Leading in the New Year

The church year is beginning and there is much to do. Some congregations have set out some specific plans already and some will soon be outlining what they want to accomplish this year. Some will be looking to improve giving levels, some will be thinking about major building repairs, some getting ready to welcome a new minister and a few address some internal conflicts. The projects or issues may be different, but there is one common element. No matter what the church will be doing this year, lay and ordained leaders need to lead. Leaderless organizations, according to Edward Hammett in Net Results journal, have only surface relationships, low morale, declining attendance, destructive competition, gossip, and a floundering agenda.

Leaders are called upon to move from comfort zones to mission outcome; to shift a climate or group from a place of contentment to a post ion of action and focus. For a person to lead they may need to move past the need to keep all people happy, trust the vision the have and share that vision, and most importantly have courage and faith. As someone once said, "The world would be a happier place if its leaders had more dreams and fewer nightmares."

Bill Zelazny, District Executive (BCD in Brief, 9/2004)