Category: Leadership

Recycling and making it hard for people to do what we expect of them

Apparently, Birmingham has the dubious honour of being ranked at the bottom of the recycling table with only 22.5% of waste being recycled.  Having lived here for a month, I’m not surprised.  Our recycling centre (what we used to call the Tip) is closed currently and our recycling is collected fortnightly.  At least we know… Continue reading Recycling and making it hard for people to do what we expect of them

Ministry Nuts and Bolts – managing the church finances

Yesterday I shared some thoughts on the need for leaders to be trained and equipped beyond their responsibilities to offer pastoral care, preach or teach and do the work of the evangelist. Today I want to share some thoughts on the specific issue that Steve Kneale’s original blogpost raised, the question of church finances. If… Continue reading Ministry Nuts and Bolts – managing the church finances

Ministry nuts and bolts – how do we learn about wider leadership responsibilities?

Steve Kneale recently posted a blog article about one of the things that they don’t teach you at Theological College.  The specific thing he is dealing with is church finances but there is a wider point I think which is that for church leaders, especially those in paid roles, there are wider leadership responsibilities than… Continue reading Ministry nuts and bolts – how do we learn about wider leadership responsibilities?

Boris and a question of character

As I write, Boris Johnson is still clinging on to power. That could change quickly.  Prime Ministers are remembered as much by how the leave office as anything.  Gordon Brown will be remembered for eventually leaving with his two sons and a level of dignity left, David Cameron for humming a care free tune as… Continue reading Boris and a question of character

If I stopped being a complementarian, what would I lose?

A friend asked this searching question the other day – not specifically of me. Rather, they asked men who hold to complementarianism what they would lose if they walked away from that position. It’s an interesting one. In a sense, there might be something to lose.  You see, for some pastors/leaders, it would involve losing… Continue reading If I stopped being a complementarian, what would I lose?

Birmingham 2022 and the Gospel

The Commonwealth Games are coming to Birmingham.  Whilst not up there with the Olympics, this is still a hugely significant event.  It will bring together competitors from across the Commonwealth (the group of nations linked primarily through historically having been part of the British Empire and usually today with ties through the Queen).  In fact,… Continue reading Birmingham 2022 and the Gospel

What does your church value?

I’ve been writing a few articles on things like mission and vision statements.  There is the risk that such things can feel corporate, slick and fluffy. However, if a mission statement is really simply “Matthew 28:19-20 with a date stamp and a postcode” then what we are doing is helping the church apply God’s word… Continue reading What does your church value?

A vision for your church?

The other day, I wrote about mission statements and value statements. I also mentioned that it can be helpful to draft out a slightly longer statement describing what you might call the vision for the church. This is not about arrogantly making grand claims about what you are going to achieve. Everything will be in… Continue reading A vision for your church?

Are mission statements helpful?

I’ve seen a little bit of discussion about vision/mission and value statements recently.  Generally speaking, most of the commentary has been negative. I get that, like my friend Steve Kneale, I don’t like to see the church dragged into a corporate/business culture.  I’m also aware of two things.  First, that so often, it seems that… Continue reading Are mission statements helpful?