Barnabas File

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. -- Philippians 3:12-14, NIV   Change is inevitable.  It is not only to be expected, but to be pursued.  If you are a believer, my hope is that spiritually you are not where you were when you first acknowledged your faith in Christ.  The same is true for any church, family, business, or not-for-profit organization.  If you are now exactly what you were when you first started your journey, you are not effective in your mission.  As our context changes, our beliefs remain stable, but our methodologie...

Although I never heard it mentioned from the platform this year, the Global Leadership Summit continues to rebuild its credibility after the sexual harassment charges against Bill Hybels, former pastor of Willow Creek Community Church and former leader of the Willow Creek Association (now Global Leadership Network).     Allegations about Hybels’ inappropriate relationships with female staff members, church members, and business associates have negatively impacted the church, the association, and this event. Even though this history was not on the printed agenda at the Summit, planners chose several speakers who addressed the issue of harassment and power in very clear ways. In an interview with Paula Faris, guest Bozoma Saint John talked about her work as Chief Brand Officer at Uber, a corporation whose culture of discrimination and misogyny is well known. She discussed the challenges of working in that situation and seemed relieved that she no longer has a con...

Responses to the adoption by the CBF Governing Board of a new hiring policy and the announcement of the policy’s implementation plan have been mixed.   Most seem willing to accept the new hiring policy, but many argue that the implementation plan will simply perpetuate a discriminatory approach in matters of sexuality.   This is a compromise which, in the long run, will make no one happy.  If the present implementation plan stands, the CBF “denomi-network” must be prepared to face significant consequences.  First, CBF will continue to lose those young adults who will not accept a discriminatory sexual ethic. I n a letter to the editor of Baptist News Global, divinity student Adam McDuffie wrote : “With the implementation procedure as it currently stands, excluding children of God from serving as they are called, the CBF is risking an exodus that is already beginning, and may in fact be irreversible.”  The approach adopted by the CBF ...

Throughout the history of the church, men and women have stepped up to renew the church and stretch its ministry in new directions.   These are pathfinders, entrepreneurs, or pioneers who see new opportunities for Kingdom work and respond accordingly. Stephen, one of the first deacons in the church at Jerusalem, provides a good model of a true “thought leader,” one who moves things in a new direction. Although originally chosen as one “to wait on tables” or care for widows, Stephen had the ability and the opportunity to do much more than this simple task of service.  A servant leader in the best sense of the term, he was ready and willing to follow the leadership of the Spirit. In the descriptions of Stephen in the Book of Acts, a pattern is clear.  He was “ known to be full of the Spirit  and wisdom ” (6:3); “ a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (6:5); and “a man full of God’s grace and power” (6:8).  There was a spiritu...

Many of us have heard this question this summer as we have traveled with young (and sometime not so young) passengers.   Of course, this presupposes that we know where we are going!   We will only know if we are there if we have a clear idea of our destination.   Often, some have one idea while others have another. In a recent blog , Mark Miller wrote, “Have you ever been confused by a message you received from a leader? Have you ever received mixed messages from leaders in your organization? If your organization has at least two leaders, I’m confident the answer is ‘yes!’”   So how do you avoid sending mixed messages throughout your organization?   Who defines the destination so that we all get to the same place at the right time? Most organizations—secular or faith-based—tend to attract driven, creative people who are seeking ways to advance the mission of the organization (and perhaps their own agendas as well).   The greatest challenge is...