Barnabas File

When did the need for structure first begin to limit your creativity?  I think it began for me in kindergarten when the teacher insisted that I had to color within the lines.  I don’t remember if I asked “Why?” or not, but I do know that there was no option.  Of course, my teacher wife and daughter would assure me that this has something to do with developing small motor skills, but I still wonder about the practice and what’s so important about “coloring within the lines.” The same is true in the church.  Early on, each of us was ingrained with the idea of “this is the way we do church.”  Imagine my surprise as a teenager when I discovered that other people (including other Baptists) did church in different ways.  I did not find this threatening but rather exciting!   Those of us who work in the church today must address the fact that we have been trained to avoid creativity and temper our curiosity.  We have been e...

Several years ago, I heard Alan Roxburgh make a statement something like this: “The Spirit of God is at work among the people of God.”     He went on to say that, as a result of this relationship, God has already provided within God’s people the ability to fulfill God’s mission. One way to discover what God’s people have to offer in fulfilling that mission comes from developing spiritual and relational vitality in the congregation.  Another way is to ask questions that will challenge members of the church to dig deeper and not settle for their first response. These questions “peel the layers off the onion.”  In coaching, we call this “asking powerful questions.” Powerful questions come in many forms, but the primary characteristic of a powerful question is that it moves a person to a new perspective.  I always know that I have asked a person or a group a powerful question when the response is, “Now that’s a good question.” Powerful ...

Our society provides numerous examples of people not listening to and respecting each other.     We let prejudices and preconceived ideas get in the way of respectful discourse.     Unfortunately, we often find the same practice in the church. When we consider the change process, the second step is “honor the other.” Honest differences of opinion must not only be respected but honored.  We all have our points of view.  As we talk and reason with one another, uniformity is not the goal.  Writer Walter Lippman was reported to have said,  "When everyone thinks alike, no one thinks very much."  The challenge is to present one’s opinion in such a way that we do not cut off effective dialogue and discussion.  We want to generate light rather than heat. A mistake often made in the process of change is to jump to conclusions and to try to resolve a contested issue without adequate discourse.  Th...

Coaching has given me great insights on the power of individuals to identify their needs, cast vision for their lives, discover the personal resources for life change, design a plan of action, and successfully pursue that plan.     What works for individuals can also work for groups and organizations including churches. Consider this process that churches can adopt as they address change: C—Connect H—Honor the other A—Ask powerful questions N—Nurture curiosity and creativity G—Goal Setting E--Encourage The first step is to connect.  In individual coaching, we often work with clients not only to identify a specific life change they wish to achieve but to understand the values that motivate and guide their behavior and how this life change fits into the total picture of whom they are becoming.  They connect with themselves on a deeper level. As we begin to address change in a congregational setting, we help people to connect with ...

I had the opportunity to join Pinnacle colleague Mark Tidsworth last weekend in a workshop for the South Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).    As I introduced myself to the group, I said: “We believe that the church is not only going to survive but prosper.” I sincerely believe this, but the caveat is that the church that is going to survive may not necessarily be the church as you know it now.  If we are objective, we will realize that all expressions of the church have changed and evolved over the last twenty centuries.  The reason that the church has not just survived but prospered is that it has continually been reinventing itself in order to fulfill its mission.   So how do we reinvent our churches today to be the people of God in our context?  Here are some suggestions: First, listen to the Spirit of God.  My teacher Alan Roxburgh says something like this: “The Spirit of G...

In  The Medici Effect ,  Frans Johansson  describes how breakthrough ideas most often occur when we bring concepts from one field into a new, unfamiliar territory.  One of my areas of interest is leadership.  I found long ago that both behavioral and organizational psychology can provide fresh understanding about how individuals lead others and what influences a person to follow a leader. In recent years, the field of positive psychology has provided new insights into the characteristics that make an effective leader. Research based books like Grit by Amanda Duckworth, Mindset by Carol Dweck, and Positivity by Barbara Fredrickson highlight concepts and practices that can help a person to become a thriving leader. Although often found in the “Self-Help” section of a bookstore, these books are based on rigorous research. As I use this books in seminary classes, a third dimension is brought to bear--theological reflection. Since the ...

Many ministers falter or burn out because they do not attend to their personal spiritual health. The justification for failing to invest in one’s spiritual life is often, “I am just too busy.”  The same is true for the church staff. They are so busy doing good things that they may not spend time encouraging each other as disciples and facilitating each other’s spiritual growth. Sam Rainer dealt with this in a recent article on “4 ‘Must-Haves’ for Weekly Staff Meetings.”  Here are some of the things he suggested and some additional ideas. First, prayer is essential. Many churches collect prayer requests during weekend worship, then the staff prays about them during the weekly staff meetings.  The staff should also pray for each other, other needs of congregational members, and the challenges of the ministry. Second, sharing of scripture keeps everyone on track.  The pastor might share the scripture for the coming weekend’s service...

In a recent study conducted by the International Coach Federation on “ Building a Coaching Culture with Millennial Leaders,”  Alejandro Campos , 
  Head of Talent Management and Organizational Development at Continental Tire Worldwide, is cited in this quote: “Coaching is one of the instruments that we see can really boost performance and also help realize potential for people. We see it as something that is important to leverage our culture. So especially now that we are trying to be a more progressive and attractive employer, we’re trying to move from a culture of more top-down approach to a more collaborative approach in the more engaging leadership style.”  There is a crisis in ministerial leadership.  In many denominations, there are fewer seasoned ministers available and many younger clergy are disenchanted about working in the local church.  One way to address this concern is to incorporate basic tenets of coaching into the life of the ch...

What is your definition of “discipleship”?     In general usage, a disciple is one who follows the example and teachings of another person.     In the Christian context, a disciple is a follower of Jesus Christ, one who seeks to practice his teachings and make them a part of her or his life.     Living out the teachings of Christ is generally called the act of discipleship. Several years ago, I joined my colleague Mark Tidsworth in training church leaders to use coaching principles to help others to grow as disciples. We called the process “Disciple Development Coaching.”  Both Mark and I have a rather comprehensive view of what it means to be a disciple. Our concept (and I think the belief of many others) is that discipleship encompasses all of life—not simply our spiritual practices but the way we care for God’s gifts to us, act in our relationships with others, and pursue our vocational callings. In a recent conversation, s...

In life or leadership coaching, we often make a distinction between our process and that used by athletic coaches.  This may be because the image of coaches who appear driven to succeed at any cost. For example, the late Vince Lombardi is reported to have said, “Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing.”   But Lombardi also said,  “Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.”  All types of coaches can agree to that statement.  We can see similarities between the two processions especially if we perceive the role of the athletic coach being to help the athlete reach her or his full potential.  This is what life coaches do as well. For example, both types of coaches recognize the potential in those with whom they work.  They stand on the side and observe abilities that have not been developed and skills t...

I have been doing professional life coaching for eight years and I find that I still have a number of opportunities to introduce and explain the concept to people.     Just about everyone understands athletic coaching either from observing a sports coach in action or serving as a volunteer coach.   Life coaching is a bit different.   Three basic ideas will help you understand how life coaching works.    First, the person being coached is the focus of coaching.  The coach is thoroughly engaged in the coaching conversation, but the conversation is all about the client.  When we engage in a normal conversation with a friend or colleague, we expect that each person will have their fair share of the time—not simply reacting but sharing their own ideas and experiences and carrying their part of the conversation.  In coaching, it is all about the client.  The coach is there to serve the client’s agenda—to listen, ask...

Usually when the topic of faith-based coaching comes up, the immediate response is, “Oh, you mean Christian coaching.”     In recent days, I have started to ask myself, “Is this what it really means for me?”     To put this in perspective, let me first share three observations. First, I am a person of faith.  I am a follower of Jesus Christ.  Even though I am probably better at it on some days that others, the relationship is there and the strength of it is more dependent on God’s grace than my faithfulness.  Second, I am a Christian who is also a coach (life coach or leadership coach) and that means I want to be a good coach.  Martin Luther said,  “The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship.”  If we do our work well, that in itself is a witness to what is of value to us. Whether I am coachi...

Like death and taxes, staff meetings seem unavoidable.     With the best of intentions, a leader calls people together with the intention that they be informed, share important information with one another, and leave better equipped to do their jobs.    Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not.   Here are some guidelines about effective staff meetings (or meetings of any kind for that matter) that might be helpful. First, is this meeting really necessary?  Does it require the presence of this specific group of people for a designated period of time?  If the answer is “No,” don’t bother to meet.  If “Yes,"  then proceed to the next questions. Second, what is the meeting’s purpose?  The best way to define this is to create in advance a written agenda for those who will be expected to attend.  Provide them with the opportunity to adjust the agenda either prior to the meeting or at the beginni...