How can leaders think outside of the box? In this episode we discuss innovation, entrepreneurial ministry, and leadership with Kenda Creasy Dean, the Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Transcript

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How can leaders think outside of the box? In this episode we discuss innovation, entrepreneurial ministry, and leadership with Kenda Creasy Dean, the Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Doug Powe: Welcome to Leading Ideas Talks, a podcast featuring thought leaders and innovative practitioners. I’m Douglas Powe, the director of the Lewis Center and your host for this talk. Joining me is Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean, the Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary. She’s also the author of several books – “Almost Christian,” being one of my favorites. Our focus for this podcast is innovation. Kenda, I’m really glad you could join us today.

Kenda Creasy Dean: Thanks.

Doug: And I want to begin, you co-founded an organization called Ministry Incubators. And in part, you help ministry entrepreneurs to thrive. Can you define the meaning of entrepreneur within a church context?

Kenda: Sure, yeah! Thank you for having this conversation. The way – we call it Ministry Incubators — because, basically, we think, it’s a hope that it will be an unnecessary conversation soon because every church will become a Ministry Incubator, which I think is what we’re called to be. But when we talk about entrepreneurship, it’s a term that’s a little bit troubling because people associate it with business. But the origin of the word comes from a French root which means “an undertaking in between.” So what entrepreneurs do, is they create undertakings that happen in the gaps. You know, they’re trying to fill the gaps between what’s already there. So, anybody who’s got an entrepreneurial spirit, which I really think Christian community leaders should be “Exhibit A” of that, is looking for “What are the gaps?” “Where are the seams coming apart?” “What needs to be created to bring this community together?” And that is an entrepreneur’s way of thinking. So, I do think that entrepreneurship is a fundamental skill for all ministry. For some people that comes more naturally. Some people feel like that’s riskier. But the truth is that almost anybody who goes into ministry, de facto has some of that DNA in them because they’re looking for how to address the pain points. And there’s a gap that needs to be filled. And that’s what an entrepreneur does.

Doug: I really appreciate the way that you talk about the gap and the ability to fill the gap. And you mention that you think that people who go into ministry have some of this in their DNA. But, as you know, there seem to be some who have more of it in their DNA than others. So, can you say a little bit about what you think brings that – I don’t know what word you want to use – Why they have more in their DNA? Or how they flourish in a more entrepreneurial way than others do?

Kenda: Yeah, well I have to say that churches are not – have not become, now this is not true to who we are historically. But as we have become more and more calcified as instituti