Growth Challenges Audio
While at Group Publishing today I saw the link to an audio I did with Alan Nelson a few months ago on the topic of growth challenges for the Rev magazine audio resource. In it, I share my philosophy of thinking about growth challenges, and two common systemic challenges: 1) the redemptive passion of the congregation, and 2) centralized leadership development. On the latter topic I share a little bit about the leadership development process of two churches I am close to in Houston- Clear Creek Community Church and Faithbridge UMC.
Defining the Essence
On my way to the airport today for my next two days in Denver and then Tampa, I realized that I left my computer at home. Losing 30 minutes compromised my finely tuned planning, which has developed over 8 years of departing from Houston’s Hobby airport. After my time loss, I knew I could still make my flight but not check-in my extra bag. There was only one solution-eliminate and do it quickly. The next 20 minutes of driving I went through the “essentials only” mental checklist. In the parking garage I rearranged and eliminated until my bulging carry-on could take no more.
Interestingly it was a satisfying experience because all the essentials made it. Once again I felt the complexity and weight of allowing non-essentials into my mind and ultimately my suitcase. The forced “concentration by elimination” exercise was ultimately refreshing though initially frustrating.
This is the exact kind of exercise that individuals and organizations can go through to clarify and apply the essence of their calling or their mission.
As coincidence would have it I started a new book on the plane- The Power of Less by Leo Babauta (2009). What’s his first principle? “By setting limitations we must choose the essential. So in everything you do learn to set limitations.”
Creative Problem Solving
Years ago, I digested materials related to "creative problem solving" (CPS) and practiced the skill with the Auxano team at one of our annual off-sites called "Resync." I am amazed at how valuable the experience can even though it is rarely used in the church. In fact, in the last 20 years of ministry (from seminary, to pastoring, to carnivorously devouring conferences, to full-time consulting) I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYONE TEACH OR PRACTICE CPS in a ministry setting.
- How might we shift satisfied worshippers at the 9:30 and 11:00 to a different service time?
- How might we provide three "Live" venue worship opportunities on Sunday morning?
- What's stopping us from creating alternative entrance/exit access roads?
- How might we simply shift services times in a way that solves every other problem?
- How might we accommodate 1000 more people without modifying the facility?
- What's stopping us from doing a capital campaign/phase II immediately?
- How might we better clarify our long-term strategy with worship styles and venues?
- What's stopping us from adding 250 parking spaces immediately?
- How might we add more square footage for worship venues with the existing facility?
Next time you are solving a problem, start by trying to state the problem in the form of a question as may ways as possible using the "How might we…" and "What's stopping us…" question template.
Bad Times Draw Bigger Crowds
Structure as Solution
This last week I led a quarterly offsite meeting for Faithbridge. Faithbridge is second home church for me as I serve as a leadership coach on the staff. Our focus of the day was the "challenge of structure." I started the day by anchoring the topic of organizational structure into a biblical-theological foundation. I asked the staff the simple question, 'When in biblical history did God provide structure as a solution." Here is some of the things on our list:
- Structure of marriage is a solution to man being alone
- Organization on the ark as a solution for preserving planet life
- The reorganization in Exodus 18 to provide wholeness, health and sustainability to people of Israel
- The levitical structure to provide worship and access to God on behalf of Israel
- Jesus choosing the 12 and sending the 72 as a solution for proclaiming the kingdom
- Smaller organized groups facilitating discipleship – Acts 2
- The selection of 7 leaders when Hellenistic Jewish widows were being overlooked in the distribution of the bread – Acts 6
We spent half the day rethinking ministry department structures based on the 40% rule: Every 40% of growth requires a new structure.