I believe that life is perpetual discernment. I am coming to believe that I will never fully know who I am called to be for the rest of my life. Rather, I hope that I will be able to discern through conversation, prayer, dwelling and introspection who I am now and might be in the process of becoming and being called to be. There is … Continue reading Perpetual Discernment
Continuing in my series of reflections from reading Anthony B. Robinson’s Transforming Congregational Culture, today we turn to chapter four which he titles, “From Assuming the Goods to Delivering the Goods, Part One: Worship.” This chapter offers some thoughts, perspectives, challenges, and questions around what is worship. Robinson makes a number of assertions in this chapter and asks some very important questions. I was particularly struck … Continue reading “From Assuming the Goods to Delivering the Goods”
Continuing in the series of posts that began with the previous post, I continue to offer reflections as I read and reread Anthony B. Robinson’s Transforming Congregational Culture. Robinson’s second chapter lays the groundwork for how difficult cultural change can be. He brings Ron Heifetz and Marty Linsky into the conversation with their vocabulary of “technical work” or “technical changes” and “adaptive changes.” Its within this … Continue reading “The Challenge We Face, Part II”
I have decided to pick up and read a decade old book, Transforming Congregational Culture, by Anthony B. Robinson.* As I move through this book, I intend to write a few posts along the way about either quotes that resonate with me, or about pieces I see that have especially changed (good or bad) since Robinson wrote this. So, in this line of reflection, from the beginning … Continue reading “The Challenge We Face, Part I”
Two years ago, I wrote a blog post about “multi-layered leadership.” Given the transition the congregation I am employed at is in, I thought it might be worth another look. Reading this 2002 article, “Multi-Layered Leadership: The Christian Leader as Builder, Shepherd, and Gardener,” almost convinces me that its author must have been in conversation with Peter Drucker. It’s not that hard to believe that … Continue reading Revisiting Multi-Layered Leadership
(Written on Thursday March 28, 2013) For those of us in the so-called “Mainline” Christian faith, today we observe Maundy Thursday. This is the day we remember Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, its from this event that comes the sacrament of Holy Communion. But also on this day Jesus is said to have washed his disciples’ feet, showing and displaying the repeated gospel theme … Continue reading Maundy Thursday
When visiting a potential partner organization yesterday, I noticed that a great quote was front and center on their conference room’s whiteboard. The quote read: “Excellence is not a skill … it’s an attitude!” (Ralph Marston is quoted as saying this quote via a quick search online, though I believe its a quote that can be attributed to many leaders and leadership experts who have … Continue reading Leadership Thought of the Week
In my previous post, I raised two questions. The first, “what perplexes you most about leadership?” will help shape coming posts, but will not be considered here. The second question though, “for those of you who are Christian, what is on your mind at the start of this Holy Week,” I reflect on myself here. I am not sure that Holy Monday inspired me to … Continue reading The Start of Holy Week
I received the following prayer as part of a daily devotional from Luther Seminary this morning: In the breaking of the bread and pouring out of the cup, you come to us, Lord Jesus, and usher us into the kingdom of God in the new covenant of your body and blood. Amen. I wanted to think of something inspirational to write as my first post … Continue reading The Beginning of a New Blog
