conjectural navel gazing; jesus in lint form

bread for the journey - post: the third

Life is short and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel the way with us. So be swift to love. Make haste to be kind. And may the blessing of God be with you.

This is the last of three posts on the whole "growth leadership" thing. The comments on the first two posts were good. People are thinking some of this stuff through. And it is interesting to see the distinctions between laity and ordained in those comments. Most ordained seem to get what Tully is after...perhaps qualified. Laity have some reservations. Who wants to puzzle that out? Anyway, yesterday we met for our final session. These notions are a little more specific. I'll list 'em and try to explain as I go. Keep in mind, Tully is all about Friedman's understanding of family systems theory. So, if you have read Friedman, keep him running in the back of your mind as well.

1. Banish the parish system. Congregations are not geographically specific as much as they used to be...especially in urban areas. People will drive miles to come to church.

2. Be outrageous in your proclamation of your vision. People will self-correct on their own. That about says it.

3. work hard...not more, but better, and hard. Establish systems of accountability if you are a solo pastor.

4. Stay home and stay focused. He suggests that you participate in maybe one thing in your regional body. Don't get sucked away from your church. Remember, if what you are doing does not lead to growth...stop.

5. Define growth as a goal and a strategy.

6. Seek out the people who are motivated to change and grow. Create infrastructures to take care of the needy. This is the most difficult one to follow. His focus is so complete. His rule for being outrageous also exists in his teaching...so he's not advocating abandoning the needy in the church, but he does not want the pastor's time to get consumed by the congregation's anxiety.

7. When growth begins, they won't like it. Who are all these people in my church? Why don't they agree with me? The only person who likes change is a baby with a wet diaper...and even that is debatable.

8. Find a way to outlast the nay-saying. He suggests humor and playfulness are the best tools for this. Most nay-saying is anxiety. Pay attention. You may learn something, but so much nay-saying is simply anxiety finding voice. Address the anxiety.

9. You will find anti-growth attitudes in yourself. Don't give in!"

10. Decide what you won't share. Make it a short, good list.. He holds on to finances and worship. He has canon law to guide him as an ECUSA priest.

11. Pastoral Care: I was waiting for him to speak directly to this. Here we go: Be the pastor to the whole system and not simply to a series of individuals. When you get up in the pulpit you are paying a personal call on everyone. This is how many hear the sermon...as an address to themselves. The congregation newsletter is a personal encounter. It is a visit to people's living room (If people come to your church and they give you their address, put them on the newsletter mailing list.).

10. Hesitate to share your pulpit. For those of us who are solo pastors, this is kind of a non-issue. Heh. I struggle to find people to help me get the weekend off. I have to plan this months in advance.

11. Focus on your preaching. Improve. Improve. Improve. If worship is the face of the church, the sermon is the voice. It's gotta be solid. Hire a voice coach. Work with an actor. Block your sermons if you are in a large space. Make sure the sound system in your church is good.

12. "Read the Bible. Trust God. Call your mother." This is advice that Friedman gave his students. The final one is a reference to the family systems model. Call that person in your family who supports and loves you without exception. This may be a friend, too. But do this all the time. You need them.

So, there you go. One thing to make certain that you all understand is that Tully's prayer life seems to be really solid. He's going to God all the time for guidance and wisdom. He's willing to let ideas go if necessary. He's just so very focused on growth. And this has worked at his congregation. They were in dire straits and are now thriving again.

Food for thought...

Posted by tripp at September 28, 2007 06:42 AM