d with their current responsibilities to add anything new.

Why are the decent church workers overwhelmed? Because the lack of dynamic leadership results in a lack of structure. Let me be clear. Dynamic doesn’t mean personally magnetic or appealing, it means they are always in motion. Meetings are purposeful and results are obvious. The lack of structure from a stagnant Board results from no meetings or pointless meetings that result in nothing.

Ministers tend to k

The word “stagnant” conjures unpleasant images, but it’s the best word for some of the situations I see in churches. No movement, no progress, just sitting and letting things grow from minor problem to major infestation.

The best advice that I could give when I see a stagnant church is to look at your Board. Whether you have a Board of Directors, a Board of Trustees, or a Board of Deacons, they are almost always the behind the lack of spirit in this natural situation. If you church is not a moving, dynamic, example of the Holy Spirit, you have to shake up your Board.

Whenever I engage a church in a business relationship, I ask for a list of their Board of Directors. The more troubled the church the older the list. I’ve seen lists that were typed on electric typewriters 20 years ago and lists of Board members where a few have gone on to glory and have never been replaced.

If your governing body is not burning with desire for growth that includes plans for continuity, your congregation, your efforts, and your building will show it. Dusty efforts are obvious and all the fire and brimstone preaching in the world can not make up for lack of effective leadership.

Growing churches are full of growing people. Their leadership are often role models for what the congregation is reaching for. Whether they are professional people, community leaders, faithful servants, or people with a relevant history, the Board should be a reflection of where the church wants to go.

When I tell people that I write grants, I get an overwhelming response. Almost everyone has something they want to do and would like to have the funding to do it. Unfortunately, the majority of people I speak to are nowhere near ready for the responsibility that social service work requires. Planning, administration, and accountability are the only requirements for most programs, yet most church workers are too strained with their current responsibilities to add anything new.

Why are the decent church workers overwhelmed? Because the lack of dynamic leadership results in a lack of structure. Let me be clear. Dynamic doesn’t mean personally magnetic or appealing, it means they are always in motion. Meetings are purposeful and results are obvious. The lack of structure from a stagnant Board results from no meetings or pointless meetings that result in nothing.

Ministers tend to kn

you church is not a moving, dynamic, example of the Holy Spirit, you have to shake up your Board.

Whenever I engage a church in a business relationship, I ask for a list of their Board of Directors. The more troubled the church the older the list. I’ve seen lists that were typed on electric typewriters 20 years ago and lists of Board members where a few have gone on to glory and have never been replaced.

If your governing body is not burning with desire for growth that includes plans for continuity, your congregation, your efforts, and your building will show it. Dusty efforts are obvious and all the fire and brimstone preaching in the world can not make up for lack of effective leadership.

Growing churches are full of growing people. Their leadership are often role models for what the congregation is reaching for. Whether they are professional people, community leaders, faithful servants, or people with a relevant history, the Board should be a reflection of where the church wants to go.

When I tell people that I write grants, I get an overwhelming response. Almost everyone has something they want to do and would like to have the funding to do it. Unfortunately, the majority of people I speak to are nowhere near ready for the responsibility that social service work requires. Planning, administration, and accountability are the only requirements for most programs, yet most church workers are too strained with their current responsibilities to add anything new.

Why are the decent church workers overwhelmed? Because the lack of dynamic leadership results in a lack of structure. Let me be clear. Dynamic doesn’t mean personally magnetic or appealing, it means they are always in motion. Meetings are purposeful and results are obvious. The lack of structure from a stagnant Board results from no meetings or pointless meetings that result in nothing.

Ministers tend to k

t includes plans for continuity, your congregation, your efforts, and your building will show it. Dusty efforts are obvious and all the fire and brimstone preaching in the world can not make up for lack of effective leadership.

Growing churches are full of growing people. Their leadership are often role models for what the congregation is reaching for. Whether they are professional people, community leaders, faithful servants, or people with a relevant history, the Board should be a reflection of where the church wants to go.

When I tell people that I write grants, I get an overwhelming response. Almost everyone has something they want to do and would like to have the funding to do it. Unfortunately, the majority of people I speak to are nowhere near ready for the responsibility that social service work requires. Planning, administration, and accountability are the only requirements for most programs, yet most church workers are too strained with their current responsibilities to add anything new.

Why are the decent church workers overwhelmed? Because the lack of dynamic leadership results in a lack of structure. Let me be clear. Dynamic doesn’t mean personally magnetic or appealing, it means they are always in motion. Meetings are purposeful and results are obvious. The lack of structure from a stagnant Board results from no meetings or pointless meetings that result in nothing.

Ministers tend to k

hould be a reflection of where the church wants to go.

When I tell people that I write grants, I get an overwhelming response. Almost everyone has something they want to do and would like to have the funding to do it. Unfortunately, the majority of people I speak to are nowhere near ready for the responsibility that social service work requires. Planning, administration, and accountability are the only requirements for most programs, yet most church workers are too strained with their current responsibilities to add anything new.

Why are the decent church workers overwhelmed? Because the lack of dynamic leadership results in a lack of structure. Let me be clear. Dynamic doesn’t mean personally magnetic or appealing, it means they are always in motion. Meetings are purposeful and results are obvious. The lack of structure from a stagnant Board results from no meetings or pointless meetings that result in nothing.

Ministers tend to k

d with their current responsibilities to add anything new.

Why are the decent church workers overwhelmed? Because the lack of dynamic leadership results in a lack of structure. Let me be clear. Dynamic doesn’t mean personally magnetic or appealing, it means they are always in motion. Meetings are purposeful and results are obvious. The lack of structure from a stagnant Board results from no meetings or pointless meetings that result in nothing.

Ministers tend to know very resourceful people, movers and shakers in their communities. Why don’t they invite them to join their Boards? Mostly, because they don’t want to subject them to their current Board members. Those members who monopolize meetings with irrelevant issues, those that resist change, those that are antagonistic or those who suffer from a lack of knowledge.

Shake them up! Look at your By Laws and find out how and when Board members are replaced. Memorize the process for electing Board members. Take attendance and minutes. Voice your vision for change and growth and let them decide who is in and who is out. Let some of the young people in your congregation join the Board and train them to be responsible leaders. If your church is in crisis, get the Board together and change the articles of incorporation or the By Laws.

Too many church leaders have lived with crisis for so long, they sleepwalk through every church effort. That is not necessary. Shake up your Board, add new faces and new knowledge and you will find yourself getting things done.