swerve lab: Leading Up

Thanks to everybody who continues to respond and help those who have submitted questions to the swerve lab. If you have a question that you would like for the readers of this blog to respond to, please send it to swerve@lifechurch.tv and put “Swerve Lab” in the subject line.

This week’s question comes from an anonymous writer…

How about some practical tips for “leading up” and even surviving as your leadership is going through what is clearly a tough season.  What strategies work when your senior leadership has pretty well checked out?  I don’t think it’s time to leave, just yet.  But how do you stay on track, stay supportive, and not go nuts in this situation?

What’s your advice?

10 comments

swerve lab: Volunteers

Thanks to everybody who continues to respond and help those who have submitted questions to the swerve lab. If you have a question that you would like for the readers of this blog to respond to, please send it to swerve@lifechurch.tv and put “Swerve Lab” in the subject line.

Since we all just finished celebrating Easter (some of us with multiple services), I thought this would be a great question to discuss.

Jeremy Woodall from Sonrise Church asks,

“How do you get volunteers to serve multiple times on a weekend?”

11 comments

swerve lab: Reminder

If you’d like to have your issue/problem/idea discussed later this week by other swerve readers…be sure to email it to us at swerve@lifechurch.tv. You can read more about the process.

You can also read our last swerve lab on boundaries for staff friendships.

Thank you for being so willing to help and contribute.

No comments

swerve lab: Staff Friendships

Thanks to everybody who continues to respond and help those who have submitted questions to the swerve lab. If you have a question that you would like for the readers of this blog to respond to, please send it to swerve@lifechurch.tv and put “Swerve Lab” in the subject line.

An anonymous reader asks,

How do you walk the fine line between being friends with those on your staff and being their boss/pastor?  Is there a certain amount of keeping at arm’s length that must take place?  Do you find that being chums with your staff makes it more difficult to make the tough calls or bring correction when needed?

Please share your thoughts!

21 comments

swerve lab: Reminder

If you’d like to have your issue/problem/idea discussed later this week by other swerve readers…be sure to email it to us at swerve@lifechurch.tv. You can read more about the process.

You can also read our last swerve lab on choosing the right hire. There are some great tips in the comments.

Thank you for being so willing to help and contribute.

No comments

swerve lab: Choosing the Right Hire

Thanks to everybody who continues to respond and help those who have submitted questions to the swerve lab. If you have a question that you would like for the readers of this blog to respond to, please send it to swerve@lifechurch.tv and put “Swerve Lab” in the subject line.

Today’s question comes from Dale. He writes,

“How do you decide between two extremely qualified candidates for the same staff position?”

We’ve talked about some of the LifeChurch.tv hiring processes on swerve in the past. What advice do you have for Dale?

16 comments

swerve lab: Reminder

If you’d like to have your issue/problem/idea discussed later this week by other swerve readers…be sure to email it to us at swerve@lifechurch.tv. You can read more about the process.

You can also read our last swerve lab on transitioning an established church. There’s some great conversation in the comments!

Thank you for being so willing to help and contribute.

No comments

swerve lab: Transitioning an Established Church

Thanks to everybody who continues to respond and help those who have submitted questions to the swerve lab. If you have a question that you would like for the readers of this blog to respond to, please send it to swerve@lifechurch.tv and put “Swerve Lab” in the subject line.

Our question today comes from Lance, who is a 10 year member of a church that has been a beacon in his community for the past 15 years, and a solid church for the past 50 years.

He writes,

“While we are mission-minded, Biblically sound and friendly, we are still operating very much the same way we did 10 years ago when I joined. We just changed one of our services to contemporary (yeah, just now), and that has been successful.

As you can expect, our pastor and staff are attempting to make changes to keep us relevant, and the older generation is resisting.

Everyone I have talked to has said it is simply better to find another church than to go through the pain of trying to move 3,800 members in a different direction when a good percentage just doesn’t want to go. But we are doing good things and I feel God is opening a door for us to continue to be a church strongly used by Him.

So the question is, how can an existing church transition? Do we do it slowly and try to bring as many along as possible? Or do we just do it and take a hit in attendance and giving in the short run?”

What advice can you give Lance? Have you been through a successful church transition? What are some things you learned?

44 comments