Ever wondered how power dynamics shape the health of your church community? Join us as we explore the complexities that arise when certain individuals or families hold sway over church decisions, potentially disrupting harmony within leadership structures. We'll discuss the importance of establishing clear authority lines and fostering unity between elder and deacon boards to ensure that the church environment remains vibrant and harmonious. Our personal experiences shed light on the challenges faced by church leaders and the necessity of wise and gracious exercise of authority.

Shifting gears, we tackle the concept of "first among equals" in pastoral leadership. What happens when a pastor transitions from being a singular leader to an equal among elders? Learn how structured meetings, inspired by Pat Lencioni's "Death by Meeting," can help maintain healthy power dynamics by addressing business, shepherding, and vision discussions. Authority, ultimately derived from God, plays a crucial role in guiding church leadership, ensuring decisions are made with wisdom and integrity.

In times of pastoral transition, the balance of power becomes even more critical. Discover how unaddressed power imbalances can hinder incoming pastors and lead to unresolved issues, or "monkeys," on their backs. By drawing on family systems theory and sharing personal anecdotes, we emphasize the significance of setting boundaries and managing expectations. Through these insights, we reaffirm the gospel's role in correcting power dynamics and remind ourselves of the importance of trusting in divine wisdom and guidance.

Back in part 4 of the “will My Church Need a Transitional Pastor mini series we briefly mentioned the impact of power dynamics in your church. Today we are going to get down and dirty with this topic. Power dynamics are real and felt by everyone. When stewarded well they allow a church to thrive, and when stewarded poorly they leave a trail of wreckage in their wake. Yet, as important a topic as this is, it is one that is rarely discussed in our churches, and it is one area where most of us will benefit from just a little more personal growth.

Links to help you!

• "The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team”, Patrick Lencioni 
• “If You Met My Family You’d Understand”, Jack Shitama
• “Death By Meeting”, Patrick Lencioni 
• "Crucial Conversations", Joseph Grenny

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