In his book, The Emotionally Healthy Leader, Pete Scazzaro provides a helpful assessment for senior level church staff to get a sense of how intentional they are in building a healthy church staff culture. Below is an adapted version of the assessment with suggested action steps. Next to each statement, write down the number that best describes your response. Use... Continue Reading
In architecture, a “keystone” is the centermost stone in an arch that supports all of the other stones, yet carries the least amount of weight. In Charles Duhigg’s book, The Power of Habit, he introduces the idea of a keystone habit, a habit that helps hold other good habits in place. We all have habits in our lives, but certain... Continue Reading
Frequently, a pastor or minister experiences frustration, resistance or lack of acceptance of their change initiatives. Often this results from a failure to recognize the difference between church climate and church culture. Both climate and culture reflect environmental conditions but the climate of the church, like the weather, is dynamic, inconsistent and can change quickly. Church culture, on the other hand, is steadfast,... Continue Reading
There is no silver bullet for building a church culture, but culture savvy church leaders recognize culture shaping requires an intentional process. Church culture is complex, but in its simplest form consists of a set of underlying cultural values. Viewing church culture building through the lens of cultural values can be a helpful approach. What might the intentional building of... Continue Reading
Every profession has its own language. Lawyers, electricians, plumbers and auto-mechanics all have terminology unique to their profession. They use these common terms to create mutual understanding and shape behavior. A common language is especially critical with doctors, firemen, policemen and the military who are in life and death situations where even the slightest misunderstanding can have tragic implications. A... Continue Reading
Each week churches disseminate a wide variety of information through announcements, slides, web sites, bulletins, brochures, posters, videos, email and social media. A continual challenge is to communicate in a way that the reader or listener both understands and retains the information. Immediately upon receiving incoming information the brain starts to categorize it, therefore, it makes sense to order communication... Continue Reading
The suffix “ate” is of Latin origin typically meaning “possessing the characteristics of or denoting a certain function.” A comprehensive plan for communicating your church’s Strategic Plan must possess certain characteristics and functions. Below are 30 functions and characteristics of a successful plan for communicating to the congregation the church’s Strategic Plan. Include answers to the following questions in your... Continue Reading
“Inculcate” is defined as instilling an idea, attitude, habit or value into a culture or organization through persistent instruction. Therefore, if you want to weave a message of importance into the fabric of your church culture you must be intentional in words and actions. There is no silver bullet for imbedding a message into a church culture, but rather requires... Continue Reading
A plumb line is a simple but accurate tool used for determining whether or not something is perfectly vertical or upright. Used since ancient times, a plumb line consists of a line and weight of some sort, usually a stone or piece of lead. References to the use of a plumb line in the Holy Scriptures are usually that of... Continue Reading
Policemen, firemen, air traffic controllers, emergency room personnel and the military teach us the importance of a common language to mitigate confusion. These professions are in “life and death” jobs where their decisions can literally mean the difference between life and death. Any miscommunication can have disastrous results. Church leaders are in a “life and death” vocation as well. The... 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