Is Your Ministry Team Dysfunctional?
Early this year, as a part of Knox College’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT) retreat, I was invited to share some insights from Patrick Lencioni’s “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” - a book that I had encouraged our leadership to read. Let me state from the outset that the title of the book can be jarring since it appears to label the reader as a part of the dysfunction which has negative connotations
The Gift of Quiet
If we’re honest, the word "quiet" can feel elusive—or even threatening—in a world that thrives on noise and speed. For ministry leaders, this is doubly true. Our lives are filled with voices clamoring for attention: sermons to prepare, congregants to counsel, programs to run, and a thousand other demands, all layered against the noise of a chaotic, divided world. It’s tempting to believe that in order to keep up, we must always stay busy, always reacting, always doing. But what if the most important thing we could do for our ministry—and for ourselves—is to stop? To embrace quiet not as a void, but as a profound and holy gift?
Leadership Fundamentals for Ministry
Every ministry leader, whether you’re a seasoned pastor or a volunteer leading a small group, has encountered moments where they felt stretched thin. Perhaps you’ve wrestled with how to navigate a conflict with a staff member or volunteer. Maybe you’ve struggled to make decisions with clarity and confidence, or you’ve wondered how to rebuild trust in a congregation that has experienced division.
These aren’t just practical problems; they’re spiritual ones too. As leaders in the church, we’re called to model Christ’s example—to lead with humility, grace, and truth. But without intentional development, these qualities can be hard to sustain in the face of daily pressures.
And because at Ministry Forum we believe no ministry leader should have to navigate these challenges alone - we’ve partnered with experts in leadership development to host a 5 week series on the Fundamentals of Leadership for Ministry Leaders. Through this series you’ll gain practical tools and encouragement to lead with authenticity and clarity.
Leadership Fundamentals for Ministry
Every ministry leader, whether you’re a seasoned pastor or a volunteer leading a small group, has encountered moments where they felt stretched thin. Perhaps you’ve wrestled with how to navigate a conflict with a staff member or volunteer. Maybe you’ve struggled to make decisions with clarity and confidence, or you’ve wondered how to rebuild trust in a congregation that has experienced division.
These aren’t just practical problems; they’re spiritual ones too. As leaders in the church, we’re called to model Christ’s example—to lead with humility, grace, and truth. But without intentional development, these qualities can be hard to sustain in the face of daily pressures.
And because at Ministry Forum we believe no ministry leader should have to navigate these challenges alone - we’ve partnered with experts in leadership development to host a 5 week series on the Fundamentals of Leadership for Ministry Leaders. Through this series you’ll gain practical tools and encouragement to lead with authenticity and clarity.
Self-Leadership with Rev. Dr. Peter Coutts
As a leader you’re often focused on others: guiding, supporting, mediating, vision casting to your congregation… But have you ever found yourself wondering, “Who’s guiding me?” It’s a question that many of us in ministry quietly carry, and it’s exactly why we worked with the Rev. Dr. Peter Coutts to develop a Self-Leadership course.