary – reveals the need and vision to meet that need

Engineer – creates the role clarity that matches strategic direction

Implementer – focuses on next operational steps

Cultural LeadersCultural Leaders Inspirer – moves the

whole congregation

Sage/Pastor – Discerns, guides, and cares individually in ways that affect the whole

Prophet – sees and speaks the inconsistencies that guide others to change

Influence LeadersInfluence Leaders

Influencers – leads by persuading others

Managers – matches people with roles, comes alongside throughout

Contributors – creates observable models of excellence

How can we tell if we are getting the How can we tell if we are getting the rhythm of a leader-developing culture?rhythm of a leader-developing culture?

1. The work of the church is decentralized.

2. Leadership development is perpetual.

3. The people are deployed in church, community, workplace, and world.

4. The church is healthy in both tasks and relationships.

3 Steps Toward this Rhythm3 Steps Toward this Rhythm

1. Pre-leadership assessment

2. Entry-point work

3. Spiritual care

1. Do pre-leadership assessment.1. Do pre-leadership assessment.

Assessing potential– With whom can s/he be a protégé?

Offering trial labs– Specific leadership training– Safe opportunities to work

alongside of mentors

Assessing tracks– Capitalizing on the confluence of

spiritual gifts, ministry passions, and community needs

2. At entry-points of leadership:2. At entry-points of leadership:

Offer role-specific training

Pre-, early-in (3-6 months), and exit interviews

Link with co-laborers

3. Offer spiritual care to leaders3. Offer spiritual care to leaders

Ongoing and intentional staff shepherding and coaching– Evaluate your staff on criteria of

coaching

Monthly or quarterly “V-H-S”

Annual retreating

Atmosphere ArchitectureAtmosphere Architecture To develop a leadership

culture, one must know:

– Contemporary culture– Congregational culture– Calling culture

your personal call and chapter

– Kingdom Culture

… and the places where these cultures meet (or don’t!)

Checkpoint: Family LeadershipCheckpoint: Family Leadership

It takes the skills learned in a family to create the appropriate culture or climate in the church

Leader, how are things at home?

“He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own

family, how can he take care of God's church?)”

-- 1 Timothy 3:4-5

Atmosphere? Rhythm? Culture? Atmosphere? Rhythm? Culture?

How?How?How can we create leadership with abstract

metaphors?

How can we measure how we’re doing?

How can we take first steps towards “what’s next?”

3 Types of Culture-Forming 3 Types of Culture-Forming Leadership TrainingLeadership Training

1. Classroom

– Low-structure before and during meetings

– Intentional half- or whole-day events in church life

3 Types of Culture-Forming 3 Types of Culture-Forming Leadership TrainingLeadership Training

2. Coaching

– Utilizes principles from other settings and customizes

– Can be high-structure engineered or spontaneous-organic

– Seminars (attend, import, host)

– Retreats

3 Types of Culture-Forming 3 Types of Culture-Forming Leadership TrainingLeadership Training

3. Mentoring

– Relationship-based

– Ebbs and flows based on teachability and intensity of situation

A Jump-Start Tip …A Jump-Start Tip …

Most churches have a “ringer” leader

– Re-deploy this person to be in charge of “leadership development” and let their gifts be used in service of building a leader culture

Leaders are Leaders are “Atmosphere Architects”“Atmosphere Architects”

Our job is to gauge the spiritual temperature of the church and guard that climate

Leadership is about creating climate – Are you thermometer

or thermostat?

Finding the Rhythm:Finding the Rhythm:Becoming an Equipping ChurchBecoming an Equipping Church

John Chandler

www.rasnet.org

john.chandler@vbmb.orgCopy Right John P. Chandler, 2003