Week 10 – Thursday
4/2/09
Maxwell Book
- Lighten Your Leaders Load
When working as a supporting staff member it is important to remember the stress that your senior pastor is under. By helping to make their burden easier you show that you are a team player and makes you part of something that is bigger than yourself. It also will get you noticed by leadership and will increase you influence among others. You can lighten your leaders load by being a problem solver, supporting your leaders, and taking on the burden of leadership whenever you can.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Week 13 - Tues. - Josh
Week 13
Tu 4/14
Minister’s Taxes
Six Important Things About Taxes
1. Do not pay income taxes on housing expenses – do pay Social Security.
2. Opting out of Social Security is a question of conscience and integrity – not what makes sense financially.
3. Have to pay taxes on fair retail value of a parsonage.
4. Other income does not qualify for ministerial deductions.
5. Must pay Social Security tax on housing amenities paid by the church.
6. Social Security is due every 3 months.
Tu 4/14
Minister’s Taxes
Six Important Things About Taxes
1. Do not pay income taxes on housing expenses – do pay Social Security.
2. Opting out of Social Security is a question of conscience and integrity – not what makes sense financially.
3. Have to pay taxes on fair retail value of a parsonage.
4. Other income does not qualify for ministerial deductions.
5. Must pay Social Security tax on housing amenities paid by the church.
6. Social Security is due every 3 months.
Week 13 - Thurs. - Josh
Week 13 – Thursday
4/16/09
Singleness and Ministry
I consider myself lucky to already be married. But, marriage does not instantly relieve the problems that surround living in a sexual world. To deal with those issues I have created a list that constitutes my “Personal Code” for Sexuality and the Ministry.
• My wife comes before all other relationships outside of the one shared between God and myself.
• I do not spend time alone with females.
• I do not spend time alone with minors, regardless of gender.
• I report any “crushes” a student may have for me with both my wife and the senior pastor.
• I avoid creating emotional bonds with another female that exceed healthy boundaries.
• I remain accountable to others by establish partners to ensure that purity of my lifestyle.
• My internet history is open to examination and software is installed to report any abuses.
4/16/09
Singleness and Ministry
I consider myself lucky to already be married. But, marriage does not instantly relieve the problems that surround living in a sexual world. To deal with those issues I have created a list that constitutes my “Personal Code” for Sexuality and the Ministry.
• My wife comes before all other relationships outside of the one shared between God and myself.
• I do not spend time alone with females.
• I do not spend time alone with minors, regardless of gender.
• I report any “crushes” a student may have for me with both my wife and the senior pastor.
• I avoid creating emotional bonds with another female that exceed healthy boundaries.
• I remain accountable to others by establish partners to ensure that purity of my lifestyle.
• My internet history is open to examination and software is installed to report any abuses.
Week 12 - Thurs. - Josh
4/13
Learning leadership
“ Some leaders learn to lead by making mistakes and then reflecting enough on those mistakes to develop principles for the future…another way is to learn the principles based on the mistakes of others.”
We can save ourselves a lot of trouble by learning leadership principles form others, but that is all they are, principles. We cannot learn how to lead or how to “think” leadership by observing other leaders. All these principles do is give us a starting point. The ability to lead and adapt in new situations will only come with experience. Experience will reveal the illusion of leadership principles.
Learning leadership
“ Some leaders learn to lead by making mistakes and then reflecting enough on those mistakes to develop principles for the future…another way is to learn the principles based on the mistakes of others.”
We can save ourselves a lot of trouble by learning leadership principles form others, but that is all they are, principles. We cannot learn how to lead or how to “think” leadership by observing other leaders. All these principles do is give us a starting point. The ability to lead and adapt in new situations will only come with experience. Experience will reveal the illusion of leadership principles.
Week 12 - Tues. - Josh
4/13
Formal Leadership Theory
- 360 Degree Leadership
The 360 degree leadership model is particularly useful when in an assistant/youth pastor position in the local church (which is the job that I am pursuing). The power that comes with a youth pastor title is only an illusion. So a youth pastor’s strength and leadership MUST rely on their ability to influence others. A youth pastor has to answer to the senior pastor, the board, trustees, and parents; while at the same time overseeing students, volunteers, and parents (funny how parents fit into both categories). By understanding how to crate and use influence (aka power) a youth pastor can make a senior pastor look good and elevate his own standing with the church staff; can gain the support of the parents, broadening the scope and range of the ministry; and can invest in and grow the lives of the students, bringing up strong leaders in the church.
Formal Leadership Theory
- 360 Degree Leadership
The 360 degree leadership model is particularly useful when in an assistant/youth pastor position in the local church (which is the job that I am pursuing). The power that comes with a youth pastor title is only an illusion. So a youth pastor’s strength and leadership MUST rely on their ability to influence others. A youth pastor has to answer to the senior pastor, the board, trustees, and parents; while at the same time overseeing students, volunteers, and parents (funny how parents fit into both categories). By understanding how to crate and use influence (aka power) a youth pastor can make a senior pastor look good and elevate his own standing with the church staff; can gain the support of the parents, broadening the scope and range of the ministry; and can invest in and grow the lives of the students, bringing up strong leaders in the church.
Week 10 - Tues. - Josh
Week 10 - Tuesday
Lakeview Wesleyan Church
Rev. Brad Terhune 3/22/09
1. A OB/GYN attended a church and delivered a baby of a couple who also attended the church. There was cord entanglement and the baby was born with physical and mental handicaps. When the girl was 6yrs the parents were convinced by others that they could sue the doctor for malpractice. They sued the doctor’s insurance company. The two parties became gagged from speaking to each other. They attended the same services and declension began to form among some members of the congregation.
2. Case was not malicious – no animosity. They were suing the insurance company – not the doctor
a. There was no hatred but it breed something in the church body as the lawsuit drug out for many years
3. Should a pastor intervene in the issue
i. The mom trusted lawyers more than God
ii. Doctor was open to Pastoral input, but there was no two way conversation
a. Pastor should be aware of those things that cause problems in the church body
a. Bring parties together and help to restore the relationship
b. This is not easy
Lakeview Wesleyan Church
Rev. Brad Terhune 3/22/09
1. A OB/GYN attended a church and delivered a baby of a couple who also attended the church. There was cord entanglement and the baby was born with physical and mental handicaps. When the girl was 6yrs the parents were convinced by others that they could sue the doctor for malpractice. They sued the doctor’s insurance company. The two parties became gagged from speaking to each other. They attended the same services and declension began to form among some members of the congregation.
2. Case was not malicious – no animosity. They were suing the insurance company – not the doctor
a. There was no hatred but it breed something in the church body as the lawsuit drug out for many years
3. Should a pastor intervene in the issue
i. The mom trusted lawyers more than God
ii. Doctor was open to Pastoral input, but there was no two way conversation
a. Pastor should be aware of those things that cause problems in the church body
a. Bring parties together and help to restore the relationship
b. This is not easy
Week 9 - Tues. - Josh
Week 9 - Tuesday
Lakeview Wesleyan Church
Rev. Brad Terhune 3/22/09
Firing a teacher
1. Quarterly/topical class – just don’t rehire them, let them finish their term and fade away
a. Not worth the problems associated with firing
2. Grade level / age level class – tougher
a. Will not fade away
b. Go and observe
i. Reveal hear-say
ii. If it changes when you observe – a sign of deception
c. Chance to start a conversation
i. Always start with a conversation
d. If there is no adjustment or change
i. Set a time table for change
ii. Keep them informed on all your decisions
e. Be loving and caring throughout the ordeal
Lakeview Wesleyan Church
Rev. Brad Terhune 3/22/09
Firing a teacher
1. Quarterly/topical class – just don’t rehire them, let them finish their term and fade away
a. Not worth the problems associated with firing
2. Grade level / age level class – tougher
a. Will not fade away
b. Go and observe
i. Reveal hear-say
ii. If it changes when you observe – a sign of deception
c. Chance to start a conversation
i. Always start with a conversation
d. If there is no adjustment or change
i. Set a time table for change
ii. Keep them informed on all your decisions
e. Be loving and caring throughout the ordeal
Week 8 - Tues. - Josh
Week 8 – Tuesday
Word of Hope
Rev. Scott Wiley 4/13/09
Motivating Volunteers
1. Make a specific job description
2. Offer a time limited commitment
3. Recruit face-to-face in conversation
4. Do not use general announcements to the entire church
5. Tell them why they are the person for the position
Word of Hope
Rev. Scott Wiley 4/13/09
Motivating Volunteers
1. Make a specific job description
2. Offer a time limited commitment
3. Recruit face-to-face in conversation
4. Do not use general announcements to the entire church
5. Tell them why they are the person for the position
Week 5 - Thurs. - Josh
4/13
People
The administrative side of ministry is often overlooked by those of use who are called into ministry. The idea of being stuck behind a stack of papers that are waiting for my attention is almost enough for me to join the art department. But I have a few ideas that may make administration more about people than paper.
• Take it with you – if you have computer or paper work that is not sensitive or captures all of your attention, bring it with you and go have a cup of coffee with a program leader or church member. Make sure the situation is informal enough that you will not offend others if you bring your work with you.
• Make mundane logistical meetings a time for fellowship – involve food somehow and give people a chance to unwind before getting to the nitty-gritty; maybe they will leave feeling better than when they came.
• Make phone calls – when stuck in the office make follow-up phone calls to people. There is not a lot of effort involved in calling someone and asking how they have been.
• Make meetings relational – any time you work with others make it a relational time; don’t ignore the business at hand but make room for friendship.
People
The administrative side of ministry is often overlooked by those of use who are called into ministry. The idea of being stuck behind a stack of papers that are waiting for my attention is almost enough for me to join the art department. But I have a few ideas that may make administration more about people than paper.
• Take it with you – if you have computer or paper work that is not sensitive or captures all of your attention, bring it with you and go have a cup of coffee with a program leader or church member. Make sure the situation is informal enough that you will not offend others if you bring your work with you.
• Make mundane logistical meetings a time for fellowship – involve food somehow and give people a chance to unwind before getting to the nitty-gritty; maybe they will leave feeling better than when they came.
• Make phone calls – when stuck in the office make follow-up phone calls to people. There is not a lot of effort involved in calling someone and asking how they have been.
• Make meetings relational – any time you work with others make it a relational time; don’t ignore the business at hand but make room for friendship.
Week 3 - Thurs. - Josh
4/13
Parliamentary Law
There are those who think that Roberts Rules of Order are too divisive for the churches purposes. This is a stance that I disagree with, people will always disagree - even if the decision is eventually unanimous, there will be those who have simple conceded to be done with it. There has always been disagreement in the church, since Paul and Barnabas, and growth has come from those troubles. Do not think that the spirit can only move through conformity. But for the sake of argument (and my grade) let us say that there are issues with Roberts Rules – what would I change.
• Make firm statements about what decision a yes or no vote will result in so that those who are unfamiliar with the format of parliamentary law cannot be taken as suckers.
• Remove the need for a second in order for a motion to continue to the discussion phase, consider all motions so that each person ideas gets equal representation.
• Allow for less formal wording when moving from stage to stage of parliamentary law.
• Ask for more than a simple majority on all decisions – ¾ perhaps
Problems
• Much time will be spent discussion ideas that have very little merit because they are advance without the need for a second
• The formal wording provides a contrast of demeanor so that those present understand that there is something important happening and those they should wipe the drool of their legal pad and pay attention.
• Moving to a ¾ vote will slow down any decisions from happening, motion will remain motions forever until people finally concede or the church dies form stagnation because it cannot go anywhere.
Parliamentary Law
There are those who think that Roberts Rules of Order are too divisive for the churches purposes. This is a stance that I disagree with, people will always disagree - even if the decision is eventually unanimous, there will be those who have simple conceded to be done with it. There has always been disagreement in the church, since Paul and Barnabas, and growth has come from those troubles. Do not think that the spirit can only move through conformity. But for the sake of argument (and my grade) let us say that there are issues with Roberts Rules – what would I change.
• Make firm statements about what decision a yes or no vote will result in so that those who are unfamiliar with the format of parliamentary law cannot be taken as suckers.
• Remove the need for a second in order for a motion to continue to the discussion phase, consider all motions so that each person ideas gets equal representation.
• Allow for less formal wording when moving from stage to stage of parliamentary law.
• Ask for more than a simple majority on all decisions – ¾ perhaps
Problems
• Much time will be spent discussion ideas that have very little merit because they are advance without the need for a second
• The formal wording provides a contrast of demeanor so that those present understand that there is something important happening and those they should wipe the drool of their legal pad and pay attention.
• Moving to a ¾ vote will slow down any decisions from happening, motion will remain motions forever until people finally concede or the church dies form stagnation because it cannot go anywhere.
Week 2 - Thurs. - Josh
4/13
Tithing
When it comes to tithing, it means 10%. While there is no new testament statement drawing 10% as the line to meet, the Old Testament background of the command to tithe constitutes giving a tenth (Genesis 14:20 “Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” - Genesis 28:22 “and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth." - Deuteronomy 14:22 “Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.” and several more). Many feel that the New Testament interpretation of tithing is “give what you can” or “what feels right”, but I see the New Testament as urging us to give more and do so joyfully.
Members of a congregation should give the full amount of their tithe to their local church. This is a practice referred to as storehouse tithing (Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.) Malachi indicates that the entirety of a person’s tithe should be brought into the service of God’s house, what many would interpret as the local church. In reserving the full tithe for the local church God promises to pour out his blessing, something that is much more satisfying that any warm fuzzies one may get from giving to a cause.
I think that those who give to the church should be thanked. While those who tithe should not be out looking for thanks, or any sort of return for their giving, there is a greater joy in giving when you know that your sacrifice is being noticed.
Tithing
When it comes to tithing, it means 10%. While there is no new testament statement drawing 10% as the line to meet, the Old Testament background of the command to tithe constitutes giving a tenth (Genesis 14:20 “Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” - Genesis 28:22 “and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth." - Deuteronomy 14:22 “Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.” and several more). Many feel that the New Testament interpretation of tithing is “give what you can” or “what feels right”, but I see the New Testament as urging us to give more and do so joyfully.
Members of a congregation should give the full amount of their tithe to their local church. This is a practice referred to as storehouse tithing (Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.) Malachi indicates that the entirety of a person’s tithe should be brought into the service of God’s house, what many would interpret as the local church. In reserving the full tithe for the local church God promises to pour out his blessing, something that is much more satisfying that any warm fuzzies one may get from giving to a cause.
I think that those who give to the church should be thanked. While those who tithe should not be out looking for thanks, or any sort of return for their giving, there is a greater joy in giving when you know that your sacrifice is being noticed.
Week 13: Singleness and Ministry>>>Trenton Prieshoff
I was told by a District Superintendent when interviewing that "it is not a problem that [I am] single," but I realize that it is, in fact, a problem if not handled properly. I have seen youth ministers date the girls in their youth group and I have heard too many reports of sex scandals in every denomination and tradition to think that it is "not a problem." As soon as my call to ministry really sank in, I made immediate changes to my behavior and continue to commit myself to a new "code" as situations come up which my previous code did not cover:
- I maintain a very strict "NO TOUCHING" policy with women and girls. Even a touch on the shoulder or any kind of comforting touch to the hand, etc is enough to give a woman the wrong signals. The best method for avoiding temptation is to not give it a chance to start. Even with my closest female friends, touching is limited to a "one-arm hug" (and with those 4 or 5 I will comfort, but not with any physical touch).
- I will be firm with how I manage relationships with females verbally as well. When women have emotional problems which require counseling or just advice, I will listen but enough to understand the source of the issue. At that point, I will guide them to another female on staff or within the church who could help them better for having gone through the same thing. If it is something I can help with personally for having a similar experience or being able to shed light from a different perspective, I will do so only in the presence of that second female or after she has met with them.
- I will have a strict "Open Door" policy. There are some I can provide counseling for, but for serious issues, they need to see a professional counselor. As far as my role is concerned, the door needs to stay open or we need to meet somewhere where there are witnesses who can attest to my behavior in order to attest for my integrity and alleviate doubts when others in the congregation have them. That same "Open Door" policy would help deter any problem people who sought to develop a relationship with sinful intentions.
- A new one I have added since this class is not to date anyone within the church. That is asking for trouble. It makes it difficult for the church by creating divisiveness if the relationship goes sour and it hurts how the church would perceive the minister's intentions for being there: as if he were there to find a spouse rather than to serve. There are plenty of other places to meet women as Drury outlined in his article. I am very content to be single and am not on the prowl, but if I met someone through doing volunteer work, a second job, another church, etc. I believe I am open to the idea of dating.
- When dating, I maintain my "NO TOUCHING" policy with only a few added exceptions: holding hands and other "light" touching is permitted, though petting (light or heavy) are out of the picture. The first is only toying with the latter.
Week 13: Minister's Taxes>>>Trenton Prieshoff
Six Most Important Things I Need to Remember About Ministerial Taxes (Other Than What Anton has Already Mentioned):
- When buying a house, I can take off my housing expenses from the ministerial housing allowance and then take that same amount off again as a regular deduction (as I would giving tithes and other donations) and thus "Double Dip" my allowance when buying a house.
- It is easy for the church to cheat on taxes by "laundering" money: such as by taking money as for sending someone to seminary or college from the person and paying it for them so that they are still paying for their own seminary education, but now they are getting a tax credit for giving to the church. These kinds of loopholes are closely watched.
- If you opt out of paying social security, there are some pretty major repercussions: you must opt out in the first two years and if you do it for any reason other than serious religious objections, you can be charged with perjury.
- I must make sure the church withholds money for the ministerial housing allowance ahead of time in order to benefit from it, otherwise, I don't get it. (And I need to get licensed right away, because I don't get that benefit at all until I am licensed).
- Because I cannot legally ask the church to withhold my Social Security tax from my paycheck, I need to be aware of how much of my check to set aside myself in order to be ready for that tax when the time comes around.
- One option I have, since the church cannot withhold my Social Security tax, is to ask them to withhold an extra 5-6K from my paycheck annually for Income Tax. When tax time comes around, I simply transfer the amount I overpaid in my Income Taxes into the Social Security tax.
Week 4 Administrative Work - Anton Folz
#10 Week 4 Administrative Work – Anton Folz April 13th 09
1. I interviewed Rev. Brad Terhune on February 9th, 09 at Lakeview Wesleyan Church.
2. The numbered list of the things that Pastor Brad does as administrative work, and the total time that he spends.
1- Working on the church website
2- Connecting with parents and planning Upward practice times and games
3- Planning for committee meetings
4- Filing papers
5- Planning and stocking the Coffee Shop
6- Managing blogs and various other means to promote coffee shop and other ministries
7- Creating and placing the monthly updated events for the church in the bathrooms and in key places around the church building
All together Rev Brad Terhune spends approximately fifteen hours a week doing administrative and office management related tasks.
3. Observations from the interview.
Overall it was very interesting to see just how much time goes into all the paper work that allows the church to be public with the ministries that exist in the life of the church. Rev Brad spends a great deal of his time working on organizing teams and volunteers to allow for the ministries to be open. No one man or woman could run al of those ministries, thus it takes a team of volunteers to make them all run efficiently. There is more office work to be done than one might expect when first going into ministry. Without the proper office and administrative skills, a pastor will sink in paper work and fail as a result of not having organized ministries.
1. I interviewed Rev. Brad Terhune on February 9th, 09 at Lakeview Wesleyan Church.
2. The numbered list of the things that Pastor Brad does as administrative work, and the total time that he spends.
1- Working on the church website
2- Connecting with parents and planning Upward practice times and games
3- Planning for committee meetings
4- Filing papers
5- Planning and stocking the Coffee Shop
6- Managing blogs and various other means to promote coffee shop and other ministries
7- Creating and placing the monthly updated events for the church in the bathrooms and in key places around the church building
All together Rev Brad Terhune spends approximately fifteen hours a week doing administrative and office management related tasks.
3. Observations from the interview.
Overall it was very interesting to see just how much time goes into all the paper work that allows the church to be public with the ministries that exist in the life of the church. Rev Brad spends a great deal of his time working on organizing teams and volunteers to allow for the ministries to be open. No one man or woman could run al of those ministries, thus it takes a team of volunteers to make them all run efficiently. There is more office work to be done than one might expect when first going into ministry. Without the proper office and administrative skills, a pastor will sink in paper work and fail as a result of not having organized ministries.
Week 12: Learning Leadership>>>Trenton Prieshoff
"Some leaders learn to lead by making mistakes and then reflecting enough on those mistakes to develop principles for the future... another way is to learn the principles based on the mistakes of others."
I wish I could say the later were just as effective as the former, but there is something about the experience, the tension, the pain, the failure of experiencing the failure firsthand. There is much to be learned from others. I grew up watching my sister fight with my parents which I learned a lot from second hand, seeing what did and didn't work, learning what my parents really wanted and how to get what I wanted by giving them what they wanted. I have certainly learned a lot from the mistakes I have seen made in other churches about how to keep myself safe from malicious people and how to approach conflict.
I think we often play up the idea of learning from others' mistakes more than is realistic. Things can be learned from others, but the truth is that the people who learn from their own mistakes learn the same lessons in so much more of a profound way than others that perhaps the best way to learn is through gradual increases in responsibilities and controlled "labs" where people can experience mistakes in a way that is personal and effective but not devastating to their future. That is the purpose, I believe, of our Practicum opportunities, whether we take advantage of them or not.
I wish I could say the later were just as effective as the former, but there is something about the experience, the tension, the pain, the failure of experiencing the failure firsthand. There is much to be learned from others. I grew up watching my sister fight with my parents which I learned a lot from second hand, seeing what did and didn't work, learning what my parents really wanted and how to get what I wanted by giving them what they wanted. I have certainly learned a lot from the mistakes I have seen made in other churches about how to keep myself safe from malicious people and how to approach conflict.
I think we often play up the idea of learning from others' mistakes more than is realistic. Things can be learned from others, but the truth is that the people who learn from their own mistakes learn the same lessons in so much more of a profound way than others that perhaps the best way to learn is through gradual increases in responsibilities and controlled "labs" where people can experience mistakes in a way that is personal and effective but not devastating to their future. That is the purpose, I believe, of our Practicum opportunities, whether we take advantage of them or not.
Week 13 Singleness and Ministry - Anton Folz
13 Singleness and Ministry
April 13th, 09
The Code by which one can avoid sexual sins (Top Five)
1. Avoid being in the same room alone with the opposite sex at all costs. I will endeavor to never meet with someone of the opposite sex in an office with a closed door, a secluded place where no one is around, and especially not at a woman home or apartment.
2. Avoid attractions to anyone of the opposite sex that is not one’s spouse. I will endeavor to not allow any attraction to build up inside of me for anyone that is not my wife, by not treating any woman better than my wife or by giving them special favors or attention that I would not do for anyone in the church.
3. Avoid sin by listing to other's advice. I will endeavor to avoid sin this way by allowing the advice of my wife and others in the church to warm me if I am ignorantly walking into a trap of the devil. I will keep a humble spirit that is willing to take confrontation and warning without becoming defensive.
4. Avoid inappropriate touching of people of the opposite sex. I will make sure to try and appropriately always stay away from touching or hugging people of the opposite sex so that mixed signals or inappropriate feelings do not come between me and someone of the opposite sex.
5. Avoid the temptation that since one is becoming more successful that sin on the side will not matter. I will endeavor to stay true to my wife and to God by not allowing power and fame to gain me the access to sexual sin on the side, and disillusion myself in thinking that it can go unchecked and unnoticed.
April 13th, 09
The Code by which one can avoid sexual sins (Top Five)
1. Avoid being in the same room alone with the opposite sex at all costs. I will endeavor to never meet with someone of the opposite sex in an office with a closed door, a secluded place where no one is around, and especially not at a woman home or apartment.
2. Avoid attractions to anyone of the opposite sex that is not one’s spouse. I will endeavor to not allow any attraction to build up inside of me for anyone that is not my wife, by not treating any woman better than my wife or by giving them special favors or attention that I would not do for anyone in the church.
3. Avoid sin by listing to other's advice. I will endeavor to avoid sin this way by allowing the advice of my wife and others in the church to warm me if I am ignorantly walking into a trap of the devil. I will keep a humble spirit that is willing to take confrontation and warning without becoming defensive.
4. Avoid inappropriate touching of people of the opposite sex. I will make sure to try and appropriately always stay away from touching or hugging people of the opposite sex so that mixed signals or inappropriate feelings do not come between me and someone of the opposite sex.
5. Avoid the temptation that since one is becoming more successful that sin on the side will not matter. I will endeavor to stay true to my wife and to God by not allowing power and fame to gain me the access to sexual sin on the side, and disillusion myself in thinking that it can go unchecked and unnoticed.
Week 13 Minister's Taxes - Anton Folz
Week 13 – Anton Folz
April 12th, 09
The Six Most Important Things I need to Remember about Ministers & Taxes
1. The money that a minister spends on housing is income tax free. This includes all the money that one spends on loan principal, interest, utilities, furniture, and other appurtenances
2. The first limitation is that this money must be allocated in advance. A minister must get the spending designated in advance for this to work.
3. The second limitation to the ministerial housing allowance is that one is only able to designate the fair rental market value of the home plus utilities. This is typically means one tenth the total value of the home plus utilities.
4. It is easy for ministers to cheat on their taxes by under reporting their parsonage, or by hiding any honorariums that they accumulate, but it does not pay in the end. As a person in the ministry, one must be able to stand about cheating and do what is right.
5. Ministers can opt out of paying any social security by filing the 4361, but it is the mother of all cheating. This can save a minister thousands, but one must confess to their commissioning board, and hold to this view by oath.
6. Money that is gained by honorarium must have taxes paid on it. This is income, and one needs to pay both income tax and social security tax on it.
.
April 12th, 09
The Six Most Important Things I need to Remember about Ministers & Taxes
1. The money that a minister spends on housing is income tax free. This includes all the money that one spends on loan principal, interest, utilities, furniture, and other appurtenances
2. The first limitation is that this money must be allocated in advance. A minister must get the spending designated in advance for this to work.
3. The second limitation to the ministerial housing allowance is that one is only able to designate the fair rental market value of the home plus utilities. This is typically means one tenth the total value of the home plus utilities.
4. It is easy for ministers to cheat on their taxes by under reporting their parsonage, or by hiding any honorariums that they accumulate, but it does not pay in the end. As a person in the ministry, one must be able to stand about cheating and do what is right.
5. Ministers can opt out of paying any social security by filing the 4361, but it is the mother of all cheating. This can save a minister thousands, but one must confess to their commissioning board, and hold to this view by oath.
6. Money that is gained by honorarium must have taxes paid on it. This is income, and one needs to pay both income tax and social security tax on it.
.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Week 12: Formal Leadership Theory>>>Trenton Prieshoff
Transformational Leadership
April 7, 2009
I have been going to God's House Ministries for the past three and a half years and I think this theory describes well the atmosphere of God's House. The biggest key indicator came from an interview I had with Pastor about preaching. He said: "I don't feel the need to add any new information to the world. The world doesn't need a lot of information. What it needs is inspiration. I try to ask myself 'would I be inspired by this?' as I am writing a sermon and even as I am preaching..." and he makes changes accordingly. The Transformational Leader is primarily characterized by a person who inspires other and is able to instill them with enthusiasm and energy.
Descriptions of the Transformational Leadership type include the description that the leader mostly gives back in intangible ways such as praise and responsibility. Pastor has told me he loves to give people a chance to take responsibility and nurture something themselves that they want to see happen. Also, Pastor is the only paid staff member (and he is bi-vocational) at a church of almost 500! Obviously, he tends to give more through intangible means than anything. Instead, he praises the good work people do through his sermons as it applies to the message and they have a periodic leadership lunch for anyone who wants to get involved and he brings up the leaders in the church, praising the work they have accomplished and the other people involved with those ministries.
April 7, 2009
I have been going to God's House Ministries for the past three and a half years and I think this theory describes well the atmosphere of God's House. The biggest key indicator came from an interview I had with Pastor about preaching. He said: "I don't feel the need to add any new information to the world. The world doesn't need a lot of information. What it needs is inspiration. I try to ask myself 'would I be inspired by this?' as I am writing a sermon and even as I am preaching..." and he makes changes accordingly. The Transformational Leader is primarily characterized by a person who inspires other and is able to instill them with enthusiasm and energy.
Descriptions of the Transformational Leadership type include the description that the leader mostly gives back in intangible ways such as praise and responsibility. Pastor has told me he loves to give people a chance to take responsibility and nurture something themselves that they want to see happen. Also, Pastor is the only paid staff member (and he is bi-vocational) at a church of almost 500! Obviously, he tends to give more through intangible means than anything. Instead, he praises the good work people do through his sermons as it applies to the message and they have a periodic leadership lunch for anyone who wants to get involved and he brings up the leaders in the church, praising the work they have accomplished and the other people involved with those ministries.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Week 12 Learning Leadership April 7th 09
12. Learning Leadership – Anton Folz
When you learn from your own mistakes, a leader is making small and significant progress. This is the natural and progressive way to move along in one’s understanding of their leadership roles and responsibilities. However if one is able to learn from others’ mistakes and bypass making those same mistakes themselves, that is where significant and powerful change and leadership development takes place. Having this ability and insight is highly desirable for a leader, so that they may maintain a strong Christian witness, and so that they can focus on moving ahead rather than always looking back at what they have done so that thy can continue to move in the correct direction. When a leader can keep their walk blameless and their focus and attention on the goals and direction that the church is headed in, then they can guide and motivate the people around them to also be moving in the direction that church is headed.
When you learn from your own mistakes, a leader is making small and significant progress. This is the natural and progressive way to move along in one’s understanding of their leadership roles and responsibilities. However if one is able to learn from others’ mistakes and bypass making those same mistakes themselves, that is where significant and powerful change and leadership development takes place. Having this ability and insight is highly desirable for a leader, so that they may maintain a strong Christian witness, and so that they can focus on moving ahead rather than always looking back at what they have done so that thy can continue to move in the correct direction. When a leader can keep their walk blameless and their focus and attention on the goals and direction that the church is headed in, then they can guide and motivate the people around them to also be moving in the direction that church is headed.
Week 12 - Anton Folz April 7th 09
Week 12
Formal Leadership Theory – Anton Folz
April 7th 09
At Lakeview Wesleyan Church, the church that my wife and I have been attending now for almost four years has gone through some fairly dramatic changes in the past two years. The church has gone through a large building addition, some very tough financial matters that involved stolen monies, and a change in the senior pastor. Through all of this I personally have seen how the Situational Leadership principal has come into play at our local church. As the church was going through the building project, the church was in a circumstance where they really needed a leader that was willing to motivate them to give and to make the sacrifice so that more ministries and avenues for the church could be open to the people in the community. That was exactly what they needed and what they received.
As the church began to discover what had happened with the stolen money, they needed a leader that would then be able to walk with them through the time of mourning and then forgiveness, so that they could then heal. This was and still is a very sensitive and hard issue for many in the church, but overall the leadership has helped to provide guidance to the people as to how they should walk through this difficult time and how they can then move on. After this circumstance, the situation is now beginning to change again and there has been a great need for a leader that can motivate and help lift the sprit of the congregation. A leader was needed to help the people feel as though they had a real reason to continue giving, and that the church was and is recovering. The current senior pastor has been able to motivate the people to give, and he has been a tool from the Lord to help encourage the people that they are a part of a church that is growing and in the recovery state.
So by looking at the leadership and situations over the past several years at Lakeview Church, one is able to see how the situational leadership principal has played its part. Through all the circumstances God has led and He continues to lead. He has provided the right leadership and the right type of leadership from those leaders as the times have changes and the situations have required special attention.
Formal Leadership Theory – Anton Folz
April 7th 09
At Lakeview Wesleyan Church, the church that my wife and I have been attending now for almost four years has gone through some fairly dramatic changes in the past two years. The church has gone through a large building addition, some very tough financial matters that involved stolen monies, and a change in the senior pastor. Through all of this I personally have seen how the Situational Leadership principal has come into play at our local church. As the church was going through the building project, the church was in a circumstance where they really needed a leader that was willing to motivate them to give and to make the sacrifice so that more ministries and avenues for the church could be open to the people in the community. That was exactly what they needed and what they received.
As the church began to discover what had happened with the stolen money, they needed a leader that would then be able to walk with them through the time of mourning and then forgiveness, so that they could then heal. This was and still is a very sensitive and hard issue for many in the church, but overall the leadership has helped to provide guidance to the people as to how they should walk through this difficult time and how they can then move on. After this circumstance, the situation is now beginning to change again and there has been a great need for a leader that can motivate and help lift the sprit of the congregation. A leader was needed to help the people feel as though they had a real reason to continue giving, and that the church was and is recovering. The current senior pastor has been able to motivate the people to give, and he has been a tool from the Lord to help encourage the people that they are a part of a church that is growing and in the recovery state.
So by looking at the leadership and situations over the past several years at Lakeview Church, one is able to see how the situational leadership principal has played its part. Through all the circumstances God has led and He continues to lead. He has provided the right leadership and the right type of leadership from those leaders as the times have changes and the situations have required special attention.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Week 11: Maxwell Book>>>Trenton Prieshoff
April 2, 2009
Lead up--Be a leader for your leader
This is one of the principle of John Maxwell's book "360 Degree Leader" in which his basic premise is to lead up (to your superiors), lead across (to your coworkers) and lead down (to your subordinates). The concept of being a leader for your leader I thought was cool, because in most cases of describing leadership, we tend to focus on the "leading down" part of his 360 degree approach. By being a leader for your leader, you are not treating him or her the same way you would treat a subordinate, but you are advocating on their behalf in order to affirm their own place of authority, to energize them and to energize your coworkers to be equally energized. Even if you are not the biggest supporter of your leader, it speaks highly of your own leadership abilities to support him or her anyway. If your leader ever gets promoted, they will bring you up with them and if they ever get fired, no one will have anything but positive things to say about you so you have a good chance of taking their place.
Lead up--Be a leader for your leader
This is one of the principle of John Maxwell's book "360 Degree Leader" in which his basic premise is to lead up (to your superiors), lead across (to your coworkers) and lead down (to your subordinates). The concept of being a leader for your leader I thought was cool, because in most cases of describing leadership, we tend to focus on the "leading down" part of his 360 degree approach. By being a leader for your leader, you are not treating him or her the same way you would treat a subordinate, but you are advocating on their behalf in order to affirm their own place of authority, to energize them and to energize your coworkers to be equally energized. Even if you are not the biggest supporter of your leader, it speaks highly of your own leadership abilities to support him or her anyway. If your leader ever gets promoted, they will bring you up with them and if they ever get fired, no one will have anything but positive things to say about you so you have a good chance of taking their place.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Week 11 - Tues. - Josh
Interview with Mr. Daton - Lakeview Wesleyan
1) When New staff comes into a church thinking that they are the solution, or have the solution to all of a churches problems. New staff needs to remain humble and learn about the church, how things are done, and what the deeper problems are, before they can be of any help.
2) When new staff comes in thinking that there will be someone there to do there work. they need to take up leadership right away and do what the church is paying them to do. These are their responsibilities, they can not be passed of on to supporting staff or to people in the congregation.
3) New staff needs to let people do what they have been doing, they don't need to come in and take over everything thinking that they have to do it all. If you push yourself in and take over, those that have been there for along time will get burnt by the situation, the new staff is likely to get burnt out as well.
1) When New staff comes into a church thinking that they are the solution, or have the solution to all of a churches problems. New staff needs to remain humble and learn about the church, how things are done, and what the deeper problems are, before they can be of any help.
2) When new staff comes in thinking that there will be someone there to do there work. they need to take up leadership right away and do what the church is paying them to do. These are their responsibilities, they can not be passed of on to supporting staff or to people in the congregation.
3) New staff needs to let people do what they have been doing, they don't need to come in and take over everything thinking that they have to do it all. If you push yourself in and take over, those that have been there for along time will get burnt by the situation, the new staff is likely to get burnt out as well.
Week 11: Mistakes Ministers Make>>>Trenton Prieshoff
Interviewed Peggy Prieshoff
- One chronic mistake is to avoid crisis. It is okay to give the two sides some time to work it out themselves (and would even be baby-ing to step in right away without them ever talking it out themselves), but there is a very fine line between giving time to work things out and neglecting the situation entirely. As soon as it is seen that the two sides are not coming to an agreement, the minister needs to step in and bring some level of authority to the situation.
- Be in constant prayer. In fact, use too much time for prayer. When first starting out, it might seem as if you are caught up in a torrent of tasks to accomplish. Prayer is usually the first thing out the window.
- Remember two things about ministry: first, it is a business and you need to be responsible for resources, for producing results and expecting others to do the same. Second, it is not a business: it is ministry. You need to be able to put the results aside from time to time in order to develop people.
- Don't expect to work 40 hour weeks. First, being a minister is a title that characterizes you 24/7 so you don't get a chance to "switch off." Second, if you expect your laity to work 40 hours a week and then be involved with other church programs for another 10-20 hours, then you need to do the same.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Week 11 - Anton Folz Maxwell Book
Week 11 – Maxwell Book- Anton Folz
March 30th 09
The Law of Process– Leadership Develops Daily, Not in a Day
This quote by Maxwell in his book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership captures well the powerful truth that while people may be given talents and abilities from birth, a truly powerful and influential leader must develop and hone their talents and abilities over time. Just as someone would invest in the stock market, waiting and taking time to make sure that their investment is well handled, leaders must also invest into themselves. A leader cannot become great overnight, but rather it takes years of experience and active investing to become a great leader. So even though people may have natural gifts for leadership, it takes time to bring together all aspects of an effective leader such as vision, experience, respect, and discipline. When all of the aspects of leadership are working together, one is then able to be their most effective, and the result of all their investment of time and energy over the years will then pay off.
March 30th 09
The Law of Process– Leadership Develops Daily, Not in a Day
This quote by Maxwell in his book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership captures well the powerful truth that while people may be given talents and abilities from birth, a truly powerful and influential leader must develop and hone their talents and abilities over time. Just as someone would invest in the stock market, waiting and taking time to make sure that their investment is well handled, leaders must also invest into themselves. A leader cannot become great overnight, but rather it takes years of experience and active investing to become a great leader. So even though people may have natural gifts for leadership, it takes time to bring together all aspects of an effective leader such as vision, experience, respect, and discipline. When all of the aspects of leadership are working together, one is then able to be their most effective, and the result of all their investment of time and energy over the years will then pay off.
Mistakes Ministers Make - Anton Folz
Mistakes Ministers Make – Anton Folz March 30th, 09
I interviewed Mr. Daton at 12:20 pm Sunday March 29th 09
Mistakes that he identified;
1) Coming in thinking that you have all the answers as a new staffer. This is basically an attitude problem, where the new guy or gal thinks that they have all the answers to all of the problems that the church has. They do not maintain a humble attitude, and do not listen to what others have to say about how things should be run.
2) They come into the ministry position thinking that everyone else will do all the work. They are taking a leadership role, and with it comes many responsibilities, and they must be ready and willing to pick up the tasks that they are being paid to do. This occurs when they allow all the supporting staff or lay people in the church do all the work.
3) Not allowing anyone else to help. Some new staffers come in with this idea that they are the ones that have to do everything. They push in and take over everything, and often times people that have been volunteering for many years will get burnt. The other problem with this is, that the new staffer burns themselves out in the process.
I interviewed Mr. Daton at 12:20 pm Sunday March 29th 09
Mistakes that he identified;
1) Coming in thinking that you have all the answers as a new staffer. This is basically an attitude problem, where the new guy or gal thinks that they have all the answers to all of the problems that the church has. They do not maintain a humble attitude, and do not listen to what others have to say about how things should be run.
2) They come into the ministry position thinking that everyone else will do all the work. They are taking a leadership role, and with it comes many responsibilities, and they must be ready and willing to pick up the tasks that they are being paid to do. This occurs when they allow all the supporting staff or lay people in the church do all the work.
3) Not allowing anyone else to help. Some new staffers come in with this idea that they are the ones that have to do everything. They push in and take over everything, and often times people that have been volunteering for many years will get burnt. The other problem with this is, that the new staffer burns themselves out in the process.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Week Ten – Maxwell Book – David
Maxwell’s Book The 360 Degree Leader
In the book The 360-Degree Leader, the author, John C. Maxwell shows how 99% of all leadership in most organizations takes place in the middle; and then he shares the secrets of how to increase our influence from wherever we are. Maxwell teaches that people who desire to lead from the middle of organizations face unique challenges and are often held back by myths that prevent them from developing their influence. His book, however, sets straight the myths, shows us how to overcome the challenges, and teaches us the skills we need to become an all-around 360-degree leader.
Maxwell teaches us about leading down, and it is more that just getting people to do what we want. He says that it is our attempt to add value to them in any way we can. One principle I feel will be helpful to me to use as a “rule” when working with people, would be his principle to “Transfer the vision.” Maxwell says that as middle leaders, we are the crucial link in the process of transferring what is primarily the vision of others (248). He continues that the vision may be cast by the top leaders, but rarely gets transferred to the people without the “whole-hearted participation of the leaders lower in the organization.” Even though the middle leaders do not always invent the vision, Maxwell reminds the reader that almost always they have to interpret it. To interpret this vision in a way that will ignite people and set them off in the right direction, he says that we must present it with the following: clarity; a connection to the past, present, and future; a purpose; goals; a challenge; stories and a passion.
Maxwell, John. The 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization. Thomas Nelson Inc, 2006.
In the book The 360-Degree Leader, the author, John C. Maxwell shows how 99% of all leadership in most organizations takes place in the middle; and then he shares the secrets of how to increase our influence from wherever we are. Maxwell teaches that people who desire to lead from the middle of organizations face unique challenges and are often held back by myths that prevent them from developing their influence. His book, however, sets straight the myths, shows us how to overcome the challenges, and teaches us the skills we need to become an all-around 360-degree leader.
Maxwell teaches us about leading down, and it is more that just getting people to do what we want. He says that it is our attempt to add value to them in any way we can. One principle I feel will be helpful to me to use as a “rule” when working with people, would be his principle to “Transfer the vision.” Maxwell says that as middle leaders, we are the crucial link in the process of transferring what is primarily the vision of others (248). He continues that the vision may be cast by the top leaders, but rarely gets transferred to the people without the “whole-hearted participation of the leaders lower in the organization.” Even though the middle leaders do not always invent the vision, Maxwell reminds the reader that almost always they have to interpret it. To interpret this vision in a way that will ignite people and set them off in the right direction, he says that we must present it with the following: clarity; a connection to the past, present, and future; a purpose; goals; a challenge; stories and a passion.
Maxwell, John. The 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization. Thomas Nelson Inc, 2006.
Week Ten – Mistakes Ministers Make – David
Mistakes Ministers Make
Brookhaven Wesleyan Church
I interviewed Pastor John Walton the assistant pastor
March 16, 2009
What are three mistakes a new staffer should avoid making in their first job on church staff?
1. Having a “know-it-all” attitude. Do not come in thinking that you know everything and that you do not need to learn what is new in this church.
2. Not able to manage time. Make sure you do not only heed the flock of the church, and neglect your family.
3. Having an “I-can-do-it” attitude. Do not come in thinking that you can do everything on your own.
Here are some extra blurbs from Pastor John.
•When they do not have a learner’s attitude
•When they get ties up in doing everything
•When they lack sensitivity to people’s feelings
•When they have an attitude of “I am the pastor, I don’t have to do that.”
•When they come in and try to change things too quickly.
-(i.e. let’s no longer use bulletins; let’s only preach from the NKJ version.)
•When they woo Pastors/people to themselves.
•When they come in with no balance in their devotional life, putting work higher than God.
Brookhaven Wesleyan Church
I interviewed Pastor John Walton the assistant pastor
March 16, 2009
What are three mistakes a new staffer should avoid making in their first job on church staff?
1. Having a “know-it-all” attitude. Do not come in thinking that you know everything and that you do not need to learn what is new in this church.
2. Not able to manage time. Make sure you do not only heed the flock of the church, and neglect your family.
3. Having an “I-can-do-it” attitude. Do not come in thinking that you can do everything on your own.
Here are some extra blurbs from Pastor John.
•When they do not have a learner’s attitude
•When they get ties up in doing everything
•When they lack sensitivity to people’s feelings
•When they have an attitude of “I am the pastor, I don’t have to do that.”
•When they come in and try to change things too quickly.
-(i.e. let’s no longer use bulletins; let’s only preach from the NKJ version.)
•When they woo Pastors/people to themselves.
•When they come in with no balance in their devotional life, putting work higher than God.
Week 10 - Thurs. - Josh
3/26 - Thurs
People Work
The most helpful thing that I have begun to practice when working with others is to try and understand them. Understanding creates connections and connections create sympathies. If I can understand where a person is coming form or why they approach a situation the way they do, I then have a foundation to build my interactions with that person on. By seeking to understand the person rather than the position they are taking, I can then find areas were we relate and create a relationship without having to conform or agree with any particular view point or ideas
When we try and understand a person, we start to grow in the process. Our experiences broaden, and we can begin to see a person’s motives behind their choices and reactions. When we start to see others motives we can begin to work together with others productively and in a health environment.
People Work
The most helpful thing that I have begun to practice when working with others is to try and understand them. Understanding creates connections and connections create sympathies. If I can understand where a person is coming form or why they approach a situation the way they do, I then have a foundation to build my interactions with that person on. By seeking to understand the person rather than the position they are taking, I can then find areas were we relate and create a relationship without having to conform or agree with any particular view point or ideas
When we try and understand a person, we start to grow in the process. Our experiences broaden, and we can begin to see a person’s motives behind their choices and reactions. When we start to see others motives we can begin to work together with others productively and in a health environment.
Week 10: People Work>>>Trenton Prieshoff
Working with people is not one of my fortes. I am introverted and I have an odd sense of humor which make me seem really awkward or rude to people who don't know me well. At the same time, I am more of a counselor in that I am a good listener and I empathize with people well.
Any people skills I have, I have learned from watching people like my youth pastor who is a lot like me (but outgoing). I find ways to do what he does and imitate the way he acts (while still being myself). What I feel is one of the most important things for me in working with people is developing similar interests. Find out what other people like and learn more about it. Enough that you can talk about it, ask questions to get them talking, and even if you sound like an idiot, they can see that you care and are interested. That goes a long way.
Having similar interests and generally just liking each other helps a lot with the group feel. When people feel a connection with each other, they can be excited to be together.
Its early, I don't know what else to say...
Any people skills I have, I have learned from watching people like my youth pastor who is a lot like me (but outgoing). I find ways to do what he does and imitate the way he acts (while still being myself). What I feel is one of the most important things for me in working with people is developing similar interests. Find out what other people like and learn more about it. Enough that you can talk about it, ask questions to get them talking, and even if you sound like an idiot, they can see that you care and are interested. That goes a long way.
Having similar interests and generally just liking each other helps a lot with the group feel. When people feel a connection with each other, they can be excited to be together.
Its early, I don't know what else to say...
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Week Nine – People Work – David
How can one learn to better work with people?
The best way to work with people is by putting yourself out there with people and doing things with them. I work best with people when I have begun to understand who they are and how they work. I believe that the best thing one can do to work with others better, is to communicate well. In my own relationship with my fiancé, we have little meaningless argument. We always resolve these by communicating to each other how we feel and what not. Through this experience we have learned that it is best to always communicate how the other is feeling, before and argument arises.
Have you ever heard of the ARC Triangle? This is a very useful term I learned about when I was younger; it helps me cope with people better. The ARC triangle is called a triangle because it has three related points: Affinity, Reality, and (most important) Communication.
Affinity - an emotional response; it is the feeling of affection or lack of it, of emotion or misemotion connected with life.
Reality - solid objects; the real things of life.
Communication - an interchange of ideas between two persons who can receive, relay or send a communication.
It is a triangle because without affinity there is no reality or communication. Without reality there is no affinity or communication. Without communication there is neither affinity nor reality.
The best way to work with people is by putting yourself out there with people and doing things with them. I work best with people when I have begun to understand who they are and how they work. I believe that the best thing one can do to work with others better, is to communicate well. In my own relationship with my fiancé, we have little meaningless argument. We always resolve these by communicating to each other how we feel and what not. Through this experience we have learned that it is best to always communicate how the other is feeling, before and argument arises.
Have you ever heard of the ARC Triangle? This is a very useful term I learned about when I was younger; it helps me cope with people better. The ARC triangle is called a triangle because it has three related points: Affinity, Reality, and (most important) Communication.
Affinity - an emotional response; it is the feeling of affection or lack of it, of emotion or misemotion connected with life.
Reality - solid objects; the real things of life.
Communication - an interchange of ideas between two persons who can receive, relay or send a communication.
It is a triangle because without affinity there is no reality or communication. Without reality there is no affinity or communication. Without communication there is neither affinity nor reality.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Week 10 Church Fight - Anton Folz March 24th 09
Week Ten – Anton Folz
March 24th, 09
Church Fight
I interviewed Rev. Brad Terhune on Sunday March 22nd, 09 at Lakeview Church
1. There were a number of doctors attending this local church and one of which was an OBGYN, and happened to deliver a number of the babies that were from families in the congregation. There was one girl in particular that was born, and was delivered by this particular doctor, and ended up being very physically and mentally handicap due to a number of health concerns and entanglement of the umbilical cord. As the years moved on, some people began to convince the mother of the disabled child that she was in the right to sue the doctor that delivered her baby. This is where the problem began to amount to something real and divisive.
When the daughter was about six or seven years old, this whole issue began to grow rapidly, and soon the family with the child were no longer allowed to speak to the family of the doctor due to the legal advice of their lawyer. Both families continued to attend church faithfully, but always apart and sat on the opposite sides of the church. This began to breed disconnection and confusion among many in the congregation that knew the situation was taking place. There was not necessarily anger or strife; so much as it became a divisive tool that was pulling the church apart.
2. It got to the point that many, if not all of the people in the church knew what was going on, and the even though the two families worshipped in the same area, they could not ever talk to one another. This carried on for years, and to this day has some very deep and unresolved conflict that still occurs between the two families because of their inability to have fellowship and to communicate to one another.
3. It seems that some in the church, along with the pastors on staff, should have tried to talk with the two families. Although there was some deep heart and disconnect due to the legal advice that the family with the disabled child received, there could have been some sort of attempt to bring the two parties together to have them reconcile the problem, rather than allowing it to grow and continue to feed into the thoughts and feelings of disunity within the body of that Christian church. The senior pastor should have sat down with each party individually and then maybe tried to bring the two together. If they refused, then he should have gathered others with him, such as the supporting staff, and got to talking to the families. Anything would have been better than allowing the two to grow apart so far that there now seems to be no reconciliation possible between the two.
March 24th, 09
Church Fight
I interviewed Rev. Brad Terhune on Sunday March 22nd, 09 at Lakeview Church
1. There were a number of doctors attending this local church and one of which was an OBGYN, and happened to deliver a number of the babies that were from families in the congregation. There was one girl in particular that was born, and was delivered by this particular doctor, and ended up being very physically and mentally handicap due to a number of health concerns and entanglement of the umbilical cord. As the years moved on, some people began to convince the mother of the disabled child that she was in the right to sue the doctor that delivered her baby. This is where the problem began to amount to something real and divisive.
When the daughter was about six or seven years old, this whole issue began to grow rapidly, and soon the family with the child were no longer allowed to speak to the family of the doctor due to the legal advice of their lawyer. Both families continued to attend church faithfully, but always apart and sat on the opposite sides of the church. This began to breed disconnection and confusion among many in the congregation that knew the situation was taking place. There was not necessarily anger or strife; so much as it became a divisive tool that was pulling the church apart.
2. It got to the point that many, if not all of the people in the church knew what was going on, and the even though the two families worshipped in the same area, they could not ever talk to one another. This carried on for years, and to this day has some very deep and unresolved conflict that still occurs between the two families because of their inability to have fellowship and to communicate to one another.
3. It seems that some in the church, along with the pastors on staff, should have tried to talk with the two families. Although there was some deep heart and disconnect due to the legal advice that the family with the disabled child received, there could have been some sort of attempt to bring the two parties together to have them reconcile the problem, rather than allowing it to grow and continue to feed into the thoughts and feelings of disunity within the body of that Christian church. The senior pastor should have sat down with each party individually and then maybe tried to bring the two together. If they refused, then he should have gathered others with him, such as the supporting staff, and got to talking to the families. Anything would have been better than allowing the two to grow apart so far that there now seems to be no reconciliation possible between the two.
Week Nine – Church Fight – David
Church Fight
Brookhaven Wesleyan Church
I interviewed Pastor John Walton the assistant pastor
March 16, 2009
This is a conflict that happened in the Nazarene church that Pastor John attended when he lived in Nashville Tennessee.
The issue: Fight between Senior Pastor and his wife. The wife became jealous of the fame he got, and developed a fan club where they began to “bad mouth” him. His own partner, his roommate was bad mouthing him!
When the Pastor found out about his wife’s fan club and what they were doing, he confronted her, and asked the church board what to do. He explained to the board that he would quit the ministry for the sake of keeping his marriage.
How bad did it get: When he talked to his wife, she said that she didn’t care if he was the pastor or the president of the United States; she is not going to love him anymore. Shortly after she divorced him and left.
What could have resolved it – what should have someone done?
I honestly believe that nothing could have resolved it, the pastor did all that he could do. The wife dug herself a hole and wanted out of the relationship. The pastor was willing to leave the ministry for her but she still wanted nothing to do with him. In the end, the board said to the Pastor that his allegiance’s was to God 1st, and that they would keep him as their pastor if he was willing to stay.
The result is that when his helpmate no longer gave help… the Board aided and assisted him. He has not remarried to this day.
Brookhaven Wesleyan Church
I interviewed Pastor John Walton the assistant pastor
March 16, 2009
This is a conflict that happened in the Nazarene church that Pastor John attended when he lived in Nashville Tennessee.
The issue: Fight between Senior Pastor and his wife. The wife became jealous of the fame he got, and developed a fan club where they began to “bad mouth” him. His own partner, his roommate was bad mouthing him!
When the Pastor found out about his wife’s fan club and what they were doing, he confronted her, and asked the church board what to do. He explained to the board that he would quit the ministry for the sake of keeping his marriage.
How bad did it get: When he talked to his wife, she said that she didn’t care if he was the pastor or the president of the United States; she is not going to love him anymore. Shortly after she divorced him and left.
What could have resolved it – what should have someone done?
I honestly believe that nothing could have resolved it, the pastor did all that he could do. The wife dug herself a hole and wanted out of the relationship. The pastor was willing to leave the ministry for her but she still wanted nothing to do with him. In the end, the board said to the Pastor that his allegiance’s was to God 1st, and that they would keep him as their pastor if he was willing to stay.
The result is that when his helpmate no longer gave help… the Board aided and assisted him. He has not remarried to this day.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Week 5 _ PEOPLE - Anton Folz (dated for Feb 12th, 09)
Week 5 - People (essay) Anton Folz March 22nd 09
With all of the demands of the common senior pastor or staff pastor in our common day, it can become very easy to focus on all of the stuff that ones has to do to the neglect of the people that one is called to serve. The paper work piles up, and the district has obligations to fulfill, but a pastor must not forget the people in the midst of it all. Thus a pastor must learn to work on getting the administration stuff completed, while at the same time work with people. This can be accomplished if a pastor makes the very most of their time, both inside and outside the office, and if they all the while carefully and prayerfully complete the tasks in the most productive way they can.
Looking first at time management, a senior or supporting pastor may try and incorporate some of their people work into the administration stuff that they have to accomplish. For example, there are many times that a pastor could take the time and opportunity that they have to get some administrative stuff accomplished to at the same time work at training someone in the church to help with the task. This principle applies best to youth and children’s pastors, but not exclusively. If one has interested volunteers, then allow them to learn and get them involved.
Next, one can also do many of the administrative tasks while at the same time be working with others. For example, if you have some hospital visitations or traveling to do, one might consider taking a person or two along with them if the situation is appropriate. The travel time can be meaningful and productive, as well as the experience of the actual visitation or session that one needs to attend.
Thirdly, one might consider spending time to create a planed schedule of time that they will specifically devote to alone time, and other time that is in office yet available to others, and finally time that they specifically devote to people work. This allows a pastor to know when they can be interrupted by others, and when they need to retreat to a closet and get their work accomplished.
Overall, a pastor must always keep people in mind as they complete their work. Often the administrative tasks can be overwhelming and boring, but if one does them with the people in mind, they might be encouraged to get them done and help them to remember why it is that they are doing it. God calls pastors to the work and service of his people, and that includes the office work that needs to get done to keep the church running smoothly. Keep God’s people in mind at all times, and allow them to be the focus of your ministry, not the administrative stuff.
With all of the demands of the common senior pastor or staff pastor in our common day, it can become very easy to focus on all of the stuff that ones has to do to the neglect of the people that one is called to serve. The paper work piles up, and the district has obligations to fulfill, but a pastor must not forget the people in the midst of it all. Thus a pastor must learn to work on getting the administration stuff completed, while at the same time work with people. This can be accomplished if a pastor makes the very most of their time, both inside and outside the office, and if they all the while carefully and prayerfully complete the tasks in the most productive way they can.
Looking first at time management, a senior or supporting pastor may try and incorporate some of their people work into the administration stuff that they have to accomplish. For example, there are many times that a pastor could take the time and opportunity that they have to get some administrative stuff accomplished to at the same time work at training someone in the church to help with the task. This principle applies best to youth and children’s pastors, but not exclusively. If one has interested volunteers, then allow them to learn and get them involved.
Next, one can also do many of the administrative tasks while at the same time be working with others. For example, if you have some hospital visitations or traveling to do, one might consider taking a person or two along with them if the situation is appropriate. The travel time can be meaningful and productive, as well as the experience of the actual visitation or session that one needs to attend.
Thirdly, one might consider spending time to create a planed schedule of time that they will specifically devote to alone time, and other time that is in office yet available to others, and finally time that they specifically devote to people work. This allows a pastor to know when they can be interrupted by others, and when they need to retreat to a closet and get their work accomplished.
Overall, a pastor must always keep people in mind as they complete their work. Often the administrative tasks can be overwhelming and boring, but if one does them with the people in mind, they might be encouraged to get them done and help them to remember why it is that they are doing it. God calls pastors to the work and service of his people, and that includes the office work that needs to get done to keep the church running smoothly. Keep God’s people in mind at all times, and allow them to be the focus of your ministry, not the administrative stuff.
Week Four - Anton Folz (Dated March 22nd, 09)
Week Four - Staff Report To Board Anton Folz - March 22nd, 09
For the week of Feb 5th, 09
When a staff member brings a report to a church board, there should be a defined reason and intended goal to be accomplished with having them do such. Staff are not often asked to attend such meetings, with the exception of a senior pastor who is the chair in the Wesleyan Church and within other denominations, and thus their time there should be planned with a goal in mind. Often if being asked to come, there is a possible position change or something within their particular area of ministry is being questioned about. Here are some ideas as to what a staff member might try to make the most of such an appearance before the board.
1. Be prepared and ready to give your presentation if you are asked to bring such.
2. Have your materials and information ready right at the beginning of the meeting in case you are asked to go first, which often happens, so that you can then be excused from the meeting after you have finished.
3. Get the necessary information into the hands of the board members. Often you will be asked to submit your data ahead of time so that it can be added into the folders or handouts that each member of the board receives. Along with this, make sure that the information is accurate and checked for errors. Do not allow this opportunity to become an embarrassing one.
4. Speak clearly and loudly enough for all to hear you.
5. Present the material in a way that will logically make sense and do so in as concise and time effective way.
With these suggestions and strategies is mind, a staff member will be able to make a good and hopefully a positive and productive effect in the meeting. This will give the board a sense that they have qualified people and it may provide you with the approval that you were looking for from them. Remember, it is all about presentation, and making sure that you are doing the proper prep work to make the meeting as productive and beneficial to all as possible. Do all of these in a loving Christ-like spirit and manor, and you will have the greatest opportunity for success possible.
For the week of Feb 5th, 09
When a staff member brings a report to a church board, there should be a defined reason and intended goal to be accomplished with having them do such. Staff are not often asked to attend such meetings, with the exception of a senior pastor who is the chair in the Wesleyan Church and within other denominations, and thus their time there should be planned with a goal in mind. Often if being asked to come, there is a possible position change or something within their particular area of ministry is being questioned about. Here are some ideas as to what a staff member might try to make the most of such an appearance before the board.
1. Be prepared and ready to give your presentation if you are asked to bring such.
2. Have your materials and information ready right at the beginning of the meeting in case you are asked to go first, which often happens, so that you can then be excused from the meeting after you have finished.
3. Get the necessary information into the hands of the board members. Often you will be asked to submit your data ahead of time so that it can be added into the folders or handouts that each member of the board receives. Along with this, make sure that the information is accurate and checked for errors. Do not allow this opportunity to become an embarrassing one.
4. Speak clearly and loudly enough for all to hear you.
5. Present the material in a way that will logically make sense and do so in as concise and time effective way.
With these suggestions and strategies is mind, a staff member will be able to make a good and hopefully a positive and productive effect in the meeting. This will give the board a sense that they have qualified people and it may provide you with the approval that you were looking for from them. Remember, it is all about presentation, and making sure that you are doing the proper prep work to make the meeting as productive and beneficial to all as possible. Do all of these in a loving Christ-like spirit and manor, and you will have the greatest opportunity for success possible.
Week Ten - People Work - Anton Folz March 22nd 09
Week Ten People Work
Anton Folz
March 21st, 09
Working in the church truly is all about the people. As a minister, one is called by God to serve His people for their entire lifetime. So while having great biblical insight is essential for the correct teaching and training of lay people in the church, and senior pastor must also be able to work with many types of people, and they must be willing and prepared to work even with those that are going to require extra grace to get along with. There are many ways in which a young college aged student or interning pastor can develop these skills, which will become vitally crucial within the first week of ministry.
The first way, and maybe even the best way is to get involved in the local church NOW! There is no time like the present for a young man or woman that has been called by God to go into fulltime ministry to start attending and working in the local church right away. They may not get to start off in the area of ministry that they would like to end up working with, but anywhere is a great start, and it may lead into something else along the way. By getting involved, one is training and teaching themselves how to work with church people, while they are still in school. This will begin to train them to work with multi-generational and multi-cultural people. Often the temptation is for students to do all that “church stuff” in the future, but the reality is, that if one does not start now, then they may be out of the loop. Once they get out of school, they will be so out of touch that no church will want them to come and pastor there. This then leads to a second way in which ministers in training can develop.
One of the next best ways to train yourself to work with all sorts of people is to place yourself in the areas that you might not always be the most comfortable. By this, it is meant that students and young people going into ministry should try internships and summer jobs/volunteer positions that are going to stretch and help them to grow. Just as one places themselves in the means of grace, such as church and the preaching of the Word, in the same way these can be means of God’s grace to help them to grow also. This can be training on how one can work with and get along with people that are not from the same background or area of the world, and thus help one to experience and appreciate the larger Christian body that exists within the body of Christ.
When it comes right down to is, education in a college or seminary community is excellent, but it needs to be supplemented with others things that are going to help young ministers to grow. In order to fulfill the great commission and to be effective as a pastor, men and women are going to need more than jus the head knowledge, and that is why it is also very effective to work within the local church and community services now while they are training.
Anton Folz
March 21st, 09
Working in the church truly is all about the people. As a minister, one is called by God to serve His people for their entire lifetime. So while having great biblical insight is essential for the correct teaching and training of lay people in the church, and senior pastor must also be able to work with many types of people, and they must be willing and prepared to work even with those that are going to require extra grace to get along with. There are many ways in which a young college aged student or interning pastor can develop these skills, which will become vitally crucial within the first week of ministry.
The first way, and maybe even the best way is to get involved in the local church NOW! There is no time like the present for a young man or woman that has been called by God to go into fulltime ministry to start attending and working in the local church right away. They may not get to start off in the area of ministry that they would like to end up working with, but anywhere is a great start, and it may lead into something else along the way. By getting involved, one is training and teaching themselves how to work with church people, while they are still in school. This will begin to train them to work with multi-generational and multi-cultural people. Often the temptation is for students to do all that “church stuff” in the future, but the reality is, that if one does not start now, then they may be out of the loop. Once they get out of school, they will be so out of touch that no church will want them to come and pastor there. This then leads to a second way in which ministers in training can develop.
One of the next best ways to train yourself to work with all sorts of people is to place yourself in the areas that you might not always be the most comfortable. By this, it is meant that students and young people going into ministry should try internships and summer jobs/volunteer positions that are going to stretch and help them to grow. Just as one places themselves in the means of grace, such as church and the preaching of the Word, in the same way these can be means of God’s grace to help them to grow also. This can be training on how one can work with and get along with people that are not from the same background or area of the world, and thus help one to experience and appreciate the larger Christian body that exists within the body of Christ.
When it comes right down to is, education in a college or seminary community is excellent, but it needs to be supplemented with others things that are going to help young ministers to grow. In order to fulfill the great commission and to be effective as a pastor, men and women are going to need more than jus the head knowledge, and that is why it is also very effective to work within the local church and community services now while they are training.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Week 9 - Thurs. - Josh
3/19 - Thurs.
Leadership Characteristics
Attractive characteristics of a church leader
1. patience
2. diffuse hostility
3. delegate resources
4. supportive of subordinates
5. supportive of superiors
6. continually growing
7. invested in building others
Leadership Characteristics
Attractive characteristics of a church leader
1. patience
2. diffuse hostility
3. delegate resources
4. supportive of subordinates
5. supportive of superiors
6. continually growing
7. invested in building others
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Week 9 Anton Folz March 18th 09 Church Leadership
Week 9
Leadership characteristics
Anton Folz
March 18th 09
Leadership Characteristics
Within the life of the local church, there are always going to be some pastors and leaders in the church that are able to connect with and gain volunteers more effectively than others. There often seems to be an attractiveness that brings volunteers to want to join in and help with the area of ministry that the particular staff person is involved in. Some of these characteristics are simply a matter of an attractive and enjoyable personality, but others are characteristics and techniques that any pastors can work on to become better at attracting and maintaining volunteers. The question of what makes people follow a certain pastor is a great one to wrestle with and to think about, because it then helps one identify where one can change and improve themselves to becomes more of a desirable leader figure to volunteer under. Below is an annotated list of the main things that cause people to want to serve under a particular minister.
1) They have an open and inviting personality
2) They allow and encourage creativity
3) They offer advice and suggestions in appropriate ways and in a Christ-like manor
4) Leaders that offer several ways for people to volunteer, and thus make sure that people are serving in an area that God has gifted them in.
5) They are active and sharing insights and passions for the ministry with all members of the team
6) They are not hesitant to share the ministry victories with volunteers when such credit and accomplishment is due.
7) They use encouraging means through which to boost the moral of the volunteers.
8) They make sure the volunteer environment is one that is safe, enjoyable, and reasonably not overbearing on the volunteer.
9) They must be willing to share in a few laughs now and again to keep the mode lighthearted and joyful.
Leadership characteristics
Anton Folz
March 18th 09
Leadership Characteristics
Within the life of the local church, there are always going to be some pastors and leaders in the church that are able to connect with and gain volunteers more effectively than others. There often seems to be an attractiveness that brings volunteers to want to join in and help with the area of ministry that the particular staff person is involved in. Some of these characteristics are simply a matter of an attractive and enjoyable personality, but others are characteristics and techniques that any pastors can work on to become better at attracting and maintaining volunteers. The question of what makes people follow a certain pastor is a great one to wrestle with and to think about, because it then helps one identify where one can change and improve themselves to becomes more of a desirable leader figure to volunteer under. Below is an annotated list of the main things that cause people to want to serve under a particular minister.
1) They have an open and inviting personality
2) They allow and encourage creativity
3) They offer advice and suggestions in appropriate ways and in a Christ-like manor
4) Leaders that offer several ways for people to volunteer, and thus make sure that people are serving in an area that God has gifted them in.
5) They are active and sharing insights and passions for the ministry with all members of the team
6) They are not hesitant to share the ministry victories with volunteers when such credit and accomplishment is due.
7) They use encouraging means through which to boost the moral of the volunteers.
8) They make sure the volunteer environment is one that is safe, enjoyable, and reasonably not overbearing on the volunteer.
9) They must be willing to share in a few laughs now and again to keep the mode lighthearted and joyful.
Week 9: Leadership Characteristics>>>Trenton Prieshoff
Where to start...where to start?
At my church I am quite sure a majority of the congregation not only loves Pastor, but would not hesitate to take a bullet for him. Here are some reasons I think why:
1. He has told me he doesn't think the world needs any more information, only motivation. He seeks in everything he does to encourage people and inspire people to action. He keeps things simple and powerful without a lot of "intellectual fluff."
2. He told me that when money is involved, it is business not just ministry. He is very responsible with money and resources in general, making sure to get the most out all the church's assets
3. He arrives first and leaves last. Which shows the church that he is dedicated and hard-working.
4. In all the nine years of their ministry at the church, he has never taken a raise even though he is primarily in charge of how the finances are dispersed. When he is given responsibility, he is honest and giving.
5. He practices what he preaches. The messages he preaches are not only evident in how he acts the next week, but how he has always been.
6. When applying a message, he draws attention to other ministries and the people involved with them, both giving credit to others and showing that the ministry of the church is not all about him even if he is the primary face of the church.
7. Being bi-vocational, the congregation can really relate to him as a member of their community and a co-worker.
At my church I am quite sure a majority of the congregation not only loves Pastor, but would not hesitate to take a bullet for him. Here are some reasons I think why:
1. He has told me he doesn't think the world needs any more information, only motivation. He seeks in everything he does to encourage people and inspire people to action. He keeps things simple and powerful without a lot of "intellectual fluff."
2. He told me that when money is involved, it is business not just ministry. He is very responsible with money and resources in general, making sure to get the most out all the church's assets
3. He arrives first and leaves last. Which shows the church that he is dedicated and hard-working.
4. In all the nine years of their ministry at the church, he has never taken a raise even though he is primarily in charge of how the finances are dispersed. When he is given responsibility, he is honest and giving.
5. He practices what he preaches. The messages he preaches are not only evident in how he acts the next week, but how he has always been.
6. When applying a message, he draws attention to other ministries and the people involved with them, both giving credit to others and showing that the ministry of the church is not all about him even if he is the primary face of the church.
7. Being bi-vocational, the congregation can really relate to him as a member of their community and a co-worker.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Week 9: Firing a Teacher>>>Trenton Prieshoff
God's House Ministries
Pastor Ryan McCarty
God's House actually runs entirely on volunteers. Therefore, firing is never really an issue. Pastor said when it comes to someone who is ineffective, they take a chance to sit down with them and talk about what their feelings are about their ministry (they might even meet with other leaders throughout the week so they don't feel like they are the only one being singled out). Often, if they are being ineffective, it is because they aren't motivated to do it. He said they'll try to find another area the volunteer can fit into.
I forgot: the very first thing he said they do is make sure they are not the ones who failed the teacher. He first makes sure that he has done everything he can to equip and empower and help the teacher because it would be a shame to move someone out of a ministry when he was the one at fault.
Even though God's House is run by volunteers, when anything involves money, it is business. When it comes to buying supplies, he expects people not to rip him off or not do a careful job because "it's only for a church." In the same way, if someone is getting paid and they aren't producing, it's not ministry, it's business.
Pastor Ryan McCarty
God's House actually runs entirely on volunteers. Therefore, firing is never really an issue. Pastor said when it comes to someone who is ineffective, they take a chance to sit down with them and talk about what their feelings are about their ministry (they might even meet with other leaders throughout the week so they don't feel like they are the only one being singled out). Often, if they are being ineffective, it is because they aren't motivated to do it. He said they'll try to find another area the volunteer can fit into.
I forgot: the very first thing he said they do is make sure they are not the ones who failed the teacher. He first makes sure that he has done everything he can to equip and empower and help the teacher because it would be a shame to move someone out of a ministry when he was the one at fault.
Even though God's House is run by volunteers, when anything involves money, it is business. When it comes to buying supplies, he expects people not to rip him off or not do a careful job because "it's only for a church." In the same way, if someone is getting paid and they aren't producing, it's not ministry, it's business.
Week 8: Conflict>>>Trenton Prieshoff
I am told that conflict is everywhere, that it is kind of a natural result of people living in community. Conflict, so I'm told, is not all bad. I'm not sure whether to think conflict is a result of the fall or whether there will be conflict in eternity...it's not really in my jurisdiction to decide. What I do know is that the kinds of conflict we have discussed in our interviews (not so much the ones from class) are mostly schismatic. The church, being a community of believers amongst other things, sets itself up for conflict just by the nature of what it is: a community. When the church is supposed to be "one" it is easy to often look as if the church is hypocritical and very much not "one."
While well-mediated conflict has a way of drawing people closer, Scripture is pretty one-sided about what needs to be done with conflict. It must be resolved and it must end in love.
While well-mediated conflict has a way of drawing people closer, Scripture is pretty one-sided about what needs to be done with conflict. It must be resolved and it must end in love.
Week Nine- Firing a Teacher - Anton Folz March 16th 09
Week 9
Anton Folz
Firing a Teacher
March 16th, 09
1. I interviewed Rev. Brad Terhune from Lakeview Wesleyan Church on March 16th 09
This is the advice that he gave…
2. First of all, you must realize the type of teaching situation that they are in. It they are in an “elective” types teaching setting and are ineffective, then Pastor Brad suggested starting a new venue of Sunday school class to help meet the needs of those that are not being fed in the former class. If both classes still continue on, then great, but if all the students start attending the new class, then you can simply show the former teacher that they could be used somewhere else. Often times, the old group will only be ineffective for some, and thus will still work for many to learn, but just will never bring any new people in.
In the case that it is not an elective type teaching setting, and is instead the third grade Sunday school teacher, then you should first talk to the teacher and see how you can help them through verbal communication. If that does not help, make sure to check out at least one of the class sessions yourself and see what the ineffectiveness all contains. It might be during this time that you realize that the teacher is really suited and gifted to teach another area, and thus you should suggest that they try working with that other age. Everyone has a place in the body, and thus everyone is able to work within the life of the church. You as the spiritual leader might need to help people realize where that is for them.
Anton Folz
Firing a Teacher
March 16th, 09
1. I interviewed Rev. Brad Terhune from Lakeview Wesleyan Church on March 16th 09
This is the advice that he gave…
2. First of all, you must realize the type of teaching situation that they are in. It they are in an “elective” types teaching setting and are ineffective, then Pastor Brad suggested starting a new venue of Sunday school class to help meet the needs of those that are not being fed in the former class. If both classes still continue on, then great, but if all the students start attending the new class, then you can simply show the former teacher that they could be used somewhere else. Often times, the old group will only be ineffective for some, and thus will still work for many to learn, but just will never bring any new people in.
In the case that it is not an elective type teaching setting, and is instead the third grade Sunday school teacher, then you should first talk to the teacher and see how you can help them through verbal communication. If that does not help, make sure to check out at least one of the class sessions yourself and see what the ineffectiveness all contains. It might be during this time that you realize that the teacher is really suited and gifted to teach another area, and thus you should suggest that they try working with that other age. Everyone has a place in the body, and thus everyone is able to work within the life of the church. You as the spiritual leader might need to help people realize where that is for them.
Week Eight – Leadership Characteristics – David
What makes people want to follow a leader?
An effective leader:
1. Can lead UP to those above them, ACROSS to their peers, and DOWN to those under them.
2. Knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
3. Lives out the vision.
4. Takes something complicated and makes it simple.
5. Communicates clearly and in good order by laying out the goals and principles.
6. Gives others authority and hold them accountable.
7. Is trustworthy and extends trust to other.
Week Eight – Firing a Teacher – David Bell
Firing a teacher
Brookhaven Wesleyan ChurchI interviewed Pastor John Walton the assistant pastorMarch 16, 2009
How do you get rid of an ineffective teacher?
The first thing that Pastor John said was that “you shouldn’t have one” I thought that was pretty funny.
1. Communicate: first we need to communicate that there is an issue.
2. Replace: tell them you have some one who will come in and replace them.
3. Respond: tell then why you are replacing them.
4. Reposition (depends on situation): Move him to another area where he can be an assistance to someone. Bump him down to a more “hands on” kind of job rather than a “lecture-based” job.
5. Rejuvenate them to a different interest. Sell them to a different job. Just because one is bad in one area, does not mean that they are inefficient at life. Pastor John says that “failure is the event, not the person”. Everyone has strengths; we just have to utilize them… Let the inefficient teacher know that all have gifts and help plug them into a position of their own interest.
Brookhaven Wesleyan ChurchI interviewed Pastor John Walton the assistant pastorMarch 16, 2009
How do you get rid of an ineffective teacher?
The first thing that Pastor John said was that “you shouldn’t have one” I thought that was pretty funny.
1. Communicate: first we need to communicate that there is an issue.
2. Replace: tell them you have some one who will come in and replace them.
3. Respond: tell then why you are replacing them.
4. Reposition (depends on situation): Move him to another area where he can be an assistance to someone. Bump him down to a more “hands on” kind of job rather than a “lecture-based” job.
5. Rejuvenate them to a different interest. Sell them to a different job. Just because one is bad in one area, does not mean that they are inefficient at life. Pastor John says that “failure is the event, not the person”. Everyone has strengths; we just have to utilize them… Let the inefficient teacher know that all have gifts and help plug them into a position of their own interest.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Week 8: Conflict - Anton Folz March 12th 09
Week 8; Conflict
Anton Folz
March 12th, 09
Conflict is an unavoidable truth and aspect of human life and interaction. Whenever people are together and a part of the same organization or family, there will inevitably be some sort of conflict at some point or another. Within the Christian Church, conflict is also present and provides a divisive and potentially devastating effect on church members if left unresolved and allowed to gain momentum. As can be seen in the biblical text, conflict is also not a new thing in the Christian Church, but instead it is something that people have had to deal with and work through since the very beginning of mankind. So with this, theological understanding and insights can be drawn regarding interpersonal conflict, and how it might be resolved. Below is an annotated list of insights about theological considerations on the issue of conflict between people.
1. Firstly, there is this idea that a human is in a terrible situation when they are conflict with other people. Not only is that relationship marred and possibly at risk, but their relationship with God is also effected. Jesus teaches that if a man is sacrificing and realizes that he is not right with a brother, then he should leave the sacrifice there, go make amends, and then come back and sacrifice. Thus it seems that true worship of God is not possible without right relationship with other humans.
2. Next we see that people are in dire need to resolve interpersonal conflict for their own sake. Jesus teaches that when a man is being taken to court to settle a debt and man should make every effort possible to resolve the issue without the court system so that they might not be placed in prison, and left to die. Jesus makes the point that interpersonal conflict is best resolved without getting legal systems involved when possible because of the repercussions that might ensue.
3. We also see that leaving conflict unresolved causes negative effects on our relationships with others. Jesus teaches that a man should not go to bed at night still mad with another person because that has the possibility to foster even more strife, possibly even to the point of hatred.
Thus in conclusion, it can bee seen and noted that the Bible is quite one-sided on this issue of interpersonal conflict. It seem to suggest that all efforts should be made to attempt to resolve and restore relationships rather than tear them apart or allow them to go unchanged. Jesus himself modeled and taught that fact that Christians are to turn the other cheek when struck and to love even their enemies. Relationships so very important that they affect us, people around us, and even our ability to worship the Lord. Conflict must be minimized in the Christian Church, and when present, it must be resolved.
Anton Folz
March 12th, 09
Conflict is an unavoidable truth and aspect of human life and interaction. Whenever people are together and a part of the same organization or family, there will inevitably be some sort of conflict at some point or another. Within the Christian Church, conflict is also present and provides a divisive and potentially devastating effect on church members if left unresolved and allowed to gain momentum. As can be seen in the biblical text, conflict is also not a new thing in the Christian Church, but instead it is something that people have had to deal with and work through since the very beginning of mankind. So with this, theological understanding and insights can be drawn regarding interpersonal conflict, and how it might be resolved. Below is an annotated list of insights about theological considerations on the issue of conflict between people.
1. Firstly, there is this idea that a human is in a terrible situation when they are conflict with other people. Not only is that relationship marred and possibly at risk, but their relationship with God is also effected. Jesus teaches that if a man is sacrificing and realizes that he is not right with a brother, then he should leave the sacrifice there, go make amends, and then come back and sacrifice. Thus it seems that true worship of God is not possible without right relationship with other humans.
2. Next we see that people are in dire need to resolve interpersonal conflict for their own sake. Jesus teaches that when a man is being taken to court to settle a debt and man should make every effort possible to resolve the issue without the court system so that they might not be placed in prison, and left to die. Jesus makes the point that interpersonal conflict is best resolved without getting legal systems involved when possible because of the repercussions that might ensue.
3. We also see that leaving conflict unresolved causes negative effects on our relationships with others. Jesus teaches that a man should not go to bed at night still mad with another person because that has the possibility to foster even more strife, possibly even to the point of hatred.
Thus in conclusion, it can bee seen and noted that the Bible is quite one-sided on this issue of interpersonal conflict. It seem to suggest that all efforts should be made to attempt to resolve and restore relationships rather than tear them apart or allow them to go unchanged. Jesus himself modeled and taught that fact that Christians are to turn the other cheek when struck and to love even their enemies. Relationships so very important that they affect us, people around us, and even our ability to worship the Lord. Conflict must be minimized in the Christian Church, and when present, it must be resolved.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
week 8: Motivating Volunteers>>>Trenton Prieshoff
God's House Ministries
February 22, 2009
Pastor said he does not feel it is his objective in life to add any more information to the world. There is information everywhere and if new information is all people want they can get it from anywhere. Instead, he said his desire is to instill the world world with inspiration. Every week in writing his sermons, he told me he always asks himself "Would this inspire me? Would it inspire someone who doesn't go to God's House to find out more? Would it inspire the regular people to find places they can get involved?"
Though it is difficult to lay out a "plan" for motivating volunteers by Pastor's method, I can tell you it works. At God's House, the entire church is run by volunteers: a church of more than 400 and our pastor is still bi-vocational. Some things he does practically are: He mentions several ministries (and the people involved) during his sermons to add to his point, to show how God is providing, and to show how others are serving.
One other thing is about every quarter, he has a volunteer meeting with free pizza! The meeting is for anyone who volunteers or is interested in volunteering. During the meeting, he draws attention to the ministries that are going on. He brings the leaders forward, thanks them for all they've done, prays over them, and points people to those leaders so they know who to go to when they want to get involved.
February 22, 2009
Pastor said he does not feel it is his objective in life to add any more information to the world. There is information everywhere and if new information is all people want they can get it from anywhere. Instead, he said his desire is to instill the world world with inspiration. Every week in writing his sermons, he told me he always asks himself "Would this inspire me? Would it inspire someone who doesn't go to God's House to find out more? Would it inspire the regular people to find places they can get involved?"
Though it is difficult to lay out a "plan" for motivating volunteers by Pastor's method, I can tell you it works. At God's House, the entire church is run by volunteers: a church of more than 400 and our pastor is still bi-vocational. Some things he does practically are: He mentions several ministries (and the people involved) during his sermons to add to his point, to show how God is providing, and to show how others are serving.
One other thing is about every quarter, he has a volunteer meeting with free pizza! The meeting is for anyone who volunteers or is interested in volunteering. During the meeting, he draws attention to the ministries that are going on. He brings the leaders forward, thanks them for all they've done, prays over them, and points people to those leaders so they know who to go to when they want to get involved.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Week Seven – Conflict – David
Insights on conflict from a theological perspective:
1. Conflict is an inevitable part of living
2. Resolution and prevention of interpersonal conflict is most important because it can destroy our relationship with God
3. Christianity has to do with man's relationships with others; there are many passages that talk about dealing with conflict: Matthew 5:21-24; 1 Peter 3:7; 1 John 3:15-18; 4:20
4. Both parties involved in conflict have a responsibility to communicate with each other. Jesus said, " . . . if thou . . . remember that they brother hath aught against thee . . . go thy way . . . be reconciled top thy brother." (Matthew 5:23) This verse teaches that the one who did the offending, the offender has an obligation to communicate to the one offended. If the brother has aught against you, then you have offended him. Matthew 18:15 says, " . . . if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone . . . " Jesus indicates that the one that is offended also has a duty to communicate to the offender. There can be no stalemate. One is not to wait on the other to make the first move. Both are responsible for making the first overture in reconciliation.
5. Interpersonal conflicts must be kept very personal for the benefit of all. Jesus said, “. . . tell him his fault between thee and him alone . . . " (Matthew 18:15) it is very tempting to tell others to get sympathy or supporters for our cause. The proper love for another would demand that one not tell others. It would save embarrassment on the part of both the offender and the offended.
Things are not always what we perceive them to be. (Mark 4:12) If our perception of a situation is wrong and we tell others before confronting the person involved, then we have dealt a grave injustice in regards to the truth and the one involved. How many times have people said, "Oh, if I only had a chance to explain." A distorted perception may cause one to see a problem that does not exist. If publicized, one is guilty of telling something that is not true and iniquity abounds! Confidentiality would save trouble and embarrassment for all.
6. There is much wisdom in keeping interpersonal conflict confidential. Such a practice would prevent gossip, more misunderstanding, more hurt feelings, dissension, and strife among family, friends, and brethren. Too many times we are guilty of getting things blown out of proportion by those who do not understand all the facts surrounding the circumstance.
Resources:
http://www.abacon.com/commstudies/interpersonal/inconflict.html
http://www.drbalternatives.com/articles/cc2.html
http://www.focusongod.com/
1. Conflict is an inevitable part of living
2. Resolution and prevention of interpersonal conflict is most important because it can destroy our relationship with God
3. Christianity has to do with man's relationships with others; there are many passages that talk about dealing with conflict: Matthew 5:21-24; 1 Peter 3:7; 1 John 3:15-18; 4:20
4. Both parties involved in conflict have a responsibility to communicate with each other. Jesus said, " . . . if thou . . . remember that they brother hath aught against thee . . . go thy way . . . be reconciled top thy brother." (Matthew 5:23) This verse teaches that the one who did the offending, the offender has an obligation to communicate to the one offended. If the brother has aught against you, then you have offended him. Matthew 18:15 says, " . . . if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone . . . " Jesus indicates that the one that is offended also has a duty to communicate to the offender. There can be no stalemate. One is not to wait on the other to make the first move. Both are responsible for making the first overture in reconciliation.
5. Interpersonal conflicts must be kept very personal for the benefit of all. Jesus said, “. . . tell him his fault between thee and him alone . . . " (Matthew 18:15) it is very tempting to tell others to get sympathy or supporters for our cause. The proper love for another would demand that one not tell others. It would save embarrassment on the part of both the offender and the offended.
Things are not always what we perceive them to be. (Mark 4:12) If our perception of a situation is wrong and we tell others before confronting the person involved, then we have dealt a grave injustice in regards to the truth and the one involved. How many times have people said, "Oh, if I only had a chance to explain." A distorted perception may cause one to see a problem that does not exist. If publicized, one is guilty of telling something that is not true and iniquity abounds! Confidentiality would save trouble and embarrassment for all.
6. There is much wisdom in keeping interpersonal conflict confidential. Such a practice would prevent gossip, more misunderstanding, more hurt feelings, dissension, and strife among family, friends, and brethren. Too many times we are guilty of getting things blown out of proportion by those who do not understand all the facts surrounding the circumstance.
Resources:
http://www.abacon.com/commstudies/interpersonal/inconflict.html
http://www.drbalternatives.com/articles/cc2.html
http://www.focusongod.com/
Week Seven – Motivating Volunteers – David
Motivating Volunteers
Brookhaven Wesleyan Church
I interviewed Pastor John Walton the assistant pastor
March 9, 2009
1. Lead by example: do not ask them to do something you are not willing to do
2. Be practical with your expectations: do not expect them to do everything
3. Have clear communication: clearly state the job you want them to do
4. Give reasonable expectations (time commitments): how much, how often… build a rotation
5. Give positive affirmation and feedback
6. It depends on who you ask and how you ask it…. Pray for whom it is you should ask.
Brookhaven Wesleyan Church
I interviewed Pastor John Walton the assistant pastor
March 9, 2009
1. Lead by example: do not ask them to do something you are not willing to do
2. Be practical with your expectations: do not expect them to do everything
3. Have clear communication: clearly state the job you want them to do
4. Give reasonable expectations (time commitments): how much, how often… build a rotation
5. Give positive affirmation and feedback
6. It depends on who you ask and how you ask it…. Pray for whom it is you should ask.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Week 7 - Thurs. - Josh
Week 7 – Thursday
2/26/09
People – Campus vs. Church
I am thinking about the difference between getting along with people at college and getting along with people in a church, and I am getting a little nervous. Things are going to be very different next year. Anyway the first differences I see are:
1) At college everyone is my peer. That will not be the case when working in a church setting, in fact when working with youth ministry most people will be dramatically younger (the students) or dramatically older (sponsors, board, other pastors, parents of students). The people that I hope will bend to my leadership over the youth ministry will have been around the block a few more times than I have; they will know more about life than I do. (Hopefully being married already will level the field a few millimeters in their eyes).
2) At college those over me are paid to help me. Here at IWU I pay a nice big tuition, and a portion of that tuition then goes into my professor’s pockets. In return I get their time, their knowledge, their resources, and their patience. (Not saying you are only patient because of the money.) In the world after college the pastors and parents are not paid to look out for my development, to do their best to make sure I succeed. I am expected to succeed because they pay me.
3) At college the niceties only need to last four year. Despite the expected short life span of youth pastors, you have to prepare your relationships for the long haul. When you meet someone at college that you don’t like but are forced to work with it is usually just for a short stint of a project or a semester class, and at the most, they may follow you around for the four years you attend. At a church, those people you don’t like may be there the entire life of your ministry. Plus, as the pastor you are expected to meet all their annoying qualities with grace, patience, and the love of God (even those only God could love.) relationships have to go beyond niceties and develop into a ministry with others that edify not only them, but your own life.
2/26/09
People – Campus vs. Church
I am thinking about the difference between getting along with people at college and getting along with people in a church, and I am getting a little nervous. Things are going to be very different next year. Anyway the first differences I see are:
1) At college everyone is my peer. That will not be the case when working in a church setting, in fact when working with youth ministry most people will be dramatically younger (the students) or dramatically older (sponsors, board, other pastors, parents of students). The people that I hope will bend to my leadership over the youth ministry will have been around the block a few more times than I have; they will know more about life than I do. (Hopefully being married already will level the field a few millimeters in their eyes).
2) At college those over me are paid to help me. Here at IWU I pay a nice big tuition, and a portion of that tuition then goes into my professor’s pockets. In return I get their time, their knowledge, their resources, and their patience. (Not saying you are only patient because of the money.) In the world after college the pastors and parents are not paid to look out for my development, to do their best to make sure I succeed. I am expected to succeed because they pay me.
3) At college the niceties only need to last four year. Despite the expected short life span of youth pastors, you have to prepare your relationships for the long haul. When you meet someone at college that you don’t like but are forced to work with it is usually just for a short stint of a project or a semester class, and at the most, they may follow you around for the four years you attend. At a church, those people you don’t like may be there the entire life of your ministry. Plus, as the pastor you are expected to meet all their annoying qualities with grace, patience, and the love of God (even those only God could love.) relationships have to go beyond niceties and develop into a ministry with others that edify not only them, but your own life.
Week 7: Church vs. Campus>>>Trenton Prieshoff
1. I think the most blatant difference is the age gap. On campus, we have very few interactions with anyone very much older or very much younger than us. In church, however, we will need to be adept at communicating with everyone, from the very elderly to the smallest children.
2. Another one which is very closely related to the first is that on campus we are around people who have many of the same views and ideals as us. While we might all disagree about how to go about doing anything, because we are from the same generation, we generally agree on several key distinctives of the postmodern generation (ie, evangelism should not be forced and needs to involve relationship, tolerance and peace are of utmost importance) In the church, we will confront people of many worldviews, even ones we don't yet understand as the next generation is coming up.
3. Shared experience is another. On campus, we can (if we wanted to) strike up a conversation with anyone because if nothing else, we all have very specific shared experiences (ie, we don't like Baldwin, McConn is great, chapel was alright today, homework, professors, living in the dorms, UNV-180, etc.). In the church, we do not spend every waking moment with the same groups of people. We have to be very deliberate in creating shared experiences in order to have the same comeraderie.
4. On campus, there is a lot of drama and conflict flares up quickly. Because it is a generally small campus, you can't avoid someone you have a problem with forever. In the church, there is also a lot of drama and conflict flares up quickly. However, because of the limited interaction, that conflict can brew much longer to a point that when it finally does explode, it is nearly impossible to manage.
5. A common element is this: People are people. If you are bad at confronting people now, you will be bad at it in the church. If you cannot mediate conflict now, you will not be able to mediate it in the church. Everyone likes free food and everyone likes a chance to get out.
2. Another one which is very closely related to the first is that on campus we are around people who have many of the same views and ideals as us. While we might all disagree about how to go about doing anything, because we are from the same generation, we generally agree on several key distinctives of the postmodern generation (ie, evangelism should not be forced and needs to involve relationship, tolerance and peace are of utmost importance) In the church, we will confront people of many worldviews, even ones we don't yet understand as the next generation is coming up.
3. Shared experience is another. On campus, we can (if we wanted to) strike up a conversation with anyone because if nothing else, we all have very specific shared experiences (ie, we don't like Baldwin, McConn is great, chapel was alright today, homework, professors, living in the dorms, UNV-180, etc.). In the church, we do not spend every waking moment with the same groups of people. We have to be very deliberate in creating shared experiences in order to have the same comeraderie.
4. On campus, there is a lot of drama and conflict flares up quickly. Because it is a generally small campus, you can't avoid someone you have a problem with forever. In the church, there is also a lot of drama and conflict flares up quickly. However, because of the limited interaction, that conflict can brew much longer to a point that when it finally does explode, it is nearly impossible to manage.
5. A common element is this: People are people. If you are bad at confronting people now, you will be bad at it in the church. If you cannot mediate conflict now, you will not be able to mediate it in the church. Everyone likes free food and everyone likes a chance to get out.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Week 7 Essay - People - Church VS. Campus
Week 7 Essay – People – Campus VS. Church
Feb 26th, 09 Anton Folz
Within college and church people involvement, there are main key areas in which the two differ. Three areas in which one is able to clearly see how relationship people on a college campus is far different than that of church relationships would be in the areas of proximity, length of relationship, and responsibility. In each of these three areas, one may find it much harder to “get along with” people in the church, than it ever was to get along with the people that you attended college with. Although there may be some in your college that also attend the church that you work at, that does not negate the fact that there are some large barriers or mental blocks that one is going to have to be able to understand that get over if they want to be effective and last in fulltime ministry.
Looking first at proximity of relationships, one is able to recognize that while they might be living in a rather small community of college students on a campus, they may be able to avoid people that are hard to get along with even easier and with less consequent than that of a person on staff at a church. Once you are in a church ministering, you are connected to those people that have been entrusted into you care, and you are not able to simply avoid them as you would someone that you disliked on a college campus. It is easy to blend in, and even at times pretend not to notice a person that you do not want to talk to on a college campus, but if you do that in a church it could mean your jobs because of the loss of favor with the people.
Secondly, one is able to see that length of relationships in churches and college campuses is often far different. When you are on a college campus, you are generally working off of a presupposition that everyone has only known everyone else for three or four years at the most. On the other hand, in church there may be families that have been a part of the church for several generations. By having longer lengths of time to work with, it can mean that strong ties are or can be made. Some of which might be helpful and glorifying, and others that are negative and destructive. When we are in a church setting, we are faced with the obligation to get along with all people, because most likely they are not going anywhere unless they move or gain a different job.
Lastly, looking at how responsibility plays a role in the difference in people relations in both settings, it can be noted that God has assigned a pastoral minister to these people. As a pastor is called to work with a congregation, they take on the responsibility that God has placed these people into their care, and thus their physical and spiritual well being is in their hands. Pastors cannot run and hide from those that are entrusted into their care, and thus church relationships can be very tough and yet a necessary aspect of their job.
In conclusion, it seems that relationships in churches are often far more difficult to work with and maintain because of the reasons that have been listed. As a pastor takes on responsibility for a group of people, they must be willing and adaptable to work with whomever it is that they have been given to work with and minister too. God loves all humanity, and He calls ministers to provide spiritual guidance for all people no matter if they are annoying or not. Thus it seems that church relationships are far more difficult than college campus ones due to their length, responsibility level, and proximity in living area.
Feb 26th, 09 Anton Folz
Within college and church people involvement, there are main key areas in which the two differ. Three areas in which one is able to clearly see how relationship people on a college campus is far different than that of church relationships would be in the areas of proximity, length of relationship, and responsibility. In each of these three areas, one may find it much harder to “get along with” people in the church, than it ever was to get along with the people that you attended college with. Although there may be some in your college that also attend the church that you work at, that does not negate the fact that there are some large barriers or mental blocks that one is going to have to be able to understand that get over if they want to be effective and last in fulltime ministry.
Looking first at proximity of relationships, one is able to recognize that while they might be living in a rather small community of college students on a campus, they may be able to avoid people that are hard to get along with even easier and with less consequent than that of a person on staff at a church. Once you are in a church ministering, you are connected to those people that have been entrusted into you care, and you are not able to simply avoid them as you would someone that you disliked on a college campus. It is easy to blend in, and even at times pretend not to notice a person that you do not want to talk to on a college campus, but if you do that in a church it could mean your jobs because of the loss of favor with the people.
Secondly, one is able to see that length of relationships in churches and college campuses is often far different. When you are on a college campus, you are generally working off of a presupposition that everyone has only known everyone else for three or four years at the most. On the other hand, in church there may be families that have been a part of the church for several generations. By having longer lengths of time to work with, it can mean that strong ties are or can be made. Some of which might be helpful and glorifying, and others that are negative and destructive. When we are in a church setting, we are faced with the obligation to get along with all people, because most likely they are not going anywhere unless they move or gain a different job.
Lastly, looking at how responsibility plays a role in the difference in people relations in both settings, it can be noted that God has assigned a pastoral minister to these people. As a pastor is called to work with a congregation, they take on the responsibility that God has placed these people into their care, and thus their physical and spiritual well being is in their hands. Pastors cannot run and hide from those that are entrusted into their care, and thus church relationships can be very tough and yet a necessary aspect of their job.
In conclusion, it seems that relationships in churches are often far more difficult to work with and maintain because of the reasons that have been listed. As a pastor takes on responsibility for a group of people, they must be willing and adaptable to work with whomever it is that they have been given to work with and minister too. God loves all humanity, and He calls ministers to provide spiritual guidance for all people no matter if they are annoying or not. Thus it seems that church relationships are far more difficult than college campus ones due to their length, responsibility level, and proximity in living area.
Week Six – Campus vs. Church – David
Discuss the difference between getting along with college students compared to getting along with people within the church.
-I am a little confused on how to answer this question, because, to me, the “college crowd” and the “church crowd” could be the same thing.
Campus vs. Church
1. In college I am living with people I am passing by people every hour of the day. In a church I am not going to be living with people or around them all the time.
2. It will be different in the church setting in the future, because I will be in a leadership position, a Pastor. Whereas now in college I am just “one-of-the bunch”.
3.People on campus are young and open to new ideas and change, whereas people in the church traditionally like things to stay the way they are.
4. Here at college most of the people are my age, and everybody else is older and in position of authority of me… where in church I will be with people of all ages, and I will have the position of authority.
-I am a little confused on how to answer this question, because, to me, the “college crowd” and the “church crowd” could be the same thing.
Campus vs. Church
1. In college I am living with people I am passing by people every hour of the day. In a church I am not going to be living with people or around them all the time.
2. It will be different in the church setting in the future, because I will be in a leadership position, a Pastor. Whereas now in college I am just “one-of-the bunch”.
3.People on campus are young and open to new ideas and change, whereas people in the church traditionally like things to stay the way they are.
4. Here at college most of the people are my age, and everybody else is older and in position of authority of me… where in church I will be with people of all ages, and I will have the position of authority.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Week 7 - Tues. - Josh
Week 7
Lakeview Wesleyan Church
Rev. Brad Terhune 2/22/09
Church conflict story:
A youth pastor was on his way to a concert when he came across a road block. That entire side of the interstate was blocked, leaving them with nowhere to go. Most of the traffic was going across the median to the exit on the other side. Now the youth pastor new that this exit would take him to the concert, so he decided to do what the rest of traffic was doing. As the Pastor when across the median in the van with fifteen kids on board, it got stuck in the mud. So he called for a wrecker to pull them out and sent the fifteen kids and two sponsors up the exit to wait at a restaurant. The wrecker got the van pulled out and they load the kids back up and headed out.
The next week the youth pastor told the senior pastor what had transpired over the weekend. The youth pastor paid for the wrecker himself since he felt it was his own doing that got them stuck. So the issue was resolved. I few weeks later a trustee was doing maintenance on the van and found mud stuck under the front bumper. He got very upset about this and wrote a report to the church board about how people are abusing church property. This created conflict between the trustees, the senior pastor, the board, and the youth pastor.
Lakeview Wesleyan Church
Rev. Brad Terhune 2/22/09
Church conflict story:
A youth pastor was on his way to a concert when he came across a road block. That entire side of the interstate was blocked, leaving them with nowhere to go. Most of the traffic was going across the median to the exit on the other side. Now the youth pastor new that this exit would take him to the concert, so he decided to do what the rest of traffic was doing. As the Pastor when across the median in the van with fifteen kids on board, it got stuck in the mud. So he called for a wrecker to pull them out and sent the fifteen kids and two sponsors up the exit to wait at a restaurant. The wrecker got the van pulled out and they load the kids back up and headed out.
The next week the youth pastor told the senior pastor what had transpired over the weekend. The youth pastor paid for the wrecker himself since he felt it was his own doing that got them stuck. So the issue was resolved. I few weeks later a trustee was doing maintenance on the van and found mud stuck under the front bumper. He got very upset about this and wrote a report to the church board about how people are abusing church property. This created conflict between the trustees, the senior pastor, the board, and the youth pastor.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Week Six – Church Conflict Story – David
Church Conflict Story
Brookhaven Wesleyan Church
I interviewed Pastor John Walton the assistant pastor
January 21, 2009
Story in Board Meeting
Pastor John Walton explains a conflict he had in a board meeting in dealing with the mission’s budget. In the meeting, the question was raised, “why is the goal for the faith promise more than the projected income?” for example, The Faith Promise’s projected income is $20,000 and the set goal to reach $30,000. This leaves $10,000 floating somewhere, and the conflict is figuring out where that money is going to come from.
So the questions arise… “How are we going to make up the $10,000? Do we reduce the goal to meet the projected income?”
One side argues that the mission’s board wants to set the goal at $30,000 and it should stay that way because it is called a “Faith Promise”, therefore by faith we need to keep it at $30,000 and trust God to bring in the other $10,000 we need.” On the other side there is an accountant, who thinks and deals with numbers, and he says that we can not do that because $10,000 is going to have to come out of thin air.”
There was a discussion to what the faith promise is going to be and that there is a choice that has to be made; either approve it or not approve it... The board did pass to go with the goal; agreeing that it is a faith promise, and knowing that we have to trust that God will provide what we need.
Brookhaven Wesleyan Church
I interviewed Pastor John Walton the assistant pastor
January 21, 2009
Story in Board Meeting
Pastor John Walton explains a conflict he had in a board meeting in dealing with the mission’s budget. In the meeting, the question was raised, “why is the goal for the faith promise more than the projected income?” for example, The Faith Promise’s projected income is $20,000 and the set goal to reach $30,000. This leaves $10,000 floating somewhere, and the conflict is figuring out where that money is going to come from.
So the questions arise… “How are we going to make up the $10,000? Do we reduce the goal to meet the projected income?”
One side argues that the mission’s board wants to set the goal at $30,000 and it should stay that way because it is called a “Faith Promise”, therefore by faith we need to keep it at $30,000 and trust God to bring in the other $10,000 we need.” On the other side there is an accountant, who thinks and deals with numbers, and he says that we can not do that because $10,000 is going to have to come out of thin air.”
There was a discussion to what the faith promise is going to be and that there is a choice that has to be made; either approve it or not approve it... The board did pass to go with the goal; agreeing that it is a faith promise, and knowing that we have to trust that God will provide what we need.
Week #7 Anton Folz Feb 23rd Church Conflict Story
Week 7 Church Conflict Story
Anton Folz
Feb 23rd, 09
1. Rev. Brad Terhune, after the Sunday Morning service on Feb 22nd
2. The Toilet Filled with Concrete
Rev. Brad shared a story that he knew of a local youth pastor that had been involved in a church conflict. The story is that the youth pastor was doing a fundraiser, and they had poured concrete into the base and back of a toilet to make it super heavy. They then announced that the fundraiser would be conducted in a way that it a member of the church wished to not have the toilet placed in their yard, then they would have to buy toilet insurance, AKA Concrete Poddy insurance.
One of the members of the board, the vice chair to be exact, did not buy insurance for the toilet protection. Consequently, the toilet was delivered and placed in the lawn of this individual, which upset the man greatly. He and a friend moved the toilet by pickup truck to the church and left it there. The Youth pastor then took the toilet back to the house and hooked it up to the man’s chimney on his house and left it there, to moved when they bought the removal service.
This brought a great deal of tension and conflict between the Senior Pastor, the youth Pastor, the board, and the church members that also knew what was going on. What and how would you resolve this?
Anton Folz
Feb 23rd, 09
1. Rev. Brad Terhune, after the Sunday Morning service on Feb 22nd
2. The Toilet Filled with Concrete
Rev. Brad shared a story that he knew of a local youth pastor that had been involved in a church conflict. The story is that the youth pastor was doing a fundraiser, and they had poured concrete into the base and back of a toilet to make it super heavy. They then announced that the fundraiser would be conducted in a way that it a member of the church wished to not have the toilet placed in their yard, then they would have to buy toilet insurance, AKA Concrete Poddy insurance.
One of the members of the board, the vice chair to be exact, did not buy insurance for the toilet protection. Consequently, the toilet was delivered and placed in the lawn of this individual, which upset the man greatly. He and a friend moved the toilet by pickup truck to the church and left it there. The Youth pastor then took the toilet back to the house and hooked it up to the man’s chimney on his house and left it there, to moved when they bought the removal service.
This brought a great deal of tension and conflict between the Senior Pastor, the youth Pastor, the board, and the church members that also knew what was going on. What and how would you resolve this?
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Week 7: Church Conflict Story>>>Trenton Prieshoff
Interviewing Pastor Ryan McCarty
February 22, 2008
Nearly all conflict comes from someone feeling offended, according to Pastor. Typically, when the conflict actually comes up, it is because of ten or twelve offenses. In this particular instance, which it hurt him to relate because it did not end well, a woman was leading a dance ministry for the young girls of the church. She complained to Pastor that it was foolish that the church send as much money as it does to its sister church in Zambia when the girls in their own church cannot participate in the dance ministry because they cannot afford outfits. Her reasoning seemed to be that these inner city girls have a chance to do something that will get them off the street and will help them to express themselves to God in a unique way, but when they can't afford to buy costumes, they can't be a part of this.
Pastor said he and his wife, Katara, first reestablished in their minds what the mission of the church is and then met the woman together (because you don't meet with someone of the opposite sex alone). They thanked her for all the work she did with the dance ministry and made note of the positive effects of the ministry for those girls. They very clearly reaffirmed the mission of the church, that God's House Ministries is about using the money that comes in for the community and for the world, not to build itself up (I'm paraphrasing; he stated it better). They encouraged her to do a fundraiser specifically for the dance team. She did and the fundraiser was a great success and so was the dance ministry.
As Pastor said, though, conflict usually doesn't come up until there are ten or twelve "offenses." This particular woman, had many personal disagreements with Ryan and Katara and was not willing to submit to the kind of mission the church as a whole had determined to be about and left a few years later.
February 22, 2008
Nearly all conflict comes from someone feeling offended, according to Pastor. Typically, when the conflict actually comes up, it is because of ten or twelve offenses. In this particular instance, which it hurt him to relate because it did not end well, a woman was leading a dance ministry for the young girls of the church. She complained to Pastor that it was foolish that the church send as much money as it does to its sister church in Zambia when the girls in their own church cannot participate in the dance ministry because they cannot afford outfits. Her reasoning seemed to be that these inner city girls have a chance to do something that will get them off the street and will help them to express themselves to God in a unique way, but when they can't afford to buy costumes, they can't be a part of this.
Pastor said he and his wife, Katara, first reestablished in their minds what the mission of the church is and then met the woman together (because you don't meet with someone of the opposite sex alone). They thanked her for all the work she did with the dance ministry and made note of the positive effects of the ministry for those girls. They very clearly reaffirmed the mission of the church, that God's House Ministries is about using the money that comes in for the community and for the world, not to build itself up (I'm paraphrasing; he stated it better). They encouraged her to do a fundraiser specifically for the dance team. She did and the fundraiser was a great success and so was the dance ministry.
As Pastor said, though, conflict usually doesn't come up until there are ten or twelve "offenses." This particular woman, had many personal disagreements with Ryan and Katara and was not willing to submit to the kind of mission the church as a whole had determined to be about and left a few years later.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Week 6 - Thurs. - Josh
2/19 - Thurs
Office Work
I see this shift as a negative one. One that may have worked with a baby boomer generation that may want to “see” long hours put in at the office. But in a generation that is driven more on inter-personal and social connections. Slaving to a time-clock will not work in ministry as well as being out and building relationships with people. Ministers should spend as little time as possible holed-up in an “office” or “study”. While time alone to meditate and prepare is of the utmost importance, as much time as possible should be spent outside the church with people. This is especially true in an assistant pastor role when there is less administrative work and you don’t necessarily have to prepare for the Sunday morning sermon. In the past it may have been necessary for pastoral staff, especially the senior pastor, to be in the church office during regular hours so that others knew were to find them, but in a day of cell phones and email, a pastor is freer to be mobile and still remain in contact with other staff and parishioners.
I would hope to spend 50-60 hours a week “doing church stuff” with 20% administrative, 20% preparing, and 60% in relational ministry.
Office Work
I see this shift as a negative one. One that may have worked with a baby boomer generation that may want to “see” long hours put in at the office. But in a generation that is driven more on inter-personal and social connections. Slaving to a time-clock will not work in ministry as well as being out and building relationships with people. Ministers should spend as little time as possible holed-up in an “office” or “study”. While time alone to meditate and prepare is of the utmost importance, as much time as possible should be spent outside the church with people. This is especially true in an assistant pastor role when there is less administrative work and you don’t necessarily have to prepare for the Sunday morning sermon. In the past it may have been necessary for pastoral staff, especially the senior pastor, to be in the church office during regular hours so that others knew were to find them, but in a day of cell phones and email, a pastor is freer to be mobile and still remain in contact with other staff and parishioners.
I would hope to spend 50-60 hours a week “doing church stuff” with 20% administrative, 20% preparing, and 60% in relational ministry.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Week 6: Office Work>>>Trenton Prieshoff
Sometimes I wonder if the development of "office work" was simply to help pastors feel like they have normal jobs. I'm being sarcastic in saying that, but my feeling is that this change is not for the best. Having worked in a church office, I personally feel like it is easy to hide from "calling on people" by hiding behind office hours. I realize others may not have that problem, but the placement in an office carries with it certain obligations which make it easy to feel that you are not free to be with people or free to do other parts of your duties.
The administrative work done in the office is necessary, but I feel the shift with office work is not a mere changing of titles. The shift is diluting the role of the minister from being a very spiritual position by divine appointment to being just another office job with a different product.
In an ideal world...I would want to spend my week in church work between studying and having lunches and other meetings with students to teach and counsel. Like David said, I am planning on most likely being bi-vocational and spending only a few days a week in the office for meeting with the other staff and to use the resources of the church which I can't access from home though, I wouldn't anticipate spending time at home either. I feel I do studying best in coffee shops and restaurants where there are people around but aren't particularly distracting. That is how my pastor does most of his preparation during the week.
The administrative work done in the office is necessary, but I feel the shift with office work is not a mere changing of titles. The shift is diluting the role of the minister from being a very spiritual position by divine appointment to being just another office job with a different product.
In an ideal world...I would want to spend my week in church work between studying and having lunches and other meetings with students to teach and counsel. Like David said, I am planning on most likely being bi-vocational and spending only a few days a week in the office for meeting with the other staff and to use the resources of the church which I can't access from home though, I wouldn't anticipate spending time at home either. I feel I do studying best in coffee shops and restaurants where there are people around but aren't particularly distracting. That is how my pastor does most of his preparation during the week.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Week Five – Office Work – David
Office Work
How would you want to spend your week in church work? How many hours a week and doing what?
I kind of see myself working as a bi-vocational youth pastor. I don’t know yet, but I have this Multi-level marketing business, and I am getting money, and I think that I could do real far with it. And my dream is that I can support myself with the income from it, and then give back to the church what they give me.
I just sent out my Résumés, and recently I was confronted with the opportunity to take up a bi-vocational job as a youth pastor. I have been thinking about it a lot, but the location is just not where my fiancé and I want to be. The job description entails working 20 hours a week (which we all know means 30 hours a week), and I am required to have a Wednesday service and a Sunday morning service.
As I am answering the questions above, I am answering with the mind-set of only working 20 hours a week. My week in church work, besides youth group on Wednesdays and Sunday school on Sundays, would most likely be full of visitations with a little time spent in the office. I would probably only be in the office twice a week and then do most of my sermons and studies at home.
How would you want to spend your week in church work? How many hours a week and doing what?
I kind of see myself working as a bi-vocational youth pastor. I don’t know yet, but I have this Multi-level marketing business, and I am getting money, and I think that I could do real far with it. And my dream is that I can support myself with the income from it, and then give back to the church what they give me.
I just sent out my Résumés, and recently I was confronted with the opportunity to take up a bi-vocational job as a youth pastor. I have been thinking about it a lot, but the location is just not where my fiancé and I want to be. The job description entails working 20 hours a week (which we all know means 30 hours a week), and I am required to have a Wednesday service and a Sunday morning service.
As I am answering the questions above, I am answering with the mind-set of only working 20 hours a week. My week in church work, besides youth group on Wednesdays and Sunday school on Sundays, would most likely be full of visitations with a little time spent in the office. I would probably only be in the office twice a week and then do most of my sermons and studies at home.
Week 6 - Tues. - Josh
Week 6
Lakeview Wesleyan Church
Rev. Brad Terhune 2/8/09
1)Become the leaders of the committees
a.Only if you believe in the committee be part of the committee, be a driving force behind it, not necessarily the chairman
2)If asked to be on committee; ask…
a.Expectations
b.How often they meet
c.How long meetings go
d.Typical agenda of meeting
i.Bold enough to push an agenda if they don’t have one
3)Secretary to stop random people from coming through the office, interruptions on a whim
a.People are more important than programs
b.Sometimes just need time to finish thoughts / 10 min buffer
i.Have stopping points
4)Be upfront with people when you have time constraints so they know what of your time they have.
Lakeview Wesleyan Church
Rev. Brad Terhune 2/8/09
1)Become the leaders of the committees
a.Only if you believe in the committee be part of the committee, be a driving force behind it, not necessarily the chairman
2)If asked to be on committee; ask…
a.Expectations
b.How often they meet
c.How long meetings go
d.Typical agenda of meeting
i.Bold enough to push an agenda if they don’t have one
3)Secretary to stop random people from coming through the office, interruptions on a whim
a.People are more important than programs
b.Sometimes just need time to finish thoughts / 10 min buffer
i.Have stopping points
4)Be upfront with people when you have time constraints so they know what of your time they have.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Week 6: Time-Management Advice>>>Trenton
Time Management Advice
God's House Ministries
I interviewed Pastor Ryan McCarty, the Senior Pastor
February 16, 2009
Boundaries:
Pastor told me he is not the best person to ask about this. I told him he is the best person to ask. The way God's House is structured, he is able to delegate so many tasks to others. He told me when he and his wife started, they were a part of everything. Now he said, the only thing he is a part of regularly is Sunday Morning worship. When people want counseling (which he defined as wanting multiple sessions of his time as opposed to just having a question answered) he refers them to a friend of his who is a counselor. Otherwise, so many people are involved in small groups, they just bring issues and discussions to their small group. That small group structure is exactly why God's House manages to remain effective with so little staff and so many people on so small a budget. He has very clear boundaries.
Management Advice:
1. Know your strengths: Pastor said he is not good at counseling and therefore spends little of his time doing it. He refers people to a professional counselor who is a good friend of his and who he trusts greatly.
2. Know your priorities: Pastor told me how much he makes spending time with his family a huge priority. When he is working some 30 hours at the medical office and then serving as a pastor, he is forced to be very strict with his schedule and his priorities.
3. Delegate: He reiterated what Coach said: if someone else can do it better, they should do it; if someone else could learn to do it better than you, you should teach them.
God's House Ministries
I interviewed Pastor Ryan McCarty, the Senior Pastor
February 16, 2009
Boundaries:
Pastor told me he is not the best person to ask about this. I told him he is the best person to ask. The way God's House is structured, he is able to delegate so many tasks to others. He told me when he and his wife started, they were a part of everything. Now he said, the only thing he is a part of regularly is Sunday Morning worship. When people want counseling (which he defined as wanting multiple sessions of his time as opposed to just having a question answered) he refers them to a friend of his who is a counselor. Otherwise, so many people are involved in small groups, they just bring issues and discussions to their small group. That small group structure is exactly why God's House manages to remain effective with so little staff and so many people on so small a budget. He has very clear boundaries.
Management Advice:
1. Know your strengths: Pastor said he is not good at counseling and therefore spends little of his time doing it. He refers people to a professional counselor who is a good friend of his and who he trusts greatly.
2. Know your priorities: Pastor told me how much he makes spending time with his family a huge priority. When he is working some 30 hours at the medical office and then serving as a pastor, he is forced to be very strict with his schedule and his priorities.
3. Delegate: He reiterated what Coach said: if someone else can do it better, they should do it; if someone else could learn to do it better than you, you should teach them.
Week Five – Time Management Advice – David
Time Management Advice
Brookhaven Wesleyan Church
I interviewed Pastor John Walton the assistant pastor
January 21, 2009
Boundaries:
The way Pastor John sets boundaries so that he is not controlled by people is by establishing some office hours to be available. He will screen his phone calls, or have the secretary screen them for him. If the person comes with a situation that is not within his field or area of expertise, he will send them to another pastor. Also if it is a subject is “over his head”, for example, homosexuality; he will send them to another pastor.
Management advice:
1. Know your job description and do it well. He said to focus on your responsibilities and not someone else’s. Know what it is you need to do, and do it when it needs to be done. If you do it on time, then you will not fall into the “last minute rush”.
2. Be organized, when he just started he was not organized, and he wasted a lot of time looking for thing and not knowing where things were in his office. He said that he would set down some important papers and not remember where he put it.
Brookhaven Wesleyan Church
I interviewed Pastor John Walton the assistant pastor
January 21, 2009
Boundaries:
The way Pastor John sets boundaries so that he is not controlled by people is by establishing some office hours to be available. He will screen his phone calls, or have the secretary screen them for him. If the person comes with a situation that is not within his field or area of expertise, he will send them to another pastor. Also if it is a subject is “over his head”, for example, homosexuality; he will send them to another pastor.
Management advice:
1. Know your job description and do it well. He said to focus on your responsibilities and not someone else’s. Know what it is you need to do, and do it when it needs to be done. If you do it on time, then you will not fall into the “last minute rush”.
2. Be organized, when he just started he was not organized, and he wasted a lot of time looking for thing and not knowing where things were in his office. He said that he would set down some important papers and not remember where he put it.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Week 4: People >>> Trenton Prieshoff
A principle our chapel speaker talked about yesterday (Wednesday, that is) is that we need to know people. It is not that we simply need to give more to charity; we need to know the people to whom we are giving. It is the same way with ministry. There is a lot of administration work in being a minister, but just as a business owner needs to know people so that he or she can provide a product they need and use, we need to know the people in our congregation (youth group) so that as we do all those administrative tasks, we have always in our mind WHO we are doing all those administrative tasks for.
Knowing people means setting time aside in our schedules to meet with people; individually for tea or for lunch, in groups by being a part of small group ministries and other events (You shouldn't always be the one leading those events, you also need to be a real person).
But the Church is not merely a business and it should not be run like one. While the principles are the same, the Church is divinely instituted to meet all sorts of needs. Therefor, as we approach this combination of administration and relationships, we must practice more than cleverness and wit, we must also draw near to God and submit to Him that it is for Him we are doing both of these.
Knowing people means setting time aside in our schedules to meet with people; individually for tea or for lunch, in groups by being a part of small group ministries and other events (You shouldn't always be the one leading those events, you also need to be a real person).
But the Church is not merely a business and it should not be run like one. While the principles are the same, the Church is divinely instituted to meet all sorts of needs. Therefor, as we approach this combination of administration and relationships, we must practice more than cleverness and wit, we must also draw near to God and submit to Him that it is for Him we are doing both of these.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Week Four – People – David
People: How can a minister leader do church administrations in a way that still focuses on PEOPLE?
First and foremost, the church administrators must know how to treat people and work alongside people. No matter how big the church is things need to be run as Christ would run them, which would be full of love, joy, and peace.
I believe that the church needs to stay away from being a business. And that the administration is run well with its focus on caring about the people. It is not just about the administrator who makes sure things run smoothly in the church, but about people; not only the staff, but the people that come in and out of the church. There must be a balance! It is super importance that the administrator does his or her job correctly, but they must know what it is like to be with people.
For example, my Dad works on the campus service at a big church called Northwoods Community Church, and he is in charge of the 4 volunteer groups. Well the church recently hired a new administrative leader who comes from a Marine background, and just does not understand the importance of relating to people. One night there was an instance where the Marine-administrator-dude came in and was not happy that dad was spending time with his volunteers and yelled at him. He said “if you are going to be chatting with these people, then you need to clock-out because we are not going to pay you to talk to people.” Well the Boss came in and said that this is his job and what he is supposed to do; and Rod’s (my Dad) teams are growing. See, the administrator did not understand the importance of relating to people; he was concerned about getting the job done.
First and foremost, the church administrators must know how to treat people and work alongside people. No matter how big the church is things need to be run as Christ would run them, which would be full of love, joy, and peace.
I believe that the church needs to stay away from being a business. And that the administration is run well with its focus on caring about the people. It is not just about the administrator who makes sure things run smoothly in the church, but about people; not only the staff, but the people that come in and out of the church. There must be a balance! It is super importance that the administrator does his or her job correctly, but they must know what it is like to be with people.
For example, my Dad works on the campus service at a big church called Northwoods Community Church, and he is in charge of the 4 volunteer groups. Well the church recently hired a new administrative leader who comes from a Marine background, and just does not understand the importance of relating to people. One night there was an instance where the Marine-administrator-dude came in and was not happy that dad was spending time with his volunteers and yelled at him. He said “if you are going to be chatting with these people, then you need to clock-out because we are not going to pay you to talk to people.” Well the Boss came in and said that this is his job and what he is supposed to do; and Rod’s (my Dad) teams are growing. See, the administrator did not understand the importance of relating to people; he was concerned about getting the job done.
Week 5 - Tues. - Josh
Week 5
Lakeview Wesleyan Church
Rev. Brad Terhune 2/8/09
1.)3-5 hours
2.)15 hours → huge administrative aspect (upward, website)
3.)8 hours
4.)7 hours
5.)Upward sports activities → 12 hour
Follow-up time → 2 hours
On call 24 hours a day (people before programs)
Lakeview Wesleyan Church
Rev. Brad Terhune 2/8/09
1.)3-5 hours
2.)15 hours → huge administrative aspect (upward, website)
3.)8 hours
4.)7 hours
5.)Upward sports activities → 12 hour
Follow-up time → 2 hours
On call 24 hours a day (people before programs)
Week 3: Attend a Board Meeting
--Trenton Prieshoff
God's House Ministries
about 3 hours
The decision-making model seems to be similar to the Quaker style. In all these meetings I have been to (I went to them all last semester as well), I never really heard any kind of "voting" on whether the church ought to do something or not. For the most part, someone brings up an idea and as long as they are willing to lead it themselves, no one objects. Even so, people weigh in their thoughts and support before the final "okay" is given.
Other decisions that involve everyone will be discussed in much the same way but as for the final decision, we look at if everyone agrees.
God's House Ministries
about 3 hours
The decision-making model seems to be similar to the Quaker style. In all these meetings I have been to (I went to them all last semester as well), I never really heard any kind of "voting" on whether the church ought to do something or not. For the most part, someone brings up an idea and as long as they are willing to lead it themselves, no one objects. Even so, people weigh in their thoughts and support before the final "okay" is given.
Other decisions that involve everyone will be discussed in much the same way but as for the final decision, we look at if everyone agrees.
Week 5: Hours Worked in Ministry
--Trenton Prieshoff
God's House Ministries
Interviewing Pastor Ryan McCarty
Study: 8+
Administative/Office Work: 6
Services: 3.5
People: 10
Working at the Clinic: 25
God's House Ministries
Interviewing Pastor Ryan McCarty
Study: 8+
Administative/Office Work: 6
Services: 3.5
People: 10
Working at the Clinic: 25
- As Anton said: there is always more to do. Some weeks meetings will take up all your time, or a crisis will hit and your time will be spent counseling and visiting, and still other times there will be a lot of clerical work to catch up on.
- Because Ryan is "bivocational" he spends a lot of time delegating tasks to others and connecting with them instead of doing them himself. The only reason GHM continues to be successful is because the laity have really taken up their charge and run with it.
- Because Ryan works at the Medical Clinic most of the day, he must be available in other ways. He relies on others to meet with people in small groups and he e-mails and texts frequently to arrange meeting times.
Monday, February 9, 2009
#3 Week Six Time Management Advice - Anton Folz
Feb 17th, 2009
Time Management Advice from Rev Brad Terhune
Interviewed;
Rev. Brad Terhune
Feb 8th, 2009 at Lakeview Wesleyan Church
Setting Boundaries; Pastor Brad gave three primary ways in which to set boundaries as a minister, they are as follows;
1) Become the leader of the committees if you are asked to be a part of one, and if the opportunity lends itself. Often times committees are what eat up the most time, so Brad suggested being the leader if you can so that the meetings flow well. Also a part of this must be that you have a genuine interest in the area of study or planning, and if you do not then maybe turn down the offer altogether.
2) When being asked to make commitments, whether to a committee or meeting of other sorts, ask what the responsibilities of being are part of the group or meeting is going to be, and then plan ahead. Ask what a typical agenda will look like to plan accordingly.
3) Have a secretary (if applicable) give you a notice that people have come to talk to you, then if you are in the middle of something, have then wait to complete the thought or e-mail and then give them your undivided attention. People are always more important than programming or whatever, but be productive and then give them your full attention.
Time Management Advice:
1) Know why you are coming into work. That way you know what to do, and do not waste time sitting around.
2) Know the priority of things to do for that day and week, maybe even month. When you have downtime, or things get done quicker than expected, then work on some of the smaller priority things that you know are on the back burner so to speak. Fill in the blank areas of the schedule with usefully and meaningful time with smaller projects.
3) Try and make a fifteen minute schedule for your week. This will allow you to utilize the time the best you can, and force you to see where time is being spent, maybe unnecessarily.
Time Management Advice from Rev Brad Terhune
Interviewed;
Rev. Brad Terhune
Feb 8th, 2009 at Lakeview Wesleyan Church
Setting Boundaries; Pastor Brad gave three primary ways in which to set boundaries as a minister, they are as follows;
1) Become the leader of the committees if you are asked to be a part of one, and if the opportunity lends itself. Often times committees are what eat up the most time, so Brad suggested being the leader if you can so that the meetings flow well. Also a part of this must be that you have a genuine interest in the area of study or planning, and if you do not then maybe turn down the offer altogether.
2) When being asked to make commitments, whether to a committee or meeting of other sorts, ask what the responsibilities of being are part of the group or meeting is going to be, and then plan ahead. Ask what a typical agenda will look like to plan accordingly.
3) Have a secretary (if applicable) give you a notice that people have come to talk to you, then if you are in the middle of something, have then wait to complete the thought or e-mail and then give them your undivided attention. People are always more important than programming or whatever, but be productive and then give them your full attention.
Time Management Advice:
1) Know why you are coming into work. That way you know what to do, and do not waste time sitting around.
2) Know the priority of things to do for that day and week, maybe even month. When you have downtime, or things get done quicker than expected, then work on some of the smaller priority things that you know are on the back burner so to speak. Fill in the blank areas of the schedule with usefully and meaningful time with smaller projects.
3) Try and make a fifteen minute schedule for your week. This will allow you to utilize the time the best you can, and force you to see where time is being spent, maybe unnecessarily.
#2 Week Five (Hours worked in Ministry) Anton Folz Feb 9th 2009
I, Anton, Interviewed Rev. Brad Terhune on Sunday Feb 8th, 2009. We met in the cafe' area of Lakeview Wesleyan Church.
Below are the results of our meeting together;
Time spent in an (average week)
1) Study (alone) 3-5 hours
2) Administrative/office 15 hours
3) Services 8 Hours
4) People 7 hours
5) hours spent on computer connecting with volunteers and other ministers 2 hours
Observations of the findings;
- There is often a good deal of change to one's schedule when you are a staff pastor such as Rev. Brad. Often times he will have a great deal of people/committee meetings, and the number here will shoot way up, but other weeks the office time will eat up much of his day
- There is always more to do. When you are a staff pastor at a larger church it is easy to get caught up doing many services and activities.
- Pastor Brad also made note that these office hours are not always consistent with a 8 to five job, because he is often on call from as early as 6:00am till 12:20 am at night.
Below are the results of our meeting together;
Time spent in an (average week)
1) Study (alone) 3-5 hours
2) Administrative/office 15 hours
3) Services 8 Hours
4) People 7 hours
5) hours spent on computer connecting with volunteers and other ministers 2 hours
Observations of the findings;
- There is often a good deal of change to one's schedule when you are a staff pastor such as Rev. Brad. Often times he will have a great deal of people/committee meetings, and the number here will shoot way up, but other weeks the office time will eat up much of his day
- There is always more to do. When you are a staff pastor at a larger church it is easy to get caught up doing many services and activities.
- Pastor Brad also made note that these office hours are not always consistent with a 8 to five job, because he is often on call from as early as 6:00am till 12:20 am at night.
Week Four – Hours Worked in Ministry – David
Hours Worked in Ministry
Brookhaven Wesleyan Church
I interviewed Pastor John Walton the assistant pastor
January 21, 2009
Study: 10 hours
Administrative/Office: 20 hours
Services: 9 hours (includes worship practices and tech arts)
People: 6 hours
Visitations: 4 hours
Counseling: 2 hours
Observations:
Pastors really have a busy load.
Pastor John is working 50-hour weeks, how is he to spend time with family?
Brookhaven Wesleyan Church
I interviewed Pastor John Walton the assistant pastor
January 21, 2009
Study: 10 hours
Administrative/Office: 20 hours
Services: 9 hours (includes worship practices and tech arts)
People: 6 hours
Visitations: 4 hours
Counseling: 2 hours
Observations:
Pastors really have a busy load.
Pastor John is working 50-hour weeks, how is he to spend time with family?
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Week 3--Staff Report to Board-Trenton
Discuss what a staff member's report to a board should include and what it should accomplish.
What should such a report include?
I suppose the report should include as many aspects of the ministry being reported as possible including: budget and expenditures thus far, what kinds of expenses are perceived for the rest of the year, a list of all the programs and activities being run and a summary of the perceived impact of those programs and activities. Along with that summary, it would be good to include an extension of your own impressions as well as any comments received in regards to them. Those should be posted after the abbreviated summary so that the board can choose to get just a glimpse or to look into each one much further to get a better grasp on what it being done. Any resolved conflicts might be mentioned to show how people are coming on board with the ministry (but don't mention people by name), but the ones in process of being resolved should only be mentioned to the pastor or elders in more extreme cases.
What should all this accomplish?
It should allow the board first of all to know what you are doing with the time and resources they are giving you. Second, it should encourage them to see what is being accomplished. Third, it should inform them how they can be praying for you as a staff pastor and for each individual ministry. Fourth, it should invite their input on what is being done and what can be done to further the ministry of the church.
Trenton
What should such a report include?
I suppose the report should include as many aspects of the ministry being reported as possible including: budget and expenditures thus far, what kinds of expenses are perceived for the rest of the year, a list of all the programs and activities being run and a summary of the perceived impact of those programs and activities. Along with that summary, it would be good to include an extension of your own impressions as well as any comments received in regards to them. Those should be posted after the abbreviated summary so that the board can choose to get just a glimpse or to look into each one much further to get a better grasp on what it being done. Any resolved conflicts might be mentioned to show how people are coming on board with the ministry (but don't mention people by name), but the ones in process of being resolved should only be mentioned to the pastor or elders in more extreme cases.
What should all this accomplish?
It should allow the board first of all to know what you are doing with the time and resources they are giving you. Second, it should encourage them to see what is being accomplished. Third, it should inform them how they can be praying for you as a staff pastor and for each individual ministry. Fourth, it should invite their input on what is being done and what can be done to further the ministry of the church.
Trenton
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