I was reflecting with someone the other day about the horror of recent scandals within the church and the ongoing challenge for the many of us who are concerned about how such scandals have been made possible and may reflect other deeper cultural challenges. My friend expressed concern that we may be seeing the growth… Continue reading In the end it’s not reviews and reports that will protect you
Category: Leadership
Don’t let your church try to rebuild Babel
I’ve shared a couple of articles over the past few days about giving space to grow and permission to grow to a church. However, I want to spend a bit of time here focusing on one of the downsides and risks with a focus on growing one single congregation. In Genesis 11, the descendants of… Continue reading Don’t let your church try to rebuild Babel
Space to Grow: What are the potential barriers to growth?
In my last article, I wrote that we can end up putting barriers in the way of a church doing what we might naturally, legitimately expect it to be doing. It is natural for churches as living, healthy entities to grow. So, what are some of the barriers or constraints that might be in place:… Continue reading Space to Grow: What are the potential barriers to growth?
Space to Grow – should we expect churches to grow and multiply?
Living things tend to grow. This means that I would generally expect healthy churches to be growing and as well as this being seen in spiritual growth as members are discipled in Christ, it should also include numerical growth as well. So, as you think about your local church context and look ahead, do you… Continue reading Space to Grow – should we expect churches to grow and multiply?
What approval are you looking for?
In my last article I said that whilst seeking approval can become idolatrous, it is not always necessarily so. Sometimes it is right to be concerned for recognition and approval. In this article we’re going to dig a little bit more into that by focusing on elders and church leaders. What type(s) of recognition/approval should… Continue reading What approval are you looking for?
Approval
A little while back I wrote a little on the way that we can be tempted by three types of idol: approval, comfort and security. Now one of the things about idols is that they tend to be parasitical on things that are genuine needs and in and of themselves, in context, within boundaries are… Continue reading Approval
Is it burnout?
I’ve seen a few articles talking about burnout among those in church leadership over the past few weeks. These seem to be particularly in response to the experience of leaders through the COVID-19 pandemic which has in many ways amplified many of the challenges of Gospel ministry. One helpful contribution to the discussion was this… Continue reading Is it burnout?
When someone is falsely accused
This is the third and final part of my mini-series on false accusation. In my first article, I said that often the person who is falsely accused is not in a position to do much and so will be dependent upon the help of others. I believe that this is where others in the leadership… Continue reading When someone is falsely accused
On not playing the accusers’ game
In my last post on false accusation, I argued that following Jesus’ example in the face of false accusation doesn’t mean that we cannot respond to lies in order to challenge, correct or clarify. Rather, I said that it means we must not play the same game. Peter says about Jesus: 22 He committed no sin,… Continue reading On not playing the accusers’ game
What can I do when falsely accused?
Sadly, we’ve seen some high profile examples of sin, bullying and abuse or of church leaders failing to handle such situations well. I’ve written occasionally about these things because I’m concerned to see healthy churches and healthy leadership. However, not every accusation will be true. Sometimes this is because there has been a genuine misunderstanding… Continue reading What can I do when falsely accused?
