I’m reading a book on “change” written by N. Graham Standish. Let me share some comments provided by the Publisher at Fortress Press.
“. . . And the Church Actually Changed addresses issues brought up by clergy themselves in his coaching work with them. Using an integrative approach to ministry, Standish draws on insights from counseling, spiritual direction, organizational development, and other fields. The book is written in the form of dialogues between a clergy coach and various clergy clients who are struggling in their ministry. Each chapter addresses a significant clergy leadership issue, yet the dialogue allows coach and pastor to deal with issues pragmatically by exploring both the big picture and the details of leading a healthy church.”
I’m finding this book very helpful as we face the challenges of society and culture that are pressing in on the church.
Our Interim Pastor Journey focuses on adaptive change. I will introduce the following principles at our next Interim Pastor Journey Town Hall Meeting, Step 2, on Sunday, May 5. Those principles are observations, interpretations, asking questions, and making interventions in measured ways. The Session and Staff will start on the balcony and make observations about congregational life at Grace. Those folks then go to the dance floor and share interpretations, all the while listening well to others. That group returns to the balcony with new observations after listening to the questions being asked. Then, the group goes back to the dance floor with new interpretations, listening well to the new questions being asked, and takes observations from the questions being asked back to the balcony to digest and just perhaps formulate further refined interpretations. Then, back to the dance floor again, listening to questions. Back to the balcony to share observations from the questions. And just perhaps, a plan of intervention is formed and communicated to and with the congregation to see how we’re doing. This process of observations, interpretations, asking questions, and making interventions in measured ways is an excellent discernment process as we listen to God and one another for the vision and future of Grace.
Our next Interim Pastor Journey Town Hall Meeting, Step 2, is Sunday, May 5. We have one service in the Sanctuary at 10:00 am, followed by a covered dish lunch with a “Cinco de Mayo” Mexican theme, including dessert, water, iced tea, and coffee.
The question for the focus of our discussion as we complete Step 2 of 6 in our Interim Pastor Journey is: How would you describe Grace to someone you wanted to attend with you?
Do attend worship and the Cinco De Mayo lunch on Sunday, May 5. Your voice matters. On the journey of Christian discipleship and spiritual formation with you, I remain faithfully yours,
Steve
The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh
Interim Pastor
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