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.

#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?

remembering the essentials

 

It is never a bad thing for a pastor to be reminded of some very solid principles that would have been useful to know the first few years of launching into a life of "ministry".  From time to time I pick up Doug Field's book, Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry (Zondervan, 2002), in order to remember again many of the time-tested truths of being a "lifer" in the roller-coaster world of pastoral careers.  Here are Doug's Top Ten Youth Ministry Commitments  that he suggests as essentials to starting well and, actually, are the foundation to continuing well on the journey:

1. I will move slowly.

2. I will regularly check my motives and evaluate my heart.

3. I will steer clear of the numbers game.

4. I will not criticize the past.

5. I will avoid the comparison trap.

6. I will focus on priorities.

7. I will pace myself.

8. I will serve.

9. I will be a learner.

10. I will pursue contentment.

.:generations:.

Walt Mueller suggest three simple principles for sharing faith on to the next generations:

1. Know the unchanging Word.
2. Know young people and their rapidly changing culture.
3. Take the unchanging Word to young people growing up in the rapidly changing culture.

Mueller reminds us that "our mission takes us not just from nation to nation but from generation to generation and culture to culture."  But we can't share something with someone if we don't have that "thing" in the first place.  So Mueller also stresses that in order for us to engage others with the good news of Jesus then we must actually have the good news alive within us!  Our lives must be engaged with Jesus perpetually!  He writes: "If our mission is to lead young people to [Jesus], we must know him ourselves.  Therefore, the first step is to know the message - inside out and upside down.  We must know the incarnate Word, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ."

- Walt Mueller, Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture (IVP, 2006), pp. 47 & 172.

back from reactivate

We're finally back from our cross pond adventure to Northern Ireland.  I didn't have internet access (or when I did I didn't have time!) so there has been a huge gap in the posting here!  But we had an amazing time talking about Jesus with all the youth at the Reactivate conference at Orangefield Church and Community in Belfast.  Our 17 hour long days exhausted us!  But the ministry was fantastic and I have such a hope for the next generation in Northern Ireland connecting to God in a powerful way.  One of the highlights in fact was this last Monday when Dan and I were able to spend the day with the YFC staff as they dreamed up reaching the whole of Ireland in 2010.  Can't wait to see what comes of that!

Sometimes I feel in my element partnering with others in ministry and being creative in sharing the story of Jesus and encouraging people to grow in faith.  There is nothing like working with others to make an environment where that can happen easily.  For that reason I'm so very impressed with the church and with the Youth for Christ team that helped host the youth portion of the conference. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard!  The videos above are the final two that Dan and I made during the conference... WARNING... They might not make much sense to North Americans who weren't at Reactivate! : )
 

new reactivate video

And now, for your viewing pleasure, a brand new reactivate video from Ken and Dan filmed right on the streets of Belfast... at least in a car on the streets of Belfast. We did this wee promo for our 2nd night event... but take heed that the humor might not make sense to most people not at the conference, eh.

reactivating

We're "knackered" but having a great time ministering in Belfast this week.  As always, I absolutely love hanging out with the Youth for Christ team in Northern Ireland.  Unbelievable fire for God and others.  Very cool.  Orangefield Church is really impressing me too.  I think they really want to see God use them to reach this city in amazing ways.  Even better than these though is being here with Kathy and with Dan and Laura.  It's such a joy to see them all serving and encouraging and enjoying the experience.  It's an honor to be joining them all this week. 

I'll work on getting you our 3rd Reactivate video filmed in the streets of Belfast today... but for now I'll post a couple photos of the youth portion of the conference that Dan and I are so involved in.  The photo below shows Steve McCready introducing me before the talk on the first night.  We've had 120-140 youth and another 30 youth workers each of the first two nights with some really great responses.  It's fun to watch Dan in his element teaching and leading worship... the man has got the gift.  And I'm loving teaching... though tonight took the voice and energy out of me afterward.  Praying for a speedy recovery for the Halloween chats tomorrow!  .... Now I'm off to bed!

reactivate

Dan, Laura, Kathy and I are spending some time in Belfast this week for Reactivate at Orangefield Church and Community.  Orangefield is hosting this conference with speakers from all over the UK... and me.  I'm speaking Wednesday-Saturday during the youth sessions late in the evenings.  Looking forward to telling stories about the Boston subway, Brad Pitt, upside down living, and "Thuthan."  We're looking at Romans, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and John 13.  I'm pumped to spend this time with Kathy and to see Dan and Laura in ministry action too.  Dan is our worship leader for hub... he's going to be doing what he's so gifted to do as well as helping with some devotional ministry for the Youth for Christ staff of Northern Ireland.  It'll be so good to connect with Steve and Rebecca McCready and so many of our other friends there once again.

We're also thankful for the many people who are caring for our home and our kids while we're away.  May your time be rich and fun and safe!  Can't wait to get home and hug my kids already! 

And in case you missed these, here are the two wee promo videos we made for the conference.  Enjoy!

new reactivate video

Here's the newest promo video for the youth portion of the Reactivate Conference at Orangefield Church and Community in Belfast at the end of this month. 

Reactivate video

At the end of October this year, Dan Leffelaar and I are heading out to Belfast to participate in Reactivate, a celebration conference for the reopening of Orangefield Church.  We're helping with the youth events for the week, along with Pete Morrisson.  I'm speaking for 4 nights and Dan is helping with worship... and will probably get roped into helping me teach.  Our bud at the church, Jonathan McKnight, asked us to come up with a wee promo video to stir up the ... hmmm... anticipation for the event and to introduce everyone to who we are.  So this is what we came up with.