Best workshop summary interpretation ever

Some time ago I did a series of presentations for the Alban Institute on the book The Hidden Lives of Congregations. Participant Chris Van Wyk has written up a summary of the workshops on his Claripics website. He has done a fine job of summarizing the main points of the workshop. His review focuses on the concepts of congregational identity, the ministerial lifecycle, the myth of competence, and authentic leadership.

One always wonders what people “hear” at workshop presentations. Like the preaching event, one suspects that what people hear is different than what the speaker actually says. It’s always gratifying to find a person like Chris Van Wyk who is a good listener and a responsible interpreter.

Leading from the Self

Don Barnett, pastor of Paintsville First United Methodist Church, KY, shares comments on leading from the self on his church website. He sites, and accurately interprets, sections from The Hidden Lives of Congregations on the concept of leadership, including, “myths about leadership.” You can read pastor Barnett’s comments here.

I like that pastor Barnett shares his thoughts on leadership on his church website. Clergy often forget that educating their congregations on their understanding of basic beliefs, concepts, and theology in an important part of congregational development. Finding different venues to communicate those perspectives is good practice. Communicating them often is necessary.

Bennett Review of Perspectives on Congregational Leadership

Dr. Judy Bennett wrote a review of Perspectives on Congregational Leadership . Dr. Bennett is Director of The Resource Center in Richmond, Va., and the review appears on their website. You can read the review here.

The Resource Center is located on the campus of the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. They offer educational resources to congregations and their members (books, curriculum, media, reference material, art, and workshops). If your church is not a member, consider joining--the benefits are tremendous.

Leadership In Ministry Winter 2010 Newsletter

The Winter 2010 issue of the Leadership in Ministry Workshops newsletter. is now available.

You can download the current issue, and past issues, of the newsletter from the Leadership in Ministry website.

This issue includes reviews of Friedman’s new book, What Are You Going To Do With Your Life? by faculty coach Bob Dibble , and of Margaret Marcuson’s new book, Leaders Who Last, by Stephen Price-Gibson. Also are articles by Susannah Smith, Ellen Culpepper, a “systems sermon” by Vanessa Ellison, and an article by Galindo from his latest book, Perspectives on Congregational Leadership.