Featured Event


BLOGS @ Leadership Network

Leadership Network Authors

About Leadership Network

  • Leadership Network
    Leadership Network fosters church innovation and growth through strategies, programs, tools and resources consistent with our far-reaching mission: to identify, connect and help high-capacity Christian leaders multiply their impact.

Search our blogs


« Tribes by Seth Godin | Main | Down to Earth »

Nov 25, 2008

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341ced4953ef01053611dd7b970c

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Balancing the Entrepreneur, Manager and Technician in Ministry:

Comments

Bobby Burns

Having been involved in a church setting for the last 23 years as a layman and briefly as a pastor, I can concur that the ideal pastor would function in all three roles that Michael Gerber puts forth. I can also say that from my own work experience at E-Myth Worldwide it has become increasingly evident to me that the parallels between "running" a church and running a business are striking. As an aside, however, we must remember that the vision and goals for a church differ significantly in that the "bottom line" is souls - not dollars!

John Reece

Eventually, an entrepreneur surrounds himself with people having other skills and abilities. While the need for balance in all three areas is accurate, one person typically does not possess all three in such a way that negates the necessity to have help from others. It is unfortunate we place an expectation on pastors to be successful corporate business leaders and entrepreneurs, in some cases. There are parallels in running both a church and a business. It would be wise for the corporate world to stop and take notice of a Biblical approach to running organizations and equally wise for churches to stop assuming the corporate business approach should be brought into the church environment full-force.

Chris Albany

Hi, I think you guys are missing the point. Fact is it is not about business OR ministry it is about being EFFECTIVE:

1.There are the 5 Offices that serve the Body of Christ - of which Pastor is only 1

2. There are 7 Ministry Gifts for the edifying of the Body of Christ

3. Then there are the 9 fruits of the Spirit

4. There are also then functions performed by Elders and deacons and others such as "Helps"

Why on earth (or in heaven) should the Pastor do it all? Fact is most do, that is why so many suffer from Burnout and leave the ministry. It is a crying shame that the Body of Christ fails so dismally in applying the wisdom which is freely available to those who ask.

Instead of cramming the church into the E-myth (wonderful teaching as it is!) maybe we should introduce Michael to God's model and he will most probably find that this works far better and he could expand the e-myth concept to address all aspects of business and not just the entrepreneurial aspect.

Now that I think of tit this is borne out by Meredith Belbin's Model which has 9 Team roles which is awesome for putting teams together and managing them. I use this tool for all appointments and management of staff, and have great success. This is a more complete view of roles and it seems that Meredith Belbin is spiritually aware, which explains the revelatory power within his approach. Google Belbin to learn more.
Enjoy the journey....

Thinking of entrepreneurship I would say only the Evangelist falls into this category - think of Paul quoting Greek philosphers on Mars Hill - Epimides wrote to his Sun god 'in him we live and move nad have our being' - just like an entrepreneur to use what he has and apply it - Paul then ascribes this to Christ and wins the greek audience!

Mostly let us not limit the church to our current thinking but expand our thinking to embrace God's concept of church - the body with MANY members and myriads of functions.

Finally Michael clearly points out that 1 person cannot do or be all 3 - this is true - they all have different mindsets and personalities. They are different 'animals'. The 3 functions cannot exist in 1 person.Fullstop. Do what you were created to do - you will be good at this naturally - and get others with different giftings to do what they were created to do. If you dar e to blow your mind look at the Redemptive gifts of individuals - there are 7 which are different to the Ministry gifts - Google Arthur Burk or go to www.plumblineministries.com - it will change your life!

Enjoy the peace that passes understanding and the joy that that cannot be described (unspeakable) and which is glorious.

Chris

Norma Morris

Chris - Thanks so your comments, I am developing a school prototype near Dallas Tx and have the same types of leadership issues that seem to have come up about the "E-myth ministry" book (probably due to the spiritual aspects of human development that schools, as well as churches, encounter and should be addressing!I have not read it, however I will.. as well as google Belbin & Burk to see what they have to say...
Thanks for your comments.

Jason Webb

Great post and ideas! I’m going to share this with the rest of my team as we work more with enterprise-level clients.
Thanks and Regards/-
Jason Webb

Retro Jordans

I envy your style, the idea that your post is a tiny bit unusual makes it so interesting, I am fed up of seeing the same stuff all of the time. This page is now in my Digg.

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Working...
Your comment could not be posted. Error type:
Your comment has been posted. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Working...

Post a comment

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Featured Book

  • Exponential Series

Learnings @ Leadership Network blog