Leadership

Moving forward with “Leadership Training”

On the basketball court there are ten players each having their particular assignment. Each team has two forwards, two guards and a center. One of the guards is commonly referred to as the point guard. The point guard generally handles the ball and runs the floor, making sure he/she knows where the other team members are at all times so they can be in a position to get the ball for the score. Also, the guard needs to be able to see the entire floor while keeping in mind that the score must be made, always looking for the forwards, the center and the other guard or taking the shot him/her self. Further, the guard must anticipate constantly what the next play is while thinking five minutes ahead as to how he/she needs to set up the play.

The point guard is a leader with the skills and insight to make things happen.
The point Guard constantly practices to insure they are running the court with the outcome-scoring the point. My desire for the Southeast Conference pastors and spiritual leaders is that we have the skills and spiritual fortitude to lead our congregations to make things happen that will honor God and nurture churches and communities. This will help us “score” big with God; and help us win with our churches and the communities. I believe that if pastors/leaders are to lead with the “point guard mindset” they must constantly be on the learning and self-improvement curve.

One of the initiatives that we will push this year is the leadership cohort. The leadership cohort is designed to select ten pastors and credentialed ministers from across the Southeast Conference and put them in a learning community. Together they will foster and enhance leadership skills and be better informed about “best practices”. This leadership cohort will help these leaders to create healthy practices that enrich their ministry and vocation. Additionally, it will help them to develop and improve on spiritual rhythms, both personally and professionally.
This will be an intentionally selected community led by Dan Pietrzyk and funded primarily by the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Grant. The cohort will last for six months, starting in October 2009 and ending in April 2010. The first ten participants will be given an invitation by the SEC Superintendent. You will hear more about this at the upcoming SEC Ministerium meeting in April and at the SEC Annual meeting.

Keep the faith, and move in the power of His Might!

Post One

We just witnessed an historical event in the election and inauguration of President Barack Obama. Throughout his campaign and again in his inaugural address, he stressed the need for connection and being together to solve the ills of America and the world.

What was striking about his campaign speeches and his inaugural address was that he spoke about the intentionality to make one's self available for connection to rebuild and not to tear down. This actually fits into the message that Paul gave us in the Philippians passage where he talked about “… if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand” (Phil. 2-4, the message bible).

As I look at President Barack’s prophetic voice to us, it struck me that nothing he has been saying is new; in the Southeast Conference, this theme has been prevalent for a number of years. Our theme in the conference is distinguished as 'better together'. We realize that when churches and people come together, we can make a difference in the lives of those in our churches and communities. Better together is not just a slogan, but it embodies the essence of who we strive to be as we move towards strengthening our churches, through reaching the lost, nurturing the faithful, transforming lives and reflecting the Kingdom.

As we move into 2009, coming together to foster the ministry of the conference is the mission all of us must undertake. We will focus on the areas of training for pastoral leadership, creating intentional community where affinity groups in the conference can communicate and share ideas about “best practices in church’s governance, leadership and ministry opportunities, church’s revitalization and renewal church planting and adoption." These initiatives will be given much attention at our upcoming SEC Annual meeting to be held in Silverhill, Alabama; you must be there.

Moving forward with the mission and ministry of the conference is all our responsibility; your contribution in time, talent and treasures is much needed. As Paul and President Obama remind us, we are in this together, but Jesus said it best, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”(Matt.18:19-20) Let us move forward together in the name of Jesus.