"...it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us..." Acts 15.28
My head and heart have been preoccupied with the upcoming District Council in Columbus, beginning May 12. I will miss Doug and his leadership, and wish him, Gail, and the girls well as they begin the next chapter of their lives in Springfield. Additionally, I'm grateful that he called the District to a week of prayer and fasting, beginning May 5.
The selection of our next DS is crucial for Ohio, for reasons I won't go into here. One of the points of this blog post is to generate positive, open dialogue about what leadership traits of our next DS might well serve the AG in Ohio for some time to come. I am enough of a Calvinist to know that ultimately, God will have His way. I am also enough of an Arminian to know that immediately, we can thwart God's will if we choose. (think Israel's 40 years in the wilderness, and Corinth's carnality) Thus, I hope and pray that at the end of Council we can confidently repeat the Acts 15.28 phrase above.
A few thoughts come to mind. I want a DS who...
This much I know. When Israel pursued their leader, they got Saul. When God pursued His, Israel got David. There were vast differences between these two men.
And so, I'm curious-- what are you looking for in our new DS? What are the crucial qualifications needed in this position, at this time? We want to hear from you...
My head and heart have been preoccupied with the upcoming District Council in Columbus, beginning May 12. I will miss Doug and his leadership, and wish him, Gail, and the girls well as they begin the next chapter of their lives in Springfield. Additionally, I'm grateful that he called the District to a week of prayer and fasting, beginning May 5.
The selection of our next DS is crucial for Ohio, for reasons I won't go into here. One of the points of this blog post is to generate positive, open dialogue about what leadership traits of our next DS might well serve the AG in Ohio for some time to come. I am enough of a Calvinist to know that ultimately, God will have His way. I am also enough of an Arminian to know that immediately, we can thwart God's will if we choose. (think Israel's 40 years in the wilderness, and Corinth's carnality) Thus, I hope and pray that at the end of Council we can confidently repeat the Acts 15.28 phrase above.
A few thoughts come to mind. I want a DS who...
- will first and foremost be God's man or woman
- will lead by Biblical principle over the desires of those led, having the courage of his/her Biblical convictions, even when the majority may want otherwise
- will identify with and utilize bi-vocational, rural, small town, suburban, inner city, small- mid-large church, female, ethnic, and metropolitan pastors; in short, one who will serve all of these pastoral and church profiles, and attempt to relate to each of these cultures well
- will be a Biblical preacher, rightly dividing the Word, knowing that another generation (or two) of younger gospel communicators is watching, and will later model what they see; someone who will model preaching that is both true to the Biblical text, and relevant
- will be a fiscal conservative, knowing that 2-3 generations behind us will have to pay for any indebtedness we incur
- will be a first rate administrator
- will model a Pentecostal experience fitting a 21st century context
- will attempt to lead us in exploring answers to honest questions regarding what we believe as Pentecostals (our orthodoxy), how that plays out in our churches (our orthopraxy), and ultimately, how it impacts a sinful world
- will genuinely listen as much as he/she speaks
While these thoughts are not meant to be exhaustive, they are meant to provoke thought and healthy discussion.
No doubt, you have been praying about whom to vote for. If we look for Biblical precedent, there is no one, sure profile. There are many kinds of Biblical leaders. I'm currently thinking of 2-3 Ohio leaders, each of whom has his or her own strengths and weaknesses. Mind you, when I get to Council the Holy Spirit could take me in a new direction, and that would be fine with me.This much I know. When Israel pursued their leader, they got Saul. When God pursued His, Israel got David. There were vast differences between these two men.
And so, I'm curious-- what are you looking for in our new DS? What are the crucial qualifications needed in this position, at this time? We want to hear from you...
18 comments:
"will identify with and utilize bi-vocational, rural, small town, suburban, inner city, small- mid-large church, female, ethnic, and metropolitan pastors; in short, one who will serve all of these pastoral and church profiles, and attempt to relate to each of these cultures well"
I would be cautious here simply because in theory this is great, but it reminds me of people's unrealistic lists for what they want their pastors to be. It would be a rare man indeed that would have a strong level of relevance in all these different settings.
While I think it would be hard for any one person to be able to do this, it does not deny that there is a need here. So what do we do as pastors with these expectations that people put on us? We don't say their desires are illegitimate (in most cases) but we raise up leaders and provide alternate avenues for those needs to be met. I know Indiana (where I am from ministry-wise) has a whole new structure in place for ministering to pastors. They have adopted a cell group type structure that facilitates relationship, accountability and ministry among peers. Perhaps this is the (an) answer for this need?
I’m pleased that you launched this topic by focusing on desirable/critical characteristics of a DS rather than on the various individuals who might be considered to fill the role. While it seems unreasonable to think that different people who might embody some of these qualities will not come to mind as the discussion progresses, my belief is that there is more to be gained by thinking through what qualities are needed so as not to prematurely focus on personalities.
I found myself liking many of the qualities listed in your initial offering but found myself asking several questions: Are they listed in hierarchical order? If so, does that mean you might nominate a person who has fewer of those 8 qualities than another if the second individual’s missing quality comes from the upper portion of your list? What’s your bottom line if you can’t have a person who has all of those qualities? Which ones are you willing to concede?
“will identify with and utilize bi-vocational, rural, small town, suburban, inner city, small- mid-large church, female, ethnic, and metropolitan pastors” I’m in agreement with Eric, it is unlikely we would find someone who has the experience in all of these cultures or who will have the ability to serve competently/sensitively to those who are in them. Since you placed this quality fairly high on your list, how do you propose we would recognize someone who is doing this well? What would be the observable manifestations in your mind?
I agree with Shane that the qualities he mentions are important. However, as Eric and Rick point out, that may be unrealistic in one person. Maybe, those are all important features for the district in general. In other words, the district needs various leaders with strengths in different areas. The best leaders I have known are the ones who are very aware of their strengths and weaknesses; hence, they surround themselves with people who fill in the gaps, who have different gifts. It takes a lot of security to seek out those who may challenge, instead of agreeing, with us.
So, even though I agree with the list, I might put, near the top, that I would want a person with the self-awareness, humility, and strength of character to seek out and work with those who bring different gifts to the table. Then, some of the other specific characteristics might not be so vital.
Eric,
Point taken about "unrealistic lists" but I still believe in a broad based leadership approach. I'd like to see our DS (and the rest of us) impact other groups/cultures in the state.
I like your idea of a new structure for ministering to pastors. What do you (or others) think this would look like?
Secondly, I would like to hear from you (again, or others) what characteristics you are looking for in a DS.
Rick,
This list is in no certain order, nor is it comprehensive. It's meant to generate healthy discussion.
I'm attempting to do my homework, pray, fast, get on my face before God, and then go to Council and make a prayerful and informed decision. I'm hopeful that healthy discussion on this blog will inform, build concensus, etc. Your questions are good ones, my friend, but I'm not sure I can answer them at this point, other than to rely on the witness of the Spirit, now, and when I get to Council.
I ask you as well as others- what characteristics are you looking for in a DS?
Thanks for taking the lead on the discussion. I’ve been wondering what it looks like to function as a theocracy. Do we only pray? Is it unspiritual to engage our intellect in the election process? How does a delegate gain information from which to vote? So thanks for taking this step.
Shane, when I read your item that Eric and Rick see as unrealistic to find in one person, “will identify with and utilize bi-vocational, rural, small town, suburban, inner city, small- mid-large church, female, ethnic, and metropolitan pastors”, that strikes me as simply what a good missionary is called upon to do. I took a team (truly, about that diverse) on a missions trip to Bogota, Colombia in March of 2000 and watched in amazement as Ken and Sherri Patrick quickly learned about each individual then drew out the best in each one, and united the team together. The 19 year old guy felt personally adopted, the ladies learned to tie rebar and stack bricks, I was taken out to preaching opportunities while Ken interpreted, our white collar, professional men morphed into concrete pourers --it was really quite incredible to see. Ken and Sherri gracefully networked and “switched hats” and adapted cross-culturally to meet no stranger and endear themselves to all. Financial sense? He didn’t have to, but Ken showed us the specific construction supplies our dollars purchased. While standing in a fast food restaurant toward the end of our trip after our team ordered, Ken showed me his detailed accounting of our per-diem we had paid him, why we were ahead and what he suggested we do with the difference. I was impressed repeated. Is he strong administratively, a Pentecostal, Biblical preacher? We hosted the Patricks just a few months ago at our church for a service and a leadership development luncheon to follow. His preaching was absolutely riveting. Over lunch, Ken and Sherry shared top shelf material with our leaders and displayed one of the healthiest marriages I have seen in ministry in a long time. Would a missionary leave the field to accept an election? I don’t know, but is it any less disruptive to the kingdom’s work for a pastor to leave a congregation and staff and force a turn-over?
My intention isn’t to suggest a specific person as a DS candidate. (although he’s a front runner in my mind) I’m simply using Ken Patrick as an example of seeing in one person most of the qualities on your list. I hope we keep our expectations high. I also see this as a sample of the reasoning process in response to Rick’s good questions as to how we “would recognize someone who is doing this well? What would be the observable manifestations in your mind?”
When we assess candidates for potential church planters, it’s not based just on what they hope to do in the future but what they have done in the past that demonstrates the qualities needed in a planter. We’re wanting to hear the story of when they started something from nothing, last built a friendship with a non-Christian; eliminated personal debt, lead someone to Christ personally; managed a financial project of size, heard from God and obeyed against the grain of popular trend, got knocked down but didn’t quit, etc. A person’s past path is a good indicator of their future performance and may be something we help each other examine… while we continue to pray.
Well, apart from the basic biblical guidelines for someone serving in ministry, I would say that I hope our new DS will continue along the lines that Doug has started. I think it crucial that he/she be a person of vision with a desire to equip our pastors so that we can turn around the stats that tell us that people are leaving the Church in droves. Business as usual doesn't cut it anymore, whether in our churches or in leadership. This is why I was bummed to see Doug leaving...he was just beginning something here that was truly needed. It is the same type of reform needed in Springfield and I know that is why the Lord is leading him there to help facilitate that.
Bottom line... Someone who can cut through religious bologna, inspire and equip our pastors to lead their churches forward in relevance to our culture, and someone who is educated in the word and in cultural issues.
As I mull over the critical aspects of the next DS, the top one that comes to mind is the same as yours Shane, God’s man or woman. However, that one seems to be more on me and my thoughtful preparation for Council and seeking the mind of the Holy Spirit through prayer/fasting than a particular feature of a nominee.
When I think of the qualities of a person for which I would like to vote, character comes to mind as the most essential trait. I remember advice my father gave me once when I was serving on a pulpit committee for my church in Georgia, he said most of the skills related to successful pastoring could be learned with time and opportunity, but if you didn’t select a person of real integrity, they were not likely to gain these “on the job.” It was and still is good counsel.
As far as observable markers, Paul’s lists in 1 Timothy and Titus seem to be good ones, especially since they go beyond actual ministerial abilities to interpersonal and relational aspects of life. I agree with Donna that knowing an individual’s history is likely to be the best predictor of future performance, so the challenge is getting to know potential candidates well enough to gauge those qualities. She did me a favor by reminding me that some worthy of consideration may not actually be residing in Ohio at the present time due to their ministry assignments.
Once past the character issues, I’m looking for an individual with two qualities that I do not always find in those who serve in a leadership capacity. I want someone who has the ability to be inspirational—to bring together the various ministry expressions of our district to accomplish larger common goals. It seems to me that the pendulum has shifted too far in the direction of our individual congregations being so focused on their local interests that it is difficult to motivate them to work collectively for broader interests. Understand I am not advocating that people blindly participate in district events just because they are offered, I know that what is developed has to be relevant and of high quality. It just seems that the individualistic theme of our surrounding culture impacts our willingness to exert time and effort for things that may not have immediate benefit to us.
The second quality is a continuation of what I have thought to be a strength of Pastor Doug’s—to resource the district with the materials and training to equip us to carry out effective relevant ministry in the changing cultural climate of today.
Third on the list is someone who is fiscally prudent, mindful of getting good value for money spent as well as having an eye for future indebtedness.
And finally, I would like to see someone who is comfortable and able to conduct conducting discussions that invite a variety of viewpoints and opinions to be expressed without pressure to conform to a “party line.”
Rick, Those are good qualities to want in a leader... character, financial, able to inspire toward a common goal, continue resourcing, striving toward relevance. How do we get from a list of ideals to making a good choice?
Rick, Those are good qualities to want in a leader... character, financial, able to inspire toward a common goal, continue resourcing, striving toward relevance. How do we get from a list of ideals to making a good choice?
I’ve had a few additional thoughts I like to throw out for comment as we begin our week of focused prayer preparation for District Council:
1. In the last several councils I’ve attended, both at the district and national level, where leaders were being elected, the discussion was raised about whether someone fulfilling a superintendent’s role could simultaneously continue to pastor their church. I have been of the opinion that the demands of being a superintendent required full-time attention, and anyone attempting otherwise would likely have to shortchange either the district or their congregation.
However, I’ve never heard a proponent on the other side of that debate articulate a cogent presentation of his or her point of view. I would value hearing from those who believe that it would be feasible for someone to serve this dual role successfully and why or how they think it would be workable.
2. Since I’ve have moved into full-time ministry in a less customary manner than many, I would also be interested in hearing from those whose route has been a little more conventional about their perspective as to the value (maybe even necessity) of a future DS having served as a productive/successful senior pastor in order to properly serve our constituency. I’m aware that it may be tempting to equate the term “successful” with “a church that has increased to a substantial size” but that is not what I’m looking for. Rather, I’m curious as to what other’s might see as the value of being a pastor that nurtures a small start-up into a healthy body or a pastor that may take a church that is already established but under his or her influence it becomes a thriving healthy institution. Is this an essential experience to adequately understand the needs of our pastors, or do people believe that someone can be prepared without having been in that role themselves?
thank you for beginning this discussion as to the next course of our district leadership. i hope to contribute further as the days grow short to our actual selection, but let me bullet a few thoughts tonight.
1) i agree with rick and i'm sure everyone else that character is of the utmost importance.
2) although it is not essential, pastoral experience (either currently or previously) can only be a plus. even though each church situation is different (large, small, healthy, unhealthy, rural, suburban, urban) there are fundamental similarities that come from pastoring.
3) i am not opposed to our DS being the pastor of a church. with that said though, i don't believe that our current structure suits that. maybe our next DS can help us move, with the help of the presbytery, to a structure that will be more conducive to that.
4) one quality that our next DS should possess, which i believe pastor doug possesses, is the ability to bring people around him/her that will be of equally high integrity, and posess varying skills. this will add to the effectiveness of the district ministry team to ministry to every church in our district family.
Rick,
I have mixed emotions and/or a mindset about about the question you raise in #2 of your last post- i.e., sr. pastoral experience in our next DS.
1- I know people on both sides of this issue who feel deeply that sr. pastoral experience is either mandatory, or not necessary provided other ministry giftings are present. Historically, I've been a proponent of sr. pastoral experience, for reasons I won't go into here. However...
2- There is plenty of biblical precedent for the unexperienced ascending to high office- Gideon, David, Amos, etc. I'd like to think that we in the OH district have more depth than only looking candidate's pastoral experience, church size, education, family history, personality, gender, etc. (I grow weary of the institutional church's shallow, unbiblical view of ministry success and/or competence)
That is why we must have the mind of Christ (via prayer, fasting, scripture, a word of wisdom and/or knowledge) as we go into Council next week. I don't want Saul as our next DS. I want David.
Joshua,
You said you’re “not opposed not opposed to our DS being the pastor of a church.” I’m in hearty agreement with you that our present structure doesn’t lend itself to that so maybe for this next election cycle it is a moot point. However, I’m still interested in hearing someone speak to the advantage or desirability of making that kind of shift.
The only reference point I have to where this is done usually involves organizations (the Southern Baptist convention for one) where someone assuming a leadership post is doing so as a time-limited commitment (I think usually one or two years). I suppose one advantage to this is that in a district such as our where there may be many capable leaders, the opportunity to lead will be spread over a wider pool of individuals, which may help people to lead by principle rather than worrying maintaining favor for when it is time for re-election. But I’ve not been convinced that this would outweigh the advantages of stable leadership provided by someone who can enjoy a more lengthy tenure. Are there other aspects of this about which someone can enlighten me?
Donna,
In response to your question, I suppose that at some point we will have to take the list of desirable qualities identified and start applying them to individuals who seem worthy of consideration as you did so graciously with the Patricks.
My initial comment to this conversation was not intended to imply that the time would not come when it would be appropriate to do this, I just didn’t want to the focus to prematurely shift to people before a good discussion of essential characteristics.
I've always been concerned about how well those nominated are presented before the constituents. I'm still "new" to the Ohio District...only 7 years. I remember early on during past councils wondering who those nominated for position were personally. Sure you can tell me what church they pastor, but if I'm to make an prayerful, informed decision shouldn't I know more? I appreciate the list of characteristics, but how are we to know those characteristics are present within a nominee if the only thing we know about them is what church they pastor? I was unable to attend the last few councils, so correct me if I'm wrong. What steps are you currently taking to discover more about those possible nominees within the Ohio District?
Thanks for this discussion regarding the election of our next DS. I am sure that our praying will be aided by intelligent consideration of the question, “What are the truly essential skills, dispositions, and attitudes our next DS must possess in order to lead our district into God’s future?” As several of you have pointed out, desirable qualities are almost too numerous to count. Our wish list of character traits and skills could extend almost infinitely. Thankfully, your comments to date have pinpointed some critical qualities.
Let me add my two cents, and I really mean two cents, since I want to focus on just two critical qualities, both of which are implicit in what has already been said. So, for the sake of simplicity, I note two qualities at the top of my wish list: passionate spirituality and executive leadership.
Passionate spirituality is the ultimate sine qua non for this leader, the indispensable core of what he or she must be. It is a synthesis of deep delight in God, unflagging devotion to God’s glory and honor, and sincere love for God’s people. A passionately spiritual person enjoys worshipping God, instinctively and habitually chooses to do what will most glorify God, and harbors warm affections for God’s chosen, but still fallen, people. If this sounds a lot like “character,” that is probably because it is, in fact, just another way of describing the essence of godly character. I have in mind an amalgam of love for God, fear of the Lord, and the fruit of the Spirit.
So, I will ask these questions as I pray about each candidate:
Does this person delight in worshipping God in so far as I can tell? Does he love the Lord with all the heart and soul?
Does this person demonstrate instinctive devotion to God’s glory above competing priorities? Does she fear the Lord?
Does this person exude the sweet fragrance of love for and patience with flawed and sometimes exasperating people? Does he love the saints?
Obviously, no one does this anywhere near perfection. Nevertheless, we must ask, “Who best approximates this ideal?”
Executive leadership adds practical grit to my considerations. Doug Clay is an effective executive. We need someone who can lead like him. I am praying for someone who is vision-centered, who can move us toward God’s future one strategic step at a time, and who energizes and empowers his team to realize the vision.
So, I will ask these questions as I pray about each candidate:
Is this person vision-driven? Does he demonstrate visionary leadership by moving his organization forward into God’s preferred future?
Does this person act strategically to move his organization forward one doable step at a time?
Does this person gather a loyal, energized, and effective team around her?
I believe these two qualities can be a clarifying lens through which to prayerfully examine the candidates we are considering. Perhaps the best vantage point from which to view the line up is on our knees.
Jeff raises a great point. With the first ballot being the nominating ballot, delegates and some credential holders are voting for a candidate for a District Superintendent about whom they know very little. We discover more about a candidate for a church receptionist or web master than we discover about a District Supt. Is that the only way to keep the process from being political? Any thoughts on a remedy to Jeff's legitimate concern?
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