Category Archives: leadership

Unhealthy Leadership Commandments

Posted on by under books, emotions, leadership

the-emotionally-healthy-leader

Each semester I teach a class called Leadership Development & Care at Visible Music College. The goal is to address three topics: 1) leading self, 2) developing our understanding of who we are as created by God, and 3) learning to care for (and lead) others. It’s not perfect, but I think those three areas connect to one another and build on one another from the first to the last.

It’s one of my favorite classes to teach in that, if no one else gets anything from it, I certainly do from the reminders of digging into material on emotional health, contemplative spiritual practices, and what it means to care for others in my life. Continue reading →

Canoeing the Mountains

Posted on by under book reviews, books, leadership

canoeing the mountainsI’m currently reading a fantastic book on leadership by Tod Bolsinger: Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory.

I imagine in past years I would have steered clear of such books, mainly because I would have seen them as a bit too business-oriented. However, what has drawn me to this book (other than it being a part of my doctoral studies) is that it’s centered in the primacy of relationship, while giving keen insights on Christian leadership. It still recognizes that there are business aspects within a Christian organization (though Bolsinger calls it biology over and above business), but there is much more insight here than “how to run a Christian business.”

Just a brief introduction to the main thrust of the work. Continue reading →

Non-negotiables

Posted on by under church, Ephesians 4 ministries, Global Horizons, kingdom of God, leadership

In my last post, I mentioned a special gathering of some of our more mature as well as younger leaders, within Global Horizons, gathering together for discussion and prayer. In the discussions, we talked about some of the ‘non-negotiables’ that have become near and dear to our hearts. Not in any sense of wanting to break fellowship with others who might not hold to these things, but those foundation stones, even revelations, that the Lord has shown as dear to his own heart.

Of course, there is already a sense of the importance of the essentials of the faith, centred in Christ and the gospel, his death and resurrection. But these points came forth as part of the charismatic restoration movement of the 1960’s and 1970’s. These became so very important, as we understood them as important to Christ himself.

So I list them here. They are in no particular order and some of them repeat somewhat. But these stand as non-negotiable foundation stones of Christ, the cornerstone, and the apostolic-prophetic foundation that has been and is being laid (Eph 2:19-22). Continue reading →

Influence and Authority

Posted on by under church, leadership

In the coming weeks (at least I hope), I will spend some time putting together a paper on the nature of apostolic authority today. Yes, I believe apostles (and prophets) still exist today. Jesus was the greatest apostle (not Paul), he sent the Spirit to continue the same apostolic work, that Spirit empowers the whole body to walk out their apostolic calling in Christ, and, thus, it only makes sense that Jesus would continue to gift people as apostles to help equip and prepare the church (ala Eph 4:11-16).

Of course, they aren’t called to write canonical Scripture. And they are called in line with the original apostolic gospel-foundation laid by the first apostles. But such a ministry is very much needed, since we very much need the whole of Christ’s ministries in our world today. I share more about what an apostle is here.

Over the past weeks, as I’ve pondered some things that I want to share in this paper, I also had a brief discussion with a recent church leader about the nature of apostolic authority. I mentioned the paper to him, as he works with a network of churches similar to the one I work with, also believing apostles are needed today. And he made an interesting comment, one where he was recognising a fault. It went something like this.

In today’s world, authority is more about influence.

In all of this, it has got me thinking a lot about the difference between these 2 words: authority and influence. Continue reading →