Church Council

Leadership Development Training

Rev. Dr. Steve Gedon

Church CouncilWho? (people, personalities, problems)

What? (actions, activities, agendas)

How? (practical, resources, timing)

Church CouncilThe executive agency of the charge conference (¶244). This means that between meetings of the charge conference, the church council is the group of leaders who guide and further the ministry of the congregation.

Local Church

Charge Conference

Church Council

Functional Ministries

(Organization)

(Decision)

(Strategy)

(implement)

(support)

Church CouncilThe council exists to create and supervise the strategic plan for an effective congregation. The CC should reflect the character and population of the congregation.

Mission

THE GOAL OF THIS CHURCH is not to create a space for people to conveniently look upon God, but to enable willing disciples to grow, thrive and be shaped into the Image of Christ in thought, actions, and experience.

Mission

THE CHURCH is not a finished product comprised of perfect people, rather people united, shaped and guided by the Word of God and energized by the Spirit of God.

Called to create an environment in which Christian Life can Flourish.

“Ministry is the ongoing attempt to put one's own search for God, with all the moments of pain and joy, despair and hope, at the disposal of those who want to join this search but do not know how.” Henri Nouwen

Church is about Ministry

It is not possible for a Christian to be spiritually mature while

remaining emotionally immature.

Church is a Maturing Process.

Church is a Maturing Process.

“The church will never mature beyond the

leadership.”Peter Scazzero

“Christians are made, not born.”

Tertullian

Church is a Maturing Process.

“[Jesus] is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.” Colossians 1:28-29

Church is a Maturing Process.

PeopleDiscover and Utilize their Gifts,

Talents, Personalities, Experiences and Interests to

become fully Mature.

Personality Profile

Personality Profile

ProsLeader, decisive, authoritative, powerful, clear, concise, timely, visionary, actionVision-Oriented

ConsAuthoritarian, insensitive, demanding, ruthless, destructive, feared, not a great team player, terrible follower, not good listener

ProsOrganized, detail oriented, focused, secretary, priorities, hard worker, busy, agenda, actionTask Oriented, good team player

ConsSolitary, Process over people, achievements, Task Oriented, driven

ProsFunloving, cohesive, energized, excitable, people over projects, friendly, engaging, life of the party Fun-Oriented

ConsEasy to distract, not focused, not dependable, ADD kind of people, distracting, It’s not all about you!

ProsLoyal, sensing, people oriented, emotionally intelligent, emotionally healthy, soothing, comforting, integrity

ConsAnalysis paralysis, consensus or nothing, cannot stand unhappy people, abhors change, takes debate and discussion personally

Consumers“weekend warriors”

Avoid Consultants

Embrace Contributors.

Materialist“what’s the cost?”

Avoid the “Rainy-Day” mentalityEmbrace Blessed to be a

Blessing

ChristianEnergized and excited by

GOD.

Avoid ‘Woe-is-me’ Mentality

Embrace Risk taker.

Meaning:  How do we see life and our place in it?

Message:  What is our story and how do we tell it?

Mission:  What are we here for and what do we do?

Starting Point

Members:  How do we connect with people and include them in our movement?

Mobility:  How do we command attention in a fast-moving world?

Starting Point

Money:  How do we support our cause?

Metrics:  What do we measure and what do these numbers mean?

Starting Point

Church Council• Elevate (Inspire) – What can we achieve

together?• Envision (Plan) – How are we going to do

it?• Engage (Do) – When & with whom will it

happen?• Evaluation (Learn) – Outcomes, Lessons,

Improve

Church CouncilElevate (inspire)

Resources, goals, talents, demographics, passions, growth, dreams Create

Excitement

Church CouncilEnvision

Champion, Plan, Resources, Stretch

Church CouncilEngage

Support, Encouragement, Resource, Motivate, Educate, Employ

Church CouncilEvaluate

Learn, Document, Ask, Celebrate, Affirm

Church CouncilImplement

Support, encouragement, enthusiasm

Jeremiah 17

Duties and Responsibilities of the Church Council

Duties and Responsibilities of the Church Council

(¶244) – Organization

(¶251.3) – Role of the Chair

(¶252) – Council Roles & Functions

Duties and Responsibilities of the Church Council

Meet at least quarterly

Be attentive to Ministry before Administration

Use consensus and discernment for decision

making

Duties and Responsibilities of the Church Council

Fill leadership vacancies

Review Membership of the congregation

Recommend salary package for pastor to

charge conference

What is the Church Council?

Church Council is the administrative agency of the charge conference.

Carries out the Mission and Vision of the Charge Conference.

Chair of this group is elected annually by the charge conference (¶251.3).

BUSINESS VS MINISTRYBUSINESS FOCUS

Running the church Burnout/low interest Like secular meetings Short term focus Avoid risks Blame Control, power and decision making stays here

MINISTRY FOCUS

Making disciples Personal renewal Experience God Kingdom focus Experiment Try to do it better Follow God’s lead, empower others to make decisions

Chairperson Responsibilities? Lead the council in

fulfilling its responsibilities as outlined in The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 2008, ¶252.

Work with the pastor(s) and other Leaders to fulfill the mission of “making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

Hold the BIG picture Build an agenda in

consultation with Pastor Coordinate ministries

among planning groups Follow up decisions (no

micro-managing) Build the group and

develop new leaders

Other Responsibilities

Review the membership of the local church; Fill interim vacancies occurring among the lay

officers of the church between sessions of the annual charge conference;

Establish the budget on recommendation of the committee on finance and ensure adequate provision for the financial needs of the church;

One of the core responsibilities of the council is to “lead the visioning and strategic planning process within the church”

Vision& Strategy

Vision is a capacity to see the system differently. 

Vision

One of the most important tasks in formulating a

meaningful vision is to gather information

Vision

Discern what is special about your context

Why has God place your church where it is located?

What are the unique features about your community?

Vision

Who lives in your community? Who goes to your church? What is unique about your church?

Vision

What need can your church meet better than any other organization in your community?

What are the available resources?

Vision

The church council exists to create

and supervise the strategic plan

for your local congregation . 

Strategy

Strategic

Twofold function includes both leadership and management. Leadership is the visionary, "big picture" work that assesses critically where your congregation is at the present moment, where God is calling it to be in the future, and what resources will be required to move from your current reality into the desired future.

Big Picture Detail Pictures

Strategic

Management is the essential "detail work" that must be accomplished on a daily basis to make the congregation effective.

Big Picture Detail Pictures

Strategic

ef·fec·tiveproducing a desired or intended result.

synonyms: successful, effectual, potent, powerful; helpful, beneficial, advantageous, valuable, useful; convincing, compelling, strong, forceful, potent, weighty, impactful, sound, valid

Big Picture Detail Pictures

Our MissionMake Disciples of Jesus Christ

Make a Difference in the World.

Our Goals StrategyInspirational Worship ExperiencesIntentional Christian DiscipleshipInvolved in Practical ChristianityInviting Faith Conversations

87% Protestant congregations in US are stagnant or declining

77% of people on church boards said the quality of their spiritual life “went down” while serving

Every group of churches over 20 years old are declining as a group

Decline Churches

Thriving Churches

The Top Ten Essentials for Developing

Thriving Churches

What kills passion?1. Problem-solving syndrome (where there is

no vision)2. Busy-enough now3. No vacancy (no more energy)4. Nostalgia (comfortable in the present…)5. Lazarus syndrome (recovering the

dissatisfied)

10. Passion / Inspiration

9. Core Values

Unhealthy core values that drive churches

(Rick Warren)

1. Tradition (what did we do before?)2. Personality (what does the leader

want?)3. Finance (how much does it cost?)4. Program (what are we already

doing?)5. Building (if you have a room the kids

cannot use …)6. Needy (simply give people what they

want?)

8. Balanced Ministry Strategy

Three types of people attend church:

1. Casual (ready to visit)Reached by outreach ministries

2. Curious (ready to grow)Reached by spiritual growth ministries

3. Committed (ready to serve)Reached by equipping ministries

Thriving church systems minister to each stage!

Seasonal waves 1. Christmas2. January 13. Easter4. Mother’s Day & 5. Father’s Day6. Start of school year

7. Intentionally Create New Waves of

People

Front door wavesMarriage conferences, recovery

ministries, having a variety of services (style, location)

7. Intentionally Create New Waves of

People

Message wavesPreaching in series (start on key

days)Postmodern (conversational)

styleTitled for take-home value

7. Intentionally Create New Waves of

People

Staffing wavesBringing on folk who attract new

group of people

7. Intentionally Create New Waves of

People

50% of world is now younger than 16 and 80% become Christian before age 21

6. Prioritize Teen and Children

5. Grow your Staff

Build a staff which builds ministries which build people.

Staff which Attracts Growth

Staff which Supports Growth

Present

Future

People grow and serve best when they know what the steps are

What’s your game plan for discipleship? Spiritual gift implementationBeing “high expectation”

4. Mobilize Laity

Annual parenting and marriage sermons series Those who are not parents or spouses are

educated for other roles in relation to our family ministries

3. Build Healthy Homes

A church can get bigger as long is it keeps getting smaller.

Different spiritual needs are met by different size groups in the church.

2. Prioritize Small Groups

The #1 job of the pastor is to guard the “spirit” of the

church

1. Climate Control

Model emotionally healthy family relationships

Public/personal encouragementCreating atmospheres of grace while

making phonies and critics squirm

1. Climate Control

Thriving or Declining:Building Healthy Church Systems

When churches deal with these factors, they pollinate the church … and create the kind of greenhouse in which seeds can grow and flower.

Called to create an environment in which Christian Life can Flourish.

The charge conference will determine the size of the church council. Members of the church council shall be involved in the mission and ministry of the congregation as defined in ¶ 252.2.

Membership

Council shall include persons who represent the program ministries of the church as outlined in ¶ 243.

Membership

Membership

The membership shall include but not be limited to:

the chairperson of the church council; the chairperson and/or a representative

of : the pastor-parish relations committee; the committee on finance; the board of trustees; the church treasurer; the lay leader; a lay member to annual conference; the United Methodist Men; the United Methodist Women; the United Methodist Youth; the pastor(s). others

Children’s Advocate, Program Ministries,

Membership The pastor is the administrative officer of the

local church and therefore is an ex officio member of most committees (¶ 244.3, 2008 BOD). 

Ex officio members have both voice and vote.

Effective Meetings

Preparation: agenda and reports

A time of learning Thoughtful devotional A time of discernment Celebration of Ministry Decision made Actionable Plans Communication planned

Questions

&Answers

Can anyone attend a committee

meeting?

Who is allowed to vote at committee

meetings?

Can paid staff persons vote on the church council or other committees?

Questions

&Answers

Skills for an Effective Church Council Leader

Genuine Christian character who love the Christ and His church

Person who are morally disciplined, are committed to the mandate of inclusiveness in the life of the church

Skills for an Effective Church Council Leader

Loyal to the ethical standards of The United Methodist Church set forth in the Social Principles, and are competent to administer its affairs.

Skills for an Effective Church Council Leader

What does God call us to do and to be?

Disciples (growing & doing)

Clear about our mission (thinking)

Visionaries (prayerful & discerning)

Spiritual Leaders (mentors & guides)

Task of Leaders Lead meeting Listening Delegation Organize Vision-transfer the vision Communicate Motivate Patience Spiritual Maturity

Prioritize Flexible Money Management Risk Taker Researcher Learner Strategize Humility & Accountability

“Once the soul awakens, the search begins and you can never go back.”