ken castor

Leadership Jump ~ by Jimmy Long

In the rapidly changing climate of leadership within organizations there is rarely a smooth transition of influence from existing leaders to emerging leaders.  Instead of a baton change, what's more likely, suggests Jimmy Long, is a biatholon... or better... a jump.  Can an organization make the leap?

Long speculates that emerging leadership challenges will force new leaders to change paradigms, not inherit the same course of action.  Rather than receiving the tag from the former runner to race around the same course, new leaders will need permission and empowerment to tackle a new mode of challenges in a completely creative manner free from prior practices. 

In his book [Long, Jimmy.  The Leadership Jump: Building Partnerships Between Existing and Emerging Christian Leaders (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2009)] Long passionately presents the leadership tensions facing organizations like churches that rely upon multi-generational investment.  Existing leaders are caught with having control of organizations and having difficulty in giving that control over to emerging leaders for a myriad of reasons.  The most glaring reasons could be that existing leaders can't find emerging leaders who are ready to accept their positional authority... and emerging leaders don't want to receive the type of leadership that existing leaders have to give.  Up-and-coming generational trends are shifting from a top-down reliance upon a singular leader towards an environment of shared leadership, trust, giftings, and actival-mission.  Churches need to prepare for this.  What's needed is a cultural shift of typology where existing and emerging leaders partner in valuing the past and adapting for the future.

I personally resonate with the themes in The Leadership Jump.  It doesn't take long to scope my writings and my practice to realize that the emerging modes suggested by Long are embedded into my praxis of life.  And those who know me know that I have too often struggled with the "old way of doing things" that often dictates the methods of ministry in churches.  But those who know me also know how much I love churches and bleed in prayer and sweat for them.  I respect so many former and existing leaders... those people who have lead me to Christ and shaped my heart for God's mission.  But I fear that a new day in our North American society has dawned and the church was caught sleeping in. 

I highly recommend Long's book as an introduction to the changes that are necessary if organizations and churches are going to successful merge into new millennial structures.  A new kind of leadership is in the works... and Long does well in describing what it will take.  I agree with Long's principles and insights, even when I don't agree with his terminology [e.g. Long suggests that existing leadership could be titled as a "heroic" model and emerging leadership is "post-heroic."  These terms aren't incorrect, but to use a title that implies that emerging leadership is not heroic is a misnomer.  Obama's campaign proved otherwise... and emerging church leaders like Erwin McManus are often referred to as "heroes."  Better would have been "Solo" or "Superman" over 'heroic" and "Shared" or "Justice League" (to be silly) over "post-heroic".]  Here is a very useful summary of the book provided by Long table on page 42 along with my all-too-brief parenthetical explanations).

The Leader's Position

• Heroic Leader   --->   Post-Heroic Leader   (Movement from solo to shared.  Again, I don't like these titles, but I agree with Long's principle.)
• Guarded   --->   Community  (Movement from impersonal to personal networks)
• Positional Authority   --->   Earned Authority  (Movement title to practice)

The Leader's Role

• Task   --->   Community  (movement from office to starbucks)
• Directing --->   Empowering  (movement from top-down to bottom-up)
• Destination --->   Journey  (movement from ends to means)

Leadership's Future

• Aspiring --->   Inspiring  (movement from self-pursuits to catalyst of others) 

*** One final note: This book was recommended to me from my old college friend Chris Theule-VanDam, the Young Life Regional Director for Western Great Lakes.  The principles laid out in Long's book at times strongly correspond with the major themes discovered in my dissertation study (e.g. collaborative culture, adaptive leadership structures, etc).  I was delighted to find Long referencing Len Hjalmarson's site, a good friend and fellow doctoral cohort of mine.  Also, I found Dr. Larry Perkins' review of Long's book very insightful and offering a healthy perspective on the issues of this book.  Larry is a professor and friend whom I respect and whose Scriptural perception humbles my own.  He reads Long's book through the honest lens of an existing leader who has instrumentally shaped hundreds of ministry-minded people over the years.

first draft

Update: November 25, 2009

The first draft has been sent in... which is great news... but there is still editing and improving and reading to be done.  Appreciate your prayers and support through all this.  I think the process has been worthwhile both personally and for the potential it has to encourage intentionality among congregations. 

The future impact of the Gospel is as important as the impact today.  To deny this is to claim arrogance.  The next generations need to be taught the message of Jesus Christ as much as the generations today need to be taught.  Matthew 28:19-20 is immediate and timeless all at once. 

Update: November 25, 2009

The first draft has been sent in... which is great news... but there is still editing and improving and reading to be done.  Appreciate your prayers and support through all this.  I think the process has been worthwhile both personally and for the potential it has to encourage intentionality among congregations. 

The future impact of the Gospel is as important as the impact today.  To deny this is to claim arrogance.  The next generations need to be taught the message of Jesus Christ as much as the generations today need to be taught.  Matthew 28:19-20 is immediate and timeless all at once. 

#1 obstacle to raising up younger leaders

One of the most interesting discoveries in my dissertation work is the emergence of obstacles that inhibit youth and young adults from being given leadership in a local church or ministry setting.  By far, the most prominent obstacle has to do with possessive leadership.  In other words, there are circumstances where people who currently hold positions of influence struggle to relinquish their control to others.

For my study, I interviewed 25 leaders from 15 different congregations throughout North America that have been successful in raising up next generation leaders.  When asked to identify what obstacles hinder the development of younger leaders, 13 of the 15 churches suggested that people in power who seize possession of leadership created the greatest obstacle.  Of the 583 transcribed lines from the interviews which focused on "Generational Transference Obstacles" 278 of those lines specified "possessive leadership."   In other words, 48% of the discussions about obstacles to raising up younger leaders was spent on this particular issue.  Some of the interview participants highlighted issues of distrust and control and fear in a top-down hierarchy while others highlighted the lack of opportunity for advancement of personal goals within an organization. 

One older leader expressed in his interview, "I think we do need to do that; raise up a whole new generation of leaders.  But it’s not going to happen if we’re holding on to the reigns."   Another older leader reflected on the experience of his own church, saying that "for a period of time there was that ceiling, there was such a strong group of leaders in place that to actually break into leadership was hard...  And we lost a generation that couldn’t break through at the time and now it’s hard."

Each of these thirteen churches suggested that there exists a temptation for current leaders to seize control of a sense of entitlement rather than help foster an environment that releases younger people to take ownership of leading.  Another older leader identified possessive leadership as the key issue that could derail the forward movement of their church in the years ahead.  He said, "That's a big challenge isn't it?  Not just to have an older generation relinquish ownership of ministry but to give it over and allow a younger generation to do it a little differently."  That same leader suggested that "there is a sense that when someone has been in a particular ministry for a long time, there is a real sense of ownership that can come there.  So it is difficult for them to accept help or to see the value in them passing that along." 

One leader suggested that the only true foundation for dealing with the struggle of possessive leadership is to remember who is actually the head of the Church.  "Our Western default in the church is to build fences," this leader stated, "and we build them generationally.  We want control."  Ultimately, however, leaders of churches are to remember that God is control of his church.  So, this leader continued, "we're going to trust that the Spirit is the one who leads," this leader stated.  "[We're going to trust] that Jesus builds His church and we don't have to control all of it, and there's a great freedom that comes from that." 

How does changing our mindset concerning "who is in control" change how we lead and raise up others to lead?

church business meeting devotional part 1

       

I gave this devotional at our business meeting this last week.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dear Heavenly Father, fill us with your purpose and passion today.  Let this be a gathering of a church that is intent on making your salvation-work the purpose for our existence.  By Your Spirit, let us trust you, and be spurred on by you.  And let us share hearts that are grateful and hearts that are full of grace that come from knowing your Son, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Colossians 1:15-23 says:
    Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.  He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation.  Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth.  He made the things we can see and things we can’t see- kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities.  Everything has been created through him and for him.  He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together.
    Christ is the head of the church, which is his body.  He is the first of all who will rise from the dead, so he is the first in everything.  For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and by him God reconciled everything to himself.  He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross.  This includes you who were once far away from God.  You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, yet now he has brought you back as his friends.  He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body.  As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.  But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly.  Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.

There is an eternity of observations to make about this passage… And I’d like to highlight three quickly as we meet here today:

1. The first thing I draw from this passage for us is this:  The reason we are here today, gathered together as a church, is because Jesus Christ is amazing. When God asks in Isaiah 40, “What image might we find to resemble God?” The answer is Jesus Christ.  He is the visible image of God. When God asks in Isaiah 40 “Look up into the heavens.  Who created all the stars?”  The answer is Jesus Christ. He existed before anything was made.  He is supreme over all creation.  In fact, He is the one who created everything in heaven and on earth.  He is the Creator.  The Apostle John said “He was in the beginning, with God, and he was God.  He created everything there is.  Nothing exists that he didn’t make.  Life itself is in him, and this life gives light to everyone.”  He made the things we see and the things we can’t see.  Everything has been created through him… and for him.  It is because of Jesus and for Jesus that anything in all of Creation, including our church here today, is held together in communion.  Psalm 146 says “Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord from the heavens!  Praise him from the skies!  Praise him, all the angels!  Praise him, all the hosts of heaven!  Praise him, sun and moon!  Praise him, all you twinkling stars!  Praise him, skies above!  Praise him, vapors high above the clouds!  Let every created thing give praise to the Lord, for he issued his command, and they came into being… For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven!  About Jesus Scripture says: “His name is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  The reason we meet together today as a church is because Jesus Christ is amazing.

woah

It's a crazy time... I'm plunging deep into my research this next week.  I've completed one interview... and have about fifteen churches all over North America to go.  Here's a look at the wildness already scheduled:

April 20 - Toronto area
April 21 - Detroit area
April 22-25 - Chicago area
April 30 - Los Angeles area
May 2 - Sacramento area
May 18 - Portland area
May 20 - Philadelphia area

Somewhere in all of this I still am supposed to squeeze a couple day trips to BC and Saskatchewan.  Hopefully in June then I'll get out to the central north of the US for a couple churches in the Dakotas and Minnesota.  Simple.  No big deal.

It's clear already though that the interviews are going to provide a deeply rich soil to dig in.  To visit these churches in person, to see these leaders tilling the ground, and to hear them describe how they plant/water/harvest is going to be a privileged experience.

I'm going to sit down with some high-profile leaders as well as some others who have steadily plowed the ground for years.  Some of the churches are thousands in attendance while others are much, much smaller.  Some are structured with traditional hierarchy... while others are chaordically organized. 

I can't begin to express my love and thanks to Kathy for supporting me and encouraging me in this project.  It's a long dream in the making and she has given her time, energy, emotions and money to it.  I also am so appreciative to my church family which is jumping with me through all this.  Some up-and-coming leaders are traveling with me while others have offered their blessing to me, their time to my family or their financial support to the project.  Thank you!  [For more info on this project feel free to visit my journal.]

a generational rant

DISCLAIMER: Okay... so here is an unedited rant.  I was thinking on the crux of my thesis and just spilled this out... plus I've been pent up in my house with a fever for four days:

I've been challenged a few times during this thesis process that perhaps what I was actually trying to accomplish was the triumph of the younger generation of emerging adults in the church.  It was put to me that perhaps I had a bias towards this age group and wanted to see them "take over" or influence the worship style or spend ridiculous amounts of money on cutting edge media. 

Huh.  I have to admit that ten years ago the answer would have been yes.  I was by then a well-worn youth pastor who knew teens were disgruntled about the churches they were in.  I knew they had great, fun youth groups where they gave their lives to Jesus and grew in faith and passionately pursued a life of change.  I knew that once they graduated their youth groups they had no where to go, no where to fit in, no one to accept them, and no one to equip them to keep growing in passion and faith.  The "church" and the "youth group" were night and day. 

24

 I forget this sometimes--- and I forget that the recognition of God is not meant to be just an individualistic thing.  I forget sometimes that an entire generation is supposed to seek after the Lord--- that an entire generation is supposed to have innocent (or forgiven?) hands and innocent (or forgiven?) hearts--- that an entire generation is supposed to focus on the Lord only.  I forget this sometimes--- and I forget that I am a part of something larger than myself:

Psalm 24
The earth is the Lord's,
and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the waters.
Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false.
He will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from God his Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
Lift up your heads, O you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty-
he is the King of glory.

NIV

new page - thesis progress

I've launched a new blog that will be dedicated to my doctoral thesis project: "Enabling Generational Transference of Ministry Leadership in the Local Church".  The blog, entitled "generational_transference" should be a place to provide updates of progress, resourceful notes, and hopefully some great insights.  If you've wondered why my posts here have been a bit sporadic and not always daily, this thesis work is largely why.  Hope you'll take a look and offer your thoughts from time to time...  You'll always find the new page in the "home" links to the right... Or for now you can follow this link: generational_transference.

::generation.problem.5::

    What’s truly at stake in the local church is the transfer of faith and ministry to others.  Faith in Jesus Christ is to be shared and passed on.  Ministry in the pattern of Jesus Christ is to be humbly and passionately practiced for the sake of others.  Proclaiming the message of Jesus and raising-up people to embrace a relationship with Jesus is the purpose of ministry for a local church.  For this reason, rare is the church that begins with a goal to cease existence after one generation.  Usually, a church begins with dreams of beneficially impacting lives for many years, over extended generations. Typically a church hopes that its impact will continue past the lifetime of the current members.  Typically, inherent in the make-up of a congregation is the belief that one generation should enable the next embrace a relationship with Jesus Christ and continue to worship God, to love neighbors and to proclaim his message to the world.  In fact, churches are often considered to have succeeded to the extent that they are able to equip and encourage ensuing generations to carry on the responsibility of ministry.  A church community that maintains a grand place of worship and practices the tradition of a particular generation has failed if it neglects to pass the vibrancy of knowing Christ to the next generations.  North America is not far behind Europe, where mere handfuls of older parishioners gather in countless enormous cathedrals across the continent while younger generations have generally forgotten Christ.  The failure to transfer the ownership of ministry to the next generation is abhorrent to the mission of Jesus Christ for a local church.   As Psalm 78:1-7 simply states, love for Jesus and for his Church demands that one generation proclaim to another the glory of God.

graphic from Rojo Levien

::generation.problem.4::

Indeed, every church struggles with the challenge
of passing on the meaning of the faith
to each succeeding generation. 
- George Hunter III (1)

        At birth, a church is usually full of vibrant characteristics, innovative initiatives, committed participation, and passionate vision for reaching neighborhoods with the message of Jesus.  The founding generation of a church invests much of its time, social activity and money into making the new congregation a growing, dynamic faith community that impacts the people around them.  But typically, as these new churches and the people within them grow older, the initial missional momentum that so defined their existence tends to diminish.  As a church community ages, innovation can evolve into an entrenchment of structure, risk-taking can develop into protectionism, and shared vision can fragment into competing outlooks of direction.  Over time, a local church can struggle to ...