Christian Management Report
April 2005 Issue (Vol. 29, No. 2)
Focus: Servant Leadership
Title: Lead Like Jesus
“Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant” —Matthew 20:26, NLT
In this issue… we address the theme of servant leadership, exploring what it means to lead like Jesus. And we introduce an exciting new development: a commitment to bring you in each issue in 2005 the latest information and valuable articles from all 10 management sections represented in CMA’s Section Resource Council. —DeWayne Herbrandson, Executive Editor
CONTENTS ∙ Christian Management Report (Vol. 29, No. 2, April 2005)
Lead Like Jesus
Turning the One-Minute Manager® Into a Servant Leader
By Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges, Co-founders, The Center for FaithWalk Leadership
In this article, the authors explore what it means to lead like Jesus, taking readers on a journey through two internal domains – the heart and the head – and two external domains – the hands [leadership behavior] and the habits. “Servant leadership,” they conclude, “starts with a vision and ends with a servant heart that helps people live according to that vision.”
Why Servant Leadership Is Not Enough!
The Multi-Dimensional Aspects of Leadership as Taught in Scripture
By Eugene B. Habecker, President/CEO, American Bible Society, New York, N.Y.
Effective leadership extends well beyond a servant spirit, says the author, citing the biblical model of leadership as significantly more inclusive. In addition to having a servant heart, the effective leader must also be a follower, a manager, a shepherd and a teacher/mentor. “The leader,” he writes, “is constantly moving from one role to another…constantly using multiple skills, roles and tactics to do leadership.”
Raising Up Leaders and Managers to Lead Like Jesus
The Key to Leadership Development Is Understanding Three Important Biblical Principles
By Edward A. Smith, Pastor, Zoe Christian Fellowship, Whittier, Calif.
In guiding his church from a home-based group of 15 to more than 3,000 active members, Pastor Smith describes the three scriptural principles that have been the key to developing its leaders. Prospective leaders are trained to: lead and manage with the heart of a shepherd; be fruitful in their work; and to multiply themselves.
Avoiding the Deadly Trap of Aspiring Servant Leaders
Learning to Trust That What God Says About Us Is True
By Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol, and John Lynch, Leadership Catalyst, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz.
As Christians, God has given us the DNA of godliness, say the authors, yet too often we fail to live out that truth, trying instead to prove our godliness. “Then, when we fail,” they write, “we live in hiddenness, which in turn produces more failure and duplicity.” To avoid this deadly trap, they offer some practical tips for becoming Christlike leaders.
Strategic Servant Leadership
Five Critical Elements in Effectively Modeling a Serving Attitude
By Ronald F. Smedley, President, Synergistic Resource Associates, Placentia, Calif.
An effective leader doesn’t force compliance from staff members but, instead, seeks to serve them and help them success. Modeling that style involves five elements: an ambition to glorify God; doing everything possible to help one’s people succeed; developing effective methods coupled with good character; being a responsible leader who develops responsible people; and desiring to think like Christ in every situation.
Management Rules of Thumb
By John Pearson, President/CEO, Christian Management Association, San Clemente, Calif.
“Lead like Jesus,” writes the author, “will be just a hollow slogan if we only manufacture clever servant manager strategies. Yet, it could be a revolution of the heart if we invite Christ to infiltrate every management minute.”
Human Resource Management
The Teamwork Experts?
By Jan Bynum, Vice President of Human Resources, Volunteers of America Texas, Fort Worth, Texas
As the “people” department, the HR folks might be expected to know all there is to know about teamwork, but are just as vulnerable as others to the pitfalls that result in a dysfunctional team.
Also includes a book brief on The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni and a recommendation for Human Resources by Richard Renckly as a good one-volume compendium on human resource management.
Fund Development
Marketing Intangibles
By Larry Yonker, Partner, The Elevation Group, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Because most Christian organizations provide intangible services, marketing them can be difficult, says the author, who recommends the book, Selling the Invisible: A Field Guide to Modern Marketing, by Harry Beckwith.
Also includes “Phone Flim-Flam Confuses Research With Fund Raising” by Dick Rinker, President, Campbell Rinker, Valencia, Calif.
Fund Development
Transformational Giving
By Todd Harper, Vice President, Generous Giving, Chattanooga, Tenn.
With Americans today giving less proportionally than during the Great Depression, the keys to building transformational relationships with them, writes the author, are perspective, heart and tools.
Financial Management
Keeping Bad Things From Happening to Good Charities
By Andrew Dorantes, VP for Finance and Treasurer, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, Calif.
As financial scandals have made headlines and raised public concerns, nonprofits are coming under increased scrutiny, leading to several proposed ideas regarding charitable governance and increased regulation.
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
By Mark Yoder, Senior Manager, Capin Crouse LLP, Atlanta, Ga.
Authorized by Congress, HSA plans may provide opportunities to offset some of the escalating costs of medical insurance.
Information Technology
Email Etiquette
By Nick Nicholaou, President, Ministry Business Services, Inc.
As relatively new forms of communication, email and instant messaging have become extremely popular. In this article, the author outlines some rules and guidelines for avoiding problems and improving communication effectiveness.
Board Governance
Keeping Your Board Relationship Solid
By Bob Kobielush, President/CEO, Christian Camp and Conference Association International, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Good relationships between an organization’s director and its board are essential to the ministry’s success, says the author, who offers several maxims that contribute to that success.
Board Governance
Helping Your Board Be More Effective
By Robert C. Andringa, President/CEO, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, Washington, D.C.
Ministry leaders can help their boards operate more effectively, says the author, who provides several suggestions for accomplishing that goal.
Board Governance
A Scriptural View on Board Planning
By Robert C. Andringa, President/CEO, Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, Washington, D.C.
Scripture has much to say about planning, reports the author, who cites several passages for board members to consider.
CEO/Leadership
Investing in Your Employees
By Sarah Loehndorf, Project Manager, Best Christian Workplaces Institute
ECCU’s president, Mark Holbrook, talks about the payoff in creating a positive work environment and investing in your people.
Management & Leadership
Einstein Was Right!
By Dave Fleming, Leadership Coach/Author
No two people experience time and space the same way, and so it's important for managers to expect – and welcome – differing perspectives from their team members.
Management & Leadership
Why Not Women?
By Anita Schamber, Senior Associate, Global Learning Partners Team, World Vision, Inc.
The title of this article is from a book of that name, subtitled A Fresh Look at Scripture on Women in Missions, Ministry and Leadership, which encourages women to respond to God’s call on their lives, despite limitations and barriers.
Management & Leadership
Cultivating a Godly Skepticism
By Howard E Butt, Jr., Management Consultant/Author
In this brief excerpt from his book, Who Can You Trust?, the author notes that mistrust – a healthy dose of skepticism – is as essential a virtue for the Christian as trust is.
Church Leadership
Smaller Has Its Advantages
By Dick Towner, Executive Director, Good $ense Movement, Willow Creek Association, South Barrington, Ill.
The author, long active with megachurches, reports on predictions that smaller churches, responding to both Gen Xers and Bridgers, may be the wave of the future.
Church Leadership
MTRs Provide More Effective Communication Between Staff and Church Leadership
By Dick Towner, Executive Director, Good $ense Movement, Willow Creek Association, South Barrington, Ill.
The acronym MTR stands for Mission Team Representative, an individual chosen by a ministry within a church to represent it in periodic meetings with church leaders.
Also includes a book feature on Simply Strategic Stuff by Tim Stephens and Tony Morgan.
Church Leadership
Purpose-Driven Performance
By Les Taylor, President, Achievement Solutions, LLC, Tempe, Ariz.
In this second article in a series, the author explains the principle of purpose-driven performance, requiring planning, goal setting and strategic decision making.
Church Management
Are Coaches and Mentors the Same?
By John Throop, President, The Summit Planning Group, Glen Allen, Va.
While coaching and mentoring are often used interchangeably, the author explains how the focus of each calling is different.
Church Management
10 Questions for the Church Finance Committee
By John Parrish, Owner, Keller & Owens, LLC, Overland, Kan.
According to the author, having the answers to these 10 key questions will enable the church finance committee to discharge its responsibilities more effectively.
Tax & Legal Trends
By Charles M. (Chip) Watkins, Attorney, Webster, Chamberlain & Bean, Washington, D.C.
In this article, the author describes a number of significant proposals Congress is considering, several of which, in his view, “would add complexity to the law and impose substantial costs on EOs [exempt organizations], with marginal benefit to the public.”
Tax & Legal Trends
By Kelly A. Bennett, CEO and Lead Mediator, Mediation Law Group/Christian Dispute Resolution Professionals, Temecula, Calif.
Some form of conflict for ministries in today’s world is almost a certainty, says the author, who offers advice on ways to mitigate its impact.
