Book Description
A Leadership Network Publication
In Leading the Team-Based Church, George Cladis issues a clarion call for ministry teams to embrace a fresh leadership model that is not based on hierarchy, but on a process of collaboration that mirrors the relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He reminds us that today's cultural environment--where authority has basis in trust, innovation reaps rewards, and spirituality takes root in life and work--has matured past the need for the hierarchy of traditional church leadership where the pastor had the final say. Through down-to-earth stories from his own experience and those of clergy in both mainline and evangelical churches, Cladis offers an exciting alternative to the traditional forms of church leadership, enabling pastors, congregational leaders, and staff to breathe new life into their ministries and unleash the full potential of the entire ministry team.
Cladis, pastor of a fast-growing mainline congregation, demonstrates how cultural changes affecting all our institutions--not just the church--are making it easier to adopt this new model of leadership. Cladis's practical advice will enable ministry teams to work together in ways that both embody the Christian message and call forth the full creativity and love of the entire team.
"Just when it seems that all that can be said has been said on the subject of 'teams', just when one has tired of the gumming of the label 'team' on everything in sight, along comes perhaps the most significant religious book on teams yet published. Cladis juxtaposes the theological and cultural context for team-based ministry in a model presentation of what a conversation between Bible, theology, and culture should look like."--Leonard Sweet, dean, The Theological School and vice president, Drew University
Customer Reviews:
A beneficial model for church leadership in postmodernism .......2005-04-24
In Leading the Team-Based Church, George Cladis weaved together principles from theology, ecclesiology, sociology, and business to create a rubric for applying a team-based model for doing ministry in the church. Cladis's thesis is that the historic hierarchical organizational model of top-down, leader-directed ministry is inconsistent with the nature of God, the New Testament pattern of church ministry, and the needs of a postmodern culture. The cornerstone of Cladis's paradigm is his premise that the persons of the Trinity exist in perichoresis, that is, as a team comprising perfect unity, fellowship, harmony, love, and purpose. The perichoretic Trinity thus becomes the exemplar for team-based ministry in the church. Part 1 explored the theological underpinnings of God as perichoresis and outlined nine characteristics of postmodern society. The seven chapters of part 2 examined the seven forms of leadership reflected in the attributes of God's perichoretic nature in juxtaposition with the characteristics of post-modernism and how these lend credence to team-based ministry in the church.
Review and Reaction
Cladis's interpretation of the Trinity as perichoresis forged the basis of his understanding of team-based ministry in the local church. While not appearing in the New Testament, perichoresis is a compound Greek word literally meaning "circle of dance" (4). To Cladis the Trinity is a perfect team. For him, the perichoretic image of the triune Godhead provides a helpful way of viewing the church and its organizational structure. Specifically, the church should work in perfect harmony, equality, and purpose, thus reflecting the image of God.
Cladis further asserted that the perichoretic model of the Godhead most accurately reflects the demands of a postmodern society for flatten hierarchical organizational structures that value individual giftedness, equality, and collaborative efforts. Cladis suggested that modernism promotes rugged individualism to the exclusion of community. Church structures that reflect a modernistic mindset are less inviting to postmodern people who value participation in decision making, inclusiveness in action, and personal fulfillment. Perichoretic team-based ministry, therefore, provides a more appealing model for postmodern people.
Cladis overreaches his thesis by insisting that team-based ministries are "the most theologically and culturally appropriate method for church leadership today" (17). His premise is specious at best and arrogant at worst. Such an assertion casts immediate aspersions upon centuries of church history. If one accepts Cladis at this point, then any form of church organization not based on teams is not just inefficient, but incongruent with the very nature of God.
One can make the point that scripture does not provide a definitive model for church organization. Allusions to church organizational patterns in scripture are more descriptive than prescriptive. Even the language of church leadership varies within the New Testament--pastor versus elder versus overseer. First century Christians initially adopted the Jewish synagogue model because it was the one most familiar to them, but later developed organizational models that more adequately met their evolving needs. The early church organized its ministry efforts around the needs of its constituency (such as the addition of an incipient deacon ministry in Acts 6:1-6). Their efforts were more pragmatic than theologically informed. They simply acted to meet the needs of the day.
Cladis makes a better point that a team-based ministry more effectively meets the needs of contemporary postmodern believers. The seven team attributes of covenanting, visioning, culture creating, collaborating, trusting, empowering, and learning, detailed in part 2, forms the book's core strengths. Cladis discussed each attribute biblically and then related each to his perichoretic model. Occasionally, he provided insights from the business world and fictionalized church settings to illustrate the efficacy of a particular attribute. Cladis's frequent references to his perichoresis model and to Rublev's icon of the Holy Trinity were distracting and thoroughly unhelpful. One draws the impression that Cladis is attempting to baptize the business model of teams into the language of the church--an unnecessary effort to spiritualize the secular to make it more appealing to the sacred. If a team-based model for ministry works, and does not violate scripture, then employ the best of what the business world has to offer for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.
Application
Cladis's seven characteristics of team-based ministry can fit well into today's church. Many are intuitively self-evident. The church exists in covenant with God and with one another. This covenant identity does not cease in staff meetings or in church council meetings. What healthy church does not want to have a unifying vision from God that creates a sense of purpose and provides meaning to its efforts? By in large, churches want to develop a cultural ethos reflecting it uniqueness as the people of God. Maturing church members want to contribute their gifts and talents toward a collaborative, trusting, empowering, and spiritually fulfilling mission. Many of Cladis's seven characteristics have an ethereal quality to them. They are better identified by the effect they achieve than the effort needed to achieve them. Nonetheless, they represent biblical ideals church leaders should strive to achieve in their ministry settings.
This reviewer has sought to apply these characteristics to a new preschool ministry team. The team of four mothers of preschool-aged children organized themselves around the mission to create a safe, secure, and satisfying nursery and preschool experience for children from birth through age three. The members have complementary skills and are highly motivated. The initial organizational meeting was unfocused because the members did not know how to work as a team. This pastor introduced the members to Cladis's seven characterizes for healthy teams. Some of the characteristics will take time to formulate, however the team was excited about the characteristics of vision, collaboration, empowerment, trust, and learning. The members embraced their vision of creating a top-notch preschool environment. They made a mutual commitment to work together to fulfill this vision. Only time will tell how well this new team can develop Cladis's characteristics.
Conclusion
Leading the Team-Based Church does what it needs to do. It provides a beneficial contemporary model for ministry leadership in a postmodern world. The old-style hierarchical pyramidal leadership model served the church well for more than one hundred years because it was how people were used to the world operating. It was sociologically consistent, fitting the prevailing worldview. The Medieval monarchical bishopric model worked a thousand years ago for the same reason--it reflected how people related to one another in a feudal society. Through the Renaissance, Reformation, and the Industrial Revolution, the way people viewed leadership changed. Each time this happened the church accommodated these sociological shifts and found the necessary theological support. Cladis does no differently. Sociological shifts notwithstanding, Cladis's seven attributes of team-based leadership are worthy characteristics for any church.
A Great, Practical, How_To Guide!.......2000-08-08
What a breath of fresh air to see one with such an innovative, entrepreneurial spirit coming from a traditional mainline denomination. This book does more than just exhort you to form teams, it tells you how to create a culture of teams that will make your church more effective for the Kingdom of God. This one has definitely made my top-ten list!
The Best I Have Found on Team-Building in the Church.......2000-08-07
George Cladis has written a great book--the best I have found on team-building in the church. It is an easy read, very practical, filled with a lot of good ideas. I found his chapters on team covenants and on creating a visionary culture particularly helpful.
Cladis has learned a lot in his pastorates about teamwork--and teaches those principles well. He motivates me to want to build a strong team--not be a lone ranger in the pastorate. And he gives lots of ideas on how to do so.
Great combo of the Trinity and world class business thinking.......1999-05-21
This book was surprisely quick and easy to read yet very thorough. Any church or small business would benefit from reading this book. It's model is similiar to great world class companies, but is unique with it's theological links. It also recognizes the problems that happen in any small company...even churches....! It recognizes too everyone's desire to work in a place and do things we are passionate about!...Worthwhile for the entire staff to read!
Book Description
Of all the skill sets that support the shift from a traditional management role to a more collaborative approach, none is more relevant than that of the role of the facilitator. The beliefs, behaviors, and practices of facilitation are precisely what all leaders need to acquire and put into action. In Facilitating to Lead! renowned facilitation expert Ingrid Bens applies her proven concepts of facilitation to the leadership role and demonstrates that facilitation is an effective work style, not merely a meeting technique. Throughout the book, Bens outlines the organizational and personal benefits of facilitative leadership and includes useful checklists to help leaders determine the situations when facilitative leadership is most appropriate to apply. Because empowerment is a core issue in the implementation of facilitative leadership, the book presents a four-level model that reframes empowerment from a vague concept to a concrete structuring tool.
Customer Reviews:
Tools & Activities For Facilitative Leadership.......2007-10-15
Facilitating to Lead is a unique book filled with detailed and practical steps for leaders who want to increase the level of employee engagement and commitment to organizational goals. The book includes activities and tools, that many other leadership texts lack, necessary for leaders who want to bring out the best in their employees through a culture of empowerment and collaboration.
Book Description
This module addresses one of the most important functions a manager performs: putting together effective teams and creating the conditions for their success. This title describes the major theories of group formation and group functioning, and explains how to create, lead, and manage teams. A unique team communication model describes strengths and weaknesses in group and team organization, as well as the resources and strategies needed to achieve group success.
Book Description
The Crisp Training Essentials Learning Track includes the best self-directed study books at a significant cost savings. To help you learn the essentials of training, this bundle combines the best Fifty-Minute Series books and additional Crisp publications to provide in-depth knowledge of the subject matter. Relevant case studies, self-evaluations, and practical examples help to reinforce key concepts. Instead of ordering one book at a time, simply order the bundle and start your library today.
Customer Reviews:
An Excellent Source of Information.......2003-04-07
I felt this book was a valuable source of information. I needed a brief account on the necessary components on being a successful and effective team leader. This book led me from step to step on how to go about learning how to be a successful team manager. It included the basic know-how of team leadership, like being prepared and posing crucial questions to the team. However, it also went in-depth into the necessary skills needed in order to manage a goal-oriented group. I felt that this book not only acknowledged how to plan for a discussion, but it also looked at the real truth that can come up in group discussion. It analyzed the ins and outs of a group dynamic and even suggested ways of combating difficulties that arise in the process. The authors, Donald Hackett and Charles L. Martin, have a style of writing that is efficient, easy to grasp, and sensible. They were able to provide a step by step analysis on what it takes to be a valuable facilitator, but also the things that come up that leaders need to deal with carefully. Their topic ranges from the basic start of what a facilitator is to what skills a team leader needs. Then they consistently maintain this vision of how an effective leader can lead the group to a successful completion of the task. I enjoyed reading this book, because it not only opened my eyes to how I see leaders perform in groups I have been involved in, but I also know now how to be a successful facilitator in groups that I may choose to lead in the future. I can know use these suggestions and techniques to really drive a team into successful task completion. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has thought about leading a team in group discussion. The authors' simple, to the point style of writing, including examples and suggestions, made for a delightful read. I enjoyed reading this book as much I enjoyed learning from it as well.
Team Facilitation-Not a Mystery Anymore.......2001-03-31
A wonderful book for a person whose new to facilitating teams. The writing is in language that's very easy to understand, and the concepts are presented clearly. The book takes the reader on a step by step progression of the processes and tools required to help meetings be productive and efficient. Cudos to the authors, who created a wonderful and effective tool.
Team Facilitation-Not a Mystery Anymore.......2001-03-31
A wonderful book for a person whose new to facilitating teams. The writing is in language that's very easy to understand, and the concepts are presented clearly. The book takes the reader on a step by step progression of the processes and tools required to help meetings be productive and efficient. Cudos to the authors, who created a wonderful and effective tool.
Team Facilitation-Not a Mystery Anymore.......2001-03-31
A wonderful book for a person whose new to facilitating teams. The writing is in language that's very easy to understand, and the concepts are presented clearly. The book takes the reader on a step by step progression of the processes and tools required to help meetings be productive and efficient. Cudos to the authors, who created a wonderful and effective tool.
Essential reading for all involved in helping groups work.......2000-08-17
This excellent book provides a simple overview of the skills and tools needed when getting a group to work on a problem. Nothing is covered in depth, however I did not think that was the purpose. This books starts a learning process which people can take further if needed. The sytle is light and it has been written to maintain the readers interest. It adequately covers concepts, communication (questioning, body language, etc) and some simple tools with easy to understand examples. Most impressive was the straight forward treatment of writing a process map to identify and deal with problems.
Average customer rating:
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Leading Groups in Stressful Times: Teams, Work Units, and Task Forces
Joseph A. Olmstead
Manufacturer: Quorum Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Workplace
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ASIN: 1567206107 |
Book Description
In most organizations today, the greatest stress afflicts those working in groups: teams, task forces, and other units with special goals and purposes. Customary manners of management style and leadership largely fail to alleviate this stress. Olmstead's challenging new book shows why. Rapid change is one reason. Extreme uncertainty is another. But the effects need not be so debilitating. This book argues that groups can be developed to resist stress and achieve effectiveness. Olmstead offers a conceptual framework and draws upon his own experiences--supported by the similar experiences of others who have worked in most types of organizations under various stressful conditions--to show how. He provides proven, practical means of analyzing, assessing, and improving your own leadership methods, and in doing so, bolstering your group's performance. A 250-item annotated bibliography and lucid, readable style, this book is a straightforward, state of the art presentation of what leaders under stress need to know about themselves, and how to apply that understanding to the activities of the groups they lead.
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- Want to dramatically change the culture of your school?
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Leading the Cooperative School
David W. Johnson , and
Roger T. Johnson
Manufacturer: Interaction Book Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Education
| Nonfiction
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General
| Special Education
| Education
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Decision Making & Problem Solving
| Education Theory
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School Management
| Education Theory
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ASIN: 0939603209 |
Customer Reviews:
Want to dramatically change the culture of your school?.......1999-04-15
Read this extraordinary handbook by David and Roger Johnson! As you move your school from one that reflects the factory model to one that values professional community and collaboration, this book will guide you around the pitfalls and across the abyss of failure and lead you by encouraging the heart.
The book is extremely reader friendly, and yet it is filled with substance. It proved to be a valuable tool for me as a first time administrator seeking to build an organizational structure within my school that would encourage collegial groups and schoolwide task forces.
I found this one little book had everything that I would ever want to know! It still continues to be extremely helpful in working with school staffs that are desiring to be more than just a "loosely coupled organization." This work is about people for people who want to make significant changes in the way they do business.
Product Description
Leading Groups to Solutions addresses the collaborative process of building consensus, creating synergy, and harnessing collective energy to create innovative solutions. The practical ideas guide facilitors through combining the best individual thinking into one focused effort and creating shared commitment so that the implementation of solutions is supported and sustained long term. Whether leading, participating as a team member, or both, you will fiind that this book provides a practical framework for facilitating effective teams.
Average customer rating:
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Go-Go Tools: Five essential activities for leading small groups
Shigehiro Nakamura
Manufacturer: Productivity Press
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Binding: Paperback
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Social Situations
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ASIN: 1563272008 |
Book Description
Small-group activities--or self-directed work teams--are an extremely important element of individual, as well as organizational development. They are a means of stretching an employee's abilities while at the same time boosting your company's business achievements. But when small group activities fail, it's usually because the group was never properly trained. P Here's when small group activities succeed: When management sets the vision, and then successfully transfers that vision to the group along with the power to carry it out. But a group needs guidance. BR Br i Go-Go Tools /i is a fresh new book that gives you a concise -- just five powerful tools is all it takes -- and creative set of tools to clearly establish management objectives. The book helps you connect these objectives with your employees through self-directed work teams. P The Five Tools: br UL LI Pocket Matrix /LI LI VW (Volume-Weight) /LI LI 5-Why /LI LI F-F (Fact-Finding) /LI LI Idea Mapping /LI /UL P The purpose of the tools is to allow small groups to solve problems expertly and quickly. For your benefit, the tools have been clearly arranged so that each corresponds to a definite step of the problem-solving process. So use this energizing guide to breathe new life into your small group activities and increase the effectiveness of your teams, meetings, and improvement processes. Lead and motivate your team to successfully carry out simple, yet powerful improvements that will continuously build their loyalty and enthusiasm towards your improvement efforts. P b Why Go-Go? /b P This name was chosen because the word "Go" means "five" in Japanese. In Go-Go Tools, there are five tools, and each tool has five steps. Go-Go also conveys a sense of energy and excitement -- a great foundation to begin your small group activities!
Books:
- Learning by Doing: A Comprehensive Guide to Simulations, Computer Games, and Pedagogy in e-Learning and Other Educational Experiences
- Learning to Think Things Through: A Guide to Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum (2nd Edition)
- Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change
- Mathematics for Finance: An Introduction to Financial Engineering (Springer Undergraduate Mathematics Series)
- Megaprojects and Risk: An Anatomy of Ambition
- Methods, Standards, & Work Design
- Methods, Standards, & Work Design
- Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Administrator's Companion
- Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis
- Opening Love's Door: The Seven Lessons
Books Index
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