George Bullard's Journey

Mel, Let's Not Just Talk About It? Let's Do Something!

I got in one more question to Mel Lawrenz on his book Whole Church.

George: What is the key action or actions you would like for congregations to take as a results of reading your book?

Mel: I would love to see church boards or staff read this book together and then discuss how they can get on the same page, be a Whole Church, and carry out the whole purpose of God. I'd like churches to commit to new levels of engagement at every level.

George: Sounds good to me!

By the way, he also has a web site on the book at http://www.wholechurch.org. On that site he has a downloadable discussion guide.

Posted via web from George Bullard's Posterous

Questionning Mel Lawrenz on Cohesion and Momentum in a Church

In his book, Whole Church, Mel Lawrenz distinguishes between cohesion in a church and the momentum of a church. I had an opportunity today to ask him about this.

George: What do you see as the key differences between a congregation that is embraced by cohesion and one embraced by momentum?

Mel:

In Whole Church there are 350 practical ideas for promoting both cohesion and momentum in a church. We need both. Cohesion happens when we have a continual cycle of shared experiences (worship, service, celebrations, imaginative initiatives). Momentum is when a church is moving out, and moving on, changing all the time, not in a jarring way, but in the incremental process we call growth.

George: Makes sense. Let's go back to the thoughts surrounding conflict and suggest that cohesion is the lack of unhealthy conflict. Momentum is the resolve to move forward in mission.

Posted via web from George Bullard's Posterous

A Question on Conflict with Mel Lawrenz

Continuing the conversation today with Mel Lawrenz, author of Whole Church: Leading from Fragmentation to Engagement, I next asked him about conflict.

George: When does diversity of opinions and expressions cross the line to be defined as conflict in a congregation?

Mel: Great question. Conflict is a subjective perception. Some people believe they are in conflict if they simply disagree. Others need a pool of blood for something to constitute conflict. We know conflict is a problem when people get hurt, when the purpose of the church is diverted, and when there is any hint of posturing or power moves.

George: I certain agree that conflict takes a congregation off its mission. It is hard to have full engagement if you are in conflict with one another within a congregation. I would also say that healthy conflict can be a motivator within a congregation. It is unhealthy conflict we ought to avoid. But we can only avoid it if we develop the capacity to handle healthy conflict.

Thanks, Mel, for stopping by.

Posted via web from George Bullard's Posterous

A Question for Mel Lawrenz About Vision

Wed are glad to have Mel Lawrenz to stop by this blog to answer questions. Here is the first question I posed to him:

George : As I understand engagement in the Whole Church book it is about relationship to God, one another, context, and the world. I agree relationship is the key work of a congregation. Where does vision fit in with this since that is the key factor many pastors and congregations focus on? Or, are you saying the vision is about engagement?

Mel: I think the most important kind of vision a leader can impart is a true view of where God is going and what God intends to do. Vision must be more about God than about us. Engagement is God's resources being brought into contact with human need. So the vision of a church must include, for instance, the missional engagement of the church with the local community. It should include connecting points with the world. Any church can and should have a global vision.

George: Thanks, Mel. I agree. The vision a congregation should pursue is God's vision for them, which is in a mission dimension virtually the same for every congregation, but in a vision dimension is unique for each congregation. I see your characteristics of engagement as being in the mission dimension and the vision more relates to the specific way God is calling a congregation to engagement.

Posted via web from George Bullard's Posterous

My Amazon.com Review on Whole Church

5.0 out of 5 stars The Key Word is Engagement, September 29, 2009 By  George Bullard "Strategic Leadership Coach" (Columbia, SC, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Whole Church by Mel Lawrenz is right on target with the key conept for all effective New Testament congregations. Engagement. Another word for this is discipleship. A key conecpt is relationships. While the most important thing that can captivatge the passion of a congregation is God's ideal vision for their spiritual Strategic journey, the most important activity of congregations is disciplemaking. Engagement as explained in the Whole Church frames the disciplemaking process. It is about engagment with God, God's people, the congregation context, and the world. To be a whole church it is necessary to have full engagement that focuses on all four of these emphases. The reason I feel so good about this approach by Mel Lawrenz is that it is a full affirmation of what I say in Pursuing the Full Kingdom Potential of Your Congregation (TCP Leadership Series)about the concept of Relationship Experiences. These experiences flavor the spiritual strategic journey of a congregation. How a congregation handles engagement around disciplemaking is its crucial ongoing activity. A great thing about ths book is that is goes into depth on each of the four areas of engagement. If you want your congregation to be a whole church you will find yourself fully engaged with Mel's message. BTW, a secondary theme I pulled from the book relates to avoiding unhealthy conflict by having a clear foucs on the four areas of engagement. This is an important point not to be missed that I cover in Every Congregation Needs a Little Conflict (TCP Leadership Series). Thank you, Mel.

Blog Tour: Whole Church

 

Today I am participating in a blog tour around a new book, Whole Church: Leading from Fragmentation to Engagement by Mel Lawrenz, senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

This is being sponsored by Leadership Network and will relate to their book blog. 

A key word/concept in the book is engagement. Mel suggests the whole church as enggement with God, with God's people, with their community, and with the world.

Check out this book on Amazon. Purchase this book at Bullard Journal Book Store.

Mel will be stopping be and answering questions about his book throughout the day. Stop by periodically to see the latest update.

Participating with me are the following bloggers:

Greg Atkinson http://www.gregatkinson.com/ 

George Bullard  http://www.bullardjournal.org/

Kent Shaffer http://www.churchrelevance.com

Mark Roberts http://www.markdroberts.com/

Todd Rhoades  http://www.MondayMorningInsight.com

Sherry Surratt http://www.sherrysurratt.com/  

What Type of Dialogue Will Enhance the Experience of the Dialogue and Prayer Triplets as Part of the 100 Days of Discernment?

[This is the first in a series of posts of articles that are being written for a congregation engaging in 100 days of discernment using dialogue and prayer triplets to address various issues of relationship in the midst of a conflict mediation process. At least seven other articles will follow on a periodic basis.]

Download What Type of Dialogue For 100 Days of Discernment

An Overview

By George Bullard, Strategic Leadership Coach with The Columbia Partnership at GBullard@TheColumbiaPartnership.org.

As the dialogue and prayer triplets move through their ten sessions over the 100 days, what type of dialogue will best enhance the experience? Certainly the quality and content of dialogue will be different in each triplet. With the uniqueness of each triplet in mind, here are some types of dialogue that could enhance the experience.

Compassionate Dialogue: Showing compassion for one another is a key quality of Christian love and concern. Joel 2:13 recalls the Old Testament theme of God’s compassion when it says “Now return to the Lord you God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving kindness and relenting of evil.” [NASB] How is your triplet dialogue characterized by compassion of the character and nature of God? Specifically how are you showing compassion for the other two people in your triplet?

Future Story from Fall Creek Community Church

Future Story Video from Fall Creek Community Church in Fishers, IN:

Download Fall Creek CC Future Story 2009 or go to Fall Creek Community Church Web Site to view this video.

This is a Christian and Missionary Alliance congregation who has been engaging in a Spiritual Strategic Journey process led by George Bullard. For more information about a Spiritual Strategic Journey process send a message to Client.Care@TheColumbiaPartnership.org.

Your Congregation is More Likely to Exist Ten Years From Now if it is Obviously Christ-Centered

[This is 25th of 25 factors that may impact the survivability and vitality of your congregation. A new factor is being posted each weekday for five weeks. See all the posts at www.BullardJournal.org. Order the whole collection at http://congregationexistpersonal.eventbrite.com/.]

Your congregation is more likely to exist ten years from now with vitality and vibrancy if it is obviously Christ-centered in its character and nature. It is marginal or uncertain to exist if it is confused as to whether it is Christ-centered or focused on its internal culture. It is less likely to exist with vitality and vibrancy ten years from now if it is obviously culture-centered.

A Christ-centered congregation regularly makes choices that enhance their spiritual character and nature. They are on an obvious spiritual and strategic journey to live into God’s full kingdom potential for their congregation. They are not hesitant to ask the simple question of what is the Christ-like thing to do every time they are faced with a significant decision surrounding a great opportunity or challenge. Guests and new members feel the obvious spiritual atmosphere in the congregation. Authentic discipleship is a high value and people connected with the congregation are urged to be on an intentional Christ-centered discipleship journey. Worship is clearly a Christ-centered experience in these congregations.

Your Congregation is More Likely to Exist Ten Years From Now if its Facilities are in Good Shape

[This is 24th of 25 factors that may impact the survivability and vitality of your congregation. A new factor is being posted each weekday for five weeks. See all the posts at www.BullardJournal.org. Order the whole collection at http://congregationexistpersonal.eventbrite.com/.]

Your congregation is more likely to exist ten years from now if its facilities are in good shape and do not require constant attention other than scheduled and preventive maintenance. It is uncertain or marginal if its facilities need regular repairs that go beyond scheduled and preventive maintenance. It is less likely to exist with vitality and vibrancy ten years from now if its facilities are crumbling around it.

Congregations with facilities that are in good to great shape are able to focus on ministry movements rather than institutional issues. To achieve this status these congregations generally have several characteristics. First, they have adequate facilities but have not overbuilt. Second, they had the wisdom to think through the long-term cost of facilities and to prepare financially for them. Third, they have not had a crisis that has taken them away from this positive intentional plan. Fourth, their membership and attendance continually provides a healthy financial base. Great facilities are wonderful to possess when they are a tool for meaningful ministry.