Re-reading
I know it must sound dorky to admit that I'm already wanting to re-read some of the textbooks I used in seminary. But, I have to say with all the responsiblity I've seemingly been given recently, I know I can use all the help I can get.
One of my favorite professors from Duke was Dr. Bill Quick. I took two classes with him, Church Leadership and Administration and Church Stewardship and Finance. One of the things I admired about him the most about him was that even after over 40 years in the ministry he still loved being a pastor. His glowing love of the church made me want to love it like him.
While in his class we read the book, Leading the Congregation: Caring for Yourself While Serving the People by Norman Shawchuck and Roger Heuser (a text I highly recommend for clergy by the way). I remember Dr. Quick driving these passages home on several occassions. But, even more so now, I see what he was trying to teach us in these readings:
Leadership and mangement can hardly be separated; yet, they are not the same. Broadly speaking leadership is seeing to it that the right things are done; manegement, on the other hand, is concerned about doing the things the right way. . . . Leadership and management must both be included as valued contributions within an organization. . . . A problem in many congregations, especially those in decline, is that they are overmanged and underled.
I point to this passage because I see how true it is. As pastors we are both shepherds keeping the flock together and trailblasers who point to the possiblities of the future. Yet, living in this tension is hard, especially for new ministers. I am in the process of getting to know my people and gaining their trust. While I do this, I want to honor the culture and traditions of my congregation. But at the same time I also do not want to be a minister who allows the church to fall into the traditions of what has always been. I want them to try new things. I want the gospel to take root in this place in even more creative ways. I want others to recognize their gifts and take ownership of this ministry.
I'll let you know how it goes . . . who said being a leader was easy?
One of my favorite professors from Duke was Dr. Bill Quick. I took two classes with him, Church Leadership and Administration and Church Stewardship and Finance. One of the things I admired about him the most about him was that even after over 40 years in the ministry he still loved being a pastor. His glowing love of the church made me want to love it like him.
While in his class we read the book, Leading the Congregation: Caring for Yourself While Serving the People by Norman Shawchuck and Roger Heuser (a text I highly recommend for clergy by the way). I remember Dr. Quick driving these passages home on several occassions. But, even more so now, I see what he was trying to teach us in these readings:
Leadership and mangement can hardly be separated; yet, they are not the same. Broadly speaking leadership is seeing to it that the right things are done; manegement, on the other hand, is concerned about doing the things the right way. . . . Leadership and management must both be included as valued contributions within an organization. . . . A problem in many congregations, especially those in decline, is that they are overmanged and underled.
I point to this passage because I see how true it is. As pastors we are both shepherds keeping the flock together and trailblasers who point to the possiblities of the future. Yet, living in this tension is hard, especially for new ministers. I am in the process of getting to know my people and gaining their trust. While I do this, I want to honor the culture and traditions of my congregation. But at the same time I also do not want to be a minister who allows the church to fall into the traditions of what has always been. I want them to try new things. I want the gospel to take root in this place in even more creative ways. I want others to recognize their gifts and take ownership of this ministry.
I'll let you know how it goes . . . who said being a leader was easy?
posted by Musings @ 3:11 PM
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