George Bullard's Journey

A Video Announcement on Every Congregation Needs a Little Conflict.

I invite you to view this video announcement concerning my newest book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHDbUrO5AUM

Does the End Justify the Means in Congregational Transformation?

During the first five months of this year I have been doing a lot of presentations around the general subject of congregational transformation, and the specific subject of my process framework for congregational transformation known as Spiritual Strategic Journey. While making these presentations I often get questions about that to me point in the direction of the theology, philosophy, and methodology of my approach.

Some of these questions come because of the popularity of other approaches. Some because of the perceived decisive natural of other approaches that force transformation upon churches, and imply that they will be marginalized if they do not agree to transform. Some because of the enduring visionary leadership approach I take that highlights the pastor as the initiating leader rather than an approach that uses a pastor-centered approach. Some because I focus on an affirm and build process that targets signs of health and strength in congregations, and then seeks to help them build on these capacities and along the way develop other capacities, rather than a process that identifies weaknesses and seeks to improve them.

I am not trying to say that my approach is the only correct one, the best one, or the most effective one for congregational transformation. However, I like to think it is the most faithful to the substance of the Gospel, and builds long-term effectiveness while focusing on continual innovation. It definitely seeks to carry as many of the congregational participants forward as are willing to be embraced by the new thing God is doing in the midst of the congregation.

So my question: "Does the end justify the means in congregational transformation?" Is any pragmatic process that works a good process? What type of theology and ecclesiology is practiced in various approaches to congregational transformation? Does it matter? What are your thoughts?

Philip Recommends George's Book

Philip Lotspeich of the Presbyterian Church-USA blogs about George's Book--Pursuing the Full Kingdom Potential of Your Congregation.

Link: » Philip Recommends… Thoughts from the Road…: Thoughts, feelings and experiences of a pastor, person, husband, father, poker player, wanderer, explorer, and all around good guy..

Showing Up On Time Dressed to Play Makes an Incredible Difference!

One of the biggest challenges for all of us in life and ministry--myself included--is showing up on time dressed to play. Doing so can make an incredible difference in the progress a movement or organization can make. It can be the difference between transformational actions and mediocre actions. So, why do we not show up on time dressed to play more often?

[I bring this issue up because I have been with many clients in the first five months of this year who are not ready when it is time to take the next steps that will bring about the best kingdom progress. This concerns me until I realize that in several other places the same is true of me.]

Obviously the first reason is that we are all trying to do too many things. At times we feel like we must. At other times it is a sign of our workaholism.

A second reason is that we do not prioritize the more important things, but try to do everything. We do not say "No" often enough. We do not delegate often enough. We do not recognize times when good enough is really good enough and we do not have to work 30 percent longer to produce five to ten percent better results.

Third, is a felt need to control. Too often we feel if we do not personally do something, or approve every step, that it will not be done correctly. Too often this means it will not be done in our image.

It is particularly bad when you are working in a collaboration situation such as a team or community, and some part of what you are doing--if not the whole thing--is dependant on someone showing up on time dressed to play, and they fail to do this. When we are part of a team or community it is even more important for us to see the need to be held accountable for our part so we are not holding up everyone else. When teams or communities do not work well it lends validity to the idea that if one person takes a project it might happen quicker and better. There may be short-term truth to that, but not long-term wisdom.

I have been involved in one community for a while where the authority figure in the "room" changed half-way through the project. The new authority person had been a member of the community, but had not been faithful and accountable to the other community participants. Once they became the authority figure they realized the work of this community was going to impact their authority patterns for many years to come. So, they fairly soon sought to re-image the work of the community and the relationship with the larger organization in their own image.

The results have been de-moralizing to the work of the community, and may have produced an outcome that is chaordic at best. What a difference it would have made if the circumstances had allowed for everyone to show up on time dressed to play.

What about you? What are some of these types of situations you encounter in life and ministry? How would the impact of your work or the work of a collaborative community be different in everyone showed up on time dressed to play?

Put a Lid on It!

Milwaukee, WI, April 20, 2008

I have often said that it is not always the words that make statements confrontational and conflictual, it is the intent and intensity.

I experienced one of those occasions this morning in Milwaukee, WI. I was leaving on a hotel van very early to make a flight to Denver CO. I was to be the only one of the van. The driver engaged me in conversation, and said we could leave as soon as I was ready.

I indicated I would be ready as soon as I grabbed a cup of coffee. At that point he said to me, "Put a lid on it." He said it kindly and I understood exactly what he meant. He did not want me to spill coffee on myself or on the inside of the can.

If he knew me, he would know this was a helpful comment and that it was somewhat predictable that I would indeed spill coffee.

What would happen if under other circumstances someone said sharply to you, with obvious anger in their voice, "Put a lid on it!"

The apparent intent and intensity of this statement would raise the potential for an immediate conflict situation. I say potential because to have a conflict, both parties must experience it as conflict. So, it will also be how it is received.

If you receive the angrily expressed statement, "Put a lid on it!" as conflict, then a conflict situation has been created. If you do not, then it is not yet a conflict situation, but rather a situation where the person making the statement has some anger issues--perhaps towards you--that may need to be addressed. You have not received it as conflict and choose not to engage it as such.

Going deeper into the response, when you choose not to engage an angry statement as conflict are you,

• not perceiving it as conflict--at least not with you.
• have no need to make it a conflict situation.
• avoiding obvious conflict.
• withholding judgement for now.

Probably all these responses are fine except to avoid obvious conflict. When you do this then you are laying the ground work for future conflict of a more significant nature.

Having thought through all of this, what did the van driver really mean when he said, "Put a lid on it." I think he meant please do something that will keep coffee from spilling on you and the van.

In fact, it was so obvious that is what he meant, and that his spirit was kind and helpful, that I thanked him on the way to the airport for providing me with this example of when is what could be perceived as a conflict statement not really conflict.

The intent and the intensity made the difference.

The Fifth Sign of Readiness for Congregational Transformation

For the past 12 years I have been working on a model of readiness for congregational transformation. To this point I have focused readiness on four factors, as follows:

Urgency Readiness: This is the presence of a feeling of positive urgency to do something different in the congregation. There exists a strong commitment to take action and do something that will empower the future of the congregation.

Spiritual Readiness: This is the conviction that the best future is God's future for the congregation. It must involve spiritual discernment of the direction in which God is pulling the congregation, and a willing to engage deeply in this discernment process.

Leadership Readiness: This is the presence of capable pastoral leadership, people of passion, and people of position in a congregation to form an enduring visionary leadership community who provide broad-based leadership for continual congregational transformation.

Strategic Readiness: This is the state of having knowledge and the willingness to act in strategic ways that will increase the faithfulness, effectiveness, and innovation of the congregation in areas where intentional action is needed to live into God's future story for the congregation.

I am now prepared to add a fifth sign of readiness.

Financial Readiness: This is the ability of the congregation to reallocate or generate new income to fund the transition and change actions that lead to transformation. Too many congregations do not think about this need until late in their preparation for transition and change. This needs to be addressed earlier.

What do you think about these signs of readiness, and what do you think especially about adding the financial readiness factor?

When is a Congregation Finished With Transformation?

Actually the answer is never. Congregations must be continually transforming to be in full, active response to the pull of God in the direction of their full kingdom potential.

A better question is, when is a congregation successfully transforming? To that question there are several great answers.

• When a congregation leans continually into the future rather than into the past. It honors the presence of God in the past, and celebrates the presence of God in the future out of their emerging understanding of that future.
• When a congregation is captivated by an empowering future vision into which it is seeking to live.
• When a congregation hardwires into its culture continual transformation, with special focus on making significant transformation every seven to nine years.
• When a congregation thinks it is more important to reach people under 40 than it is to care for people over 60.
• When the leadership of the congregation is appropriately balanced by age and tenure demographics.
• When the spiritual strategic direction of the congregation, its future story, or it felt vision is the primary criteria for determining the goodness or rightness of decisions and actions by the congregation.
• When so much passion is focused on fulfilling the Great Commission in the spirit of the Great Commandment that there is insufficient room for unhealthy conflict to take hold in the congregation.
• When impacting lives with the love of Jesus is more important than the success of specific programs, ministries, and activities.
• When financial generosity is a hallmark of the congregation that blows totally past the struggle to get people to tithe because they are committed beyond the tithe to kingdom ministry in, through, or because of the ministry of the congregation.
• When having a kingdom impact is more important than growing this specific congregation. Growth is likely to be a side benefit, in many congregations, of a kingdom impact focus.

Well, these are ten to get started. When do you feel a congregation is successfully transforming?

Baptists to Assist in Myanmar

I am proud that my Baptist world organization will be assisting in Myanmar where reports are that tens of thousands of people have been killed. Connection with the Baptist World Alliance at www.bwanet.org.

Baptist World Alliance

May 6, 2008

For Immediate Release

Baptists to assist Myanmar

Washington, D.C. (BWA) -- Baptist World Aid (BWAid), the relief and development arm of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), has pledged US$50,000 to assist with emergency relief efforts in Myanmar.

Myanmar, formerly named Burma, experienced a devastating cyclone that hit the Southeast Asian country on Saturday, May 3, killing an estimated 22,000 people, generating fears that the death toll will rise even further as tens of thousand more are missing. Large areas of the country are heavily flooded.

In addition to the $50,000 pledge, BWAid is coordinating relief efforts with Baptists around the world. “We will be working with and through the very capable Myanmar Baptist Convention…. and we are in contact with BWAid partners in the US, Europe, and Asia,” said Paul Montacute, Director of BWAid.

Among the immediate needs of those affected by the cyclone and the flooding are for clean drinking water, nonperishable food, blankets and medical kits.

The Myanmar Baptist Convention, a member body of the BWA, is the single largest Baptist group in Asia with a membership of more than 1.1 million baptized believers. Baptist witness is largely among minority and marginalized ethnic groups such as the Karen, Chin, and Kachin.

Donations to the Myanmar relief effort may be made to the BWAid Emergency Response Fund at www.bwanet.org/bwaid or sent to:

Emergency Response Fund

Baptist World Aid

405 North Washington Street

Falls Church, VA 22046

USA

I Have Never Seen So Many . . .

. . . corporate jets lined up side-by-side. I flew into Louisville, KY today on my way to Evansville, IN. Tomorrow, Saturday, May 3rd, is the running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville. Traffic on the ground at the airport was heavy and congested. Part of it was maneuvering around all the corporate jets lined up on the taxiways, and on the tarmac near the terminal gates. Beside many of these jets were limousines that had been allowed to come out and pick up some of the elite participants in the Derby festivities.

I have also never seen so many limo drivers standing at the bottom of the escalator on the way to baggage claim holding up signs with the names of their clients. Limos were double parked outside of baggage claim. Baggage porters were hustling around getting autographs of famous people--all of whom I did not see or recognized. [I am out of the loop.]

My airplane from Atlanta to Louisville was filled with people of various descriptions headed to the Derby. Among them were four members of a motorcycle gang, and several families with various generations on the airplane who gather at the Derby every year. One father remarked that his son who just turned one was coming to his second Derby.

I also saw something I have not seen in decades--at least in this number. Hat boxes. Many women had as carry on or checked baggage hat boxes of various descriptions containing their fashionable head gear for the Derby.

What, if anything, are the special things that happen in the life of a congregation that cause people to take this much care to be present with their brightest and best clothing, attitudes, and commitment? Perhaps there should be more than there are.

However, may the church folks be drunk on the Holy Spirit when they stand and sing the "Hallelujah Chorus", rather than drunk on too many mint juleps when they stand and sing "My Old Kentucky Home."