Blog
Clergy often have a difficult time getting genuine feedback on their leadership style. Some members of the congregation just want to shower love on their pastors. These people offer platitudes and compliments that are at best benign, and at worst misleading. Other members want to deposit all of their dissatisfaction at the feet of clergy, so they dish […]
Read More“I don’t want to stay a day longer than I ought to.” “I don’t want to be a lame duck” These are the two most frequent concerns I hear expressed by clergy leaders who are thinking about retiring or leaving their post. Quickly, the conversation moves away from the first question and onto the second. […]
Read MoreThis week, in honor of the blog launch, Alban is offering my book at a special 30 % discount. You can order your copy at the Alban online bookstore. Y6RZF327YZ2H
Read MorePart of my consulting practice consists of individualized coaching sessions with senior clergy leaders who are interested in shaping their leadership roles more effectively. At some point in every coaching relationship the question inevitably arises, “Am I spending my time the right way? How do other leaders of large congregations spend their time?” In response […]
Read MoreIn the past month I’ve been in three different congregations who are all grappling with some version of the following question; how do we keep track of where and when our clergy staff is working? Everyone becomes defensive when the question is raised. Clergy staff takes offense. In the posing of the question it seems that […]
Read MoreDenominational systems often do the hard work of articulating theological statements for their member congregations. Any congregation that falls under the leadership of a Bishop is likely provided with a clear cut statement titled, “This is What We Believe”. We can read these belief statements and know that long labored hours went into the careful […]
Read MoreLast week I met with 43 pastors and rabbis and spent 3 days focused on the challenges of staffing and supervision in congregations. It was a marvelous time of mutual learning, conversation and experience sharing. I always walk away from these events with incredible respect for clergy leaders and the rich set of circumstances (code for challenges/messes) […]
Read MoreI’m working in a congregation that has one of the most remarkably collaborative staff teams that I have encountered. Every member of the team is eager, willing and able to help every other member of the team. There are no artificial boundaries between the important spiritual work of some staff members and the more mundane […]
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