I have read Willimon for for many years and enjoyed his work. I looked forward to this and had hoped it would be a reflection that led to a positive fI have read Willimon for for many years and enjoyed his work. I looked forward to this and had hoped it would be a reflection that led to a positive future. In that it disappointed me.
There is a lot of good here if you can weed out the personal jabs while calling for dialogue between people with differences. Most of the book is challenging to all but the end finds a defense of the leadership that he was a part of and refusal to see his participation in what brought the United Methodist Church to where it is today.
I agree with many things he says but his mocking tone is not helpful and actually at this point drives division he claims to want to avoid. Some of his descriptions come from outdated information and a failure to recognize that it takes two sides of any debate to be willing to talk and seek common ground.
He makes light of the disobedience of the Episcopal leadership for the church while attacking the pastors and laity for the same thing.
Whatever your position in a church debate we should treat others as we want to be treated if we were in their place and that starts by looking in the mirror. It would have been helpful had he done so.
I encourage you to read what he as written because I have not seen many attempts to even start a conversation leading to a positive future. It is time to point to Jesus! ...more
Thought provoking look at the modern US church and compares it to pre-WWII Germany and the Lutheran church. While they outline a very real problem witThought provoking look at the modern US church and compares it to pre-WWII Germany and the Lutheran church. While they outline a very real problem within the church today it is a one sided presentation that fails to point out the weakness in other sectors of the church and their unfaithfulness is pursuing truth.
It is a short quick read worth the time if willing to do the work of thinking it through in broader terms. ...more
Obviously written early on in the pandemic this requires you make some adjustments for the timing of the work. That said, it is a great quick read, coObviously written early on in the pandemic this requires you make some adjustments for the timing of the work. That said, it is a great quick read, couple hours, with a lot of thought provoking input.
It will make the traditionalist very uncomfortable but only those that are willing to consider what is presented will provide a healthy future for the church.
Well worth the short time it takes to read. ...more
Every Christian leader should read this book and contemplate the cost of discipleship that calls people to change. If you want change in your church oEvery Christian leader should read this book and contemplate the cost of discipleship that calls people to change. If you want change in your church or organization look to see what you need to look for in leaders. I can't help but say if you want to remain the same to your own detriment you want to read this so you know who not to ask to be a leader.
Being a change leader is not for the weak and being tempered means being hammered, taking the heat, finding the place to cool and be willing to reenter the fire.
Change is coming in so many places and if you are not prepared for the cost don't start the journey. But, in the end you also have to know when to walk away.
While this is from a Christian perspective every leader could learn about the cost of leadership.
Have you ever put a new frame on a picture and discovered that it looked completely different? When framing a picture for the first time have you everHave you ever put a new frame on a picture and discovered that it looked completely different? When framing a picture for the first time have you ever looked at more than one before deciding on the right one? A part of choosing a frame is the location it will be displayed.
That is true in the church as well. The cultural setting will almost always change around a location we do ministry. Our ability to reframe the way we do ministry is vital to our future.
Change is hard. Some we can control, some we can't, but how we respond to those changes we can control. This will challenge you to look at how you see the world around you and the community you do ministry in.
This will give you a lot to think about and decide if you are willing to do what it takes to lead into the future. ...more
This is a short quick read with some great nuggets to get you thinking of ways to engage your urban community.
There is good thought on the importanceThis is a short quick read with some great nuggets to get you thinking of ways to engage your urban community.
There is good thought on the importance of building relationships and that it is the key to building the church. The number of solid examples with enough detail to be able to mold your own is limited because there really is not many examples of how the deeper relationships are built. That said, there are a number of interesting ideas that could make us think of how we might do it in our community context.
The one critical missing piece for me was illustrations in a rural, non-urban setting. ...more
We often set out on a journey thinking we know where we are going but then run into challenges we didn't expect. Using the Lewis and Clark expedition We often set out on a journey thinking we know where we are going but then run into challenges we didn't expect. Using the Lewis and Clark expedition as the model you are inspired to face the challenges the church faces by adjusting the tools you will use to meet the reality of the challenge ahead.
For too long we have focused on what we used to be and where we were instead of focusing on what is in front of us and where we want to be.
This is a very thought provoking and challenging book that will invite you to reflect on which direction you want to head. ...more
Excellent brief, 100 pages, summary of the John Wesley model for discipleship based on the the three general rules of the church.
Using the general ruExcellent brief, 100 pages, summary of the John Wesley model for discipleship based on the the three general rules of the church.
Using the general rules, do no harm, do good and practice the disciplines of the Christian life, this will outline how Wesley guided those he led into a life of Christian discipleship and life.
We live in a world it seems that if full of people that think the deserve something!
The problem is that too many people are living in thinking they dWe live in a world it seems that if full of people that think the deserve something!
The problem is that too many people are living in thinking they deserve something they have not earned. That is called entitlement and everyone has it in their life. Townsend says that we all experience “pocket entitlement” from time to time and being aware of it is important.
The problem is that too many want to do things the easy way rather than the hard way of doing it right. Rather than doing the minimum, taking the short cut and thinking only of yourself you will be challenged to do the hard work of doing it right so you can get the most out of it.
We live in a world that says we should be praised and recognized for everything we do rather than based on the effort or behavior that is exhibited. That has created an environment where we believe we are owed praise, recognition and rewards with little or no effort to earn them. That is a not a healthy way to live, raise a family or build an organization. Our action have consequences for ourselves and for other and it is when our decisions begin to affect others we have to reevaluate our decision making processes.
We are at our best when we work hard, do our best and bring good to others. This is about doing it God’s way doing what we love, having purpose and then giving back to others.
We have to be careful of our motivations when we want to help others with their sense of entitlement. The first step is always to look at the current reality and then choose to accept the demands of that reality. If you are going to be a change agent you will have to push people overcome their inability to deal with reality. Too often we act as someone’s safety net and that creates a dependency that is hard for them to overcome. We must help them deal with reality before we can move forward.
To overcome entitlement new disciplines or habits must be created. There is an outline on how to do that effectively. The first step is to recognize and deal with the reality of the entitlement attitude so that change is possible. Great read with a great number of thought provoking ideas! ...more
There are a few choice nuggets here. If you are in a large church, 300+ average attendance, it will be more valuable than for smaller churches.
I founThere are a few choice nuggets here. If you are in a large church, 300+ average attendance, it will be more valuable than for smaller churches.
I found that most of the book was irrelevant to small congregations and would be hard to have them even be able to see themselves in the problems let alone the ability to implement the prescriptions. Part of this may be because the authors appear to have done their work in a small area and lack understanding of the broader context I believe is needed in this type of writing.
At times very good points got lost in the descriptions of how to implement because the prescriptions were administered in far larger congregations than are often needing this work of revitalization that most.
If you are in a large multi-staff church it will be far more valuable to you than to those of us serving smaller or multi-point charges. ...more
Every leader should take the time to read this book!
If you want to grow and help others grow to be the best they can be this could transform how you Every leader should take the time to read this book!
If you want to grow and help others grow to be the best they can be this could transform how you approach conversations. Real growth occurs in those places that uncomfortable conversations take place and thinking, planning and using those can be vital to the growth of you and your organization.
Good basic book with limited new information or ideas if you have been studying church health and development. If you are looking for a good starting Good basic book with limited new information or ideas if you have been studying church health and development. If you are looking for a good starting point this is good.
Maybe the most valuable thing in the book is near the end when it outlines the importance of the little steps in making change and how important that is. ...more
Every United Methodist pastor should take the time to read this!
While I found minor points I would like to question I found this not only thought proEvery United Methodist pastor should take the time to read this!
While I found minor points I would like to question I found this not only thought provoking but groundwork for new life. It is time to refocus on the main reason for the church and that will always be the making and development of disciples of Jesus Christ. That means we will have to reevaluate what, why and how we are doing it and make changes where needed in our context.
Most of those changes will need to come a little bit at a time but we have to start somewhere. For most of us it will start with us.
The need to take a look at how we have been trained, keeping up with our effectiveness and learning to work within the culture we live while remaining true to our foundation. This will likely mean change at every level and a willingness to be part of the solution.
This is not just a book for clergy but to anyone that wants to bring about change in the church. ...more
As a United Methodist pastor I am always looking for ways to improve myself, the churches and District and Conference places I serve.
Written by a UniAs a United Methodist pastor I am always looking for ways to improve myself, the churches and District and Conference places I serve.
Written by a United Methodist bishop that is leading his Conference through the beginnings of change by finding different ways to approach often old problem as well as preparing for the next challenge it is a thought provoking read.
This is not a book that should be read with an expectation that the ideas will work in your context but should push you to some out of the box thinking and generating ideas. It appears to be based on good research beyond his immediate context and gives some direction on how to formulate a plan.
Probably the greatest danger of this book is that there will be those that will want to pick and choose a few ideas and not be willing to explore the expanded thinking that it should provoke. This is not a cookie cutter material that will always translate into your place of ministry.
Read it with an open mind and heart and you might be surprised what God will inspire in you. ...more
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