“The world is littered with the bones of well financed organizations (churches) with hard-working employees (volunteers) who spun their separate wheels, ran around in separate circles, jumped from project to project, and collectively had no idea of what they were doing.” (Leadership Lessons of the Navy Seals, Jeff Cannon and Lt. CMDR. Jon Cannon) Sound familiar?
Charan, Carey and Useem illustrate in their book, Boards that Lead, “Focusing boardroom time recurrently on the central idea-not just at an annual retreat but reiteratively, time and time again-helps make other directors (Board members) and executives (Pastors) more comfortable with the idea and the resulting strategy and plans for execution. Conversely, the absence of a central idea is a sure sign that the directors (Board members) have failed to meet one of the most significant obligations of their leadership.”
When working with church Boards, I look for the foundation documents of Vision, Mission and Values. These must be designed to support the Core Business. Your staff, volunteers and people need to know and implement Christ’s business in your church.
Here are six questions to stimulate your thinking.
- What is the core business of the church?
- Is our focus to maintain, and ensure tradition, (the way it has always been)?
- Are we here to deal with community concerns like a food bank, poverty and summer activities?
- Are we meeting the needs of the multi-cultural families in our community?
- Is our focus seniors, families or multi-generational?
- Or, are we here as a church to keep our people happy?
I’m encouraging our church leaders to introduce our community to a Heavenly Father, a Christ who died, rose again and has gone to prepare a place for us. “Don’t let this throw you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I’m on my way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live. And you already know the road I’m taking.” (John 14:2-4 MSG)
Leadership is … focusing all your energy, systems and activities to accomplish God’s plan.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com