Several readers have remarked how my blog on Social Ministry and Social Justice was helpful to their understanding and application of these two prevailing expressions of church ministry. In this article I want, with the help of a metaphor from Richard Rohr, to further unpack the subtleties of social ministry and social justice. In my experience there are at least... Continue Reading
In our last post we detailed the impact of the “Friedman Doctrine” on America’s economy and business philosophies and values. We argued that its singular focus on profits forever changed America. In this article we will speculate how embracing Friedman’s ideas filtered down and impacted the local church. Admittedly, there are many factors that influenced the value shifts we’ve seen... Continue Reading
On Sept. 13, 1970, the New York Times published the “essay heard round the world.” In his manifesto, economist Milton Friedman argued that corporations have one – and only one – obligation: maximizing profits for shareholders. Friedman’s “doctrine”, also referred to as the Shareholder Theory, became arguably the most consequential economic idea of the 20th century and, unarguably, changed America forever. Its singular focus on profits became... Continue Reading
On Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 many of us watched in unbelief as gun-toting United States citizens donned helmets and assaulted the Capitol and threatened the lives of members of Congress, the police, and the press. Immediately the finger pointing began…..at the other side, at Trump, at politicians and political parties, at lies, at unfounded conspiracies. Such finger-pointing and scapegoating is... Continue Reading
One question that nags all church leaders during the COVID-19 Pandemic is whether or not church staff working from home can be trusted to be as productive as they are when onsite. Despite wanting to give your staff the benefit of the doubt, as a pastor or supervisor you are likely still having trust issues. It is quite natural and... Continue Reading
If you want to know a people, the saying goes, know their proverbs. Proverbs are the time-honored and tested truths that reflect the wisdom and experience of a culture. Nowhere is that more true than in the simple and profound eloquence of the Native American tribal cultures. The wisdom from these cultures often bears a striking resemblance to Holy Scripture,... Continue Reading
Below are links to the Top 10 most popular Sacred Structures blog posts in 2020. Happy New Year! Two Key Ingredients In Leading Church Change The Story Behind The Jesus Prayer The Spiritual Practice Of Prompted Prayers How To Disagree Without Being Disagreeable The One Question Test To Identify A Micromanager Pastor How Do You Discern God’s Will? Understanding The... Continue Reading
It has been said that “as the leader goes, so goes the organization.” More importantly, in the church “as the soul of the leader goes, so goes the leader and the church.” The greatest need of the hour for today’s minister may very well be a more intentional approach to their own soul care, to paying attention to their “inner spiritual... Continue Reading
Today there are many definitions for vision and strategic planning but for the purpose of church based planning the definition I prefer is: “The process of determining the visionary direction of the church or ministry and then breaking down that overall direction into broad objectives, that are then divided into smaller measurable goals and ultimately to specific tactics.” And, just as there are... Continue Reading
Ministers are regularly required to make difficult and far reaching decisions. In fact, developing the ability to make wise decisions is foundational to effective church leadership. And, having a grasp of the various basis for decision making helps ministers make wiser decisions. Understanding the various tools for decision making found in these free resources will help you make better decisions. The... Continue Reading
Effective church staff interviewers and hirers aren’t successful just because they are a “good judge of character.” They know how to conduct an interview that asks the right questions and how to identify attributes essential for success in a given position. By following the suggestions in these free resources, your comfort and skill as an interviewer and hirer of church staff will... Continue Reading
With change permeating the church, evolving work environments, and the needs of next generation employees, maximizing the performance of church staff through effective supervision is more important than ever – for both employee satisfaction and church effectiveness. Unfortunately, Gallup Surveys indicate just one in five employees strongly agree their performance is managed by their supervisor in a way that motivates... Continue Reading
Jim is a Church Organizational Leadership and Management Coach, Consultant and Trainer. Throughout his career Jim has demonstrated a passion for showing Pastors and Ministers how to use organizational tools for church and personal growth and health.
More About Jim“For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.” Colossians 2:5