Emerging from a Leadership Meltdown

Reflections from an Acts 16:5 Pastor                                         Part Two

Thomas Presbyterian Church was on the incline by all measurable standards until conflict within the leadership core boiled over into a win or lose dynamic.  Over a ten-year period, I had indeed made several administrative mistakes that had caused conflict within a small leadership group of the congregation.  With Stan Ott's assistance and the Presbytery's active intervention, we came through this painful three-year period healthier and stronger than before the conflict.  Indeed, we lost 100 members for various reasons; but we emerged wiser and more focused on being a congregation that glorifies God, makes disciples, and serves others in the name of Jesus Christ.  As a byproduct of that focus, our financial health has soared well beyond what it was before the conflict.

Though the conflict interfered with our progress to make additional transformational changes, we emerged ready to implement additional Acts 16:5 principles. Here are a few of those changes:

1.     Our Acts 16:5 Vision Team adopted and adapted the "Personal Discipleship Plan " ...organized it according to our Vision Statement and provided copies for the whole congregation to take a more focused approach to becoming disciples of Jesus Christ.  We are still using this resource in new member classes and at least annually as a congregation wide emphasis.

2.     To promote leadership training, I taught a Methodist course, "Leadership from the Heart”. I recruited seasoned and new emerging leaders for the 8-month long class. Of the class of ten, eight new leaders have stepped into positions of leadership within the last 2 years.  Presently, I am using Stan's "7 Circles of Leaders" as a yearlong study at Session meetings.

3.     In addition to VBS, we launched another major community "Reach" event - the Thomas Summer Fest ...pig roast plus... The focus is on reaching the community beyond our congregation. This year we hope to partner with a local High School Band ... they will receive the profit from the festival and provide entertainment for the day.

4.     The Evangelism Planning Team has been renewed with new people added to the team.  They are sponsoring a community wide Dave Ramsey Financial Planning seminar this fall; and we have a team planning "Girlfriends" events {a Group Publishing program} as a Reach ministry.

5.     We updated our vision statement to "Glorifying God and Serving Others". 

6.     Our Youth Ministry Team completely made over their ministry built upon a defining vision rather than "just what is fun for the leaders to do."

7.     Implementing a Lenten Small Group / Large Group strategy has engaged the congregation far beyond my expectations! Last year, I recruited a small group to dream of ways we could immerse the congregation in a study of Psalm 23 for Lent 2011.  Their dreaming resulted in an Art Show, video, special music, nine small groups, and a study guide.

Our Thomas Church congregation is once again on the incline by, not only adding new followers of Christ, but also with renewed leaders. 

In Christ - Reverend Linda Jaberg

See tomorrow's conclusion - Transformation Fueled by the Acts 16:5 Initiative