George Bullard's Journey

What's So Wonderful about Good to Great and the Social Sectors?

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Some people claim Jim Collins is the next Peter Drucker. The author of the books Good to Great and Built to Last certainly has made a fantastic contribution to understanding of how organizations can soar with their strengths, and hard wire this ability into their culture.

Implications of Collins’ concepts for the church world have been obvious for years. Many congregations can be called good in terms of the quality of their ministry. Few can be called great. Periodically congregations express greatness. Few are able to sustain that greatness for very long. Collins, on the other hand, would say that greatness is not only possible, but sustainable and enduring.

In the monograph Good to Great and the Social Sectors, Collins focuses on what makes the difference between good organizations and great organizations in the social sector. What separates the good from the great? Here is the essence of what it takes to achieve greatness: Disciplined people who engage in disciplined thought and take disciplined action will find themselves building greatness to last. [1] This statement, as good as it is, does not take into account the spiritual aspect that adds a transformational factor into the life and ministry of congregations.

Collins identifies five issues that must be addressed for the journey to greatness in the social sector.

Coaching Insights for Good to Great and the Social Sectors

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For a lot of fun and to figure out what Jim Collins is working now, go to www.JimCollins.com. It is a great and entertaining web site.

Obtain your own copy of Good to Great and the Social Sectors. I like going to www.Amazon.com where you can find Jim’s monograph for $8.96.How do you respond to the essence statement mentioned in my article? That statement is, “Disciplined people who engage in disciplined thought and take disciplined action will find themselves building greatness to last.”

How true is this statement in your experience? What is rich and meaningful in this statement? What is missing? From a Christ-centric, faith-based perspective, what if the word “discipline” was changed to the word “disciple?” How would that change or even enhance the meaning of this sentence.

A View from the Congregation: Hope Community Church, Cary, NC

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Although it has grown from 30 people to over 3000 in weekly worship, Hope Community Church at www.GetHope.net is not a congregation about size. “Hope may seem like a large church, but if you get to know us you'll discover that in many ways we're small. In fact, we're actually a network of small groups. If you'd like to develop authentic and enduring relationships with others, then you'll be glad to know new groups are forming all the time.” [web site]

Although it has just this week moved from the gymnasium of a Christian school into its own worship center, it is not a congregation about bricks and mortar. “Our vision is not about bricks and mortar. Buildings are just tools. We [trusted] God to complete this tool where children, teenagers and adults will be impacted by Christ for years to come. This [was] a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build something significant for God's Kingdom that will outlast us.” [web site]

Coaching Insights for Hope Community Church

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How can congregations grow larger by thinking smaller? Hope Community Church does it through a network of small groups. What works best for your congregation? Do you organize small groups around the topics or subjects for the dialogue? Do you organize small groups around affinity relationships of the people in the small groups?

Hope calls what they do building “authentic and enduring relationships”. How do you accomplish this in your congregation? Is this type of relationship only for adults? Hope thinks not. It also focuses on high quality programs, ministries, and activities for age groups under 18 years old.

Why Does Your Congregation Want a Denominational Affiliation?

Does your congregation need a denomination? The short answer is “No.” The long answer is that a denominational relationship is not essential to the vitality of your congregation. It is optional. The fastest growing denomination in North America is said to be non-denominational.

If that is the case, then why are so many congregations affiliated with a denomination? Why are so many new congregations affiliated with denominations? Why are so many congregations who are disenchanted with their denomination choosing to affiliate with another denomination, including newly emerging denominations?

Perhaps a better question is, does your congregation want a denominational affiliation? The short answer is probably “Yes.” The long answer is that a denominational relationship is perceived as essential by many congregations if they are to reach their full kingdom potential. It is indispensable.

Probably the best question is, what is it about a denominational relationship that looks so attractive to your congregation? What real benefits are you looking for in a relationship with a denomination? Try these answers on for size.

Download: Why Does Your Congregation Want a Denominational Affiliation?

Coaching Insights for Why Does Your Congregation Want a Denominational Affiliation?

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What is your specific answer as to why your congregation wants a denominational affiliation? Can you clearly articulate your reasons if asked by congregation leaders, younger members, or potential members who are considering connecting with your congregation?

Which of the five reasons why congregations may desire to be part of a denomination are important to you? Which ones are not? What are reasons why denominational affiliation is important to you that were not mentioned in this article? 

Intensities of Conflict Chart

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Intensities of Conflict chart shares seven intensities of conflict that are often experienced by congregations and other organisms and organizations.

Why is Congregational Transformation So Hard?

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I grew up in a church in a large urban area that by my teenage years was definitely a plateaued congregation. By my late teens it was in serious decline due to its inability to respond to racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and population density transition and change. When I was twentysomething I went back to the church to preach one Sunday, cried over its situation, and committed myself to helping congregations like this have new life.                                        

                                                                                                                                          

At that time I was pastor of an inner city church in Louisville, KY. I was conducting research on 100 congregations in fifteen cities throughout the United States who were in situations similar to the church of my youth, and the church where I was pastor.

The research was very successful. It indicated there was a very clear solution for these congregations. The formula for future vitality could be stated in three words. Vision, plus Intentionality.                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                          

The longer meaning of these three words was that congregations in situations of transition and change who became captivated by a clear sense of God’s spiritual strategic direction for them, then intentionally engaged in high quality programs, ministries, activities that empowered them to live into God’s future, could transform. Further, if they hard wired into their spiritual strategic culture significantly renewing their journey every seven to nine years that they could continually transform.

Coaching Insights for Why Is Congregational Transformation So Hard?

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What has been your experience in congregations engaging in transition and change due to racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and population density issues? Were these congregations in an urban, suburban, ex-urban fringe, town or village, or open country area?

When things began to transition and change did your congregation seek to hold on to the past and present, or seek to embrace the new thing God was doing in the future? How did you personally respond? Are you a museum docent or a creator of innovation?

What is the evidence in your congregation of Vision, plus Intentionality? What would it take for your congregation to be empowered by vision? Before you can focus on the five to seven things your congregation can best do to empower its God-given future, what do you have to stop and start doing?