The Columbia Partnership

Transforming the Church for Vital Ministry

Download now or preview on posterous

Bullard,_Transforming_the_Church_for_Vital_Ministry,_1.3.11_Edition.doc (57 KB)

The Passion of The Columbia Partnership

A Travel Free Learning Article, January 3, 2011 Edition

By George Bullard, Ministry Colleague with The Columbia Partnership

Voice: 803.622.0923, E-mail: GBullard@TheColumbiaPartnership.org, Web Site: www.TheColumbiaPartnership.org

TFL Dialogue, George Bullard Jan 5, 2010

[Take survey on Let's Begin a Conversation that walks your through some questions as you consider what transformation might need to look like in your ministry setting during the next year.]

The mission that drives the passion for Christian ministry by The Columbia Partnership [TCP] is transforming the Church for vital ministry. This mission is addressed when a congregation takes sustained action that increases its capacity to function with vitality and vibrancy as a Christ-centered faith-based community.

This mission is addressed when a pastor, staff minister, or lay leader is captivated by a new vision for Christian ministry. This mission is addressed when a denominational organization [international, national, regional, judicatory, etc.] realizes that old models of denominationalism will not work in the 21^st century and takes actions to reconceptualize its core ministry.

This mission is addressed when a congregation who needs significant funding for a major building project moves into a zone where it realizes that what it is really doing is funding ministry. This mission is addressed when a leader develops new insights and capacities through a combination of reading articles and books, teleconferences and webinars, seminar attendance with follow-up coaching.

50 for 99: A Solution-Focused Ministry Coaching Experience

Go to www.50for90.info to register for a solution-focused ministry coaching experience with the consultant.coach of your choice

The Essence of 50 for 99

What is a key opportunity or challenge facing your personal ministry, your congregation, or denominational organization? Would you like to spend 50 minutes for $99 with an expert strategic leadership coach knowledgeable in this opportunity or challenge, or one deeply immersed in the leadership coaching process and able to assist with a multitude of issues? Would you like to figure out or receive confirmation on the first or next steps you need to take to address this opportunity or challenge?

How Does 50 for 99 Work?

1. Identify the opportunity or challenge you would like to address.
2. Pinpoint three to five key elements or issues about that opportunity or challenge.
3. Contemplate what might be the first or next steps you would like to figure out or receive confirmation on during your 50 for 99.
4. Contact The Columbia Partnership at Client.Care@TheColumbiaPartnership.org or call 803.622.0923 to arrange for a solution-focused coaching experience with the coach of your choice.
5. Go online to the registration link provided, pay for your experience and share your opportunity or challenge, key elements or issues, and projected first or next steps for your coach to study before the experience.
6. Call the coach on the appointed day and time at the number provided so the live 50 for 99 session can be recorded for your review at a later time.
7. After the 50 for 99 session take the first or next steps to address your opportunity or challenge.
8. Conduct a follow-up 25 minute teleconference with your coach within the next 30 days to check on your progress and first or next steps you have asked you coach to hold you accountable to take.

The Resurrection of Middle Judicatories

Download Hamm, The Resurrection of Middle Judicatories, August 30, 2010 Edition

Travel Free Learning Article

By Dick Hamm, Ministry Colleague with The Columbia Partnership

Voice: 317-490-1968, E-mail: DHamm@TheColumbiaPartnership.org, Website: www.TheColumbiaPartnership.org

In the first article in this series, The Death of Middle Judicatories, I laid out some challenges killing middle judicatories, beyond the reduced financial support they are receiving. The same cultural forces that are killing national/international denominations and congregations, and that have rendered the hub and spoke model ineffective, are at work in middle judicatories as well. These include the breakdown of connection between congregations and colleagues; the loss of denominational loyalty; the multiplicity of perspectives in the culture and in church life; the failure to adopt more relevant models of governance; the increase in destructive conflicts in congregations; and the list goes on.

The old hub and spoke model is not only failing, it is also killing the middle judicatory executives who try to make the middle judicatory work. Heroes seem to make the old model work for a while. Ultimately they fail, leaving an impossible act to follow for their successors. Slaves dutifully try to meet the multitudinous demands of the hub and spoke middle judicatories, but end up spent and burned out. Only change agents, dedicated to changing from the hub and spoke model to something more relevant, can truly succeed as middle judicatory executives these days, and being a change agent is no easy undertaking.

The Death of Middle Judicatories

 

Download now or preview on posterous

Hamm,_The_Death_of_MIddle_Judicatories,_8.23.10_Edition.pdf (42 KB)

A Travel Free Learning Article                                                                                                               

Listen to recording of Dick Hamm talking about this article. Click below: 

August 25th, Dick Hamm on Death of Middle Judicatories

By Dick Hamm, Ministry Colleague with The Columbia Partnership

Voice: 317.490.1968, E-mail: DHamm@TheColumiaPartnership.org, Web Site: www.TheColumbiaPartnership.org

We probably should have seen it coming. I have been aware of it and ringing the alarm in my own denomination for fifteen years or so, but that is no claim to genius. It has been coming for forty years in many denominations. What is it? It is the death of middle judicatories. The same cultural forces that have been killing so many denominations and congregations are decimating middle judicatories too. [Note: These observations are also applicable to other categories of regional denominational organizations such as districts, conferences, state conventions, annual conferences, etc.]

Love Values Persons

"Love leads those in God's community to value each person. The weakest are important. Those with handicaps are respected. Those in need receive care and understanding. Love enables us to see people as God sees them.." [p. 12] -- David Goatley in A Divine Assignment with Lucas Park Books of Chalice Press' TCP Leadership Series, 2009.   [See book at TCP Resources Store.]

Posted via web from The Columbia Partnership